Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 5/15/2007
Week of May 15
Fiction | Nonfiction | Audio
Fiction
Cussler, Clive with Paul Kemprecos. The Navigator: A Novel from the NUMA® Files. Putnam. Jun. 2007. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-399-15419-5. $26.95. F
In Cussler's seventh novel featuring Kurt Austin, we move once more into the world of implausible but great high adventure. This time, it's a Phoenician statue known as the Navigator that's the source of the trouble. Apparently, it contains secrets involving the original Ten Commandments and the Ark of the Covenant, which would change the world as we know it, and Austin and his chums have to prevent that from happening. Their hunt for the Navigator, which was stolen years ago from the Baghdad museum, involves a real odd couple—King Solomon and Thomas Jefferson—and features high-tech toys, medieval jousting, fast cars, gorgeous female archaeologists (aren't they all?), sadistic villains, and several gruesome deaths before the water settles. And would you believe the lost gold mines of the Queen of Sheba's Ophir might just be located in Virginia? And underwater? And so what if the writing's a tad overblown—"she cocked a finely arched eyebrow." Those readers wanting logic should get a math book. For those who want solid, escapist fun, give this summer beach read a try. Recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/07.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
Green, Jane. Second Chance. Viking. Jun. 2007. c.343p. ISBN 978-0-670-03857-2. $24.95. F
When a terrorist attack in America kills Tom Fitzgerald, the tragedy brings together his four best friends: Saffron, the rising Hollywood star and AA member; Holly, the lonely housewife and mother; Paul, married to a womanwho longs for babies; and Olivia, the decidedly single animal lover. During his life, Tom had always kept these British friends together, and now his death sets off a series of events that transforms each of these characters. Much of the novel focuses on Holly, who was always in and out of love with Tom and whose affection soon shifts to handsome Will, Tom's younger, irresponsible brother. Green (Swapping Lives) is the author of eight other novels that exemplify chick lit, but her latest work has taken the genre's components—life changes, romance, and finding oneself—to another level. These four are nearing 40 and, unlike her more typical characters, are dealing with issues that face those at mid-life. Highly recommended for popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/07.]—Anika Fajardo, Coll. of St. Catherine Lib., St. Paul, MN
Gunn, David. Death's Head. Del Rey: Ballantine. May 2007. c.368p. ISBN ISBN 978-0-345-49827-4. $24.95. SF
Ever wonder what kind of havoc a raging mutant mercenary with a chip on his shoulder and a sentient pistol at his side can accomplish? Gunn's protagonist, Sven Tveskoeg, is a killer without a conscience, honorable yet ruthless, decadent yet noble—an ultra-aggressive hybrid of a warrior and a certain cinematic mercenary made famous by the current governor of California. In a constant struggle for survival, Tveskoeg finds himself adapting, organizing, and conquering each and every situation and environment in which he is thrust. The militaristic sf setting will appeal to readers on the surface, but many of the supporting characters are one-dimensional caricatures. The fast-paced story sometimes feels like an adrenaline rush—we feel invincible for a few moments, but afterwards we are left questioning the reasons for our behavior. This first novel, a hodgepodge of sf movie scripts rolled into a proverbial mystery-meat burrito, is an optional purchase for larger sf collections.—David Wang, Queens Coll., Flushing, NY
Wilson, F. Paul. Virgin. Borderlands. May 2007. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-880325-75-9. pap. $16.95. F
Wilson is a prolific writer, best known for his medical thrillers and Repairman Jack series. In 1996, he wrote a religious thriller that he published under his wife's name, Mary Elizabeth Murphy. Now Borderlands is reissuing that novel under the author's name in the hopes that it might have a longer shelf life—that's wishful thinking. This uneven tale of the discovery of ancient scrolls and the subsequent theft of the earthly remains of the Virgin Mary tries to accomplish too many things. Multiple story lines have no apparent connection until the last few chapters; the apocalyptic ending seems contrived, and Wilson takes liberties with several characters that seem not only unnatural but also wholly unnecessary. While the underlying message of the need for people to accept one another may be pertinent, this novel is sure to offend Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike. Not recommended.—Nanci Milone Hill, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA
Hill, Geoffrey E. Ivorybill Hunters: The Search for Proof in a Flooded Wilderness. Oxford Univ. May 2007. c.256p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-19-532346-7. $24.95. NAT HIST
It has been almost 70 years since the last irrefutable sighting of the mythic, crow-sized, ivory-billed woodpecker. Extensive recent pursuits in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, and, in this case, Florida have produced a few tantalizing and probably valid reports but no proof in the way of video evidence. In this engaging tale of the search for the elusive bird, Hill (biology, Auburn Univ.) recounts how he and his colleagues may have found a population of ivory-billed woodpeckers in the swamps of Florida's panhandle. His depiction of the challenges of exploring the bottomland swamps and the technology of the search—remote audio and video sensing, GPS navigation, kayaks—brings to life the difficulties facing Hill's crew, who so far have achieved more sightings and gathered more audio evidence than any other group. Enlivened by 74 attractive photographs and diagrams of the search area, as well as of the cast of characters involved, this entertaining, unpretentious read should have wide appeal. Highly recommended.—Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia
McGilligan, Patrick. Oscar Micheaux: The Great and Only; The Life of America's First Black Filmmaker. HC: HarperCollins. Jun. 2007. c.416p. filmog. index. ISBN 978-0-06-073139-7. $29.95. FILM
Oscar Micheaux is the most stellar filmmaker from the heyday of race-picture production. Award-winning biographer McGilligan (Alfred Hitchcock) presents this industry icon as the no-holds-barred entrepreneur that he was. While other (primarily Anglo) producers were interested in financial success, Micheaux was driven by a desire to hold a mirror up to African American society to portray the good and the bad. According to McGilligan, Micheaux experimented with a variety of film techniques—some to be applauded, others that hindered quality. Micheaux's audacious approach to threats of censorship angered both Anglo and African American film industry executives, but it was the middle-class black audience that he always kept in mind. McGilligan has done thorough research, but he leans a little too heavily on quotations from contemporary Micheaux aficionados like J. Ronald Green and authors Pearl Bowser and Louise Spence (Writing Himself into History). Fascinating tidbits of information make up a collective portrait of this pioneer author, super salesman, and film producer. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries; essential for collections strong in film studies or black history.—Richard A. Dickey, Open Source Ctr., Washington, DC
MacKay, Kathleen. Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights from Friends and Fellow Musicians. Omnibus: Music Sales Corp. Jun. 2007. 240p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8256-7330-6. $22.95. MUSIC
This is a remarkable book, but it is not really about Bob Dylan. Journalist MacKay assembles profiles of famous musicians Dylan has encountered during his long career. Liam Clancy and Maria Muldaur reminisce about Dylan's—and their own—early days in New York City's Greenwich Village. Pete Seeger explains what really happened when Dylan plugged in at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Kris Kristofferson speaks of working with Dylan on the film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid ("I have no idea what's going on in his head. He's a very nervous guy"). Ronnie Hawkins digresses about the Band and their 1974 tour with Dylan, and Tom Petty admires Dylan's professionalism and directness during their 1986 tour. The most unexpected contributors are early rockers Bobby Vee and Johnny Rivers. MacKay conducted interviews with most of the participants, though for some (e.g., Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, and the Beatles) she relies on existing books and articles. She also uses Dylan's memoir, Chronicles: Volume One, and Martin Scorsese's 2005 documentary, No Direction Home. An essential purchase for all Dylan fans and for libraries with large popular culture collections.—Thomas A. Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA
Ong, Pichet & Genevieve Ko (text) & Pate Eng (photogs.). The Sweet Spot: Asian-Inspired Desserts. Morrow. Jun. 2007. c.320p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-06-085767-7. $29.95. COOKERY
Pastry chef Ong will be getting a lot of publicity this year with his first book and his first restaurant, P*ong, which opened in the Greenwich Village area of New York City in April. The author's mentor, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, wrote the foreword to this cookbook of over 100 recipes for puddings, pies, cookies, cakes, candy, frozen treats, and drinks. The standard cookies and cakes (Carrot Cake, Dragon Devil's Food Cupcakes, Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies) are comfort food; Avocado Milk Shake and Sake-Sauteed Plums with Ginger and Star Anise may excite, and Chocolate Cakes with Matcha Truffle Centers certainly will indulge chocoholics. The majority of the desserts are not for the calorie conscious. Heavy cream and condensed and evaporated milk are main ingredients along with ginger, chocolate, and coconut. The recipes, some of which are not for the novice, are clear, and most do not require a great amount of preparation. The author has succeeded in walking "the fine line between novel and comfortable" in a unique cookbook that bridges East and West. Recommended for libraries with adventurous cooks.—Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.
