Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 5/1/2007
Week of April 24
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels | Audio
Fiction
Abani, Chris. The Virgin of Flames. Penguin. 2007. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-14-303877-1. pap. $14. F
A PEN/Hemingway Award winner for GraceLand, Nigerian-born Abani here successfully captures the complex diversity of Los Angeles. Living above a tattoo shop in East L.A., Black, a local muralist, struggles to make art and make sense of who he is. His obsession with Sweet Girl, a transsexual stripper, is certainly key to shaping his identity. Black's upcoming mural, based on the Virgin of Guadalupe, may also elucidate his place in the world. Luckily, he has a support system in the form of friends Iggy, the tattoo artist, and Bomboy, a Rwandan émigré who operates an illegal abattoir. All of these characters are haunted by ghosts from their pasts, though none as often as Black; all of them lead difficult lives (Black especially), but Abani's lyrical writing transcends the harsh urban environment just as Black's spaceship on the roof of his home, called the Ugly Store, allows him to rise above scenes of desolation. Abani even manages to evoke beauty through his gritty but vivid portraits of the City of the Angels. Recommended for all collections.—Faye A. Chadwell, Univ. of Oregon Libs., Eugene
Hall, Oakley. Love and War in California. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Apr. 2007. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-312-35762-7. $24.95. F
In award-winning author Hall's (founder, creative writing, Univ. of California, Irvine; Warlock) latest, the streets of San Diego in December 1941 are full of young men in uniform awaiting orders and young women fearful of never seeing them again. The glamour of Hollywood is just a quick ride away in a fast car, and Errol Flynn's yacht glimmers in the bay near the Hotel del Coronado. Haunted by war's immediacy and the fragility of life, college students Payton Daltrey and Bonny Bonington are filled with anxiety as they watch their friends ship out to battlefronts or relocate to Manzanar, the internment camp for Japanese Americans. Separated by war and economics, they reunite 50 years later in a vastly different world, determined to remember the past and go forward with new lives together. Hall deftly contrasts the confusion, fear, and anger of young men in war and the frustration, anguish, and tension of the young women left behind. The plot line is a bit uneven, but Hall's descriptions of 1940s Southern California and the turmoil of a community sending a generation off to war are very real. And his depiction of the intensity of desire, both realized and unfulfilled, is especially sensitive and authentic. Recommended for regional and literary fiction collections.—Susan Clifford Braun, Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA
Leonard, Elmore. Up in Honey's Room. Morrow. May 2007. c.292p. ISBN 978-0-06-072424-5. $25.95. F
The year is 1942, and the United States is at war with Germany and Japan. U.S. Marshal Carlos Webster, who made his debut in The Hot Kid, has traveled from Oklahoma to Detroit to apprehend two Nazi POW escapees. Webster's first contact in Detroit is Honey Deal, a free spirit who wants him as bad as he wants the two escapees, and to improve her prospects, she provides him entrée into a local spy ring that has been providing U.S. war production data to Germany. Among the unlikely characters is Walter Schoen, Honey's ex-husband, a devoted Nazi who believes he is Heinrich Himmler's twin brother—and whom Webster believes is hiding the two escapees. As Webster closes in on his target, Walter escalates a plot to assassinate President Roosevelt, while other members of the spy ring panic and do unspeakable things to one another and themselves in order to cover their tracks. Again, Leonard combines his command of American history with a delightful sense of humor to create a fun tale of espionage-busting during World War II. An absolutely essential read for the author's fans and others who like their action fast, smart, and funny. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/07.]—Thomas L. Kilpatrick, Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale
Pradhan, Monica. The Hindi-Bindi Club. Bantam. May 2007. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-553-38452-9. pap. $12. F
At the beginning of this debut novel, American-born Kiran Deshpande returns home as the divorced prodigal daughter of Indian parents. But her story quickly unfolds into the larger tale of her mother, Meenal, and Meenal's friends, whom Kiran and her childhood friends Preity and Rani had dubbed the Hindi-Bindi Club because of their old-fashioned Indian ways. Each chapter is narrated by a different character and explores the diverse experiences of these mothers, daughers, and wives who struggle to be Indian and American. Readers learn about cherished family recipes and the history that brought these women to the present. Pradhan imbues the narrative with such honesty and real emotion that the novel is difficult to put down. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy mother-daughter fiction and all popular fiction collections.—Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, Cleveland P.L.
Axelrod, Alan. Blooding at Great Meadows: Young George Washington and the Battle That Shaped the Man. Running Pr. Apr. 2007. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-7624-2769-7. $22.95. HIST
George Washington's military career began with his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Virginia Militia on the eve of the French and Indian War. In this short but informative and readable book, Axelrod (What Every American Should Know About American History) offers a sketch of Washington's efforts to obtain his commission and the early military assignments he was given. Colonial America was a society that did not consider it extraordinary to entrust a well-born 22-year-old man with weighty responsibilities (it produced young men capable of bearing such responsibilities). In the book's centerpiece, Axelrod recounts a frontier skirmish of Washington's Virginia militiamen with a party of Frenchmen, a short and murderous clash that has long been regarded as the first engagement of a war that would ultimately be waged on three continents. In addition to the skirmish itself, Axelrod relates the prelude and aftermath and speculates on how the events affected the thinking and attitudes of the young officer. The author manages to evoke the period extremely well despite the brevity of his narrative and provides sufficient background to make the events intelligible, not to mention energetic and gripping. Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.—Richard Fraser, M.I.L.S., Philadelphia
Ford, Anne with John-Richard Thompson. On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. Newmarket. May 2007. c.304p. index. ISBN 978-1-55704-759-5. $24.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-55704-725-0. $16.95. CHILD REARING
As children with learning disabilities (LDs) enter adulthood, many new challenges emerge for not only adult children but also their parents. Ford, great-granddaughter of Henry Ford and mother of 34-year-old Allegra (the subject of Ford's previous Laughing Allegra), shares what she has learned about parenting an adult child with LDs. She includes insights from many famous professionals who have succeeded in spite of a learning disability, including Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group), John Chambers (Cisco Systems), David Neeleman (JetBlue Airways), Charles R. Schwab (Charles Schwab & Co.), and former governor of West Virginia Gaston Caperton. Ford covers issues such as job hunting, interview skills, the legalities of the Americans with Disabilities Act, social skills and dating, interactions with employers and coworkers, health and hygiene, alcohol and drug addiction, and estate planning. She addresses the concerns of parents with candor and sympathy and includes many real-life anecdotes. A resource guide is included to help parents connect with the appropriate organizations for assistance and support. Recommended for all academic and public libraries with a developmental disabilities collection.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS
Sarig, Roni. Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing. Da Capo. May 2007. c.384p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-306-81430-3. pap. $16.95. MUSIC
The South finally gets props for its hip-hop contributions. Starting with Miami in the 1950s, then jumping around both historically and geographically, Sarig (The Secret History of Rock: The Most Influential Bands You've Never Heard) weaves a work that will prove useful for research and an enjoyable and nostalgic read for those who love hip-hop. While too many books and articles dealing with hip-hop in the South tend to ignore everything before the rise of Outkast, Sarig spends a great deal of time discussing less famous acts from the past few decades whose impact was greater than their record sales; of course, large portions of the book are dedicated to groundbreakers like 2 Live Crew and the Geto Boys. Sarig well explains the origins of the bass sound and "crunk," writing as an objective observer most of the time. Although the book is more than 300 pages long, nary a word is wasted, and the amount of information is almost overwhelming. An excellent contribution to hip-hop history, this title is recommended for all music collections. (Photographs and index not seen.)—Craig Shufelt, Fort McMurray P.L., Alta.
