Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 7/1/2007
Week of June 26
Fiction | Nonfiction | Audio
Fiction
Moody, Martha. The Office of Desire. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Aug. 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-59448-949-5. $24.95. F
The title and cover of Moody's second novel (after Best Friends) may conjure images of Grey's Anatomy, but the narrative's small, close-knit doctor's office in Midburg, OH, is a world away from the interns of Seattle Grace. Receptionist Caroline, nurse Alicia, and accounts manager Brice work for internists Markowitz and Strub. The harmony of the office is disrupted when Alicia and the recently divorced Dr. Strub begin an affair, which culminates quickly in marriage. Instead of happily ever after, this union signals a shift in the lives (and desires) of each member of the office. Narrated primarily by Dr. Markowitz and Caroline, the novel incorporates a lot of themes—explorations of faith, organized religion, sexual orientation, money, madness, death, and love—but Moody, a practicing physician, never loses control of the plot or her well-drawn characters; her details of medical life and caring for dying patients and loved ones resonate with truth. Recommended for all public libraries. [For other office-related fiction, see Joshua Ferris's Then We Came to the End.—Ed.]—Andrea Y. Griffith, Loma Linda Univ. Libs., CA
North, Will. The Long Walk Home. Shaye Areheart: Crown. Aug. 2007. 304p. ISBN 978-0-307-38302-0. $24. F
How we perceive love and acknowledge its obligations is at the core of this first novel by ghostwriter North. Seattle-based writer Alec Hudson doesn't mind walking, though at age 50 he should prefer less wear and tear on the joints. Yet walk he does, from London's Heathrow Airport to the Cadair Idris mountain in Wales (a journey of more than three weeks), with the intention of scattering the ashes of his ex-wife, Gwynne, at the summit. But after arriving in Wales, he can't face another step and convinces Fiona Edwards, the proprietor of the Tan y Gadair B&B, to let him pitch his tent on her lawn. The inn is on the sheep farm run by Fi's husband, David. David suffers from sheep-dip poisoning, but the marriage was brittle at best before our Yank happened along. If visions of Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep come to mind, which they did briefly for this reviewer, the similarity to Robert Waller's The Bridges of Madison County ends there. Fi and Alec do share an immediate connection, but their witty exchanges and the fascinating descriptions of climbing, cooking (yes, Alec can do it in the kitchen), and lambing are absorbing from the very first. Alec has experienced loss and doesn't want any more of it; Fi accepts that her dreams might have to remain just that. Perhaps a bit predictable, this debut is still a joy to read. Recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/07.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Oates, Joyce Carol. The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense. Harcourt. Aug. 2007. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-15-101531-3. $24. M
This latest collection of mystery and suspense stories (after The Female of the Species) from prolific author Oates showcases her talent for depicting our human response to violence. How do seemingly happy families deal with the truth that a husband and father is a serial killer? To what lengths will a man go when about to lose his wife? Perhaps the most gruesome inclusion is "Suicide Watch," in which a father struggles to determine if the horrendous story his son tells him about his grandson's whereabouts is true. With poetic language and vivid imagery, Oates once again proves that she is the mistress of the inner psyche. This page-turner is highly recommended for all mystery and short story collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/07.]—Nanci Milone Hill, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA
Ragen, Naomi. The Saturday Wife. St. Martin's. Aug. 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-312-35238-7. $24.95. F
For almost 20 years, Ragen (Jepthe's Daughter; The Ghost of Hannah Mendes) has been chronicling the faith and foibles of the contemporary ultraorthodox Jewish community. Throughout her best-selling novels, she has remained earnestly faithful to the tenets of orthodoxy without ignoring the hypocrisy of the ultrareligious, particularly vis-à-vis women. However, here, Ragen departs from her usual voice, adopting a mocking, satiric tone in her chronicle of Delilah Levi, the dissatisfied wife of an orthodox rabbi. Delilah's materialistic machinations drag her earnest husband, Chaim, from his grandfather's poor congregation in the Bronx, NY, to an affluent suburban community far beyond Chaim's intellectual capabilities and the Levis' financial means. Delilah, like her biblical namesake, is not an admirable person. From the outset, her need for acceptance overrules her good judgment. The narrator's attempts to explain her behavior do not mitigate it, which leaves the reader with a somewhat enigmatic morality tale whose ending is ambiguous. Yet fans of Ragen's novels will be asking for this title; for most public libraries. [Ragen, who lives in Israel, was recently profiled in a Los Angeles Times article about the conflict between ultraorthodox and secular Jews in Jerusalem.—Ed.]—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS
Ellis, Joseph J. American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic. Knopf. Nov. 2007. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-307-26369-8. $26.95. HIST
Ellis (history, Mount Holyoke Coll.; Founding Brothers) again displays the talent that has won him, for separate books, the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Continuing his exploration of the Founding Fathers—his sixth book on their era—Ellis does not aim here to provide a thorough history of the period from the American Revolution through the Louisiana Purchase, but he assesses key episodes such as Washington at Valley Forge, the framing of the Constitution, and Jefferson's acquisition of France's enormous American territory, to give character and clarity to the story of the founding of the republic. Some incidents—e.g., the negotiations in the 1790s with the Creek Indians—are not as well known as others; all are well chosen and revealing. Ellis's skill as a biographer is evident throughout. We sometimes forget that these men, long-since canonized, were once flesh and blood. Ellis's depiction of Washington's frustrations with Congress, Adams's insufferability and preening, Madison's shy brilliance, and Jefferson's wily machinations are perfect, bringing the founders to life across the centuries and showing us that our times are not really so different from theirs. Ellis writes history as it should be: as a page-turner. This insightful, scholarly yet accessible book is highly recommended for all libraries.—Michael O. Eshleman, Kings Mills, OH
Gigerenzer, Gerd. Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious. Viking. Jul. 2007. 269p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-670-03863-3. $25.95. PSYCH