Quirke, Antonia. Choking on Marlon Brando. Overlook, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). Jun. 2007. c.310p. ISBN 978-158567-915-7. $25.95. FILM
This is the memoir of a young British film critic whose first look at Marlon Brando so enraptured her it made her literally choke and thus start a lifelong obsession with male movie stars so strong it affects her real-life love affairs. While searching for love, she gives her unique but often peculiar takes on actors and movies: Kevin Costner (best in his sports movies because he has sadness about him, and "golf and baseball are the saddest sports because they most humble their players"), Steve Buscemi's face, Gérard Depardieu as a husband, and so on. Some of her movie references would test film scholars, the many Briticisms could stymie the most ardent Anglophile, and she gets some facts wrong (Jones of the People's Temple was Jim not Gary, and Mickey Rooney is very much alive). But Quirke's insightful and self-deprecating humor makes it all work. Published in the United Kingdom as Madame Depardieu and the Beautiful Strangers (a much better title), this is Quirke's second book (after a critique of Jaws). Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
Ricciotti, Hope, M.D., & Vincent Connelly. I'm Pregnant!: Now What Do I Eat? DK. Jun. 2007. c.192p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-7566-2854-3. pap. $16.95. HEALTH
Pregnancy is full of dos and don'ts, especially when it comes to food, but Ricciotti (obstetrics, gynecology & reproductive biology, Harvard Medical Sch.) assures readers in this update to The Pregnancy Cookbook that there is no need to count calories or nutrients. Instead, she encourages expectant women to use common sense to eat balanced meals throughout pregnancy. She offers guidelines and meal plans for optimal eating in each trimester and during postpartum, along with recipes prepared by professional chef Connelly, her husband and coauthor. Though this update has fewer recipes than its predecessor, the disconnect between the text and the recipes has been resolved. Seeming contradictions, such as recipes including wine or feta, are addressed in the recipe notes to assure mothers-to-be of the ingredients' safety. Consistent with her counsel not to count nutrients, Ricciotti refrains from including nutritional breakdowns with her recipes. There are also tips for "Lunch on the Go" and "Quick Suppers" for busy families. Libraries in need of such information would do well with this title; optional for those already owning the earlier version.—Mindy Rhiger, Minneapolis
Scoring from Second: Writers on Baseball. Bison: Univ. of Nebraska Pr. 2007. 360p. ed. by Philip F. Deaver. ISBN 978-0-8032-5991-1. pap. $21.95. SPORTS
More than any other sport, baseball is awash in history and lore. Beyond that, it is intertwined with the cores of the lives of those who love it; it offers, in the present and through memories of the past, some stability in the maelstrom of life. Rules may change, but baseball always remains much the same. We may have changed since our youth but, as Robert Vivian, one of the contributors to this collection, observes about baseball, "You go back again and again to those days in summer when your whole life seemed to loom up before you in verdant promise and grandeur." So these pieces by such noted writers as Christopher Buckley, Andre Dubus, and Chris Mazza address not just a sport but a sport's place in the fabric of our lives. Baseball is a backdrop to crumbling marriages; to growing up African American in a small, predominantly white North Carolina town; to relationships with our fathers. The writing is polished, and the sentiments will touch a chord. Recommended for all medium to large public libraries.—Jim Burns, Jacksonville P.L., FL
Talbot, David. Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years. Free Pr: S. & S. May 2007. 562p. ISBN 978-0-7432-6918-6. $28. HIST
Talbot (founder, Salon.com) persuasively debunks the "lone gunman" assassination theory presented in Gerald Posner's Case Closed and Vincent Bugliosi's recent Reclaiming History, claiming that John and Robert Kennedy were likely murdered by the Mafia, the CIA, and/or anti-Castro Cubans, with Oswald likely framed as JFK's assassin. Although these conspiracies have been the subject of many books, few have been as engrossing in their portrayals as here. Interviews with aging Kennedy officials and a few possible plotters with ties to the underworld give an eerie and convincing authenticity to the author's conclusion that the Kennedys were murdered by criminal forces that the government could not restrain. John and Robert Kennedy are revealed sympathetically; JFK's quest for better relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba likely cost him his life. Robert Kennedy never believed that Oswald acted alone, and he planned to conduct a full investigation into his brother's murder if elected president in 1968. However, RFK's death ended the hope for a government inquest. Talbot ends the book with a damning indictment of the media's shameful failure to cover and pursue the president's assassination. Strongly recommended for public libraries.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA
Werth, Nicolas. Cannibal Island: Death in a Siberian Gulag. Princeton Univ. (Human Rights & Crimes Against Humanity). May 2007. c.248p. tr. from French by Steven Rendall. ISBN 978-0-691-13083-5. $24.95. HIST
Werth (research director, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France; coauthor, The Black Book of Communism) provides new information about the beginnings of the gulag system in Stalin's USSR, but his book suffers from a sterile translation from the French. He reviews the conditions in the USSR during the early 1930s, then presents the Nazino affair in which several thousands of social déclassé and undocumented persons were shipped out to the far Siberian north without winter clothing, tools to build shelter, or building materials. Twenty tons of flour was dumped on the tiny island of Nazino—the island of the title—but when riots erupted, the flour was transported to the shore on the other side of the river. Without pots or utensils, the deportees mixed the flour with river water and consumed it, an act that caused only increased weakness and disease. Ultimately, there were instances of cannibalism. The disaster was blamed on local officials, but subsequent investigations revealed that the government, obsessed with central planning, quotas, plans, and curves, intended to rid the cities of undesirable elements without consideration of their support. Numerous recent books, such as Oleg Khlevniuk's The History of the Gulag: From Collectivization to the Great Terror, cover much of the general material on Soviet gulags in more detail, but Werth's chapter on Nazino is distinct. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with Soviet era collections.—Harry Willems, Park City P.L., KS
Zouareg, Nordine. Mind Over Body: The Key to Lasting Weight Loss Is All in Your Head. Springboard: Warner. Jun. 2007. c.208p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-446-58077-9. $24.99. HEALTH
A former Mr. Universe, Mr. World, Mr. Europe, and Mr. France, Zouareg is currently the fitness coach at Miraval Life in Balance spa and resort in Tucson, AZ. In his first book, he shares his personal experiences and enthusiastically guides individuals toward embarking on changing their outlooks, expectations, and habits in order to achieve a higher level of wellness and functioning. Based on discovering one's "core desire," his program is not just about weight loss—it's about transforming one's beliefs and attitudes "to go from knowing to doing." Zouarag takes readers through a series of exercises to identify the roadblocks in their weight loss and fitness endeavors. He examines the body, mind, and spirit interconnection and recommends a holistic approach to reclaim the good health that is one's birthright. Filled with practical advice—e.g., useful, positive affirmations, what to look for in a personal trainer, a fat-loss plan including recipes, and a workout with detailed illustrations—Zouareg's heartening book will be a welcome addition in all public libraries.—Mary Grace Flaherty, Sidney Memorial P.L., NY
McKinty, Adrian. The Bloomsday Dead. 9 CDs. unabridged. 11 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7861-5778-5. $81. F
In his third Michael Forsythe thriller, McKinty gives his antihero even more close calls than usual. Michael's enemies in the Irish American criminal world track down the renegade in Peru, where he is head of security at a hotel, to persuade him to go home to Belfast to rescue the daughter of Bridget Callaghan, his former lover and greatest enemy. All of McKinty's tales are extremely violent, and this one is no exception, with the bodies piling up as Michael overcomes numerous obstacles. Most of the events take place on June 16, during the 100th anniversary of James Joyce's Bloomsday. McKinty takes his chapter titles from Ulysses, with Michael becoming an ironic Odysseus struggling to survive his journey home. As always, Gerard Doyle provides a lively, often unexpectedly comic performance. No one could possibly interpret McKinty's continually exciting and surprising fiction as well. Highly recommended for all collections.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr., New York
Min, Anchee. The Last Empress. 13 cassettes. unabridged. 15 hrs. Recorded Bks. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4281-4239-8. $113.75; 13 CDs. ISBN 978-1-4281-4241-1. $123.75. F
This sequel to Min's Empress Orchid completes the last half of Tzu Hsi's life, also known as Orchid and Dragon Lady, monikers that perfectly illustrate the diverse views and opinions held about this last empress of the Manchu dynasty. Min presents a brilliant though sometimes revisionist view of 1860 China and beyond, Peking's Forbidden City, palace intrigue, and a very real woman who was both good and bad. Some felt Tzu Hsi was power-hungry and bloodthirsty, while others believe that she was a loving mother and protector of her country. When her husband, the emperor, died, she ruled for her infant son, then adopted her deranged nephew upon her son's death. Because the nephew was weak and died young, Tzu Hsi continued to rule during the Boxer Rebellion, Japanese invasion, and growing fear of the West. The strong woman prevailed and softened. In the moving conclusion, she prepares for her death with great dignity as she tries to maintain the Ch'ing dynasty, which eventually fell. Narrator Alexandra O'Karma's tone conveys the empress's calm but regal voice while sharing details of her amazing life. An excellent purchase for large collections and those with an emphasis on China.—Susan G. Baird, Chicago
