Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 8/2/2007
Week of July 31st
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels | Audio reviews
Fiction
Khoury, Raymond. The Sanctuary. Dutton. Aug. 2007. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-525-95029-5. $25.95. F
Khoury (The Last Templar) proves he is not a one-hit wonder with this sophomore effort. Similar in style to his first novel, it comfortably shifts between time periods. Past: a faux count travels Europe in the mid-1700s on the run from his nemesis, an Italian prince; both men seek confirmation of a secret that will change the world. Present: archaeologist Evelyn Bishop, working in Beirut, is kidnapped after an Iraqi colleague from her past shows her photos of an ancient book bearing a mysterious symbol. Suddenly, several factions are mobilized—but to rescue Evelyn or obtain the book? Unlike some thrillers that overstuff characters in lieu of plot, this novel offers an exciting story with an economy of main characters. No plotline is left dangling, and no player is abandoned. The violence is graphic but appropriate and proportional to the plot. Well researched, electrifying, thought-provoking, and surprising; strongly recommended for most popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/07.]—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Fort Myers–Lee Cty. Pub. Lib., FL
Mullany, Janet. The Rules of Gentility. Avon. Jul. 2007. c.277p. ISBN 978-0-06-122983-1. pap. $13.95. F
Mullany’s debut Regency novel, Dedication, introduced readers to a nontraditional, spicier form of historical romance that combined the traditional period setting and dialog with modern chick-lit elements. Her latest effort includes Bridget Jones’s Diary–style diary entries and letters and characters that go against Regency convention. Young and fashion-obsessed Philomena Wellsely-Clegg comes from a family tainted by trade; the family manse is situated on a coal mine and slowly subsiding. Her potential suitor is Inigo, who is not a middle-aged duke or earl, but a younger son with an actual occupation—he is employed as estate manager for his older brother’s properties. As Philomena matures, she learns to accept her fiance’s love child and befriends his erstwhile mistress. This reflects a more modern sensibility. The humor, modern twists, and more sensual romance will win over young women who did not grow up with the novels of Georgette Heyer. Mullany creates characters who break the mold yet will resonate with Jane Austen fans. Recommended for public libraries.—Loralyn Whitney, Edinboro Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.
Bongiorni, Sara. A Year Without "Made In China": One Family’s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy. Wiley. 2007. 256p. index. ISBN 978-0-470-11613-5. $24.95. BUS
Business reporter Bongiorni chronicles her family’s yearlong experiment to determine the impact of globalization on purchasing options for the American consumer: they attempt not to purchase anything made in China. This proves to be nearly impossible, especially with regard to Bongiorni’s two small children because most shoes and toys for them are manufactured in China. When her family also quickly discovers that many common items such as printer cartridges and sunglasses are almost solely Chinese, they have to find creative solutions, many of which are also quite humorous. While there is some discussion of global concerns such as Chinese labor issues, wages, and trade practices, this book is primarily a memoir—a firsthand look at the surprising impact Chinese goods have on one American family. The Bongiorni boycott will give readers pause when they realize what a significant role China plays in the world’s economy and in ways they may not have considered. Although not as philosophical as Judith Levine’s Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping, this is an entertaining read for consumers on a topic of importance in today’s economy. Recommended for public libraries.—Elizabeth L. Winter, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta
Bret, David. Clark Gable: Life, Loves & Lies. Carroll & Graf. Sept. 2007. c.320p. filmog. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-78672-093-4. $25.99. FILM
With the abundance of available biographies of Clark Gable, it seems unlikely that new information will surface. However, Hollywood biographer Bret’s (The Piaf Legend; Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr) take on the star is full of surprises. Bret follows Gable’s life and career much as other biographies but digresses into a who’s who of sex-crazed stars. He uses unpublished material to draw some of his conclusions—one central theory is that Gable was bisexual—but many of his sources are secondary, potentially exaggerated gossip or innuendo. Bret seems to delight in including many vulgar comments made by people who knew Gable. This tabloid version of the leading man’s troubled relationships is not essential if your library has other biographies of Gable, especially those by Warren G. Harris and Chrystopher J. Spicer. But if your readers enjoy uncensored material, they will love this one.—Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL
Coward, Rosalind. Diana: The Portrait Anniversary Edition. Andrews McMeel. Aug. 2007. c.239p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7407-6792-0. pap. $29.95. PHOTOG