It is said that Miguel de Cervantes killed a whole literature with Don Quixote. This bookmight well do the same to the self-help genre. Gigerenzer (director, Ctr. for Adaptive Behavior & Cognition, Max Plank Inst. for Human Development, Berlin; Calculated Risks) deploys findings from many realms in lively prose (and with diagrams), clarifying the limits of logic and human memory as well as how people choose. (Some of his research informs Malcolm Gladwell's best seller, Blink.) As Gigerenzer sees it, intuition exploits limited knowledge with rules of thumb and memory filters. That explains why an investment portfolio set up by someone who knows dozens but not hundreds of stocks outperforms that of a professional; good answers often reveal themselves more reliably and quickly when information is limited. He sheds light on corporate management, marital harmony, creativity, morality, politics, and history: progress, stasis, and flukes (notably, the fall of the Berlin Wall). The chapters on medical practice and judicial decisions are each worth a book of their own, but "less is (sometimes) more"—Gigerenzer's thesis—and he gives a lot in a small package. A psychological Hope Diamond essential for most libraries.—E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
Kelly, Lynne. Crocodile: Evolution's Greatest Survivor. Allen & Unwin, dist. by Independent Pubs. Group. Jul. 2007. 288p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-74114-498-7. $24.95. NAT HIST
In a book that is the equivalent of a thorough nature documentary that will appeal to the same audience, science writer Kelly (The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal) examines crocodiles from every angle: historical, biological, evolutionary, literary, agricultural, cultural, and, yes, even gastronomical. Readers will come away knowing quite a bit about the crocodile—from the thrill of European sailors' first crocodile sightings; to basic crocodile anatomy, behavior, and evolution; to crocodiles' role in tribal legends and continued role in popular culture. Especially interesting is the chapter "In Search of the Ancient," which explains the possible evolutionary paths that crocodiles may have taken and explores the question of how these reptiles managed to adapt and survive for millions of years when their possible relatives, the dinosaurs, did not. The book's only weak point is the section that describes the crocodile in legend. Recommended for academic libraries with popular science collections and public libraries. [See also Mark C. Ross's Predator, reviewed below.—Ed.]—Marianne Stowell Bracke, Purdue Univ. Libs., West Lafayette, IN
King, Ruth. Healing Rage: Women Making Inner Peace Possible. Gotham: Penguin Group (USA). Aug. 2007. c.240p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-592-40314-1. $22. PSYCH
"Who would you be if you were not at war?" asks King, a life coach and respected authority on the topic of women and unresolved rage. The author urges the need for keen, consistent spiritual work because unacknowledged and unaccepted anger masquerades in various behavior patterns that block women's life energy and destroy their inner peace. Included along with descriptions of the "six D" rage disguises—dominance, defiance, distraction, devotion, dependence, and depression—are a practical exercise that focuses on drawing out the lifelong personal patterns that women use as they interact with the world and a powerful self-forgiveness activity. Women who find that they are extremely angry much of the time and who don't know why will find this book especially valuable. It doesn't matter that rage-related affirmations, exercise, and meditation practice have been aptly covered before by others. Insightfully, the author concludes that connecting with life's predictable joys as women's inner courage grows is paramount to healing the rage/shame duo that they feel; their vulnerability no longer denied is now an asset. Recommended for psychology sections of larger public and academic libraries.—Lisa Liquori, MLS, Syracuse, NY
Leach, Susan Maria. Before & After: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery. rev. ed. Morrow. Jul. 2007. c.336p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-06-124285-4. pap. $15.95. HEALTH
Individuals who undergo gastric-bypass or lap-band surgery have specific dietary needs and may also have to deal with a range of new emotions, reactions, and life circumstances. Leach addresses to a certain extent the total impact of bariatric surgery on a person's life, with a pre- and postop diary of her personal experience, a Q&A about the effects of the surgery and risk factors, what and how to eat, how to deal with people's reactions, and more. The bulk of the text is a cookbook—this revised edition includes 35 additional recipes along with the original 100. Failing to adhere to certain dietary restrictions after surgery can lead to health consequences and weight gain, so there is a need for tasty recipes that fulfill the requirements. A successful surgery patient herself, Leach now markets a line of vitamins, protein drinks, and sugar-free foods. While the promotion of such products in this book seems a bit dubious in intent, Leach appears sincere in helping weight-loss surgery patients. Recommended for libraries with large consumer health collections.—Elaine Lasda Bergman, Healthcare Assn. of New York State, Albany
Lum, Lucy. The Thorn of Lion City: A Memoir. PublicAffairs: Perseus. Jun. 2007. c.272p. ISBN 978-1-58648-436-1. $24. AUTOBIOG
'"Look at the red-haired devil's air-raid shelter,' Popo said, pointing to our neighbor's garden. 'How clever he is. So different from your father.'" So begins Lum's brilliant memoir dedicated to her father. Popo is her maternal grandmother. Lum's family had moved from China to Singapore, where she was born in 1933. She recalls sitting with her father under the teak dining room table where he would tell her wondrous stories. He was a kind, warm, and generous man, but the greed and superstition of his wife and Popo made his life miserable. After the Japanese occupation of the British colony, Mr. Lum had to work for the Japanese as a translator. He died before his time, and Lucy's mother took a lover. Her children were obliged to earn money to support him. Lum's description of Popo's death, of the grandchildren's death watch, is horrifying. Lucy's strong character and will ultimately enable her to survive her mother and Popo to become, in fact, a fine person like her beloved father. Essential for all large libraries, this will enrich multicultural and memoir collections of all sizes.—Susan G. Baird, Chicago
Lund, JoAnna M. with Barbara Alpert. 30 Minutes to Mealtime: A Healthy Exchanges® Cookbook. Perigee: Putnam. 2007. 292p. index. ISBN 978-0-399-53342-6. pap. $17.95. COOKERY
Lund, who wrote more than 25 cookbooks that sold over three million copies, died in May 2006. The recipes in this book are from the heartland of the United States—Iowa, where ingredients for main dishes usually contain condensed soup, and those for dessert have instant pudding and Cool Whip. The dishes are quick and healthful, so Healthy Request Soups, sugar-free instant pudding, and Cool Whip Free are used. The recipes are divided into 50 topical menus, which can be prepared in 30 minutes. "TV Tailgate Party" contains recipes for Rainbow Slaw, Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine, Sunny Dessert Nachos, and Orange Dew Fizz. Fresh vegetables and fruits are not major ingredients, but nutrition information is included for each recipe. This is not haute cuisine but is recommended for libraries that have Lund's previous books.—Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.