Week of May 8
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels | Audio
Fiction
Abbott, Megan. Queenpin. S. & S. Jun. 2007. c.192p. ISBN 978-1-4165-3428-0. pap. $13. F
See that dame in the Orlon sweater sitting at that metal desk over there, cooking the books for Club Tee-Hee? What's she really want? It turns out the answer provided in Abbott's noir homage is "More." Yeah, that's it: more. To get what she wants, she's more than willing to serve as gofer to the legendary Gloria Dentone, who's notable in the local rackets. At the same time, she also craves the attention of a two-bit, albeit attractive gambler with a flashing smile, pipe dreams, and bright eyes fixed forever on the fading horizon. When these twin attractions inevitably collide, only the very strong can possibly survive. Nominated for Edgar, Anthony, and Barry Awards for her debut, Die a Little, Abbott dishes up in her third novel stiletto heels, pointed, deadly, and good over small distances, leaving readers looking for more. This is All About Eve pulped to a fare-thee-well à la Jim Thomson. For all public libraries.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City P.L., MO
Hamilton, Laurell K. The Harlequin: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Jun. 2007. c.432p. ISBN 978-0-425-21724-5. $25.95. FANTASY
Anita Blake (Dance Macabre) and her vampire lover Jean-Claude know they are being threatened by a powerful force. Each has received a package containing a plain white mask signifying that the Harlequin has arrived in town. This sinister and secretive group, whose members are anonymous, is the closest thing to a police force that the Vampire Council has, and it is not used lightly. The 15th entry in Hamilton's popular "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series starts with this intriguing premise, which comes to the fore at various times throughout and brings things to an exciting conclusion. But too often the threat of the Harlequin is put on hold while Anita sorts out her very complicated sex life. Hamilton's current fans will be pleased with this latest offering, but a more satisfying story would have put more emphasis on the evil machinations of the Harlequin. For most fantasy collections and where paranormal fiction is popular.—Patricia Altner, biblioinfo.com, Columbia, MD
Koryta, Michael. A Welcome Grave. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Jun. 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-312-34011-7. $23.95. M
In what is the best entry yet in Kortya's "Lincoln Perry" private eye series (after Sorrow's Anthem), Perry becomes a person of interest when Alex Jefferson, the man he holds responsible for stealing his fiancée and costing him his job, ends up the victim of a particularly heinous murder. Things get even more complicated when the ex-fiancée/widow hires Perry to find the victim's estranged son, Matt, who stands to inherit several million dollars. But timing is everything, and Matt commits suicide with Perry as the only witness, which creates another suspicious death. Meanwhile, Perry is wondering whether his partner, recovering from a gunshot wound, will ever return to work and dealing with relationship issues with his friend Amy. This is a compelling novel with well-developed characters, fast pacing, and intricate plotting. The young Koryta, who won the SMP/PWA Prize for Best First PI Novel (for Tonight I Said Goodbye) at age 21, has proven that was no fluke; A Welcome Grave showcases his accomplished writing skills. Highly recommended for all mystery and crime fiction collections. [See Mystery Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/07.]—Stacy Alesi, MLIS candidate, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa
Cash, John Carter. Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash. Thomas Nelson. Jun. 2007. c.224p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-8499-0187-4. $24.99. MUSIC
John Carter Cash, the only child of Johnny and June Carter Cash (1929–2003), offers a biography of his mother and their family life. He relies on previous writings and June's own memoir, Among My Klediments, to tell of her early life, chronicling her start as a country act with her mother and sisters, her first marriage to country singer Carl Smith, her second marriage to stock-car driver Rip Nix, and finally her professional and personal involvement with Johnny Cash. Cash writes an unadulterated, engrossing account of life on the road with his mother and father and describes their bitter fights, Johnny's battle with drugs and his infidelities, and June's drug addiction during the last decade of her life. He details an armed robbery of the Cash family in Jamaica and ends with the deaths of his mother, father, and sister Rosey in 2003, which prompted him to end his own drug abuse. Throughout, he portrays June Carter Cash as a caring, religious, self-effacing person worn down by her exciting yet troubled life, and he captures the Cash family in human terms, showing the price of iconic success. Highly recommended.—Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Clegg, Brian. The Man Who Stopped Time: The Illuminating Story of Eadweard Muybridge. Joseph Henry: National Academy. May 2007. c.276p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-309-10112-7. $27.95. SCI
Eadweard Muybridge (1830–1904) was one of the most extraordinary photographers working during the first decades of the medium, the mid- to late 19th century. A transitional figure, he bridged photography as it was practiced in its early years with the instantaneous photography and motion pictures we are familiar with today. His three primary achievements—photographing the Yosemite; producing stunningly detailed panoramic views of San Francisco; and inventing, perfecting, and pursuing one of the first successful efforts to document motion and create moving images—together with his tempestuous personal life (which included killing his wife's lover) make for fascinating reading. Popular science author Clegg (The God Effect; Infinity) has dug deep into archival sources and located comprehensive material to narrate Muybridge's personal and professional life. He's done careful research, sifted numerous sources, and detailed the photographer's major achievements and conflicts. Clegg's book will be of greater interest to students and scholars than to general readers, who might find details concerning technical innovation and copyright disputes excessive. General readers should consider Rebecca Solnit's River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West. For larger science and history of photography collections.—Michael Dashkin, Qualcomm, San Diego
Cook, Kevin. Tommy's Honor. Gotham: Penguin Group (USA). 2007. c.304p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-592-40297-7. $27.50. SPORTS
Golf, if anything, is a game about tradition. Cook here chronicles the beginnings of the modern era of golf. Prior to the Morrises of 19th-century St. Andrews, Scotland, golf was an ad hoc pastime of shepherds, with sheep on the green. With Old Tom Morris, golf moved from the purely amateur to the emergent professional. In telling his story and that of son Tommy, a hugely promising player who died tragically at the age of 24, Cook (former editor in chief, Golf magazine) has done considerable research. The student of the game will find that Old Tom Morris standardized hole size, began the process of top-dressing greens, and introduced the mechanical lawnmower. Mixed in with the narrative is a description of the class values of the era in Scotland and England. There are indeed parallels with contemporary golf: the evolution of the golf ball, the relative merits of different clubs, and the influence of the crowd on the outcome of a match. (Arnies' Army was not the first such phenomenon, nor was Tiger Woods's removal of a loose impediment.) Above all else, Cook brings to life the conditions, values, and mores of golf at this critical point of development. Recommended for sports collections.—Steven Silkunas, North Wales, PA
Curtis, Grant. The Spider-Man Chronicles: The Art and Making of Spider-Man 3. Chronicle. May 2007. c.240p. illus. ISBN 978-0-8118-5777-2. $50. FILM
The summer Hollywood blockbuster season is nigh upon us, and it's going to be quite a ride. Itchy fans will get a new fix of many of their favorites, including Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates III, Shrek III, Harry and the Hogwarts gang, and the mighty Spidey threequel. Things officially kicked off with the May 4 release of director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3, with everyone's favorite web slinger this time taking on a trio of baddies—Sandman, the New Goblin, and Venom—while still grappling with his own inner turmoil. Curtis, the film's producer, takes fans on a blow-by-blow tour of Raimi's creation, highlighting the crafting of the original story, casting, costume design, and, of course, the stunning visual effects. A healthy portion of the text is dedicated to Curtis's production diary covering the daily shooting activities inside studio sets and on location in LA, New York City (again including NYPL's Fifth Avenue gem), and Brooklyn, giving lay readers an appreciation of just how monstrous and minutely detailed a production of this scale truly is. Pictures sell a book like this, and Chronicle's quality shines. Illustrations and photos are plentiful and range from thumbnails to two-page spreads (more finished costume pix over concept art would be nice, but that's nitpicking). With the series' first two films scoring big time, Spider-Man 3 should be a slam dunk (online ticket sales reportedly are triple that of Spider-Man 2), so this book will have great browse appeal for fans, and film students will lap up Curtis's production notes. Recommended.—Mike Rogers, LJ/LJX
Des Barres, Pamela. Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies. Chicago Review. Jul. 2007. c.400p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-55652-668-8. $24.95. MUSIC