Lavishly illustrated with more than 400 color and black-and-white photographs—many never before published—this large-format work offers a striking portrait of Princess Diana from her birth in 1961 to her tragic death in 1997. The only book to be endorsed by the princess’s estate and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, it draws on 200 original interviews with her family and friends and includes a foreword by Nelson Mandela and an introduction by Diana’s sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, each of whom draws attention to the princess’s compassion and humanitarian work. Journalist Coward then contributes a substantial and well-researched biography of the princess. Expertly interwoven among the photographs are myriad fascinating glimpses into Diana as a person over the span of her short life. Artfully blending text and images, this photo essay offers a lasting tribute to one of the most beloved figures of the 20th century. Given the continuing fascination with Diana’s life and work, it is highly recommended for popular collections in public and academic libraries.—Raymond Bial, First Light Photography, Urbana, IL
Cullen, Terri. The Wall Street Journal Identity Theft Guidebook: How To Protect Yourself from the Most Pervasive Crime in America. Three Rivers: Crown. Jul. 2007. c.208p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-307-33853-2. pap. $13.95. CONSUMER AFFAIRS
As an identity theft victim herself, Cullen (assistant managing editor & personal finance columnist, Wall Street Journal Online) sets out to help others avoid her experience, as well as to aid their recovery after an identity theft crime has occurred. As in Steve Weisman’s similar 50 Ways To Protect Your Identity and Your Credit, Cullen describes the most frequent types of identity theft, details consumers’ rights, and provides sample letters (fewer than in 50 Ways) for requesting credit reports, notifying creditors, etc. Surpassing Weisman’s coverage, she examines less common but increasing crimes such as bankruptcy fraud, medical identity theft, and fraudulent home sales. The other strengths of her book are its attention to emotional issues and her help with creating secure account passwords. Somewhat tangential chapters consider identity theft in popular culture and scrutinize credit reports reflecting three levels of financial scores. Cullen’s long blocks of text and the too-basic table of contents could make it hard for readers to find answers quickly, but if they persevere they will find a companionable resource and useful adjunct to Weisman. Recommended for public libraries.—Heidi Senior, Univ. of Portland Lib., OR
Dante. Paradiso. Doubleday. Aug. 2007. c.944p. tr. from Italian by Robert Hollander & Jean Hollander. ISBN 978-0-385-50678-6. $40. LIT
The Hollanders here complete their version of Dante’s The Divine Comedy with this new verse translation of Paradiso (Inferno appeared in 2000; Purgatorio in 2003). Paradiso is the epic poem’s most challenging canticle, both for Dante in trying to represent the unrepresentable and for the translators in trying to articulate the Italian writer’s paradoxical combination of solemnity and vigor, all built on an intricate cosmology now remote to most readers. The Hollanders’ successful translation takes a high place among the modern verse translations of John Ciardi, Allen Mandelbaum, Mark Musa, and Anthony Esolen. In addition to vigorous, idiomatic verse, it includes the Italian on the facing page and detailed scholarly notes for each canto that focus on Dante’s allusions. This translation is the version used by the Princeton Dante Project, an eight-year-old online project offering a multimedia version of The Divine Comedy and links to other Dante web sites. An important contribution, it is recommended for all libraries and serious readers of Dante.—T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ., Savannah, GA
Gaunt, Carole O’Malley. Hungry Hill: A Memoir. Univ. of Massachusetts. 2007. c.294p. ISBN 978-1-55849-588-3. $80. pap. ISBN 978-1-55849-589-0. $19.95. AUTOBIOG
The daughter of an alcoholic father, playwright Gaunt grew up in Hungry Hill, an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Springfield, MA. When her mother died of lymphatic cancer, Gaunt was just 13 and essentially became a mother to her seven brothers and a homemaker for her father, who then married a woman who drank as he did. Young Gaunt filled the other children’s Easter baskets, packed the family’s clothes for the beach, and chose and bought a new sofa. When her father died three years later, the 16 year old got after-school jobs rather than ask her stepmother for money. Attempting to save her earnings to pay for college, she ended up loaning most of it to her older brother to repay his gambling debts. Gaunt interrupts the story periodically to insert dialog, in play format, between herself and her father and stepmother, which allows readers to glimpse a couple who knew only "dimly lit bars and a whiskey bottle on the counter." Also adapted into a play, Hungry Hill is a moving and poignant account of the O’Malley family. Highly recommended.—Nicole Mitchell, Univ. of Alabama Lister Hill Lib., Birmingham
Gordon, Mary. Circling My Mother. Pantheon. Aug. 2007. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-375-42456-4. $24. LIT