Muir, John Kenneth. TV Year. Vol. 1: The Prime Time 2005–2006 Season. Applause. Jul. 2007. c.367p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-55783-684-7. pap. $19.95. TV
How many people remember the past television season? A few shows were significant; others faced cancellation before anyone knew they were on. But this did not stop prolific entertainment writer Muir (Horror Films of the 1980s; The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia) from putting together a record of the 2005–2006 prime-time programs, a single season of shows on network and cable TV. The text is divided into sections including "Returning Series," "Made for TV Movies," "Emmy Awards," and "New Shows." Each entry includes complete credits, cast changes, starting and cancellation dates, gossip, and a plot synopsis, plus some great opinions about each program. However, there are a few problems with a book like this. Muir plans on making it an annual, and libraries with limited space and budget may want to skip it because much of the information can be found on web sites and in fan magazines. Lastly, only the true TV junkie will want to read it. Recommended only where there is high interest.—Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL
Parsons, Russ. How To Pick a Peach: The Search for Flavor from Farm to Table. Houghton. 2007. 416p. index. ISBN 978-0-618-46348-0. $27. COOKERY
Los Angeles Times food columnist Parsons(How To Read a French Fry) adds to the growing field of books dedicated to local and seasonal eating with his latest title on how fruits and vegetables are grown, marketed, and sold. Chapters are arranged by season, with each devoted to a specific fruit or vegetable, and include a brief essay featuring history, current issues, and intriguing facts. The narrative section of each chapter ends with bullet points on where the produce is grown and how to choose, store, and prepare it, along with instructions for a simple dish. More complex recipes, e.g., Pan-Crisped Duck Breast with Roasted Grapes and Nectarine-Cardamom Ice Cream, follow. Scattered throughout are the true gems of the title—conversational and informative essays on current practices in plant breeding, reinventing the tomato, and the return of the small farmer. Based on the topic and title alone, this book will be of interest to foodies everywhere. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR
Ross, Mark C. & David Reesor. Predator: Life and Death in the African Bush. Abrams. 2007. 207p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8109-9301-3. $35. NAT HIST
Focusing on Africa's five main predatory species—leopard, cheetah, lion, hyena, and crocodile—this stunning armchair safari book has everything going for it: a publisher renowned for high-quality illustrated volumes, an alluring location, and a knowledgeable and talented writer and photographer. Ross's background in wildlife biology and experience as a safari guide, photographer, and consultant to National Geographic and Animal Planet shine through in his well-organized and engagingly written text, which is illustrated by dozens of unique photos of animals engaged in activities rarely seen by humans, even on safari. The information on species encompasses not only the usual data on lifestyle, adaptations, and behavior but also tips for observing and photographing that animal in the wild and a section of fact vs. fiction. Since this is a book about predators, many of the photos depict hunt and kill sequences that may upset the squeamish. While the book's size is more suited to a coffee table than the pocket of a safari jacket, there is a fold-out pocket guide with photos of common prey animals, a chart of quick reference information, and two checklists for making the most of a safari and photographic experience. However, this guide will likely be lost or worn out quickly in a library setting and adds little to the main volume. On the whole, this is an exceptionally executed presentation in a crowded area and certainly priced right for the quality. Strongly recommended for popular nature collections. [See also Lynne Kelly's Crocodile, reviewed above.—Ed.]—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield PL, WI
Shalit, Wendy. Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad To Be Good. Random. Jul. 2007. c.352p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-4000-6473-1. $25.95. SOC SCI
Shalit (A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue), the adamantly contrarian founder of blogsite Modestly Yours, revisits her favorite topic in this appropriately titled book that perfectly recapitulates her argument. Indeed, readers may wonder what can follow since she makes her claim from the very title page. The short answer is that the book provides extensive anecdotal evidence for her assertion via interviews and personal statements from young women of diverse backgrounds. Not surprisingly, these women agree that society encourages girls to be "bad" and pressures them to act in ways counter to their best interests. Thus, mothers permit their daughters to dress and behave in sexually provocative ways, overlooking the deleterious implications of such deportment. Shalit's mission is to reclaim modesty and restore it to a properly valued place in our culture. Recommended for public and university libraries holding titles like Katha Pollitt's Virginity or Death!: And Other Social and Political Issues of Our Time and Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees & Wannabees: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence.—Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law, Villanova, PA
Westen, Drew. The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation. PublicAffairs: Perseus. Jun. 2007. c.384p. index. ISBN 978-1-58648-425-5. $26.95. PSYCH