Here is music, sex, and rock culture as experienced by the muses and groupies who loved the performances and the performers. Tales of their plans to break into backstage sanctums to join the inner circles of their rock-star heroes make for absorbing reading. Des Barres, who shared her own story in I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, begins with brief comments on the essence of groupies, intertwining her own conversion from religion to rock. She then introduces two dozen major muses/groupies in a series of in-depth individual portraits, with stories of the stars they sought to inspire (from Jimi Hendrix to Mick Jagger to Cat Stevens), and plenty of rollicking details from backstage to bedroom. Some had short-term liaisons; others, like Gail Zappa, married or had longstanding relationships. And along the way, many developed unique signature claims to fame, including Cynthia Plaster Caster, whose phallic works of art were literally molded by the stars, and Tura Satana, who reportedly taught Elvis some of his more impressive moves both onstage and off. Rock fans and students of the sociology of pop culture will find this book intriguingly informative. For circulating collections.—Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
Epstein, Robert. The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen. Quill Driver. May 2007. c.512p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-884956-70-6. $24.95. SOC SCI
Time to abolish adolescence—so argues Epstein, former editor in chief of Psychology Today and host of the Sirius Satellite Radio show "Psyched!," in this extensive, groundbreaking book. He claims that teenagers are capable and should be given responsibilities the moment they're ready. Globally, teens in preindustrial countries are already integrated into responsible, adult society, and teen problems as we know them do not exist. Only in Western industrialized countries are teens isolated from adults through education and laws. American teens are overly dependent on drugs and alcohol, obsessed with their appearance, careless about sex, and moody/depressed/angry. This large volume covers it all, especially the positives: what kids can do, what decisions they should be making. For example, in the field of education, Epstein advocates shorter compulsory school hours, mandatory education for basics only, more individualized instruction, and an end to age segregation. Epstein's credentials and research are extensive; his arguments, persuasive. He is an astute observer of the world around him, especially its do-nothing adolescents. Sure to generate much discussion; highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA
Graphic Novels
Anno, Moyoco. Sugar Sugar Rune. Vol. 5. Del Rey: Ballantine. 2007. 208p. tr. from Japanese by Kaya Laterman. ISBN 978-0-345-49487-0. pap. $10.95. F
Chocolat and Vanilla are fifth graders, witches, and best friends who are sent to the human world for a contest to become queen of their magical world. They have to collect human hearts that they can exchange for magical artifacts and spells. While Chocolat is outspoken and direct, Vanilla is quiet and shy. But Vanilla falls under the influence of outcast witches called ogres and turns to dark magic. As the fifth volume begins, Chocolat is drowning in an ocean created by a spell Vanilla cast to summon a beach. The ogre prince Pierre jumps in to save her, and Chocolat and Pierre become trapped in the Forgotten Path, a dangerous area between worlds where time and space are warped. They have to figure out a way to get back to the human world before she forfeits her right to compete to become Queen. Although they're supposed to be enemies, they manage to look after each other during their journey. Anno portrays the magical world as a gothic candy land, and she uses decorative patterns to outline the panels on each page, which contribute to the elaborate and detailed feeling of the art. Rated for ages 10+, this is recommended for large manga collections.—Anna Neatrour, Salt Lake City, UT
Deitch, Kim. Alias the Cat! Pantheon. 2007. 136p. ISBN 978-0-375-42431-1. $23. F
Underground comix legend Deitch has been publishing his quirky, unique stories since the 1960s and recently penned the widely praised Boulevard of Broken Dreams. His current work riffs on many of the themes of his long career—telling stories within stories, incorporating nostalgic settings from the origins of animation and comics, and prominently featuring the mysterious character Waldo the Cat. But Alias the Cat! actually features a number of different cats, as it tells the "real" story of Deitch and his wife, Pam, an aficionado of stuffed cat toys who regularly raids flea markets and eBay to fulfill her collecting passion. The couple chances upon a mysterious man selling a stuffed Waldo Cat for $1000, and there begins Deitch's strange quest, which takes him back to the early days of cinema and comics, where a character named Alias the Cat may have been both a real and a fictional person. Reality and fantasy blend as he uncovers decades-long secrets about Alias and Waldo, while striving to keep his own sanity. Complementing the intricate, well-scripted plot is the kind of black-and-white 1960s and 1970s camp/underground artwork for which Deitch is known. The panels are filled with interesting and amusing background detail and "clues" to the unfolding mystery that help develop the story's conspiratorial tone. The anatomically correct (and frequently frisky) Waldo rates this collection for adults only, and it is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.—David Ward, Univ. of Illinois Undergraduate Lib., Urbana
Jones, Bruce (text) & John Watkiss (illus.). Deadman: Deadman Walking. Vertigo: DC Comics. 2007. 126p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1236-0. pap. $9.99. F
Deadman presents an intriguing, if initially confusing revamp of a DC character from the 1960s. In the old series, Deadman was a hero named Boston Brand; the new Deadman is (was?) airline pilot Brandon Cayce who is killed when he and his copilot brother, Scott, crash a jetliner into Heathrow International Airport. Flashbacks, jump cuts, and a plethora of "alternate universe" sequences eventually all merge into a narrative revealing that Brandon is the new Deadman. Moving from one reality to another, Brandon struggles to ascertain why he's not truly dead and why his circumstances are constantly shifting and changing: he seems to have had a wife, Sarah—or perhaps his brother was married to her; his father apparently possessed an important mental gift that has somehow passed on to the sons; his mother died of cancer in one universe or was poisoned by the government in another. Fleeing mysterious military spy types, Brandon fights to stay "alive" and to protect Sarah while being shot at, stabbed, and more—all after his jet crash and alleged death. Written by veteran scribe Jones and aptly illustrated by Watkiss, Deadman is a dark, moody, quirky tale, somewhat eerily reminiscent of another famous Vertigo revamp, namely Neil Gaiman's Sandman. It visits similar themes, including love, death, sex, the afterlife, and other mature subject matter. Jones also craftily works in a trapeze act and the original red Deadman costume in homage to the 1960s stories. Nudity, adult situations, and graphic violence make this suitable for adult collections.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
Jones, Bruce (text) & Jo Dodd & others (illus.). Nightwing: Brothers in Blood. DC Comics. 2007. 167p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1224-7. pap. $14.99. F
A year has passed, Blüdhaven has been destroyed, and Dick Grayson (a.k.a. Nightwing) has taken up residence in the Big Apple. While he searches for a job, his new landlord is letting him slide on the rent. Money counts as the least of his worries, however, because Jason Todd is also in New York, prowling the city dressed as Nightwing and carrying out a lethal version of justice that earns both Nightwings the unwanted attention of New York's finest. Both Nightwings also manage to run afoul of New York's crime lords, the Pierce brothers. As if all this isn't bad enough, several characters turn out to be metahumans. On the positive side, Dick's psychiatrist friend, Clancy, has moved into town, and she's able to give him insight into his problems as well as some playful ribbing. During the course of the story, each ex-Robin saves the other's life, and we are treated to Dick Grayson as fashion model. In this volume, new authors and artists have taken the helm; the story continues to have a bit of soap opera leavening the action, but the art is quite different. Rather than the angular, cartoony style of Hester and company, Dodd et. al give us more realism—thinner lines allow faces and bodies to have more detail. Fans of the Bat-clan will definitely want to follow Nightwing's latest exploits. For teens and up.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids
Kinoshita, Sakura & Kazuko Higashiyama (text & illus.). tactics. Vol. 1. Tokyopop. Apr. 2007. 192p. tr. from Japanese by Christine Schilling. ISBN 978-1-59816-960-7. pap. $9.99. F
In the wake of Bleach's enormous success comes tactics—a supernatural manga by the creator of Detective Loki Ragnarok. Kantarou is a folklore scholar, but since he can't manage to get his manuscripts done on time, he keeps a "side" job as an exorcist. Of course, the demands of the spirit world are multitude, so Kantarou enlists the help of the demon-eating tengu whom he names Haruka. Haruka does not know what to make of his new master—an exorcist who is more concerned with helping demons and spirits than banishing them and who will not allow Haruka to eat the demons he defeats! What is a demon-eating tengu to do? Each chapter of the tale brings Kantarou and his band of youkai up against a different foe. There's not a lot of connective tissue; the book is more episodic than narrative. However, with each battle, new aspects of Kantarou's wit and cunning emerge, and the reader encounters an impressive array of Haruka's abilities. Only Haruka is a truly physical presence; Kantarou fights with words, whether written as binding sutras and charms or spoken. The artwork is accomplished. Kantarou is cute and charming, Haruka is by turns refined and powerfully majestic, and the youkai critters are weird and wonderful. Kantarou's compassionate refusal to kill even the most terrible demons tones the violence considerably, making tactics appropriate for middle schoolers on up. Recommended for both school and public library collections.—Ruthanne Price, Vaughan Pub. Libs., Ont.