Graphic Novels
Bagge, Peter. Buddy Does Jersey: The Complete Buddy Bradley Stories from "Hate" Comics. Vol. 3 (1994–98). Fantagraphics. May 2007. 352p. ISBN 978-1-56097-837-4. pap. $14.95. F
Poor Buddy Bradley. After trying to make a go of it in Seattle, he's thrown in the towel and moved back to his parents' house in New Jersey. Now life is made up of one minor—and major—irritant after another, including his homemaker mom, invalid dad, divorced sister and her two obnoxious kids, loser brother, junkie business partner, moronic neighbor, and ultraneurotic girlfriend. Stick them in a blighted landscape of sterile suburban malls and crappy downtown music bars, and you've got all the terrors and tensions of modern life, slacker style. Scabrous, impatient Buddy is no prize himself, but his intelligence, uncertainty, and dogged efforts to find some measure of peace and quiet somehow make him an appealing Everyman. Teetering on the edge of sitcom cliché, the stories are rescued by Bagge's cynicism and his polished, aggressively grotesque style, which reaches its apotheosis in a sex scene whose outrageous comic repulsiveness would've won the admiration of Jonathan Swift. Even without it, this collection would be suitable only for larger adult collections because only adults—especially those at that awkward age of 30—will find the rueful humor in Buddy's travails.—Andrew Moore, Wayland P.L., MA
Bendis, Brian Michael (text) & Steve McNiven & Mike Deodato. The New Avengers. Vol. 4: The Collective. Marvel. 2007. 120p. ISBN 978-0-7851-1987-6. pap. $14.99. F
A nice balance of spectacular slugfests and down-to-earth moments makes up this collection of issues 16–20. A sort of lead-in to the "Civil War" series, also written by Bendis, it features a seemingly superpowered, possibly alien threat—a being of unlimited energy and unknown origin who lays waste to everything in his path. Decimating the Canadian superteam Alpha Flight in the North Pole, the villain moves at unbelievable speeds and is confronted by Ms. Marvel, Iron Man, and the Sentry. These heroes and others all enter the fray at various points, duking it out in the streets and skies over Cleveland, outer space, and eventually the island nation of Genosha. Scenes of destruction are tempered by intriguing side plots, such as when Luke Cage takes the team to the streets of Highland Park, MI, to make their presence known in the neighborhoods in a grassroots effort to stem urban crime. Other interesting facets of this arc include the developing rift between Iron Man and Captain America, their initial stabs at forming alliances, the underhanded tactics of government organization S.H.I.E.L.D., and the subtle hints of what is to come in "Civil War." With continually exceptional storytelling and superb art, this collection has only a few faults, especially the fact that Wolverine, Luke Cage, and Spider-Woman are mostly relegated to the sidelines, while the heavy hitters get much of the spotlight. High-powered action, adventure, and suspense; some violence but nothing overly objectionable. Recommended for libraries catering to superhero fans.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
The Duchess of Northumberland (text) & Colin Simpson (illus.). The Poison Diaries. Abrams. Apr. 2007. 80p. ISBN 978-0-8109-9314-3. $22.95. F
According to the introductory letter, this journal was a relic confiscated by the Department of Toxicology from Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. Its writer is a boy named Weed, an apprentice under a cruel apothecary. Weed discovers that he can speak to the plants in his master's poison garden, and each plant in turn describes the gruesome deaths they have caused. They encourage Weed to cultivate an artistic appreciation for murderous vengeance. The book's pluses are many: educationally, it's hard to make a botanical study this engaging—realistic illustrations are paired with serious notes on the medicinal and dangerous properties of eight different poisonous plants; and beautiful journalstyle sketches, botanical illustrations, comical portraits, and victims' silhouettes intertwine to bolster Weed's observations. Some watercolors, ink blots, and "bloodstains" add character to his story. However, the purpose of the book gets murky. Readers will gain an appreciation for the curative and deadly continuum of nature. Yet, the plot is billed as a "battle of good versus evil"—which never seemed to manifest. Weed simply gains enthusiasm for performing a tortuous, graphic, and vicious murder. Perhaps sequels will offer clarity here. The look and feel of the journal almost mirrors Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy books and may lead readers to doubt whether Northumberland or Alnwick Castle are real places, yet a quick Internet search shows that the Duchess of Northumberland is far more substantial and active than Lady Cottington, and her poison garden can be visited today. Recommended for its quirky charm.—Erika Bennett, Capella Univ., Minneapolis, MN
Kisaragi, Hirotaka. Innocent Bird. Vol. 1. BLU: Tokyopop. 2007. 200p. ISBN 978-1-59816-831-0. pap. $9.99. F
Angelic parole officer Karasu has come to earth to make sure devil Shirasagi returns to hell on time. He is surprised, however, to discover that his charge has set up shop as a minister who teaches children how to read and leads an exemplary good life. Shirasagi used to be the plaything of Beelzebub, and the devil wants his toy back, a scenario that leads to a confrontation requiring Karasu and Shirasagi to risk being lost to hell forever. In a fun twist on the classic good-vs.-evil story, the author takes liberties with conventional celestial mythology but in such a way that is not offensive to believers. Although this series is rated M, there is little in this volume to warrant it, as the story is primarily a setup for what comes in future volumes. The artwork is clean and easy to follow, and the growing relationship between the lead characters hints at the mature content promised by the M rating. While not an essential purchase, this series will be popular with yaoi fans.—Eva Volin, Alameda Free Lib., CA
Kuwabara, Yuko. Alcohol, Shirt & Kiss. Juné: Digital Manga. 2007. 188p. tr. from Japanese by Issei Shimizu. ISBN 978-1-56970-840-8. pap. $12.95. F
Dumped by his girlfriend, young rookie cop Yuukichi Naruse tries to drink away his sorrows. He wakes up the next morning in the bed of fellow officer Riku Kita. Poor Naruse remembers nothing about the night of passion Kita claims they shared—and the cool and cynical Kita will resort to mind games in order to trap him. Their beleaguered coworkers hope this entanglement won't negatively impact the office workload. What happens when the heartless Kita actually falls in love with Naruse? This character-driven yaoi manga engages and amuses with its depiction of adults living in an adult world. Kita and Naruse's relationship slowly evolves over the course of a year. Despite all the teasing, Kita never mistreats Naruse in any manner, and Kuwabara avoids melodrama. Most of the police work takes place in the station at the characters' desks (for a more high-stakes take on Kita and Naruse's profession, see Sanami Matoh's Fake from Tokyopop). The artwork's clean lines add to the subdued tone. Rated ages 18+ for mature content: sexually explicit scenes appear on three pages near the end of the story. Recommended only for adult collections.—June Shimonishi, Torrance P.L., CA
Lapham, David. Silverfish. Vertigo: DC Comics. Jun. 2007. 160p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1048-9. $24.99. F
Fans of writer/illustrator Lapham's Stray Bullets are sure to eat up Silverfish, his latest black-and-white blend of pulp thriller and character study. Set in wintry 1988 New Jersey, it begins with a familiar setup: the daughter figures her new stepmom isn't what she seems and finds out the hard way. Bodies threaten to pile up in the process courtesy of a bugged-out madman from the stepmom's checkered past. As with most thrillers, this one features plot machinations that are less interesting than the particular cat-and-mouse situations in which the characters find themselves. And that they do, especially in the story's final thrust, which manages to match Halloween and The Terminator in depicting a young female protagonist finding inner reserves of strength and courage without becoming a slasher-movie cliché. Cinematic comparisons here are fitting: Silverfish is less a graphic novel than a concise, detailed set of storyboards, and directors David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac), John Carpenter (Halloween), and Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys) will be tickled to see their works referenced in such loving fashion. While Silverfish doesn't transcend or improve upon other works in its genre, it's still a decent, well-crafted chiller. Reviewed from the galley, it contains occasional gore and considerable violence and profanity, which makes it suitable for mature readers and graphic novel collections favoring such hard-boiled stuff.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., N.B.