A psychologist with impressive research and clinical credentials, Westen implies in his title that this is a purely scientific analysis of the role of emotion in American politics. His stated thesis is that the Enlightenment idea of the mind as a dispassionate, rational, decision maker "bears no relation to how the mind and brain actually work." He goes on to marshal striking evidence to demonstrate specifically that "the political brain is an emotional brain." No other book has so comprehensively linked psychological science with election-day choices. But Westen is mostly concerned here with the problems Democrats have had in recent elections. To remedy these, he devotes two-thirds of his book to providing them with "A Blueprint for Emotionally Compelling Campaigns." He offers psychologically appealing and principled approaches that Democrats can take regarding divisive issues such as Iraq, abortion, gays, gun control, race relations, terrorism, and taxes. Despite an admitted liberal bias and a penchant for bad puns (e.g., "Jennifer Flowers and other less-than-perfumed daisies"), Westen's writing is generally clear and convincing. His title, though, should have been Brain Dead: Why and How Democrats Have Failed by Emphasizing Reason Instead of Emotion. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Joseph Lipari, Central Clinic, Cincinnatii
Eig, Jonathan. Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season. 10 CDs. unabridged. 12 hrs. Tantor Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4001-0434-5. $34.99. SPORTS
This compelling audiobook makes a strong case for Jackie Robinson's breaking the color line in Major League baseball as a key first incident in the Civil Rights Movement. Wall Street Journal writerEig's story, wonderfully read by Richard Allen, speaks of Robinson's family life in Georgia, school sports in California, military service, and 1947 season with the Brooklyn Dodgers but in the context of his being a black man (Negro was the term in polite use at the time) in American culture during the 1930s and 1940s. It was a culture of prejudice, segregation, and intolerance more apparent in the South but perhaps equally present in the majority culture of the North and West. Eig makes it evident just how much our society changed following World War II. Older listeners will be reminded of how much they have forgotten or perhaps never knew; younger people will learn of a world of white domination and neglect that produced nearly insurmountable obstacles for African Americans and Hispanics. Highly recommended for adult sports and general audio collections.—Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
Pope Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth. 11 CDs. unabridged. 14 hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-4133-1. $80. REL
Pope Benedict XVI's (Joseph Ratzinger) book is well written, bold, and imaginative yet scholarly. One often forgets the author is a serious and respected academic theologian in addition to being the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Here, he seeks to show Jesus's true identity as discovered by the Gospels and to shed light on the recent depictions of the "popular" Jesus. The question of what has Jesus brought to the world is addressed in depth—the answer: God. This work, which includes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and other prophets, is insightful and well grounded, using the historical, in addition to the spiritual. Don Leslie's narration is rich and enjoyable as he deals with one of the most fascinating people in the history of the world. Recommended for all public and academic libraries, especially those with special collections in religion.—Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania
Sakey, Marcus. The Blade Itself. 7 CDs. unabridged. 9 hrs. Sound Library: BBC Audiobooks America. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7927-4720-8. $74.95. F
Danny Carter and his friend Evan are Irish American hoods from the rough South Side of Chicago. One evening, a robbery of a pawnshop goes wrong; Evan is sent to prison, but Danny escapes that fate, which convinces him to go straight. Seven years later, Danny works for a successful Chicago real estate developer and lives with his girlfriend, Karen, who swears to leave him if he returns to crime. All is well until Evan leaves prison and returns home with the intention of exacting revenge on his former partner. Soon, Danny's life is turned upside down; Evan blackmails him into committing a terrible crime. Unable to enlist help from the police, Danny needs to find an escape from his situation on his own. This retelling of a familiar crime theme is nicely paced with interesting characters and enough plot twists to hold the listener's attention. Grover Gardner does an excellent job reading this solid thriller; recommended for all audio collections.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ., Parkersburg
Week of June 19
Fiction | Nonfiction | Audio
Fiction
Billingham, Mark. Buried. HarperCollins. Aug. 2007. c.356p. ISBN 978-0-06-125569-4. $24.95. F
In Billingham's latest thriller (after Lifeless), Inspector Tom Thorne is still recovering from his last case. He's glad to give up desk duty when offered a new assignment, even if it's not with his usual team on the murder squad. Instead, he's been asked to join the investigation of a teenager's kidnapping. Luke Mullen, the son of a former cop, has been missing for several days, and no demands have been made by the kidnappers. Though working on a case with a live victim rather than a dead one throws Tom off his game, he soon has bodies enough to investigate. The purported kidnappers are discovered stabbed to death, and Luke is nowhere to be found. Billingham's police procedurals are always well done, and this one is no exception. Tom Thorne is a capable, though world-weary, protagonist who fights the good fight even if he has to break a few rules along the way. If he makes a couple of lucky guesses to set him on the right track, his investigation makes for fascinating reading as he carefully pieces the case together. Recommended for all public libraries.—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI
Jance, J.A. Justice Denied. Morrow. Aug. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-06-054092-0. $25.95. M