Kouga, Yun. Loveless. Vol. 4. Tokyopop. 2007. 195p. tr. from Japanese by Ray Yoshimoto. ISBN 978-1-59816-224-0. pap. $9.99. F
Ritsuka Aoyagi's brother Seimei kept a lot of secrets, and upon his apparent murder, he left one to Ritsuka: a man named Soubi. Soubi and Seimei were partners in an (as-yet-unexplained) underground world of spellcasting and conspiracy, and now that Seimei is gone, Soubi wants Ritsuka to take Seimei's place. Thoroughly confused and coping with the loss of his brother, an abusive mother, and his own identity, Ritsuka is overwhelmed. He remains mostly overwhelmed in this volume, though he comes into his own a little, and we find out more about the fighting system and the people who run it from the shadows. We also meet another pair of fighters, two girls who in the end value their relationship (a romantic one) more than the fight. The volume ends with a sweet side story about a girl from Ritsuka's past, and a big question: Is his brother Seimei really dead? Loveless is immensely popular but also very hard to place because there's so much uncomfortable material in it: the fighter/sacrifice relationship is consistently codependent and at least partially sexual; given that, the relationship between sixth grader Ritsuka and 20-year-old Soubi is unnerving at best, especially in Ritsuka's innocence. The art—clothing, chains, portrayals of violence, and the contact between characters—is sexual in implication if nothing else. It is certainly not for anyone below high school age. For older readers, however, it's a fan favorite, attractively drawn, often angsty, and sometimes sweet.—Rebecca Schaffner, Saline Dist. Lib., MI
Mukai, Natsumi. +Anima. Vol. 3. Tokyopop. 2007. 199p. tr. from Japanese by Alethea & Athena Nibley. ISBN 978-1-59816-349-0. pap. $9.99. F
The amusing adventures of the +Anima clan continue as this team of four teenagers with animal powers keeps journeying to find acceptance among humankind and to understand better their rare animal-like condition. In this volume, crow boy Cooro and company find themselves trying to make sense of their complex world—a new friendship is formed and subsequently lost, old friends and foes reappear, and many more details about the existence and nature of the +Anima are revealed. Mukai's various talents are on dazzling display: a brilliant balance of comedy and drama; imaginative, innovative characters; an entertaining, engrossing story; and beautifully drawn, creative artwork. For readers looking for a well-crafted manga that inventively combines fantasy, humor, mystery, and covert social commentary about discrimination and tolerance, +Anima is where it's at. With mild violence, it is highly recommended for grades 9 and up.—Raphael E. Rogers, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Sakura, Ken-ichi. Dragon Drive. Vol. 1. Viz Media. 2007. 195p. tr. from Japanese by Lucy Craft & Corinne & Kohei Takada. ISBN 978-1-4215-1187-0. pap. $7.99. F
There's a lot about Dragon Drive that will be recognizable to anyone even vaguely familiar with anime or manga: a misfit boy is encouraged by his perky female friend to enter a game involving cards and animals used for battle. While the basic premise of this shonen manga may be recognizable, Sakura's introduction of a large supporting cast and various subplots makes it interesting. Reiji Ozora is an ineffective teenager who is introduced to the world of virtual reality dragon fighting, Dragon Drive, by his friend Maiko Yukino. A program assigns players dragons that correspond to their characteristics and personalities; Reiji is given a nameless, tiny dragon that he dubs Chibi. When Reiji manages to boost Chibi's power and effectiveness during battle, he reveals that there is a lot more to both the dragon and himself. The organization that runs the game is much more than just an entertainment company, and they think that Reiji might be of use to their secret plans. Sakura has a pleasant, cartoony style that works well in this all-ages manga. This fun read should circulate with patrons who have checked out similar works. Recommended.—Kristin Fance, Houston Baptist Univ. Lib., TX
Simone, Gail (text) & Brad Walker & Jimmy Palmiotti (illus.). Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation. DC Comics. 2007. 143p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1231-5. pap. $14.99. F
In a world of noble superheroes and repugnant supervillains, the Secret Six are an anomaly: outlaws with a certain dark sense of honor who reject the larger society of villains but remain too amoral to be considered heroes. Team leader Catman, wise-cracking marksman and assassin Deadshot, triple-jointed lunatic Ragdoll, voluptuous bruiser Knockout, lethal blade-wielder Scandal, and the enigmatic Mad Hatter can only rely on one another, and together they form a kind of dysfunctional family of ruthless criminal operatives for hire. When Scandal's father makes demands of filial piety that threaten to tear the team apart, the Secret Six find themselves once again up against the wall and fighting for their lives. This volume collects a six-issue miniseries, which is technically a sequel to Villains United from 2006, but Simone quickly brings the reader up to speed on the characters, and the story stands on its own. The characters are all well realized as complex, sometimes conflicted individuals who see that they can hang together or hang separately, and their dark world is vividly rendered as one full of fear and pain, betrayal and regret. Walker's art similarly captures the moody setting, encompassing the grotesqueries of Ragdoll and the Mad Hatter, the earthiness of Deadshot and Knockout, and buckets of blood spilled on all sides. Together, they create an atmospheric story that is both action-packed and thought-provoking. It's not rated, but the content is adult-oriented, featuring some off-color language, a great deal of violence, and fairly intense focus on the characters' sex lives. Recommended for older audiences.—Dale W. Glaser, Sterling, VA
Suenobu, Keiko. Life. Vol. 4. Tokyopop. 2007. 176p. tr. from Michelle Kobayashi. ISBN 978-1-59532-934-9. pap. $9.99. F
Unable to assist in the bullying of Miki Hatori, Ayumu, the heroine of Life, finds herself tested and rejected by Manami's powerful clique. Arriving home, Ayumu discovers that her mother has hired her a tutor: Katsumi, the budding sexual sadist, who is Manami's intended. Trapped alone with Katsumi in her room, Ayumu decides to resist him, no matter the cost. She is unaware that Manami saw her faithless boyfriend's arrival at Ayumu's home with flowers and that the unstable Manami plans to intensify and focus the bullying at school on Ayumu. Life is similar in subject matter to Reiko Momichi's Confidential Confessions (Vol. 3, LJ 3/1/04) and, similar to Confessions, the manga-ka also plays with the shojo conventions of plain girl, her scheming rivals, and lovely bishounen. This artist grotesquely distorts the masks of shojo stock characters, revealing with charcoal-thick strokes and menacing shadows the terrible cruelty that these teenagers inflict on one another. There is a particularly intense and dangerous confrontation between Manami and Ayumu, almost as frightening as the frames of Katsumi alone with Ayumu in her bedroom, with her mother an unknowing accomplice in the next room. Life investigates bullying and female complicity, as well as tentative female friendships and how they can sustain young women, though this volume offers little relief from the melodrama. Suitable for public libraries that collect for older teen or college-age readers: some of the subject matter, such as sexual assault and self-mutilation, make it unsuitable for less mature readers.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton
Takaguchi, Satosumi. Shout Out Loud! Vol. 4. BLU: Tokyopop. 2007. ISBN 978-1-59816-319-3. pap. $9.99. F