Lien-Cooper, Barb & Park Cooper (text) & Jimmy Bott (illus.). Half Dead. Dabel Brothers: Marvel. 2007. 124p. ISBN 978-0-7851-2659-1. pap. $10.99. F
When it comes to vampire stories, there are no new ones to be told. Of course, an inventive spin can make even the most overdone plot and most archetypal characters seem fresh. Unfortunately, Half Dead is as stale and as uninspired as they come, following the story of yet another vampire huntress in an Alan Moore-esque vision of London where vampire terrorists seek to procreate by spreading a virus that turns people into their kind. Not only do the writers try to squeeze in as many plot twists as possible (managing at least three or four in the last few pages) that smart readers will see coming a mile away, but the characters also lack any real personality or passion. When they die (and die they do, often graphically) or face a startling epiphany, readers will probably shrug and move on. The narrative is as soulless as the creatures that inhabit it. That said, mature teens will find it an interesting springboard for discussion of human rights and civil liberties. But only as a conversation piece does this graphic novel win any awards for artistic merit. There is an explicit content label on the book—please take it seriously.—M. Brandon Robbins, Wayne Cty. P.L., Goldsboro, NC
Sakuishi, Harold. Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad. Vol. 7. Tokyopop. 2007. 195p. tr. from Japanese by Stephen Paul. ISBN 978-1-59532-776-5. pap. $9.99. F
Rock'n'roll was as far from Yukio Tanaka's experience as his hopes of hooking up with his lifelong love, Izumi. Koyuki (as Izumi calls him) drops his horrible pop music tastes when he meets Ryusuke, a rebellious rocker with a bullet-ridden guitar and a funky dog named Beck. Koyuki takes up the guitar and finds himself part of Ryusuke's band, which is named after his dog. In Vol. 7, Beck's popularity continues to grow with gigs and the possibility of a U.S. tour. Shadowy figures from Ryusuke's past come closer, hot in pursuit of Lucille (his guitar) and his dog, which turns out to be more than just Ryusuke's loyal pet. Koyuki is left reeling from sex (at least his teenage obsession with it), work (no drugs—just a thankless stint in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant), and rock'n' roll! Sakuishi's artwork is strong and powerful. He has an excellent eye for detail, and the frames always seem complete, whether full or spare. Sakuishi appears to have no difficulties telling a musical tale in a silent medium; his visual renderings of audio events (concerts, singing, instrumental solos) are dynamic and engaging. Beck reads like a rock star's life—blasting through each day on a series of pivotal moments, requiring manic energy and burning passion to keep up with everything. The series is rated for ages 16+. Both the series and this volume are recommended for all collections serving older teens. (See the review of Vol. 1 in LJ 1/06.)—Ruthanne Price, Vaughan Pub. Libs., Ont.
Slott, Dan (text) & Will Conrad & others (illus.). She-Hulk. Vol. 4: Laws of Attraction. Marvel. 2007. 192p. ISBN 978-0-7851-2218-0. pap. $19.99. F
The Incredible Hulk's glamorous gamma-powered cousin, She-Hulk, has never been the most "serious" character in comics, but her books have produced some of the most lively, entertaining, and original superhero stories from Marvel in recent memory. Slott's current run with the character focuses on She-Hulk/Jen Walter's legal career, love life, and occasional clash with supervillains. Like a superpowered Ally McBeal, She-Hulk smashes her way though the heretofore hidden world of litigation in the Marvel Universe. This volume tells the story of the sexual harassment suit against heartthrob hero "Starfox" (a former Avenger with the ability to create a magic "euphoria effect" on people), which leads into the sensationally titled "I Married a Man-Wolf" story arc where She-Hulk marries boyfriend John Jameson (astronaut son of pugnacious publisher J. Jonah Jameson) just before he transforms into the lupine cosmic entity Stargod. Laws of Attraction is a fun, self-reflexive romp through the forgotten corridors of Marvel Continuity. Readers unfamiliar with characters like The Eel and The Awesome Android might want to reference the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe to get some of the side jokes, but this certainly isn't a requirement to enjoy the series. All volumes of this series so far are highly recommended for teen and adult collections.—Ben Lathrop, Fairfield Lane Lib., OH
TenNapel, Doug. Gear. Image Comics. 2007. 160p. ISBN 978-1-58240-680-0. pap. $14.99. F
In the same vein as TenNapel's Iron West (Xpress Reviews, 8/29/06), Gear is a wonderful hodgepodge of seemingly incompatible elements that coalesce into pure comic book fun. The tale centers on four cats from the quiet town of Newton, which is currently embroiled in a deadly war with Dogtown. As an army of killer insects looms in the distance and the lone mechanical guardian of Newton falters, salvation hinges on the mysterious artifact known only as the "Forbidden Mechanism." And then it gets weird. There is a sheer, unadulterated joy here, evident by the first page. While humor (communicated mainly through visuals) sets the tone, TenNapel interweaves a host of genres and deftly employs each: elements of crime noir surface during a brutal interrogation, and a palatable sense of horror is evoked as the final confrontation unfolds and blood and fire engulf the plains. Pacing is as madcap as the plot, with constant action and a brief pause for a well-timed joke. There is perhaps no better example of the adept writing than the poignancy and sincerity of the conclusion. Drawn in a deliberately loose style, the artwork employs pencils, which are great at portraying both emotion and battle. The protagonists look ridiculous, and even through the intense, blood-spurting action, one cannot help but chuckle at a tabby cat flying through the air with a knife clenched in his teeth. This edition is a colorized version of the original black-and-white art, and the vibrant hues only add to the tone and impact. Highly recommended for every collection; for teens and up owing to violence.—George Sun, New York
Williams III, J.H. & Dan Curtis Johnson (text) & Seth Fisher (illus.). Batman: Snow. DC Comics. 2007. 125p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1265-0. pap. $14.99. F
Set just a year and a half after he first donned the bat costume, Snow revisits Batman's first encounter with the supervillian Mr. Freeze. Freeze has always been one of the more sympathetic Batman villains—he is driven by the love for his lost wife. Johnson and William do a good job providing readers with an updated version of his origin, as well as showing us Batman at an early stage in his career where his own stubbornness and inexperience are just as harmful as the enemies he faces. At first glance, the lighthearted, cartoonish art by Fisher appears to be a poor fit for a story about a hero who spends most of his time in the dark shadows, but after a few pages one can't help but appreciate his unique style, which seems to fall somewhere between comic book and anime art. Because of this, Batman: Snow may also find its way into the hands of anime and manga enthusiasts as well as superhero fans to become one of the higher circulation books in your collection.—Michael Powers, Robert Van Wyck Jr. H.S., Queens, NY
Yamada, Futaro (text) & Masaki Segawa (text & illus.). Basilisk. Vol. 4. Del Rey: Ballantine. 2007. 224p. tr. from Japanese by David Ury. ISBN 978-0-345-49046-9. pap. $13.95. F
In this series, the Iga and Kouga ninja clans have waged war for years. The clans operate under an uneasy truce, which is going to be strengthened by the impending marriage of the heirs of the clans, the beautiful but clumsy Oboro of the Iga clan and dashing Gennosuke of the Kouga clan. The truce is broken when politicians decide that the clans will fight to determine the succession for the next shogun, and the war begins anew. Vol. 4 opens with a brief flashback to the first meeting of Oboro and Gennosuke, when she accidentally spilled tea on him. Now they are traveling separately with the remaining members of their respective clans, and Oboro meets Ofuku, the grandmother of one of the potential successors to the Shogunate. Ofuku takes Oboro into her traveling party, while Gennosuke and the Kouga clan watch in hiding. Will Gennosuke and Oboro be able to reinstate the truce, or will they be forced to kill each other? The art is dynamic, detailed, and lush. The action scenes are violent, and there are occasional nude scenes in the series. Rated 18+, Basilisk is recommended for adult manga collections in need of a series with plenty of ninja action.—Anna Neatrour, Salt Lake City, UT
Clinch, Jon. Finn. 10 CDs. unabridged. 11¼ hrs. Recorded Bks. 2007. ISBN 978-14281-2446-2. $102.75; 10 cassettes. ISBN 978-1-4281-2441-7. $72.75. F
A brilliant extrapolation of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, this novel is a gripping study of Huck's drunken and racist father, Pap Finn. Starting with a mystery about Finn's death that Twain left unresolved, Clinch builds an often astonishing backstory that unmasks the full depth and horror of white racism during America's slave era and helps to illuminate the context of Huckleberry Finn. Although Clinch draws heavily on the characters and events of Twain's novel, he imitates neither its style nor its structure. Instead, he uses an anonymous third-person narrator who tells Finn's complex story in the present tense, moving back and forth in time, gradually filling in pieces of a mesmerizing jigsaw puzzle. The nonlinear narrative provides attentive listeners with an immensely satisfying tale that offers insights into Twain's classic while carving out its own place as one of the year's most important novels. Ed Sala's narration suits the material well, and listeners are treated to the bonus of a fascinating discussion between him and Clinch on the last disc. Highly recommended.—Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA
Parker, Robert B. High Profile. 5 CDs. unabridged. 5½ hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-3581-1. $50; 4 cassettes. ISBN 978-1-4159-3751-8. $40. F
In Parker's sixth police chief Jesse Stone mystery, a famous talk-show host is found hanging from a tree in Paradise, MA, followed by the murder of his girlfriend, who is found dead in a dumpster. In the midst of the news frenzy and the governor's "interest" that the tragedy attracts, the chief receives a frantic plea for help from his ex-wife, Jen; her reported rape and stalking sends Jesse reeling. Luckily, he recovers quickly and calls his girlfriend, private detective Sunny Randall, to guard Jen and to apprehend the rapist. Jesse, with the help of his amusing staff, begins to follow the money, find out who profits, and then figure out the method used for the murders. The mystery stands on its own, but in order to understand the Jen/Sunny subplot, it's best to be current with Parker's Stone mysteries and the Randall series. Scott Sowers gives a deft reading; his calm, slow pace reflects Jesse's low-key approach to solving the case. Jesse's desperation when confronted with Jen's fear is emphasized by a slight raise in pitch. Sowers smoothes his voice and changes his inflection for the victim's suave lawyers. His subtle reading brings each character, male and female, into focus and makes for an agreeable five hours of listening. Recommended.—Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA
Steel, Danielle. Sisters. 9 CDs. unabridged. 10¾ hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-3584-2. $100; 7 cassettes. ISBN 978-1-4159-3753-2. $80. F
Steel's latest predictable, formulaic novel is about four unusual sisters: Candy, 21, a supermodel with an eating disorder; Tammy, 29, a Hollywood television producer with a successful new television show but no social life; Sabrina, 34, a workaholic family attorney in New York who is fearful of commitments; and Annie, 26, studying painting in Florence, Italy. All of them are successful, beautiful, kind, and loving. They have dutifully kept a strong relationship with their parents and with one another despite their distant locations. When the sisters travel home to Connecticut to visit their parents for their annual July 4th party, disaster hits, and this ideal family existence is thrown into shambles. A devastating car accident kills their mother and leaves Annie blind. Sabrina comes up with a plan to help the sisters grieve and to assist Annie in accepting and understanding her sudden condition. She decides they should all live together in a brownstone in New York City; in so doing, they help one another to rebuild their lives. Their home is filled with dogs, laughter, tears, friends, and men. The most important lesson they learn is that nothing is more important than family. Read by Sam Freed, this is an unrealistic tale, but Steel followers will enjoy Sisters; all others can pass.—Carol Stern, Glen Cove P.L., NY
Week of April 17
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels | Audio
Fiction
Causey, Toni McGee. Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day. Griffin: St. Martin's. May 2007. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-312-35448-0. pap. $12.95. F
Cajun beauty queen Bobbie Faye Sumrall is having a bad day: after a burst water pipe breaks her sorry-excuse-for-a-trailer in half, she accidentally robs a bank, tries to free her good-for-nothing brother from kidnappers, takes a hostage (also accidentally), flees with him through the treacherous swamps of Louisiana, eludes an angry bear as well as her disgruntled cop ex-boyfriend, hotwires a speedboat, and kills a dangerous snake with her knife. And the day isn't even over. This hyperpaced, screwball action/adventure with one unforgettable heroine and two sexy heroes is side-splittingly hilarious. Causey, a Cajun and a Louisiana native, reveals a flair for comedy in this uproarious debut novel, the first in a three-book series. Readers who like the humor of Harley Jane Kozak's Dating Dead Men, Lisa Lutz's The Spellman Files, and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will be thrilled to meet Bobbie Faye. A most entertaining addition to any fiction collection. [Two trailers for the book are available at www.tonimcgeecausey.com.—Ed.]—Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib. Media Ctr., AZ
Kohler, Sheila. Bluebird, or the Invention of Happiness. Other. Apr. 2007. c.444p. ISBN 978-1-59051-262-3. $24.95. F
Kohler (Cracks; Children of Pithiviers) continues her dark literary narratives of historical occurrences, this time with an upbeat twist. The events depicted here are tragic and grisly, drawn from the memoirs of Henriette-Lucy Dillon (1770–1853), a French aristocrat who had been in Marie-Antoinette's court. Nevertheless, Kohler paints her protagonist as relentlessly, determinedly, and triumphantly joyful. Raised by a cold-hearted grandmother, Lucy possesses beauty, intelligence, strength, and a cheerful heart. She earns her nickname when she wears a costume of blue, topped with bluebirds in her hair in direct contradiction to an invitation commanding that "Ladies will wear white." With her family, Lucy escapes the carnage of the French Revolution and, in a strange twist, spends several years happily as a dairy farmer in upstate New York. Fans of the period will enjoy the intimate view of the rather creepy Louis XVI court, and curious readers wanting to learn more about Lucy may want to read her actual memoirs, reissued in 1999 as Memoirs of Madame de la Tour du Pin: Laughing and Dancing Our Way to the Precipice (Harvill). This could be a good recommendation for more adventurous readers of inspirational fiction. For all public libraries.—Mary Kay Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS
Slavin, Helen. The Extra Large Medium. Black Cat: Grove. May 2007. c.240p. ISBN 0-8021-7032-3. pap. $14. F
Since childhood, narrator Annie has had the gift (or curse?) of having dead people, all dressed in chocolate brown, speak to her about the things they have left undone. One December day, her first love and husband, Evan Bees, disappears. The book follows Annie's desultory journey through the seven-year wait to declare Evan dead. Unable to move on, she becomes as trapped in life as the dead people who petition her for closure with their inane messages to the still living. By way of short chapters, other narrators chime in, explaining their view of Annie This can be disruptive at times and also confusing when the unknown voice of the narrator, Arthur, suddenly appears. The reader who perseveres will be rewarded by surprising revelations in the closing chapters. Eccentric, quirky, and offbeat, this debut novel won the 2006 first novel contest held by Long Barn Books, which was founded by British novelist Susan Hill (The Various Haunts of Men). It will appeal to readers who appreciate dry English wit; suitable for public libraries.—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib. & Information Ctr., Atlanta
Nonfiction
Bauer, Joy with Carol Svec. Joy Bauer's Food Cures: Easy 4-Step Nutrition Programs for Improving Your Body. Rodale. Apr. 2007. 512p. ISBN 1-59486-466-7. pap. $18.95. HEALTH
Nutritionist for the New York City Ballet and a Today Show regular, Bauer presents brief, practical tips, meal plans, and recipes to help readers make better food choices for a variety of health concerns or issues. According to the author, reaching a goal is only four steps away, whether it's to lose weight, develop radiant skin, deal with arthritis or osteoporosis, or improve mood. Step one often includes basic tips like asking a doctor about taking omega-3 fish oil supplements for arthritis or increasing water intake for better skin. Step two offers an ultimate grocery list designed to help readers get the right nutrients for their plan; step three may offer further supplements or recommend an exercise program. Then there's step four—it encompasses meal options specifically designed for each health concern, along with four or five pages of recipes. This accessible resource doesn't necessarily serve up new information, but it does provide a lot of simple remedies for anyone trying to reach a health-related goal. Recommended for public libraries.—Mindy Rhiger, Minneapolis
Cohan, William D. The Last Tycoons: The Secret History of Lazard Frères & Co. Doubleday. Apr. 2007. c.752p. index. ISBN 978-0-385-51451-4. $29.95. BUS
Cohan, a former investigative journalist–turned–Wall Street banker who worked for Lazard Frères during the 1980s and 1990s, draws on hundreds of interviews and original documents (some not previously available) to provide insights into those who have controlled the long-private bank over the last 150 years. Mostly, however, he focuses on the firm's recent history, and the book is especially intriguing in its accounts of the tempestuous feuds between its star investors, veteran Felix Rohatyn and up-and-comer Steve Rattner. In a much-publicized power struggle, Rattner overtook the influential Rohatyn as lead banker and successor to lead partner Michel David-Weill, whose authoritarian oversight eventually led to Rattner's departure and the hiring of former rival Bruce Wasserstein. Through deception, says Cohan, Wasserstein took control of the firm, making it public in 2005. Cohan's journalistic background helps him maintain objectivity throughout most of the book, but he is critical of Wasserstein and the new leadership. While books like Cary Reich's Financier provide a good overview of the firm, this is the most comprehensive primary-source history available. Recommended for most public and academic business collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/06.]—Mark McCallon, Abilene Christian Univ. Lib., TX