Gordon, known primarily for her novels on Catholics in America (e.g., Final Payments), wrote a moving memoir of her father titled The Shadow Man in 1996. Continuing in this genre, she now turns to her mother, Anna Gagliano Gordon. One of nine children born in 1908, Anna contracted polio at a young age. At nearly 40, she married Mary’s father, David Gordon, a dreamy intellectual full of dead-end money-making schemes. David’s death from a heart attack ten years into the marriage left Anna a single mother to a seven-year-old daughter. Yet she scraped by, and her work ethic set a strong example for the author. The Catholic Church was another dominant feature of Anna’s life. A regular at Sunday services, she went on retreats and, like many unmarried women of her time, idolized the priests. In trying to understand her witty, musical, hard-working mother, Gordon doesn’t spare the grim details: she reveals her disgust and revulsion when Anna, who lived to be 94, slid into dementia. A frank, brave, and painful book that tells as much about Mary Gordon as it does her mother; recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/07.]—Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo
Hutchinson, Robert. Elizabeth’s Spy Master: Francis Walsingham and the Secret War That Saved England. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin’s. Aug. 2007. c.336p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-312-36822-7. $25.95. HIST
Hutchinson (The Last Days of Henry VIII) provides an in-depth look at one of the most important though relatively forgotten people in English history, Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I’s spymaster. In this thoroughly researched volume, Hutchinson recounts Walsingham’s many roles and great sacrifices made in Elizabeth’s service. From his beginnings as an ambassador to France to the trial of Mary Queen of Scotts and the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Walsingham was present, working in the shadows, gathering information, and quashing assassination plots. A highlight of Hutchinson’s book is the inclusion of a plethora of intercepted correspondence that had been gathered by Walsingham’s network of spies placed throughout Europe; another is the author’s ability to draw comparisons between Elizabethan politics and today’s political climate. Stephen Budiansky’s Her Majesty’s Spymaster: Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Walsingham, and the Birth of Modern Espionage is also a worthy read, though it is not as rich in detail as Hutchinson’s book. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Troy Reed, Southeast Regional Lib., Gilbert, AZ
Jamieson, Wendell. Father Knows Less, or Can I Cook My Sister?: One Dad’s Quest To Answer His Son’s Most Baffling Questions. Putnam. Sept. 2007. c.272p. illus. ISBN 978-0-399-15442-3. $24.95. CHILD REARING
New York Times editor Jamieson enlisted academic and professional experts to help answer posers from the under-seven set, including his son. The brief, fun, and uniformly excellent answers are, however, far above the intellectual level of children. Though Jamieson stalwartly tackles everything thrown at him, the book’s raison d’être remains obscure until he relates how important he felt when his own father took his questions seriously. The book, then, is actually a series of examples of how not to dismiss a child’s questions, from Penthouse's surprisingly excellent answer to "What is porn?" to an astronaut’s musing on "How far up can my balloon go before it pops?" Jamieson’s advice to parents, sandwiched amid the Q&A, is considerate, if mild (e.g., "problems come up when you’re a parent, and it’s nothing to be crushed by or to blame yourself about"). Equal parts humor, memoir, and reference (though an index would be welcome) and with a range as wide as DK’s inventive Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know, this is recommended for public libraries and gifts.—Douglas Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Hartford
Kelly, Judith. Rock Me Gently: A Memoir of a Convent Childhood. Bloomsbury UK, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Aug. 2007. 288p. ISBN 978-0-7475-8714-9. pap. $15.95. REL
The 2005 release of Kelly’s harrowing memoir of cruelty and abuse at a Catholic orphanage in England was pulled from the shelves owing to the discovery that various passages were plagiarized from other works. The disgraced best seller has now been rereleased with the offending texts excised, an introductory mea culpa from the author, and five appendixes seeking to address the scandal of the previous edition. Left in the care of the nuns of Nazareth House in the 1950s, eight-year-old Kelly enters a cloistered hell of psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that culminates three years later in the drowning of two young girls. The pairing of the story with passages describing Kelly as a young woman searching for peace of mind at a kibbutz in the 1970s helps reinforce the theme of redemption throughout the work. Kelly’s rewritten prose is highly descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the cruel environment in which she was placed as well as the tortured psychology her experience produced. The author redeems her reputation and the validity of her story by crafting a fine example of the genre. Recommended for public libraries.—Shedrick Pittman-Hassett, Phil Johnson Historic Archives and Lib., Dallas
Korda, Michael. Ike: An American Hero. Harper: HarperCollins. Aug. 2007. c.784p. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-06-075665-9. $34.95. BIOG