Shino, a youthful-looking anime voice actor, is surprised to find his long-lost son, Nakaya, waiting for him on his doorstep. Shino is thrilled finally to have a family and asks for extra work to earn enough money to support the addition. To Nakaya's dismay, this extra work entails his father's playing the voice of the uke (the "bottom") on yaoi drama CDs. As father and son learn to live together, they also start to build relationships outside of the home—Shino with his fellow voice actors and Nakaya with his school hockey coach. In Vol. 4, Nakaya's grandmother introduces Shino to a young woman with the intent of finding him a new wife. As Shino struggles with the thought of no longer living alone, he must also come to terms with his growing feelings for voice actor Tenryu. Meanwhile, Nakaya and hockey player Akihi consummate their relationship. Far from the sweet romantic comedy typical of much of the yaoi published in English, this series has enough plot to interest even the nonyaoi reader. Exploring emotions and defining love in terms of family, friendship, and romantic interests, Shout Out Loud! contains layered stories, which lend the book to rereadings in order to avoid missing any details. The fun of getting a behind-the-scenes look at working voice actors is a bonus. The sexual content is discrete, and there is a limited amount of strong language. Recommended for older teen and adult collections.—Eva Volin, Alameda Free Lib., CA
Willingham, Bill (text) & others (illus.). Shadowpact: The Pentacle Plot. DC Comics. 2007. 158p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1230-8. pap. $14.99. F
Coming out of the pages of Days of Vengeance and Infinite Crisis, Shadowpact is a team of DC Universe magic users that forms to battle the rampaging Spectre and then continues to fight against dark magic. The team is made up of B- and C-list magical characters like Detective Chimp, Blue Devil, Ragman, and others. In their first volume, the team takes on a group of evil magic users whose look and powers mirror their own. The villains are attempting to resurrect an ancient evil through ritual sacrifice of an entire town. While the plot sounds dark, Willingham brings the same humor he uses so effectively in Fables to create a light tone in the middle of the darkness and takes little-used characters and imbues them with distinctiveness, wit, and life. The second and third stories are not as strong as the first but still enjoyable in Willingham's capable hands. The major drawback is the inconsistency of the artistic team; Willingham himself draws the first two chapters but then turns the reins over to several other creators, with varying degrees of success. Fans of Fables or DC Comics in general will appreciate this book. It should fit well in any YA or high school collection, though some communities might have trouble with the occult references. Recommended.—Mark D. Richardson, Cedar Mill Community Lib., Portland, OR
Winick, Judd (text) & Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens (illus.). Green Arrow. Vol. 8: Crawling Through the Wreckage. DC Comics. 2007. 143p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1232-2. pap. $12.99. F
Taking place one year after various catastrophic events in the DC Universe, this collection of issues 60–65 serves as a good jumping-on point for new readers. Green Arrow stories often focus on victims and the aftermath of crimes rather than flashy criminals. In the past, stories have dealt with drugs, teen prostitution, AIDS, racism, and other social issues. This volume takes that in a new direction, with Green Arrow's alter ego Oliver Queen taking office as mayor of a much-damaged Star City. His brash, abrasive style immediately makes enemies, including a corporation with the resources to hire a top-notch assassin. The duel between Green Arrow and the evil corporation is at the core of the story, but it's also about the moral issue of "greater good" vs. absolutes—Green Arrow tolerates the continued existence of a supervillain in one section of the city because he's doing a lot of good as well as reducing the level of violent crime. In addition, Green Arrow may have financed a number of worthwhile projects by illegal stock manipulation targeting "bad guy" businesses, and he openly violates the law in Robin Hood fashion when it suits him. Winick's writing is excellent, and McDaniel's artwork is solid. The level of violence should keep this out of collections for younger readers, but it is an essential purchase for collections aimed at older teens and adults.—Nick Smith, Pasadena P.L., CA
Andersen, Kurt. Heyday. 22 CDs. unabridged. 27 hrs. Sound Library: BBC Audiobooks America. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7927-4736-9. $139.95. F
Heyday is a tumultuously picaresque, wide-angled portrait of the birth of modern America. In 1848, English gentleman Benjamin Knowles sets off to discover New York. It is a time of rapid change: the development of railways, the telegraph, photography, utopian communes, and modern journalism. Soon after landing in the city, Benjamin meets and falls in love with Polly Lucking, actress and occasional prostitute. He meets her brother, Duff, a troubled veteran of the Mexican War, and Tim Skaggs, journalist, daguerreotypist, and would-be stargazer. Because of a misunderstanding, Polly runs off to the hinterland to explore life in several utopian communities; Tim, Duff, and Ben then set out to find her. Their transcontinental journey ends amid the California gold fields where a homicidal Frenchman, determined to kill Ben, has stalked them. Andersen's use of interesting period details such as the lack of standard time zones (New York City was 30 minutes ahead of Buffalo), chloroform and opium parties, the use of the newly invented saxophone in a military band, and a discussion of the recently discovered planet Neptune are further enhanced by the mention of such luminaries as Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Horace Greeley, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Frederick Douglass. Actual cameo appearances by Walt Whitman, a flatulent Charles Darwin, and Stephen Foster, whose "Oh Susannah" appears in many versions throughout the novel, give additional richness and credibility to the author's sense of place. Narrator Charles Leggett's theatrical experience lends to this audio production a variety of amusing voices, accents, and even singing interludes. Recommended for libraries with serious collections of historic fiction.—David Faucheux, Louisiana Audio Information & Reading Svc., Lafayette
Lamott, Anne. Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. 5 CDs. unabridged. 5¼ hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-3807-2. $90; 4 cassettes. ISBN 978-1-4159-3806-5. $70. REL
Lamott continues in the vein of Traveling Mercies and Plan B with a delightful collection of essays about her continuing albeit atypical spiritual journey. It is hard to imagine anyone other than Lamott as reader for these books; her unassuming tone and self-deprecating humor make the listening experience like a one-sided chat with a friend over a cup of coffee. Dark humor and perceptive insights, along with Lamott's eclectic blend of beliefs, make for a refreshing look at religion. Listeners will find themselves reaching for a pencil to jot down ideas and quotes, and excerpts from the essay "Steinbeck Country" should make it into a few library advocacy speeches. The author seems to have mellowed a bit in her outrage against President Bush and his policies, but his name still pops up a few times. Highly recommended for libraries with a following for Lamott's nonfiction; a great selection for book discussion groups.—Karen Fauls-Traynor, Sullivan Free Lib., Chittenango, NY
Quick, Amanda. The River Knows. 8 CDs. unabridged. 9 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4233-1487-5. $92.25. F
When Joanna Barclay fakes her own death, she follows a long female tradition of river suicides. Reborn as Mrs. Louisa Bryce, she comes to learn that at least some of those predecessors were murdered. Anthony Stalbridge never believed his fiancée committed suicide, but proving it is difficult, until he stumbles across Louisa breaking into the library of his chief suspect. Suddenly, he has an ally that he didn't know he needed and can't live without. As comfortable with the upper class as she is with the lower, Katherine Kellgren has a pleasant British accent that lends color to the story. Her accents provide a visual accompaniment as certain cadences evoke certain images. She captures Louisa's strength of character without diminishing her femininity and appreciates Anthony's eccentricities without emasculating him. The secondary characters, friends and villains, are equally appealing. Essential for public libraries.—Jodi L. Israel, MLS, Salt Lake City, UT
Week of May 1
Fiction | Nonfiction | Audio
Fiction
Conroy, Robert. 1945. Ballantine. May 2007. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-345-49479-5. pap. $14.95. SF