Condon, Bill. Dreamgirls. Newmarket. Apr. 2007. 192p. ed. by Jack Morrissey. illus. ISBN 978-1-55704-737-3. pap. $19.95. FILM
Released to coincide with the May 1 DVD debut of Hollywood's adaptation of the smash Broadway musical, this volume offers a backstage tour of the Oscar-winning film. The text here is brief but solid, including original essays by drama critic Martin Gottfried and music journalist Cheo Hadari Coker, with the book dominated by more than 200 beautiful color pix by top Hollywood shooter David James, along with concept art for sets and costumes. The illustrations are divided into categories of "The Players" highlighting the all-star cast that boasts Danny Glover, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson (who took home Best Supporting Actress gold for her portrayal of Effie White), and MTV pin-up Beyoncé Knowles; "The Movie Musical" illustrating the film's story; and a "Design" section sporting background peeks at its production. Dreamgirls already has scored on stage and the big screen and should be an equal draw for home viewers on disc, so have a copy of this photo-rich making-of volume on hand to complement your DVD copies. Recommended.—Mike Rogers, LJ/LJX
Duberman, Martin. The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein. Knopf. Apr. 2007. c.736p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-4000-4132-9. $37.50. BIOG
How fitting that one Renaissance man should write the long-overdue biography of another. A playwright (In White America), novelist (Haymarket), biographer (Paul Robeson), and chronicler of queer history and culture (About Time: Exploring the Gay Past), Duberman took on this Herculean task and succeeds brilliantly in bringing a legend to life. He does not neglect Lincoln Kirstein's accomplishments in literature, art, criticism, dance historiography, and philanthropy, but he necessarily concentrates on Kirstein's crowning achievement of helping to bring George Balanchine to America and establishing the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet. Duberman also shows the private man—the outsize personality plagued by self-doubt; the turbulent relationships with family, friends, and associates; and the lifetime of sexual ambiguity. In the end, you may feel you know Lincoln Kirstein almost as well as you know yourself; Duberman's research is prodigious, yet he doesn't let it get in the way of a good story. This extraordinary book is an essential purchase for academic libraries with dance collections and also highly recommended for larger public libraries.—M.C. Duhig, Carnegie Lib., Pittsburgh
Grossberg, George T., M.D., & Barry Fox. The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide: The Safe Way To Use Medications and Supplements Together. Broadway. Apr. 2007. c.592p. index. ISBN 978-0-7679-2277-7. pap. $18.95. HEALTH
As this book's first chapter points out, nearly 15 million Americans are at risk of suffering dangerous complications from herb/over-the-counter drug interactions, with no one alerting them to that fact. An accessible guide to those interactions is needed, then, but Grossberg (geriatric psychiatry, St. Louis Sch. of Medicine) and Fox (coauthor, The Arthritis Cure) aren't up to the task. Their book is alarmist in nature, lacks important details, makes crucial omissions, and contains no references. "An A-Z Listing of Herbs, and Medicines They Interact With" makes up most of the text. For many herbs, foods (coffee is included), and supplements, there is a long list of drugs with which they might interact, but the authors do not indicate whether the possibility is purely theoretical or based on scientific studies. Regarding omissions, the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin—which are taken by at least five million Americans—are not covered. Although the authors have not claimed to produce a complete guide, they do bill this book as "a good starting point as a basis for a discussion with your physician"—yet in the next introductory chapter, they say "most practicing physicians have little knowledge of herbal remedies or their effects." Redeeming features include Chapter 1, wherein the dangers of St.-John's-wort are pointed out, and a few definitions. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 2007 Consumer Version by the Therapeutic Research Center is a much better purchase. And the first place consumers should be directed for authoritative information on herbs is the herbs and supplement section of MedlinePlus. An optional purchase for public libraries.—Natalie Kupferberg, Ohio State Univ. Lib., Columbus
A Leaky Tent Is a Piece of Paradise: 20 Young Writers on Finding a Place in the Natural World. Sierra Club Bks., dist. by Univ. of California. Apr. 2007. 312p. ed. by Bonnie Tsui. ISBN 978-1-57805-127-4. pap. $19.95. NAT HIST
In this eclectic collection of essays, 20 writers under the age of 30 share their thoughts on awakening to the natural world. Compiled by Tsui—author of She Went to the Field: Women Soldiers in the Civil War and contributor to the New York Times, National Geographic Adventurer, and Outside magazine—the volume aims to capture the range of natural experiences crucial to the individual. Reminiscent of the contemporary blogs that advertise the blogger's impressions in order to establish an identity and relationship with the world, most of the essays recount the authors' reactions to nature and their feelings during this interchange, which frequently occured while the writers were camping, trekking, canoeing, hunting, fishing, hiking, climbing, and facing fears such as keraunophobia (fear of lightening). Indeed, these pieces are not nature essays per se, as they focus more on the development of the individuals as they face new challenges than the natural world around them. Still, this volume will appeal to teens and young adults in the throes of coming of age. Recommended for public libraries.—Rita Hoots, Sacramento City Coll., Davis, CA
Llewellyn-Thomas, Julie (text) & Ruth Jenkinson (photogs.). Breathe Your Way Through Birth with Yoga. Mitchell Beazley, dist. by Sterling. Apr. 2007. 96p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-84533-272-3. pap. $12.95. HEALTH
Yoga is a natural companion to birth, bringing harmony among mother, baby, and partner. In her latest book (after Yoga for Mother and Baby), British yoga teacher Llewellyn-Thomas demonstrates how the mind-body practice can act as a complement to the traditional hospital birth or an at-home delivery using a midwife. She introduces yogic breathing, working within the body, relaxing, and centering. Yoga, she argues, helps expectant mothers stay fit during pregnancy, as well as build strength and confidence and learn to stay calm and in control during the birth. She explains the stages of labor and recommends detailed breathing techniques and birth-enhancing positions, some with the help of a partner. She offers after-delivery yoga poses that can be done with the baby. Featuring beautiful photographs and clear instructions, this book will make an excellent addition to your childbirth collections; recommended for all libraries.—Dede Archer, Naples, FL
McDougall, Wendy (photogs.) & Matt Wills & Paul Burrows (text). Classical Destinations: An Armchair Guide to Classical Music. Amadeus: Hal Leonard. 2007. 240p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-57467-158-2. $30. MUSIC
This wonderful coffee-table book, based on and adapted from the Classical Destinations television series on PBS, focuses on the classical music heritage of influential European cities, including Salzburg and Vienna in Austria; Norway in Scandinavia; Helsinki and Rovaniemi in Finland; St. Petersburg in Russia; the Tuscany region and Venice in Italy; Eisenach, Weimar, Leipzig, and Berlin/Bonn in Germany; and Prague in the Czech Republic. Major classical composers are historicized in relation to the cities in which they lived, learned, and performed. Gorgeously illustrated with over 200 recent color photographs and featuring a number of sidebars on specific landmarks and informative commentary by the show's host, it serves as a virtual world tour through classical music history. Several educational CDs and DVDs have been developed as companions to the book, and PBS plans to do major advertising in many market areas during pledge drives in the 2007 fiscal year. A recommended purchase.—Bradford Lee Eden, Univ. of California Lib., Santa Barbara
Phillips, Adam. Side Effects. HarperPerennial: HarperCollins. Apr. 2007. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-00-715538-5. pap. $13.95. PSYCH
A brilliant writer on psychoanalysis for readers outside or in the profession, British analyst Phillips adds this collection of 18 lively lectures to his 11 previous books, which include Going Sane and Monagamy. Profound things spring from the conversation invented by Sigmund Freud that requires free association, encourages digression—like emptying one's pockets without knowing for sure what will come out. Phillips intermingles talk therapy with sophisticated ideas from literature and philosophy—Dickens, Austen, Locke, Nietzsche. He delights in enigma: "A good memory for Freud is one that forgets properly." He reflects on sex, desire, perversion, the family, love; on beggars, artists, criminals, and businessmen as "nuiscance"; on creativity, time, money, modernism, and the idea that we are attached to the past while yearning for what is new (and, paradoxically, vice versa). One enjoys his verbal flights as a kind of intellectual roller coaster, but he stays on the Freudian track: "our desire is fundamentally transgressive," i.e., incestuous, so "knowing what one wants is a form of terror." Missing are references to post-Freudian thinkers like Otto Rank and Ernest Becker, who find decisive terror in separation, death fear, and the conscious will. Freud and Phillips adhere to Oedipus as our defining myth: forbidden desire. What about Adam and Eve: forbidden knowledge and power? Recommended for collections in psychology, philosophy, and literature.—E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