This is the 18th entry in Jance's series featuring Seattle investigator J.P. Beaumont, and it is one of the best. Beau is a refreshingly likable character who does not take himself too seriously and often directs wry comments to the reader. Now in a special investigation squad under the state attorney general, Beau is secretly assigned to investigate the murder of a rehabilitated gang member. Meanwhile, his live-in partner, Melissa, is asked to look into the whereabouts of registered sex offenders who have been dying in unusual numbers. Their investigations soon overlap in unexpected ways, and they join forces to solve both mysteries in an exciting conclusion. Interwoven throughout are side stories dealing with Beau's daughter's struggle with postpartum depression and the death of his beloved grandmother. Seattle and its environs are almost a character in the story, so well are they used to set the atmosphere of the book. Jance skillfully winds all these diverse story threads together with a deft and breezy style. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/07.]—Ann Forister, Roseville, CA
O'Connor, Jane. Dangerous Admissions: Secrets of a Closet Sleuth. Avon. Aug. 2007. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-06-124086-7. pap. $13.95. M
Prestigious Chapel School on New York City's Upper West Side, which guarantees admission to the top colleges in the country, is so elite that parents would literally kill to get their children admitted there. Evil strikes close to home when A. Lawrence Tutwiler (a.k.a. Mr. Tut), director of college admissions, is found dead in his office. Working as a tour guide at "Chaps" is Rannie Bookman, a former copy editor who lost her job when she neglected to see that the l was missing from a 50,000-copy reprint of a collector's edition of the first Nancy Drew mystery, Secret of the Old Clock. Rannie is very familiar with Chaps—her children have attended since kindergarten, thanks to the generosity of her ex. She and her children were big fans of Mr. Tut, and now she's determined to solve his murder. Believable characters, from the harried, divorced mom to her teenage son; crisp dialog; and witty, underlying humor make this an enjoyable read. O'Connor, an award-winning children's author (Yours Till Niagra Falls), breaks into the adult market with a bang. A fine addition to public library collections of all sizes.—Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib. Media Ctr., AZ
Stone, Nick. Mr. Clarinet. HarperCollins. Jul. 2007. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-06-089729-1. $24.95. F
In Stone's debut novel, Max Mingus, a former Miami detective just released from prison after serving for exacting his own form of vigilante justice on three junkie child-murderers, is offered $10 million by a wealthy Haitian businessman to find his kidnapped five-year-old son. Despite the fact that three previous private detectives on the case have turned up dead or mutilated, the money is too much to turn down, so Max heads for Haiti and soon discovers that the kidnapped boy is one of hundreds of local children who have disappeared. Local legend points to Mr. Clarinet, a Haitian version of the Pied Piper, who lures kids into the dark, steamy Caribbean countryside dominated by voodoo and black magic. As Max finds out, the reality is much worse than the myth. Max is a memorable character, reminiscent of Jack Reacher—a good guy who's willing to cross the line when necessary. The Haitian setting provides a visceral background to a disturbing but compelling story. Recommended for most fiction collections. [First published in Britain, this won the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller Award.—Ed.]—Ken Bolton, Cornell Univ. Lib., Ithaca, NY
Bernstein, Carl. A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Knopf. Jun. 2007. c.628p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-375-40766-6. $27.95. BIOG
Bernstein (contributing editor, Vanity Fair; coauthor with Bob Woodward, All the President's Men) is a talented writer, as evidenced by his Pulitzer Prize–winning reporting on Watergate and his best-selling books. Here, he takes us on one woman's historic journey that could culminate in the presidency of the United States. From Chicago to Arkansas to New York, from Republican to Democrat, from First Lady to U.S. Senator, Hillary Clinton is portrayed as in charge of her destiny even as it takes on so many permutations. Bernstein's book shows extensive research into the triumphs and darkness of her marriage to Bill Clinton, her unabashed public loyalty during the Lewinsky scandal, and her political interactions during her work on President Clinton's healthcare proposal, as well as during Whitewater, Travelgate, and Troopergate. Bernstein presents a fair and well-balanced picture of Clinton, with over 50 pages of source citations gathered from interviews and print media. His book is highly recommended for an intense look into the character of a woman aiming for the White House. For all libraries.—Mary C. Allen, Everett P.L., WA
Blanke, David. Hell on Wheels: The Promise and Peril of America's Car Culture, 1900–1940. Univ. of Kansas. 2007. c.312p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7006-1515-5. pap. $34.95. SOC SCI
Blanke (history, Texas A&M Univ.; The 1910s: American Popular Culture Through History) takes readers for a ride, exploring the adoption of automobiles into everyday life from various class and demographic perspectives. The result is a work that provides valuable insight into the impact of automobiles in America during the first half of the 20th century. Importantly, Blanke addresses how automobiles were accepted and used in quite different fashions by various groups, e.g., rural and urban, describing the reasons for these differences. For example, those already aided by nearby railroad access took to the automobile more slowly. Additionally, archival photographs powerfully illuminate our early interaction with the automobile and add to the book's appeal. Overall, this is an accessibly instructive book, based on original research and statistical data as well as secondary sources, that traces the phenomenon of the automobile as it became an integral component of our culture. Appropriate for undergraduate and public libraries.—Kristin Whitehair, Kansas State Univ. Libs.