In the face of too many less-than-great presidencies, Korda (former editor in chief, Simon & Schuster; Charmed Lives) attempts to present Dwight David Eisenhower as heroic general and president, mainly focusing on his rise during World War II. Though not relying on new evidence, Korda convincingly refutes British historians who have denigrated Ike’s military leadership. Contrary to MacArthur, Patton, and Montgomery, Ike knew how to work with others, including presidents, allies, and ordinary soldiers. He inspired trust. However, Korda’s unwillingness to accept Ike’s affair with Kay Sommersby seems to contradict the evidence he presents and causes the reader to suspect that the author has been blinded by hero worship. Ike’s primary devotion to duty not only made marriage a secondary consideration in his life but perhaps also steered him into accepting the presidency. Korda spends fewer than 100 pages on Ike’s White House years, and it’s the least convincing part of this biography. Nonetheless, Korda’s fluent writing and insights make this a page-turner and a welcome read for military and political buffs and Eisenhower enthusiasts. Recommended for all libraries.—William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Lloyd, John & John Mitchinson. The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know Is Wrong. Harmony: Crown. Aug. 2007. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-307-39491-0. $19.95. LIT
The authors, a pair of British television personalities, plow a well-tilled field: that of attempting to debunk conventional wisdom (see Russ Kick’s You Are Being Lied to: The Disinformation Guide to Media Distortion, Historical Whitewashes and Cultural Myths). They present a series of 166 Q&A entries, a typical one being: "What is a rhino’s horn made from?" Answer: "A rhinoceros horn is not, as some people think, made out of hair. It’s made out of tightly packed strands of keratin fibres." However, hair is made up of keratin, a fact acknowledged in the next sentence, so what’s the point? This is followed by revelations that the rhino horn is not an aphrodisiac and that "White rhinos aren’t white." Essentially, this is a book of trivia masquerading as an exposé. A further fault is that most entries neglect to mention where the authors obtained their information, which makes the assertions within these pages highly suspect. Not recommended for library purchase.—Michael F. Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN
MacDonald, Kyle. One Red Paperclip: Or How an Ordinary Man Achieved His Dreams with the Help of a Simple Office Supply. Three Rivers: Crown. Aug. 2007. c.272p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-307-35316-0. pap. $13.95. HUMOR
This is the chronicle of one man’s journey from dissatisfied apartment dweller to homeowner. MacDonald, a young slacker with a good idea, started with a red paperclip and a dream: he wanted to play a high-stakes version of the game Bigger and Better, where players take items and try to trade up. So he decided to use craigslist.org to parlay his red paperclip into a house. MacDonald’s journey created a media sensation and made him the focus of watercooler talk throughout Canada and the United States. Here, he traces his trades in depth, heading each chapter with semirandom, semiphilosophical questions and statements. Readers who followed MacDonald’s odyssey via his web site as well as those wanting a comprehensive background look at the One Red Paperclip phenomenon may appreciate this title, which celebrates the exuberance of MacDonald’s idiosyncratic, entrepreneurial spirit. The flavor of the undertaking, however, is captured more faithfully through his web site, which he continues to update and which offers an RSS feed. Larger public libraries may wish to consider as a discretionary purchase.—Audrey Snowden, Cleveland P.L.
Mallin, Eric S. Godless Shakespeare. Continuum. (Shakespeare Now!). 2007. c.144p. index. ISBN 978-0-8264-9041-4. $90; pap. ISBN 978-0-8264-9042-1. $16.95. LIT
While much contemporary Shakespeare criticism finds a crypto-Catholicism in the plays, Mallin (English, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Inscribing the Time: Shakespeare and the End of Elizabethan England) argues for the prominence of unbelief and atheism, emphasizing that he is not making biographical claims. Taking as his premise that Shakespeare’s beliefs cannot be contained by any given system, Mallin distinguishes characters who suffer because of their deluded faith, those who are skeptical, and those who articulate a godlessness with liberating honesty and self-awareness. While his treatment is provocative, his argument is based on a superficial conception that falsely equates uncertainty and skepticism with unbelief and atheism. Further, his knowledge of religion or the relevant theology seems thin, based primary on secondary sources. This eighth installment in Continuum’s new "Shakespeare Now!" series is of optional interest for academic collections.—T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ., Savannah, GA
Schaaf, Fred. The 50 Best Sights in Astronomy and How To See Them: Observing Eclipses, Bright Comets, Meteor Showers, and Other Celestial Wonders. Wiley. Aug. 2007. c.288. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-471-69657-5. pap. $19.95. SCI