Waitzkin, Josh. The Art of Learning: A Vibrant New Perspective on the Pursuit of Excellence. Free Pr: S. & S. May 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-7432-7745-7. $25. PSYCH
The subject of the film Searching for Bobby Fisher, chess champion Waitzkin follows up his instructional guide, Josh Waitzkin's Attacking Chess, with this long-awaited memoir. As a child and young adult, Waitzkin learned chess skills and metaskills to dominate the chess circuit. Since retiring from competitive chess at age 21, Waitzkin has become a champion martial artist in Push Hands Tai Chi. In the process, he discovered that while the skills involved in the two sports are vastly different, the metaskills of strategy and competitive psychology are the same. In this book, he describes what happened, why it happened, the lessons learned from each experience, and the universal principles involved, all without ever being trite or pedantic. With the exceptions of his parents and one girlfriend, Waitzkin leaves personal details out of the story, and even when you know he's going to win, he skillfully builds suspense with his play-by-play descriptions. Highly recommended for all libraries.—Renee Axtell, Independence, MO
Graphic Novels
Aoki, Yuya (text) & Rando Ayamine (illus.). GetBackers. Vol. 17. Tokyopop. 2007. 200p. tr. from Japanese by Alexis Kirsch. ISBN 978-1-59182-979-9. pap. $9.99. F
Ginji Amano and Ban Mido make up GetBackers, a retrieval service that will find anything or anyone for a fee. Ginji is able to control electromagnetic waves, and Ban can create images in people's minds that last for a minute; they use these skills along with street smarts and fighting prowess to solve their cases. Vol. 17 continues the story started in Vol. 14—Ginji and Ban have been hired to find a group of missing private school students who were involved in a role-playing card game called the Divine Design. Controller of Divine Design Lucifer has won the students' allegiance and made each of them an Archangel. (An Archangel takes on the persona and powers of a given card and has the power to alter reality.) In their last confrontation, the GetBackers' friend Kazuki was defeated, and now the GetBackers are joined by Yamato Kudo and his sister, Himiko, on a mission of revenge as well as retrieval. As the team faces off with the Archangels, it seems that Lucifer may have planned to lure the GetBackers into his realm; the team is confronted not only by their opponents but also by visions from their past. Detailed with an angular, slashing style, the black-and-white art well suits the fight scenes. The flashbacks provide interesting insight into the characters for faithful readers. This is a good series for those interested in mystery, marital/mystic arts, and in the case of the current story line, role-playing games. While the story might be enticing for younger teens, ample fan service and mature language put this series firmly in the indicated older teen age bracket.—Gretchen Schroeder, Woodlynde Sch., Stafford, PA
Carey, Mike (text) & John Bolton (illus.). God Save the Queen. Vertigo: DC Comics. Apr. 2007. 96p. ISBN 978-1-4012-0303-5. $19.99. F
Linda is a rebellious teenager headed toward rock bottom. She sneaks out of her house in North London on a regular basis to party, sleep around, do drugs, and she mistreats her one friend, a boy named Jeffrey who does his best to protect her. Linda's mother spends her time alone and drinking since her husband left. Soon, Linda starts hanging out with the wrong crowd: a strange group of slacker druggies who need her blood to make a heroin concoction they call Red Horse. Linda is especially drawn to their leader, Verian, and is shocked when she discovers that he and his friends are not human. She uncovers an old family secret and is pulled into a faerie world where she becomes pivotal in a civil war between Queen Titania and Queen Mab. Bolton's (Furies) beautiful painted artwork adds a haunting quality to the faerie world while successfully capturing the emotional frenzy of Linda's downward spiral. Although this was reviewed from a mostly black-and-white galley, the pages in color show a rich palette that complements the artwork and adds to the artist's evocative style. This dark faerie story will appeal to fans of the urban fantasy genre. Recommended for mature readers ages 18+ because of language, drug use, and adult situations.—Emily Williams, Metropolitan Lib. Syst., Oklahoma City
Higuri, You. Gorgeous Carat. Vol. 4. BLU: Tokyopop. 2007. 192p. tr. from Japanese by Katherine Schilling. ISBN 978-1-59816-105-2. pap. $9.99. F
When Florian du Rochefort's noble family loses their fortune, pride keeps them living an aristocratic life. To secure funds, Florian trades himself to loan shark Ray Balzac, who becomes enchanted by Florian's rare amethyst eyes—Ray, it turns out, is also the jewel thief Noir. Florian gets drawn into Noir's dangerous world, especially his conflict with crime syndicate the Black Hand. They almost find the organization's leader, but then Noir's childhood friend Azura invites them to Morocco to seek the Holy Grail. Azura's not the friend Noir remembers, though—Florian discovers he's the real leader of the Black Hand. Azura captures drugs, rapes, and then addicts Florian to opium while pretending to be Noir's friend. Noir finally realizes the truth, and the final volume opens after Florian and Noir narrowly escape from Azura, as the two parties try to reach the grail's hiding place first. Lots of hostage taking, shooting, and miraculous escapes follow. It's a little dizzying—and a little silly—as who has which hostage. The undercurrents between Noir and Florian—who have grown attached to each other but don't want to admit it—and a host of other well-developed characters help overcome an otherwise thin plot, as does Higuri's beautiful art. The adult situations, such as the rape, show just enough to make it clear what's happening. Although not as good as Higuri's Cantarella (Vol. 6, LJ 3/15/07), this is recommended for ages 16+.—Teresa Copeland, Yuma Cty. Lib. Dist. AZ
Malkasian, Cathy. Percy Gloom. Fantagraphics. Jun. 2007. 180p. ISBN 978-1-56097-845-9. $18.95. F
With his lazy eye and delicate constitution, Percy Gloom is an unlikely hero. He lives in a bizarre world where goats sing opera and the size of one's ears can be a sign of impending death (in more ways than one). His lifelong dream is to become a cautionary writer, warning consumers of the dangers of everyday objects. As the story opens, he is traveling to the city to interview with the Safely-Now Cautionary Writing Institute; Percy finds the urban environment dangerous and runs afoul of Tammy, an unstable young woman. After a harrowing interview at Safely-Now, Percy fulfills his dream and befriends the company doctor, Bernard, who entrusts Percy with a mysterious letter on a mission of mercy. Along the way, Percy is tormented by visions of his deceased wife and comforted by his devotion to his mother. He uncovers secrets deep beneath the city and discovers Tammy is much more sinister than he was first led to believe. With an endearing pencil-drawn style, Malkasian, best known as the codirector of The Wild Thornberrys and Rugrats, has created a fable extolling the latent heroism in all of us that will have readers rooting for the diminutive Percy. This debut will be enjoyed by older teens and adults alike. Although the review copy was in black and white, the final version's warm-tinted paper printed in duotone will make this story all the more charming. Recommended.—Don Boozer, Cleveland P.L., OH
Matt, Joe. Spent. Drawn & Quarterly. May 2007. 120p. ISBN 978-1-897299-11-1. $19.95. F
Joe Matt likes porn. And in the autobiographical Spent (which collects issues 11–14 of his aptly named Peepshow ongoing series), he shares just how pivotal a role it plays in his daily personal and social life. Matt's unique adventures include making porn buys in a coffee shop, creating his personal porn compilation tapes (in detailed, step-by-step descriptions), having heated conversations with fellow cartoonists about his art and life, and pissing in a giant bottle so he can avoid his other housemates, whom he finds repulsive and distasteful. Flashbacks show how the social awkwardness of his teen years has carried over to the present, in which he has trouble finding and keeping a girlfriend and seeks shelter in porn. He is aware of the isolating trap he is in yet unwilling or unable to find a way out—"I feel like a prisoner in solitary confinement…just rotting away…and slowly going crazy." These tales could easily have been too grim, sad, and perverse to be readable, but they are saved by the affecting, self-aware, and deeply personal way in which Matt relates them, as well as the strangely cheerful artwork that humanizes his strange adventures and injects a surprising likability into his world. Matt's willingness to expose himself in this way has netted him four Harvey Award nominations for Peepshow—and a strong cult following. Reviewed from the black-and-white galley, this hardcover will be published in color and is an excellent addition for most adult collections (owing to mature content), especially those where similar genre writers such as Harvey Pekar are popular.—David Ward, Univ. of Illinois Undergraduate Lib., Urbana