Different Dads: Fathers' Stories of Parenting Disabled Children. Jessica Kingsley. June 2007. c.176p. ed. by Jill Harrison & others. ISBN 978-1-84310-454-4. pap. $19.95. PSYCH
Written by 21 British fathers of disabled children and edited by Harrison (director of external affairs, Contact a Family, U.K.; Teach Yourself Caring for Someone at Home), Matthew Henderson (former senior parent advisor, Contact a Family), and Rob Leonard (the father of a disabled child), these narratives offer brief but excellent overviews of issues faced by men whose children were diagnosed at birth (e.g., with Down syndrome), later in life (e.g., with autism), or who were never fully diagnosed. The contributors write of seeking the correct diagnoses and proper services for their children and of their efforts to integrate them fully into the family (especially relevant, given the strains often placed on marriages in these cases). There are powerful reminiscences from Mike, whose blind and autistic adopted son died of complications from kidney failure at age 19, and Simon, who raised a child at once autistic and gifted academically. Each account ends with a brief explanation of the child's condition, helpful for the more obscure conditions. A nice entry in the literature of personal narratives related to disability, this is strongly recommended for public and academic libraries with disability studies collections.—Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Dubin, Nick. Asperger Syndrome and Bullying: Strategies and Solutions. Jessica Kingsley. June 2007. c.176p. index. ISBN 978-1-84310-846-7. pap. $18.95. PSYCH
Bullying increasingly makes headlines, and children with Asperger's syndrome (AS) are often victims because of their social awkwardness. Dubin is well suited to address this problem: he was diagnosed with AS in 2004 and was regularly bullied as a child. Joining Rebekah Heinrichs's Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying: Practical Solutions for Surviving the Social World and Luke Jackson's Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome, this slim volume is built on the author's own painful experiences about why AS children are victims and how bystanders, teachers, and parents can break the cycle. One chapter focuses on understanding bullies, from the different types to how one can learn to modify their behavior. Dubin offers many practical solutions, from provisions in the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) to such techniques as Playback Theatre, the No Blame Approach and Method of Shared Concern, bully boxes, token economies, and mentoring and buddy systems. A recent study found that 22 of 22 11- to 19-year-old children with AS were bullied; clearly, Dubin's book will be a welcome addition to the parenting shelf of public libraries and a vital tool for teachers and student teachers.—Elizabeth Safford, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA
Fehmi, Les & Jim Robbins. The Open-Focus™ Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention To Heal Mind and Body. Trumpeter: Shambhala, dist. by Random. Jul. 2007. c.176p. index. ISBN 978-1-59030-376-4. $22.95 with CD. PSYCH
Fehmi (director emeritus, Princeton Biofeedback Ctr.) and award-winning science writer and journalist Robbins present a convincing argument for the effectiveness of neurofeedback in a self-help format for those who want to try the techniques. According to the authors, society has conditioned us to primarily operate as though we were lions in a gazelle hunt, narrowly focused on our prey. When this becomes unpleasant, we try to remedy the situation by changing the object of our attention, while remaining narrowly focused; however, this only addresses the symptoms. Fehmi and Robbins argue that we need to retrain our minds using Open-Focusä techniques in order to widen our attention and diffuse the unpleasant feelings and sensations. Anecdotes and results of clinical studies are included in every chapter, along with exercises the reader can record and use. (The final edition will include an exercise CD that was not included in the review copy.) This well-written book will be of interest to anyone in the alternative healing community.—Renee Axtell, Independence, MO
Finch, Robert. The Iambics of Newfoundland: Notes from an Unknown Shore. Counterpoint: Perseus. Jul. 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-58243-154-3. $26. NAT HIST
It's the human interest story that breathes life into a book about place, and nature writer Finch (Death of a Hornet) provides just that in his latest book of essays that recall his travels to Newfoundland and Labrador between 1987 and 1996. He describes an adaptable people who have retained their humor even after the collapse of the cod fishing industry, the lifeblood of family and community, and a people who seem to revel in living in a place that is like no other. Newfoundland has its own time zone and language—one chapter is a Newfoundland lexicon that includes terms such as gallinippers, skinnywhoppers, and dumbledores—And where else do polar bears step off icebergs into someone's backyard? The glimpses that Finch provides of the culture, history, and startling beauty of this fascinating land add up to a charming book that readers will be sorry to finish. The only thing wanting is a map—this reviewer read the book with an atlas in her lap. Highly recommended for public libraries and regional collections.—Maureen J. Delaney-Lehman, Lake Superior State Univ. Lib., Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Hicks, Taylor with David Wild. Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way. Crown. Jul. 2007. c.288p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-307-38243-6. $24.95. MUSIC
Hicks, the winner of the fifth season of American Idol last year, is the most recent idol to publish a memoir. As a child in Alabama, he got his first listen to soul music by way of an Otis Redding record and "a new soulful world opened up." In prose both humble and self-promotional, Hicks writes of the obstacles he faced having a band and being on the road; but rather than see road blocks, he used the difficulties he encountered and his weaknesses to his advantage. He attributes his success to thinking ahead, self-confidence, determination, and using his imperfections, like gray hair at an early age, to help him stand out. Amidst the life lessons, Hicks shares inspirational advice and music recommendations, which make his book enjoyable even for those who didn't see him on TV. Good for young adults and older; recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/06.]—Lani Smith, Boston
Mabry, Marcus. Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power. Modern Times: Rodale. 2007. c.362p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-59486-362-2. $27.50. POL SCI