The author of two previous adventures in alternate history (1901, 1862), Conroy now explores what might have happened in late 1945 if a militarist faction of the Japanese government had succeeded in preventing Emperor Hirohito from issuing the surrender order that ended World War II. The political and military maneuverings of both sides are portrayed through multiple viewpoints ranging from frontline troops to secret agents to heads of state. The battle scenes are vivid and energetic, as the U.S. military must carry out a bloody amphibious assault on the Japanese homeland in the face of a fanatical last-ditch defense. The deliberations of the political leaders provide a slower-paced but more complex strategic viewpoint; a postscript discloses the actual fate of the historical luminaries but leaves some ambiguity about whether other characters are entirely fictional. Recommended for all popular fiction collections where there is interest in the age-old game of "what if?" as applied to military and political history. [Another alternate history of this time period is Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson's MacArthur's War, which Forge is publishing this month and which will be reviewed in the May 15 print issue of LJ; Conroy is an LJ reviewer.—Ed.]—Bradley A. Scott, Brighton Dist. Lib., MI
Ignatius, David. Body of Lies. Norton. 2007. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-393-06503-9. $24.95. F
Feinting boldly with the Middle Eastern concept of taqiyya (the permitted lie a believer tells to protect himself from the infidel), Washington Post columnist Ignatius (A Firing Offense) here plots a labyrinthine duet of conspiracies between the CIA and Jordan's secret service against their common foe, al Qaeda. As the author reveals, taqiyya is the perfect tool for devious allies with serious trust issues, and he distills his 25 years of Middle East experience to illuminate the dark forces that power the conflicts now raging in the guise of the war on terrorism. A sure bet for international thriller collections where the traditions of Graham Greene and Frederick Forsyth live on; highly recommended for all popular fiction collections. [Film rights were acquired by Warner Brothers, and Ridley Scott has signed on to direct.—Ed.]—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA
Koontz, Dean. The Good Guy. Bantam. May 2007. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-553-80481-2. $27. F
Tim Carrier finds himself at the wrong place at the right time when he is mistaken for a hit man and given an envelope with money and a picture of his target. A few minutes later, the real killer walks into the bar and confronts Tim, thinking he is the man hiring him for the deed. Tim cancels the contract and then proceeds to find the woman and warn her that her life is in danger. Figuring out who Tim really is, the ruthless killer decides this good guy must die as well, and because he has amazing resources available at his beck and call, Tim and Linda (the intended victim) don't stand a chance. This tight and gripping tale of an average person thrown into extreme circumstances is vintage Koontz, probably his best book since Odd Thomas. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/07.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
Los Angeles Noir. Akashic. (Akashic Books Noir). 2007. c.348p. ed. by Denise Hamilton. ISBN 978-1-933354-22-4. pap. $15.95. M
The latest offering in Akashic's "Noir" series (see also the entries on Miami, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Brooklyn) is a worthy tribute to the genre. Seventeen stories by some of the best of L.A.'s current literary generation explore the dark side of sunny Southern California. The streets of Beverly Hills, Koreatown, San Marino, West Hollywood, and Los Feliz are all settings for stories of desperation, deeply hidden secrets, and depression and fear of finding your life on the cutting-room floor, shaken by the occasional earthquake, and stirred by the roar of the nearest freeway. The Los Angeles of Raymond Chandler and Dorothy Hughes lives on through the 21st-century stories of Michael Connelly, Robert Ferrigno, Janet Fitch, Susan Straight, and Denise Hamilton, among others. Although some of the stories are more deftly crafted than others, the marvelous descriptions of the diverse settings from Rodeo Drive to Skid Row to Commerce and Belmont Shore speak volumes of the cultural and economic diversity that is the City of Angels. This third-generation Angelino loved it; highly recommended for all crime fiction collections.—Susan Clifford Braun, Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA
Miner, Valerie. After Eden. Univ. of Oklahoma. 2007. c.248p. ISBN 978-0-8061-3814-5. $24.95. F
Emily, a Chicago-based city planner, shares a summer cabin in Northern California with longtime partner Salerno on land owned collectively with a group of other women. When Salerno dies unexpectedly, Emily finds herself pulled against her will into the lives and concerns of the other ranch women and their surrounding community, and her intended summer stay turns into a year-long sabbatical. While the surrogate family formed by the diverse group of lesbians at Beulah Ranch is well drawn, the novel is slow-moving, even though Miner (Lavender Mansions) crams it with too many subplots. A laundry list of political and social causes is dealt with, often in exposition-laden dialog that reads more like a lecture than a conversation. And the ultimate outcome of the novel's central conflict—whether Emily will return to Chicago or remain in California—is obvious early on, even if Emily's in denial until the final pages. For regional collections only.—Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, Univ. of Minnesota Libs., Minneapolis
Skloot, Floyd. Patient 002. Rager Media. May 2007. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-9792091-6-1. pap. $19.99. F
A medical thriller? A late middle-age love story with reflections on mortality? It's hard to pin down this novel by a writer with poetry and essays to his credit, as well as earlier fiction (e.g., Pilgrim's Harbor). Sam Kiehl, who is afflicted with a degenerative brain condition from an untreatable herpes virus, enters a last-ditch double-blind medical study with a new drug. He just gets worse and suspects that he's a placebo patient, but another participant, Tracy, gets noticeably better. When the drug company abruptly ends the study, the ill people gather and try to fight back. Some of the results are far-fetched (a helicopter raid on the company headquarters to steal medicine), while some patients turn to alternative medicine or suicide, but Skloot's own experience with illness is reflected in the deep understanding the novel reveals. A real page-turner; recommended for public libraries.—Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., VA
After Sputnik: 50 Years of the Space Age. Smithsonian: HarperCollins. 2007. 256p. ed. by Martin Collins. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-06-089781-9. $35. SCI
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, holds objects that played a major role in the history of space exploration, and this volume is essentially a museum catalog of these artifacts in an appealing, coffee-table format. To commemorate the upcoming 50th anniversary (this October) of the launch of Sputnik, Earth's first artificial satellite, Collins, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum, has collected 225 four-color and black-and-white photographs of some 140 objects: the actual space capsules, satellites, and space suits worn by John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and others. Also included are cultural objects and space memorabilia, such as a space-themed lunchbox and the patches astronauts wore on their spacesuits. The volume also catalogs the depiction of space travel in popular culture, e.g., Star Wars action figures and the actual spaceship prop from the motion picture Close Encounters of the Third Kind. An explanatory essay accompanies a photograph of each museum artifact. Some readers may find the text's extremely small font difficult to read, but space junkies will enjoy the visuals. Recommended for popular science and history of space exploration collections.—Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado at Denver & Health Sciences Ctr.