When Sky & Telescope magazine wirter and prolific astronomy author Schaaf (The Starry Room: Naked Eye Astronomy in the Intimate Universe) discusses what he considers astronomy’s 50 best "sights," he includes many different spectacles in the mix. For instance, the Great Orion Nebula (object), the Northern Lights (phenomenon), and sunspots (feature) all count as sights. The order in which he has chosen to present them is also novel; starting with the broadest possible field of view (whole sky), he gradually moves through increasingly narrow naked-eye fields down to binocular or telescopic views. Occasionally the copious comments on the evils of light pollution feel heavy-handed, and Schaaf has a tendency to wax poetic in his accounts, but stylistic quirks are easily overlooked. What is more difficult to ingnore is the lack to sufficient figures for complete clarity in some of the descriptions, which often read as if the author assumes his audience will have a star map on hand. Overall, however, it is an excellent introduction to the best the sky has to offer and should prove invaluable to beginning amateur astronomers. Recommended for popular science collections.—Marcia Franklin, MLIS, St. Paul
Tiber, Elliot with Tom Monte. Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life. Square One, dist. by Ingram. Aug. 2007. c.240p. ISBN 978-0-7570-0293-9. $24.95. MUSIC
Stand-up comic and creative writer Tiber (Knock on Woodstock) is the man who serendipitously brought the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival to Bethel, NY, in the summer of 1969. Tiber worked as an artist and designer in New York City during the week and drove to White Lake in the Catskills on the weekends to help his parents manage their dilapidated hotel, El Monaco. He planned summer playhouse events and music festivals to breathe life into the Catskills tourist trade, but he always struggled. When he heard Woodstock’s festival organizers had to relocate quickly, he brought together event promoter Mike Lang and dairy farmer Max Yasgur, enabling the show to go on. Much of this literary memoir, the publisher’s first, explores Tiber’s struggles as a clandestine gay man whose life was impacted by his high-maintenance Russian mother. With sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll, and strong language; recommended for gay and lesbian studies collections. [Featuring a reversible dust jacket with one cover design more conservative than the other.—Ed.]—Joyce Sparrow, JWB Children’s Svcs. Council, Pinellas Park, FL
Arellano, Eddy (text) & Will Schaff & others (illus.). Dead in Desemboque: Historias de Amor y Sangre. Soft Skull. Aug. 2007. 192p. ISBN 978-1-933368-35-1. pap. $17.95. F
This book represents Arellano’s foray into the Mexican historieta (comic strip) format. As the cover states, Mexico once had "the biggest comic book industry on earth…far larger than the United States." While not pocket-sized—as would be traditional—the book does abound with death imagery and the earthy surrealism that characterizes Mexican artwork. Arellano’s alter ego Eddy Arellano stars as the main cowpoke, traveling through the desert with just his dogs and his horse. In the first episode, he gets in trouble with a dog-stealing woman; in the second, with a lynch mob of sailors. The final episode is the most confusing, as old medicine women and their magic potions help him confront his prophesized death. Three different artists contribute their ink and penciled sketches, and their rough quality suits the stories, even if they muddle the action at times. With a minimal amount of violence and half nudity, this book will be appreciated by adults more than YAs for its loosely sewn plot, symbolism, and death imagery. Some plot points may confuse those who don’t know Spanish, but this aspect makes it an excellent multicultural acquisition for large comic collections. Recommended.—Erika Bennett, Capella Univ., Minneapolis, MN
Carey, Percy (text) & Ronald Wimberly (illus.). Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm. Vertigo: DC Comics. Sept. 2007. 128p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1046-5. $19.99. AUTOBIOG
Growing up in New York City in the late 1970s and 1980s, Carey witnessed the birth of hip-hop and joined the fray as a writer and an MC. The high-tension urban environments that nurtured the music also eased the entry of young people into lives of crime and allowed petty rivalries and perceived slights to escalate into warfare. Sadly, this hasn’t changed. Numerous hip-hoppers have parlayed their sordid pasts into musical careers, but after Carey survived the 1994 murder attempt that paralyzed him below the waist, no record company would touch him, and his return to crime earned him a prison term. In this sobering autobiographical work, Carey cuts through the bling-and-babes stereotypes of the hip-hop lifestyle and traces his rise, fall, and eventual rebirth as a penitent survivor. Although the book is marred by a choppy narrative and Carey’s failure to flesh out other important players, his candor and lyrical flow make Sentences fresh and urgent. The black-and-white artwork is, by turns, gangly, surreal, and striking, influenced by Will Eisner (The Contract with God), Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn; Birth of a Nation), and Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks). Recommended for all graphic novel collections and biography sections, as well as for any library looking for materials regarding hip-hop and urban culture. Even though there are violent scenes and frequent profanity, younger readers may benefit most from Carey’s message.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., N.B.