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is arguably the most powerful and controversial African American woman in politics today. She is not fully embraced by the African American community, and she is criticized in the media for the Bush administration's foreign policy. For this biography, Mabry (chief of correspondents, Newsweek)received tremendous access to friends, family, and Rice herself to provide a complete portrait of Rice, who was an accomplished academic before moving into foreign policy and national security work for the first President Bush. Mabry vividly renders the climate of racism in which Rice grew up in Birmingham, AL (e.g., being directed to the "colored waiting room" when going to the doctor). This biography fills in the missing pieces of Rice's life, explaining more than is commonly told in print and television coverage. Although Mabry provides a balanced picture of Rice's upbringing, he does become increasingly critical of her role in this Bush administration's foreign policy, concluding that her work in the current administration has tarnished her legacy of accomplishments. This fascinating biography is recommended for all public and academic libraries.—Michael LaMagna, Cabrini Coll. Lib., Radnor, PA
Murray, Linda & others. The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Your Baby's First Year: Expert Advice and Mom-to-Mom Wisdom from the World's Most Popular Parenting Website. Rodale. Jul. 2007. c.480p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59486-411-7. pap. $15.95. HEALTH
First-time moms are full of questions, and, as this book points out, there is no shortage of "expert advice" out there. This resource is unique in pulling together real experiences from moms and dads who have visited the Babycenter Web site along with insights from the authors, who are from Babycenter's editorial staff—Murray (coauthor, The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Birth), Anna McGrail, and Daphne Metland (senior editor, Health magazine; coauthor, Six Months Off). Organized in three-month stages rather than by month to emphasize that babies will not all develop at the same rate, the book encourages parents to relax and enjoy their babies and avoid obsessing over development. The authors strive to be nonjudgmental when discussing decisions like breast or formula feeding, cosleeping or crib sleeping, and cloth or disposable diapers by presenting both pro and con viewpoints for each choice. Parents looking for advice from taking your baby home from the hospital to planning the first birthday party will find a wealth of helpful information. Recommended for public libraries.—Mindy Rhiger, Tandem Lib. Group, Minneapolis
Puryear, Lucy J., M.D. Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting: Emotions, Mental Health, and Happiness—Before, During, and After Pregnancy. Houghton. 2007. c.256p. index. ISBN 978-0-618-34107-8. $24. HEALTH
Puryear began medical school imaging she would become an obstetrician but soon realized that it would be hard to practice in the way she envisioned and decided to pursue psychiatry. After residency, she joined the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, where she is director of the Baylor Psychiatry Clinic, specializing in women's reproductive health. This book is her response to what she perceives as a dearth of information on the disabling effects of psychiatric illness during pregnancy and postpartum. She explains and illustrates the emotional experiences, doubts, and anxieties that can occur. Personal stories highlight the psychological journey from thinking about getting pregnant, the hormonal and emotional changes of each trimester, birth and the months following, and making the decision to seek help. Appendixes include worksheets, drug information on vitamins and supplements, and resource lists. A wonderful resource that concentrates on mental health; recommended.—Jodith Janes, Alumni Lib., Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Sauer, Jost. Higher and Higher: From Drugs and Destruction to Health and Happiness. Allen & Unwin, dist. by Independent Pubs. Group. Jul. 2007. 225p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-74114-988-3. pap. $14.95. HEALTH
Sauer, a recovered speed addict and an Australia-based therapist and acupuncturist specializing in the effects of recreational drugs, writes of his addiction, recovery, and redemption and his work as a therapist for others dealing with addiction. In each chapter, he draws on his own experiences and those of his clients to explain the allure and negative effects of recreational drugs. He uses the language of traditional Chinese medicine, one of his areas of expertise and practice, to describe the effects of these drugs. His own story of addiction is not as compelling as many of the others because he gives few details and limited context for his experiences and spiritual enlightenment. The book makes little contribution to the subjects of addiction and self-help; it would be useful primarily to the author's devotees and those with interest in thinking about addiction in terms of traditional Chinese medicine. Not recommended.—Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ.
Siegal, Mordecai. Dog Spelled Backwards: Soulful Writing from Literary Dog Lovers. St. Martin's. Aug. 2007. c.288p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-312-28179-3. $23.95. PETS
Siegal, author of numerous books on dog and cat care and ownership, offers here a collection of stories, poems, and songs celebrating man's best friend. A lot of the selections will be familiar to the average cano- and bibliophile, such as excerpts from Jack London's Call of the Wild and Virginia Woolf's Flush, but there are also entries, by turns humorous and affecting, from lesser-known writers who have known and loved dogs. In addition to the fiction, there are reminiscences of real dogs, both noteworthy (e.g., a lifesaving Saint Bernard) and everyday (e.g., Siegal's own childhood companion Tarzan). The book is salted with epigrams and one-liners about dogs; presidential pets Fala and Checkers receive biographical profiles, as does a champion Frisbee catcher. This title should prove popular with audiences who love their books as much as they do their dogs. Recommended for public libraries.—Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ., Bowling Green
Stewart, Kathryn. Helping a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder or Asperger's Disorder. 2d ed. New Harbinger. Sept. 2007. c.308p. ISBN 978-1-57224-526-6. pap. $15.95. PSYCH