Bego, Mark. Billy Joel: The Biography. Thunder's Mouth: Avalon, dist. by Publishers Group West. Jun. 2007. c.448p. photogs. discog. ISBN 978-1-56025-989-3. $25.95. MUSIC
Celebrity biographer Bego (Jackson Browne: His Life and Music; Joni Mitchell) chronicles the life of Grammy-winning musician Billy Joel. Beginning with the story of Joel's grandparents and father who fled Nazi Germany, Bego chronicles Joel's early years on Long Island performing and writing in a variety of bands during the late Sixties and early Seventies. After getting a solo record deal and spending several years in California, Joel moved back to New York and started a run of phenomenally successful albums that began with The Stranger (1977). Subsequently, there were legal troubles with management deals gone awry, two divorces, and the gradual letting go of his longtime band, which give parts of the book a gossipy tone. Bego uses published interviews, reviews, and articles as well as his own interviews, primarily with Joel's former band members but not with Joel himself. While giving a thorough and detailed picture of Joel's early years through his superstardom to his current revival on the concert stage, Bego's prose is sometimes distractingly conversational, and serious fans may wish for more analysis of the music than the somewhat cursory overviews he provides. Recommended for larger public libraries.—Jim Collins, Morristown and Morris Twp. P.L., NJ
Carr, Matthew. The Infernal Machine: A History of Terrorism, from the Assassination of Tsar Alexander II to Al-Qaeda. New Pr, dist. by Norton. 2007. c.416p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-59558-179-2. $26.95. HIST
This book by British journalist Carr (My Father's House) provides a historical survey of terrorist activity since the 1881 assassination of Russia's tsar. As post-1960 terrorism is more familiar to most of us, readers will benefit from Carr's descriptions and analyses of these earlier actions, such as in Algeria and Kenya, not to mention Chicago and Ireland. Carr shows that although previously terrorism had been nation-centered, in the last third of the 20th century it transformed into an international infection that easily crosses national borders and resists traditional military and law-enforcement techniques. The book attempts to tie terrorism to repressive government responses (i.e., that such responses only reinforce terrorist activity), but there is not enough analysis of the positive or negative effects of these government policies, although Carr is highly critical of the Bush administration's "War on Terror." Suitable for all libraries.—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL
Cliff, Nigel. The Shakespeare Riots: Revenge, Drama and Death in Nineteenth-Century America. Random. 2007. c.336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-345-48694-3. $26.95. HIST
On May 10, 1849, a rivalry between the two most celebrated Shakespearean actors of their day ignited into the Astor Place Riots, a.k.a. the Shakespeare Riots. In lively and clear prose, Cliff (former theater critic, London Times) chronicles this event that coincided with the public's growing American vs. British antagonism. London actor William Charles Macready, who was starring in Macbeth at the Astor Place Theater, believed that only a talented British actor (such as himself) could perform Shakespeare. His audience was made up primarily of New York's literati who could afford the Astor's high ticket prices. At the same time, American Edwin Forrest, the child of immigrant working-class parents, was carrying Macbeth at the Bowery Theater for an audience that shared his background. The riot of 20,000 civilians caused American troops to fire on their fellow citizens for the first time in our country's history; more than 30 people were killed. Cliff brings to life the America of 1830–50, covering class warfare and the proliferation of street gangs, immigration, and growing national pride. A welcome addition to history and theater collections. (Index not seen.)—Susan L. Peters, Univ. of Texas, Galveston
Cruise, Jorge. The 3-Hour Diet™ Cookbook: Lose up to 10 Pounds in the First 14 Days. Collins: HarperCollins. 2007. c.256p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-06-079318-0. $24.95. COOKERY
In his latest book, Cruise offers a recipe companion to the diet regimen he put forth in the New York Times best seller The 3-Hour Diet™. Designed for dieters not of the gourmet chef variety (that is, those who rely heavily on prepackaged goods), it is filled with user-friendly recipes that include vegetable side dishes like steamed broccoli. The dishes are diverse in their ingredients, yet all are relatively simple to put together. An inspiring breakfast section takes what many deem the blandest meal of the day and makes it spicy, meaty, and spectacular. The first section of the book addresses the major tenets of Cruise's 3-Hour Diet™ and how to modify one's lifestyle to fit the program. For public libraries where Cruise's previous books were popular.—Claire A. Schaper, Franklin Inst., Philadelphia
Gura, Trisha. Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women. HarperCollins. May 2007. 352p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-06-076148-6. $24.95. MED
The media image of the privileged young girl who is ambitious, perfectionist, and conflicted about her emerging sexuality and looming adulthood unfortunately distorts our understanding of the true complexities of eating disorders. In fact, argues science journalist Gura, herself a survivor of adolescent anorexia nervosa, teenage sufferers of eating disorders rarely make a full recovery. Informed with personal passion and scientific insight from a doctorate in molecular biology, her book features dozens of interviews that illustrate how eating disorders resonate—or may suddenly emerge—throughout women's life span. Although Gura focuses on women's experience, readers will glean useful general information on anorexia and bulimia as well as the most common diagnosis of "Eating Disorders, Not Otherwise Specified." There is also helpful advice on effective therapies, research and treatment centers, and insurance issues that will be valuable for all patients and their families. Readers desiring a more personal view of anorexia's lingering effects in adulthood may be interested in Aimee Liu's Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders. Gura's book is highly recommended.—Kathy Arsenault, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.
Kolata, Gina. Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss—and the Myths and Realities of Dieting. Farrar. May 2007. 272p. index. ISBN 978-0-374-10398-9. $24. HEALTH
Millions of dieters may be anticipating this book by New York Times science writer Kolata (Ultimate Fitness; Flu). As obesity becomes the latest national health obsession, she here asks the basic question, Is one diet better than another? Kolata's well-researched answer is based on a documented clinical trial and people's unending, lifelong struggles to control their weight. Along the way, we meet the people who participate in this study, gain insights into diet research studies, review psychological theory regarding obesity, and review a historical perspective on obesity that includes Lord Byron, Upton Sinclair, Edith Wharton. Yes, the famed low-carbohydrate Atkins diet is central to the story. Clearly, there is much fascinating information for both the diet-obsessed and the normal-weight reader to glean from this timely book. Unfortunately, the degree of detail about the participants in the research project detracted from and obfuscated the hard science. An otherwise absorbing read; recommended for all libraries where readers have weight concerns.—James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York
Morwood, Mike & Penny van Oosterzee. A New Human: The Startling Discovery and Strange Story of the "Hobbits" of Flores, Indonesia. Smithsonian: HarperCollins. May 2007. c.272p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 978-0-06-089908-0. $25.95. SCI
While many lay readers may be aware of the amazing 2004 discovery in Indonesia of a three-foot tall human skeleton nicknamed after J.R.R. Tolkien's famous Hobbit, far fewer are aware of the controversy that subsequently surrounded this fossil find and where it would be ultimately placed on the evolutionary tree. Although some critics suggest that these bones were those of an abnormal modern human pygmy, Australian anthropology professor Morwood (who made the discovery) argues that this represents a previously unknown human species, Homo floresiensis. He cites excavations in the region where the fossil was found that showed a population of hominid hunter-gatherers who survived for over 40,000 generations. And while their brain size is considerably below the accepted range for being included in the hominid category, Morwood points out that these tiny creatures were decidedly not chimpanzees, showing evidence that they made stone tools, used fire, and hunted communally mini stegodons, Komodo dragons, and elephants. The most significant question the Homo floresiensis fossil discovery raised, Morwood says, is, What is a human? With the assistance of an award-winning Australian science writer, he has written a fascinating scientific tale that incorporates the complexities involved with anthropology and archaeology in Indonesia: bureaucracy, theft, oversized egos, and scores settled sometimes by murder. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.—Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll. Lib., Kansas City, MO
Binchy, Maeve. Whitethorn Woods. 11 CDs. unabridged. 12¾ hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-3560-6. $110; 9 cassettes. ISBN 978-1-4159-3924-6. $90. F
Set in the sleepy Irish town of Rossmore, this novel is a collection of vignettes of the town's rich characters. The background story concerns a road planned to go through the Whitethorn Woods, which would threaten the local wishing well shrine to St. Ann. Each chapter focuses on a different town resident, and there are touches of intrigue, greed, infidelity, struggles, heartbreak, and charm. All combine to create a warm and entertaining tale of a traditional land and people confronted with the inevitability of change. Sile Bermingham and Paul Michael narrate clearly and entertainingly, bringing the variety of characters to life. Recommended.—Denise A. Garofalo, Astor Home for Children, Rhinebeck, NY
Roby, Kimberla Lawson. Love & Lies. 7 CDs. unabridged. 8 hrs. Sound Library: BBC Audiobooks America. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7927-4520-4. $74.95. F
Tracey Leigh's outstanding narration is not enough to endear listeners to the poorly drawn characters in the latest adventures of the Rev. Curtis Black. Charlotte, the third wife of the well-respected, charismatic African American preacher and best-selling author, suspects her husband is doing more on the road than just promoting his latest book. Charlotte, of course, is no stranger to infidelity, having had an affair several years back with Curtis's best friend, the schizophrenic Aaron Malone. Another worry besets Charlotte when her five-year-old daughter, Marissa, begins demonstrating severe antisocial behavior—perhaps because Aaron is truly her father? Life is no easier for Charlotte's best friend, Janice, a college professor with a deadbeat boyfriend, Antonio. When Janice asks Antonio to get a job or move out, he undergoes a complete personality change and begins dealing drugs and abusing her. With its weak character development and implausible plotlines, this is an optional purchase for public libraries.—Beth Farrell, Portage Cty. Dist. Lib., OH
See the May 1st Xpress Reviews.