Modan, Rutu. Exit Wounds. Drawn & Quarterly. May 2007. 160p. ISBN 978-1-897299-06-7. $19.95. F
Caught up in the family taxi business in modern Tel Aviv, Koby Franco receives a peculiar dispatch to Army Spokesman Headquarters. There he meets Numi, a female soldier who has reason to believe that one of the victims of a suicide bombing of a bus station cafeteria in Hadera was Koby's father, Gabriel. Her only rationale is a glimpse on television of a handmade scarf at the attack scene that might have been Gabriel's. With the father/son relationship already estranged, Koby shrugs off the suggestion, denying the grim reality and reinforcing his apathy. Reluctantly, however, Koby joins Numi in hunting for clues that would explain more than just his father's abandoned apartment and go so far as to piece together the last months of all their lives and provide an unintended lesson in trust. Award-winning Israeli magazine and children's illustrator Modan delivers her debut with thin, controlled lines and bulky human figures that seem to be constantly moving in fluid yet lumbering anticipation of the next frame; it all recalls Winsor McCay's early animated shorts. Exit Wounds is a realistic urban mystery with engaging characters who end up being their own biggest clues. While the galley proofs are in black and white and softbound, the final version will be a full-color hardcover. A few instances of language and nudity and a sex scene that lasts for several pages make this appropriate for older teens and mature audiences. A promising debut from an author who knows how to employ emotion.—David Garza, AWBERC Lib. U.S. EPA, Cincinnati
Monchi, Kaori. Wagamama Kitchen. Juné: Digital Manga. 2007. 200p. tr. from Japanese Christine Schilling. ISBN 978-1-56970-871-2. pap. $12.95. F
This yaoi title features two sets of stories focusing on different couples. Small, effeminate Takashi can't get over a childhood crush on his older male neighbor Wakana. Years later, they meet again when Wakana is a teacher at Takashi's school. Will Wakana be able to resist Takashi's constant overtures of affection? The stories about Wakana and Takashi switch between the perspectives of the two characters, a device that shows different sides of the relationship. The second story set revolves around the crush salaryman Kumaki has on Naoto, an artist who happens to be straight. While Kumaki thinks his feelings are doomed to be unrequited, he can't keep himself from spending more and more time with Naoto, and their relationship gradually develops. The characters and plot situations are typical of what a reader might find in any yaoi title: Monchi doesn't imbue her characters with interesting personality quirks or come up with innovative story lines. The art is similarly undistinguished. Rated for mature readers 18+, the book contains several sexual scenes. Not recommended.—Anna Neatrour, Salt Lake City, UT
Mutou, Hiromu. Never Give Up. Vol. 4. Tokyopop. 2007. 192p. tr. from Japanese by Mike Kiefl. ISBN 978-1-59816-168-7. pap. $9.99. F
High school student Kiri fell in love with childhood friend Tohya long ago, but he's a gorgeous model—a prince—and Kiri, with her small chest and manly shoulders, is no princess. She wants desperately to stay close to Tohya, so she convinces her model agency–running mother to let her model, too…as a boy named Tasuki. The usual cross-dressing hijinks result—other characters fall for Kiri in both her forms, her cover is constantly almost blown, and the girls at school don't want her near celebrity Tohya. But Tohya knows everything from the beginning, but he can't ever quite tell Kiri he already loves her, though he tries to show her. Vol. 4 introduces a photographer who sees Kiri herself as model material and whisking her, Tohya, and fellow model Akira away for a photo shoot. The characters are endearing and adorable, although their lack of communication is frustrating. Mutou believably mixes celebrity coolness with adolescent awkwardness and uncertainty, especially in Kiri and Tohya, who are both surrounded by praise but are painfully insecure. The proportions are off sometimes, but Mutou makes up for it in skillful expressions. Despite the hijinks, the plot stays mostly believable and is fun to follow. The lack of any adult content—underwear is the most you see—makes this a good choice for young adult collections. Recommended especially for fans of series like Ouran High School Host Club (Vol. 8, Xpress Reviews, 1/16/07).—Teresa Copeland, Yuma Cty. Lib. Dist., AZ
Nilsen, Anders. Dogs & Water. Drawn & Quarterly. May 2007. 96p. ISBN 978-1-897299-08-1. $19.95. F
The end of the world has taken popular culture by storm again, but writer/artist Nilsen isn't jumping a bandwagon with his bleak, remarkable Dogs & Water—it first appeared as a saddle-stitched comic without an ISBN in 2004 (and won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Story), and his work on it began before the current war in Iraq started. Rather than merely exploiting contemporary fears and headlines, Nilsen has crafted a meditation on human persistence and compassion under siege in a cold, indifferent world. His unlikely vehicle for this is a series of spartan black-and-white illustrations of a young man on a road to nowhere in a vast, denuded landscape. His own random words, a teddy bear, and the occasional pack of animals are his only company, as the few other people he encounters are desperate and hostile. Interspersed are blue-and-white drawings of the boy and his bear on a surreal journey at sea, which provides the book with its surprising conclusion. Regardless of what it all means, Dogs & Water is a compelling, one-of-a-kind trip akin to Samuel Beckett conceiving Cormac McCarthy's The Road as a graphic novel, with inspiration from Harlan Ellison's "Vic & Blood" stories. Reviewed from an uncorrected paperback proof, this edition features new pages and panels not included in the original. Recommended for all fiction collections and to anyone interested in either graphic novels or how much can be conveyed with simple drawings and minimal text; its relative lack of violence and profanity makes it suitable for all but the very youngest of readers.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
Ogawa, Yayoi. Tramps Like Us. Vol. 11. Tokyopop. 2007. 178p. tr. from Japanese by Beni Axia Conrad. ISBN 978-1-59816-198-4. pap. $9.99. F
When Sumire is dumped by her boyfriend of five years, she vows to never date another man who doesn't live up to the Three Highs: higher income, higher education, and higher height. After rescuing a young, short, flat-broke man from having to live on the street, Sumire offers to let him live with her but only as her pet, going so far as to call him Momo after the dog she'd owned as a child. As months go by, Momo finds that Sumire is only able to be her true self when she is with him, even after she begins a relationship with a man who meets all her requirements. In Vol. 11, Sumire struggles with her decision to marry Hasumi, quit her job, and move to Hong Kong, while Momo must decide whether to accept a position with a European dance troupe or stay in Japan near Sumire. As Sumire works to wean herself from her dependence on Momo, Momo discovers that Hasumi is living with a pet of his own. This josei manga, written with an older teen or adult audience in mind, explores the stress felt by many women about work vs. marriage and family, as well as the stigma society places on women in relationships with younger men and women who are the primary breadwinner. At the same time, the series is funny, sexy, and has just enough goofy filler episodes to keep it from taking itself too seriously or lapsing into soap opera melodrama. The art is simple yet effective, often relying on body language and facial expressions to move the story. Recommended for adult collections.—Eva Volin, Alameda Free Lib., CA
Peach-Pit. Shugo Chara! Vol. 1. Del Rey: Ballantine. 2007. 208p. tr. from Japanese by June Kato. ISBN 978-0-345-49745-1. pap. $10.95. F
This new creation from manga team Peach-Pit has impossibly pretty boys, ubercute sidekicks, and enough visual flourishes that, had this been an anime, could give kids seizures. In other words, all the qualities of a great tween shojo! Ultracool Amu has a secret: her goth clothes are bought by her fashion-forward mother, but she would much rather wear girly skirts. Her sarcastic demeanor is a cover for her shy, doubting self. Just once, she wishes she could be honest and show everyone her true character. Her wish comes true when she finds three eggs that hatch into her Guardian Characters. They transform her into the Amu she wants to be—athletic, artsy, and good with pastries. With her three Guardians, she gains access to an elite club run by her crush. She also catches the attention of a cat-boy (or "that weird cosplay-kid") who's determined to steal her eggs. Amu and her friends are fun people with enough flaws to keep their relationships interesting. The tiny guardians provide a lot of humor but never come off as cliché. A helpful explanation of honorifics is included in the front. Perfectly acceptable for teens and even older children; every library deserves a little more "character."—Sadie Mattox, DeKalb Cty. P.L., Decatur, GA
Powell, Nate. Sounds of Your Name. reprint. Microcosm: dist. by AK Pr. & Dist. 2006. 328p. ISBN 978-0-9770557-9-1. pap. $15. F