Edginton, Ian (text) & Steve Pugh (illus.). Hellgate: London. Dark Horse. 2007. 104p. ISBN 978-1-59307-681-8. pap. $12.95. F
Edington’s adaptation of the upcoming video game Hellgate: London (from the creators of Diablo) reads like an overly long cut scene from the game itself. The action is fast and furious, but huge, sweeping events (like the destruction and takeover of London by demons) happen mostly off screen to speed the plot along to its predictable conclusion. Essentially an introduction to the upcoming game, the plot follows three different characters, each from a different sect fighting demons 18 years after they have taken over the city. Based on the three playable character classes from the game, the Templar, Cabalist, and Hunter discover a prophecy that intimates all three must work together to discover the secret of a mysterious sigil inscribed within London before the demon forces do. The dialog and plot are very cliché, and the one saving grace of the book is the artwork of Pugh (Preacher, etc.). While the mostly washed-out backgrounds are standard postapocalyptic fare, Pugh’s characters singularly evoke the archetype they are supposed to represent. Their action sequences contain a poetic brutality, as they showcase their unique way of destroying zombie hordes, demon hordes, or whatever other hordes lie in wait. This work will primarily find favor with fans of Diablo and those anticipating the new game. It is mildly recommended for libraries with active video game collections or programming, but not for more general graphic novel collections.—David Ward, Univ. of Illinois Undergraduate Lib., Urbana
Hasumi, Toui. Othello. Juné: Digital Manga. 2007. 200p. tr. from Japanese by Sachiko Sato. ISBN 978-1-56970-822-4. pap. $12.95. F
With its underlying themes of abuse and violence, this short story collection will leave an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouths of readers. The title piece is a study of opposites: Atsushi and twin brother Ayumu were raised separately after their parents divorced. When Atsushi dies, Ayumu moves back in with his mother and tries to re-create himself in Atsushi’s image to become the perfect boy with a perfect life. It’s all an act, though, and Ayumu is caught by a classmate after picking up a "date" while street hustling. The two boys forge a friendship that helps Ayumu—who had been discarded by his father and abused by his stepmother and her lover—learn that he is still worth loving. The second story revolves around a boy who becomes violent any time someone calls him by his first name, Snow, and frighteningly so if he is called "Snow White," all because he was rejected by another boy back when they were in kindergarten. The third story centers on a reporter who is sent to write a piece on the life of a famous artist who has recently died. He meets the artist’s muse, a 16-year-old boy who is rumored to have been the artist’s lover. Finally, the last story involves a widower and a dragon god. All four stories are disturbing in their lack of resolution of either the characters’ problems or the couples’ futures and, in the case of the third story, the creepiness of the relationships the boy has with both the artist and the reporter. Not recommended.—Eva Volin, Alameda Free Lib., CA
Hatori, Bisco. Millennium Snow. Vol. 2. Viz Media. 2007. 208p. tr. from Japanese by RyoRca, Honyaku Center. ISBN 978-1-4215-1203-7. pap. $8.99. F
Chiyuki was born with a heart defect, and her doctors didn’t expect her to live past 15, much less make it to 17. A chance meeting with the grumpy, blood-repelled teenage vampire Toya led to an unexpected friendship and the possibility of near immortality if Toya can overcome his repulsion for blood drinking and fear of rejection. Toya and Chiyuki have formed a half-partnership to extend Chiyuki’s life, but Chiyuki is unaware that their bond is not the complete thousand-year deal. Add Satsuki, the werewolf with a crush on Chiyuki, and Yami, the vampire’s matchmaking servant, and mix well with ghosts, high school angst, and male rivalry to create Millennium Snow. Hatori is the manga-ka behind Ouran High School Host Club, and this manga series shares many similarities to that popular shojo series. Characters are suddenly plunked down in the Swiss Alps for a trip to a ghostly castle, or Chiyuki’s overprotective and jealous cousin arrives to derail Chiyuki’s romance, instigating madcap adventures that usually reveal something sweet or poignant about the characters. The character designs are also very similar to Ouran with elongated bodies, spidery pen lines, and emotive visual puns. Fans of Ouran or the offbeat gothic manga Wallflower will want to get their hands on Millennium Snow. Readers who enjoy supernatural romances similar to Annette Curtis Klause’s The Silver Kiss will also enjoy this short shojo series. Suitable for public libraries or high school libraries.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton
Helfer, Andrew (text) & Steve Buccellato & Joe Staton (illus.). Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography. Hill & Wang: Farrar. (A Graphic Biography). Sept. 2007. 112p. ISBN 978-0-8090-9507-0. $16.95. BIOG