In this second edition of a book originally published in 2002, clinical psychologist Stewart sets out to supply interventions and support for children with Asperger's syndrome or nonverbal learning disorder (NLD). The executive director of the Orion Academy (Moraga, CA), which provides a college-prep environment for adolescents with these conditions, she certainly has relevant professional experience. However, the author uses Asperger's and NLD simultaneously, without identifying their true differences (the DSM-IV considers the former but not the latter a developmental disorder). True: both are marked primarily by regular attainment of language and matched with great social difficulty. And in some regards, NLD is an Asperger's diagnosis without the stigma of autism. Yet Asperger's and NLD are different, and it's important readers understand that. While the book furnishes useful interventions, especially for adolescents struggling in classroom settings, the lack of a clear understanding of NLD as distinct from Asperger's detracts from its value and makes the book potentially confusing for a general audience. A better title for libraries is Patricia Romanowski Bashe and Barbara L. Kirby's The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome. Not recommended.—Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The United States v. I. Lewis Libby. Sterling. Jun. 2007. c.584p. ed. by Murray Waas with Jeff Lomonaco. index. ISBN 978-1-4027-5259-9. pap. $12.95. LAW
It’s been two weeks since I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who had been chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to report to jail, following his conviction for perjury and other counts by a U.S. District Court in Washington. Libby’s conviction makes up the final episode in this instant book edited by independent reporter Waas. Libby was charged with lying to federal investigators and a grand jury over his role in the 2003 “outing” of Valerie Plame as a CIA employee after her husband, Joseph Wilson, had criticized the Bush Administration’s claim, in making a case for war, that Iraq had sought to buy uranium in Africa. Waas has followed the case from the start in articles published in the National Journal and in blogs, including his own, http://whateveralready.blogspot.com. Comprised mostly of trial and grand jury transcripts, with edits and annotations by Waas and his coeditor Lomonaco (political science, Univ. of Minnesota), the book also includes a 10-page introduction by Waas, a time line, capsule biographies of key figures, an appendix of documents, and an index. A strictly optional purchase for public, academic, and law libraries that serve political junkies or serious students of the case.—Bob Nardini, Concord, NH
Wilkinson, Paul. Rat Salad: Black Sabbath, the Classic Years, 1969–1975. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Jul. 2007. c.256p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-312-36723-7. $24.95. MUSIC
Musician and Sabbath fan Wilkinson's psychology degree is only notable because the prose in his critical look at Black Sabbath's heavy metal thunder reads like an academic textbook. Sure, his song-by-song analysis of the band's album catalog is more detailed and entertaining than the common metal head vernacular of "it rocks, man," but in examining the mechanics of Sabbath anthems like "N.I.B.," Wilkinson focuses more on practical applications of musical theory than the emotional emphasis that made this British band's music so virile. The book isn't all bad, though. Wilkinson tries to capture a time-stamped mood of the world as a preface to each Sabbath album. Although he often writes like a fan, he doesn't ignore details about drug use or band infighting. Much more than a primer but less than the definitive tome this band needs, it is recommended for heavy metal fans not afraid of some heavy reading.—Robert Morast, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem with Raymond Obstfeld. On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance. 9 CDs. unabridged. 10½ hrs. Tantor Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4001-0428-4. $34.99. LIT
Listeners will find a rich, literate, historical epic here, in basketball legend Abdul-Jabbar's sixth book. He begins by discussing the social history of Harlem at the turn of the 20th century, describing how this once largely ignored section of Manhattan became a black community. He offers short biographies of and quotations from W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston, among other political and literary luminaries. The Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater, which launched the careers of the biggest black performers of the day, including Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, are also covered. But there's plenty of basketball, too. The New York Renaissance, a.k.a. the Rens, was the first all-black, professional basketball team, formed in the early 1920s (preceding the Harlem Globetrotters by a few years). The team not only paved the way for black athletics but was a huge influence in Abdul-Jabbar's decision to become a professional basketball player. Reader Richard Allen provides superb narration with his rich, deep voice. Highly recommended for all public libraries and American history collections.—Jesse M. Light, Memorial Hall Lib., Andover, MA
Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. 7 CDs. unabridged. 8 hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-3803-4. $70. AUTOBIOG
A painful yet riveting memoir, this book recounts Beah's haunting experiences as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, Africa. Just 11 years old when rebels attacked and a civil war began, he was an innocent boy enthralled by hip-hop and Western culture. After losing his family and narrowly avoiding death at the hands of rebel soldiers, he was eventually taken in by the government army. While there was some level of security in this forced assignment, Beah's life still became consumed by violence, guns, death, and drugs. Rescued by UNICEF at the age of 16, Beah entered rehab, regained his life and spirit, moved to the United States, graduated from Oberlin College, and became a public speaker and an advocate for human rights, all before his 26th birthday. Beah's narrative, which is accessible, conversational, visual, and utterly absorbing, is expertly brought to life by actor Dominic Hoffman. The overall quality of the production is excellent; highly recommended and suitable for all nonfiction and biography collections in school (upper level), academic, and public libraries.—Nicole A. Cooke, Montclair State Univ. Lib., NJ
Perry, Anne. We Shall Not Sleep. 10 CDs. unabridged. 11 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-59355-073-8. $102.25. F
The fifth and final volume in Perry's World War I series finds the Reavleys (chaplain Joseph, intelligence officer Matthew, and ambulance driver Judith) confronting the implications of the end of the war. Their biggest concern is that the traitor known as the Peacemaker is still at large. Then, a German colonel who can expose the Peacemaker is captured. When a nurse is brutally murdered, however, the German officer is charged with the crime. The Reavleys must first find the real murderer and then get the officer from Belgium to England. As always, Perry paints a vivid picture of the horrors of war, and while she wraps up matters a bit too neatly, she remains a master of moral ambiguity, examining the extremes to which good people will go in a corrupt world. As with previous entries in this series, Michael Page narrates well but makes the dialog overly dramatic. Recommended for popular collections.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr.
See the June 15th Xpress Reviews.