An empty street just before dawn. A windswept bluff on the outskirts of town. A barely furnished room. These are the settings for Powell's brooding tales of loneliness and loss. The characters are generally in their early twenties, searching for ways to connect and live meaningful lives. The storytelling can be oblique to the point of incoherence, and the tone strives desperately for profundity. But if the callow philosophizing is tedious, the rich black-and-white artwork is consistently rewarding. Powell is a whiz at capturing the various textures of darkness and at conjuring a milieu: you can feel the breeze on the starlit hill, smell the rain from your chair on the porch. As adept at the sweeping long shot as the telling detail, he seems incapable of rendering an inexpressive or unfelt line. If his writing matures to match his artistic talent, he could well be one of the select few who advance and expand the graphic novel as a medium. Recommended for larger collections and YAs, who will respond most readily to the author's concerns. [This is a revised review; the original review was based on a misprint copy of the title and appeared in Xpress Reviews, 2/27/07.—Ed.]—Andrew Moore, Wayland P.L., MA
Soryo, Fuyumi. ES: Eternal Sabbath. Vol. 4. Del Rey: Ballantine. 2007. 229p. tr. from Japanese by Ikoi Hiroe. ISBN 978-0-345-49191-6. pap. $10.95. F
In this series, the ES is the product of a genetic engineering experiment to develop a gene that would withstand aging. The ES material was used to create two clones, Akiba/Shuro and the sociopathic Isaac. To aid in the pursuit of Isaac, Akiba/Shuro has allowed Dr. Mine Kujyou to examine his memories of the lab. During the examination, Akiba reveals secrets of their captivity and escape, as well his motives about surviving, untroubled and secretly, amongst regular humans. Meanwhile, Isaac continues to satisfy his hatred of humanity by manipulating minds and targeting "bad people" for elimination. However, Isaac's games may be coming to an end since Kujyou's examination of Akiba/Shuro seems to have awakened him from his lethargic apathy and Akiba may be angry enough to challenge Isaac. Soryo is the manga-ka responsible for the shojo manga Mars, but ES is quite different from that earlier work—it possesses an older, professional female main character, and romantic entanglements are merely hinted at (in Mars, romance drove the plot). However, as in Mars, here complex characters, an examination of love and compassion, and the responsibilities of parent to child figure in. The manga-ka is also meticulous in the depiction of the city and the lab, and hospital backgrounds are highly detailed. ES is a complex examination of humanity, science, and genetic engineering, as well as humanity's obligations to the scientific products we create—especially if the product may have a "soul." Strongly recommended for public libraries as a distinct, thoughtful manga for older teens and adult collections.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton
Toriyama, Akira. Dr. Slump. Vol. 12. Viz Media. May 2007. 184p. tr. from Japanese by Alexander O. Smith. ISBN 978-1-4215-1056-9. pap. $7.99. F
Senbei Norimaki, the titular "Dr. Slump," is a wacky inventor. He thinks he's a genius, but most of his creations are flawed and pretty goofy. His greatest creation is Arale, a super-strong and super-fast robot that looks and acts like a precocious little girl. Arale lives with Senbei, his new bride Midori, and twin cherublike aliens called Gatchans. Their home is in rural Penguin Village, which is inhabited by humans and anthropomorphic creatures. The crazy inventions that the bumbling Senbei builds lead to all sorts of silly adventures for Arale and the other villagers: in one story in this volume (of 18), Senbei fixes an antigravity device and builds a rocket to take King Nikochan back to his home planet, but Arale and the Gatchans stowaway on the rocket so that Senbei has to rescue them. Dr. Slump is a hugely popular gag manga by the legendary Toriyama, known for the Dragon Ball series. Toriyama pens pages that overflow with creativity and imagination. Rated 13+ for suggestive themes, this manga is full of adolescent humor, poop and potty jokes, lecherousness, goofy antics, and slapstick comedy. It is similar to the off-color humor and parodies found in Mad magazine. (On a side note, when people draw poop in Japan, it looks like the swirly top of a soft-serve ice cream cone.) Highly recommended. Readers will be thinking "That's so wrong" but won't be able to wipe the grins off their faces.—June Shimonishi, Torrance P.L., CA
Wagner, Matt. Grendel: Devil by the Deed. Dark Horse. 2007. 48p. ISBN 978-1-59307-736-5. $12.95. F
In his introduction to this 25th-anniversary edition, Wagner recalls developing Grendel out of a desire to create a series wherein the villain takes center stage as a seductive and diabolical force. Wagner's solution was a character of almost superhuman intellect and astounding physical abilities who dedicates himself to the pursuit of what he thinks is the only possible challenge to his extraordinary skills: "the complete domination of those around him." With Grendel: Devil by the Deed, Wagner condenses the origin, career, and dramatic death of the vicious and elegant Hunter Rose (a.k.a. Grendel), providing a perfect introduction to the series in terms of content and tone . This is an experimental work that pushes the limits of traditional Western sequential art and blurs the boundaries between comics and illustrated prose. The story is told entirely in the third person with no dialog save occasional quotations from "first hand accounts" of the chronicled events. The pages are printed in a limited palette of red, white, and black and more closely resemble an art deco illuminated manuscript or a modernist stained-glass window than a comic book page. The cumulative effect of these techniques elevates the story's conflict of a villainous protagonist and a monstrous hero to a bizarrely epic level, making readers feel as if they are learning about the whispered origins of some undiscovered classic myth rather than Vol. 1 in a linear adventure series. A visually arresting and captivating read, Grendel is notable that for all its suggestion of violence, it remains free of explicit language, and its depictions of murder are ultimately more gothic than graphic. Highly recommended for teen and adult collections.—Ben Lathrop, Fairfield Lane Lib., OH
Crais, Robert. The Watchman. 8 CDs. unabridged. 9 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-59355-043-1. $92.25. F
Rich, young Larkin Conner Barkley roars through the deserted Los Angeles streets, ignoring traffic lights and unable to avoid hitting a silver Mercedes that backs into her path from a alley. For once, she tries to do the right thing and help the victims. Her reward? Two of its occupants drive off in the injured Mercedes as a backseat passenger limps away from the scene on foot. Who were they, what did she witness, and why are they sending men with automatic weapons to kill her? To repay a debt he owes, Joe Pike, ex-Marine, ex-cop, agrees to keep wild, rich, beautiful Larkin alive until the FBI can get things straightened out. James Daniels gives an excellent reading to this exciting, intelligent story. Crais's characters are smart, interesting, and as contemporary as today's headlines. The action happens in appropriately described gritty, sweaty, smoggy Los Angeles area locations. Highly recommended for adult mystery collections.—Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
Crombie, Deborah. Water Like a Stone. 12 CDs. unabridged. 14½ hrs. Sound Library: BBC Audiobooks America. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7927-3867-1. $110.95. F
This is the newest entry in the popular series featuring Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. It is Christmas, and Duncan and Gemma have loaded their sons and dogs into the car and departed for Duncan's parents' home to celebrate the holiday. As they arrive, Duncan's sister discovers the body of a baby mortared into a wall in a house she is remodeling. Even though they aren't in charge, the two detectives get called into the investigation. There is an intriguing subplot involving narrowboats and the people who live on them and navigate the canals. Duncan also comes in contact with some friends from his childhood. This is a good mystery, but its strength is in the personal stories: those of the teenagers (both Duncan's son and niece), the families on the narrowboats, some of the neighbors, and also continuing Duncan and Gemma's relationship. The book is capably read by Michael Deehy, whose British accent adds to the ambience of the story. Recommended.—Mary Knapp, Madison P.L., WI
O'Rourke, P.J. On the Wealth of Nations. 5 CDs. unabridged. 5½ hrs. Tantor Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4001-0386-7. $24.99. ECON
Satirist O'Rourke (Parliament of Whores) here applies his well-established humorous approach to an insightful analysis of Adam Smith's classic The Wealth of Nations (click here for LJ's book review). O'Rourke diligently read through all of Smith's dense work and with his trademark wry wit shines as he explains why Smith is still relevant, why what seems obvious now was once revolutionary, and why the pursuit of self-interest is so important. Best suited for listeners who already have at least an inkling of understanding of Smith's work, this book relates Smith's discussion of free trade, the specialization of labor and the accumulation of wealth, Smith's idea of morality and his price theory, marginal utility, banking, and currency fluctuation. O'Rourke also adds a timely discussion of more recent trends, including outsourcing, blogs, and the use of lobbyists. Smart Money magazine Golden Voice Award winner Michael Prichard helps maintain listener focus on O'Rourke's intelligent humor, and the author's notoriety and extensive publishing history will likely create demand for this title. Highly recommended for all university libraries supporting economics and a general business curriculum and for larger public libraries.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
See the April 15th Xpress Reviews.