If ever there was a figure destined to have a graphic biography written about him, it was Ronald Reagan. In this entry of "A Graphic Biography" series, Helfer narrates the life of the unforgettable 40th president of the United States, while illustrators Buccellato and Staton—veterans of the superhero genre—provide the black-and white graphics. Reagan’s story is told here as he is influenced in his early days as a student advocate and radio sports announcer, educated in an acting career, and molded into the "Great Communicator" for his Cold War presidency. The scripted and theatrical moments of Reagan’s life fit very well into this illustrated format—sometimes too well. At times, you have to wonder whether some of the incidents are all fact or partially fiction; after all, there is a certain cartoonish element to the artwork. For instance, Reagan is seen on the last page winking over his shoulder as he heads into the sunset, as if saying, "How’s that for a take." This biography doesn’t miss the opportunity to exploit any and all "Reagan-isms": "There you go again" and "We begin bombing in 5 minutes" all find a home here. This is a fun and interesting portrait that shouldn’t be taken for academics; it’s not entirely neutral or impartial, and much of Reagan’s presidency is explained away as political theatrics. While it’s hard to call this essential, it’s certainly enjoyable. Appropriate for young adults and up.—David Garza, AWBERC Lib., U.S. EPA, Cincinnati
Kano, Shiuko. Affair. 801 Media: Digital Manga. 2007. 200p. tr. from Japanese by Vivian Chien. ISBN 978-1-934129-05-0. pap. $15.95. F
These four explicit yaoi shorts have all of the sex but little of the romance or confessions of love typical to the genre. In the first, "Affair," two men who played baseball together in high school renew their old relationship after an accidental meeting. In "My Dear Mad Dog," by far the most complicated and sensationalized story, two half-brothers in the yakuza carry on a disturbing relationship while discovering their family secrets. In "One Lucky Guy," two coworkers lose their jobs over a mahjong game at a "business social" and move in together (American audiences may wonder what a "business social" is and how someone could lose their job by beating the head of the social at mahjong). In the last story, "Love Machine," a driving instructor and his student are attracted to each other, but one takes a while to admit it. The stories are characterized by frequent trips between past and present and leaps in time from the present to months later, but Kano doesn’t handle the time lines with grace; instead, the stories are muddled and hard to follow. Worse, the dialog and thought bubbles don’t always correspond well to the panels, so it can be difficult to discern who is speaking or thinking. This volume is even lighter on plot and character than most books of yaoi shorts, and with violence and incest as well as explicit sex, it’s recommended only for the most dedicated yaoi collectors.—Krista Hutley, Lakeside Sch., Seattle
Kotobuki, Tarako. Love Pistols. Vol. 1. BLU: Tokyopop. 2007. 222p. tr. from Japanese. ISBN 978-1-59816-782-5. pap. $9.99. F
Imagine that man descended not just from apes but from other animals as well. This is exactly what Norio discovers when his latent cat genes are awakened after suffering an accident, and he begins seeing the people around him as dogs, cats, snakes, and bears. Worse, Norio turns out to be an extremely rare breed of "zoomanity," which makes him incredibly attractive to everyone he encounters. Enter Kunimasa, another zooman, who marks Norio as his mate and announces that Norio will bear his children. The zoomanity subculture is well defined with charts and graphs; zooman society, complete with its pheromones, jungle animals, and male pregnancy, is complex enough to keep the story interesting, despite the somewhat wooden and stereotypical characters. Most situations are played for laughs, and Norio’s reactions are often annoyingly over-the-top. But once the world has been established, the author begins to give her characters a bit more depth, and the second half of the book, featuring a story about Kunimasa’s brother, Yonekuni, is a much more satisfying read. Thanks to earlier online scanlations, this title already has a huge fan following. The book is rated M for mildly explicit sex and other sexual situations. Recommended for libraries collecting yaoi manga.—Eva Volin, Alameda Free Lib., CA
Mahler, Nicolas. Lone Racer. Top Shelf Productions. 2007. 92p. tr. from German. ISBN 978-1-891830-69-3. pap. $12.95. F
Lone Racer, an erstwhile champion of the Formula One racing circuit, divides his time between visiting his sick wife in the hospital and hanging out in the Bar Juanjo. He sums up his life by saying, "I don't think racing has anything left for me, but what else is there for me to do?" His friends, Irksome ("Peinlich" in the original German) and Rubber ("Gummi"), try to convince him to hang up his racing helmet (which he wears throughout the story). He flirts with the idea of having an affair, but his devotion to his wife sends him back to her bedside. After Irksome meets a tragic end, Lone Racer throws himself wholeheartedly back into training for his one last shot at redemption. The race is on! Mahler is a prolific comics creator from Austria whose works published in the United States include Van Helsing's Night Off (Top Shelf) and "TNT," a contribution to the anthology Top Shelf Asks The Big Questions; Lone Racer was originally published in Austria in a slightly altered format in 1999. Mahler's unique whimsical style is a blending of Gary Larson's Far Side and the paintings of surrealist artist Joan Miró. This approach is used to great effect in conveying Lone Racer's various emotional states including everything from isolation and tension to determination and elation. With the book's adult themes of reliving past glory and mid-life crises, Lone Racer will appeal primarily to mature readers. Recommended.—Don Boozer, Cleveland P.L.
McFarlane, Todd (text & illus.) & Greg Capullo & Tony Daniels (illus.). Spawn: Collected Edition. Vol. 3. Image Comics. 2007. 480p. ISBN 978-1-58240-681-7. pap. $29.95. F
Al Simmons, a murdered government assassin who made a deal with the devil, continues to piece together his life and find new purpose in the third volume of McFarlane’s Spawn. This weighty collection contains issues #34–54, delving into the circumstances behind Al’s death and repercussions of his return on old friends and new foes. While this volume covers many story arcs, a central theme of transformation persists. With the exposition completed in earlier issues, McFarlane sets out to define the character of Spawn and gets into the meat and bones of the mythos. As Spawn experiences physical changes as his powers and costume develop and evolve, so, too, does the supporting cast transfigure—villains turn into allies and vice versa. The narrative can be depressingly heavy at times, and without fan favorites Sam and Twitch to provide much-needed humor, the series would quickly turn dour. McFarlane’s inks dominate the illustrations—a boon or burden depending on personal taste—and while his art is lacking in some areas, there is no doubt that Spawn’s subject matter and theme cater to McFarlane’s strengths. Carnage and mayhem erupt on almost every panel, as bullets spray during a shootout between mobsters and a cybernetic demon, and blood flies as Spawn battles through the various levels of hell. The splash pages are wonderfully rendered as well, and the coloring enhances the often angry tones. Daniels’s more cartoony style stands out against the rest, and his portrayal of the terrifying Cy-Gor is a highlight of the collection. Recommended only for Spawn fans teen and up because this not an ideal starting point for the inexperienced, and earlier volumes are stronger.—George Sun, New York, NY
Mochizuki, Minetaro. Dragon Head. Vol. 6. Tokyopop. 2007. 256p. tr. from Japanese by Alexis Kirsch. ISBN 978-1-59532-919-6. pap. $9.99. F
Chaos and confusion endure in the latest volume of Dragon Head as the protagonists struggle to stay alive in a mysterious postapocalyptic world where devastating natural disasters have caused an astonishing amount of death and destruction. In this installment, Ako, Nimura, and a startling new character (a skinny, listless young man with surgical-like scars on his head) keep trekking toward a nearby town to scavenge for fuel for their downed helicopter and medication for their fast-fading injured comrade Teru. There, they encounter a crazed, delusional mob of survivors who want to offer them as sacrifices to their gods. Readers are kept on edge as Mochizuki presents a believable and incredible story that has his central characters trying to carry on in a world gone mad. Mochizuki, who is fast establishing himself as one of the best survival horror manga storytellers, masterfully uses the medium to portray effectively desperation, despair, and dread with his jarringly realistic depictions in combination with the excellent plot pacing. An essential series for horror and suspense fans. With explicit language and graphic, realistic violence, it is recommended for mature readers.—Raphael E. Rogers, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Park, Sang-Sun. The Tarot Café. Vol. 5. Tokyopop. 2007. 208p. tr. from Korean by Jennifer Hahm. ISBN 978-1-4278-0395-5. pap. $9.99. F
This contemporary manhwa continues to follow the adventures of Pamela, the mysterious owner of the Tarot Café. Her gift for reading tarot cards has attracted many unusual clients and won her unusual friends. This volume wraps up a story about a dragon in the guise of a pop star avenging the death of a friend. It then picks up with a vision that causes Pamela to leave for Scotland to try and decipher her past. There, she falls victim to a trio of villains, including a priest whose affections she spurned in the past. Pamela’s friend Belus, who has suspected danger all along, rushes to save her. This story will appeal to readers of gothic horror and fans of mysticism. The exquisite art will draw them in, and the well-crafted, constantly changing story lines will keep them reading. Sexual situations and violence place this manga appropriately in the teen readership, but the visual complexity and the story may appeal to adults as well.—Gretchen Schroeder, Woodlynde Sch., Stafford, PA
Pfeifer, Will & David Lapham (text) & Cliff Chiang & Eric Battle (illus.). Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre. DC Comics. 2007. 143p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1380-0. pap. $12.99. F
Relying heavily on previous story lines in Days of Vengeance and Gotham Central, this book follows Crispus Allen, deceased former Gotham City detective. Allen was murdered by a fellow cop and now has the chance to avenge his death by joining with God’s ghostly spirit of vengeance called the Spectre. The Spectre has recently destroyed many of the DC Universe magic users and is searching for a new host in order to ensure he doesn’t lose control again. In the first arc, Allen struggles with whether the Spectre delivers justice to evildoers or simply capricious vengeance. He eventually comes to accept and agree with the path the Spectre walks, even when it comes at a personal cost to him. Chiang’s art is clean and appealing and balances the dark tone of the book. The second arc shows a less accepting Allen and retreads ground that seemed to be resolved in the first arc. The new writer and artist create a grittier, bleaker tale. Allen repeatedly waits around until some poor soul loses his cool and kills someone. Only then does the Spectre intervene and deliver "justice." Overall, the book relies heavily on continuity and would be a poor choice for any but the most DC-centric collection. While the book could fit in either teen or adult collections, keep in mind that the second half is considerably more graphic than the first.—Mark D. Richardson, Cedar Mill Community Lib., Portland, OR
Tomine, Adrian. Shortcomings. Drawn & Quarterly. Oct. 2007. 104p. ISBN 978-1-897299-16-6. $19.95. F
The Asian American film festival was a bore, and it seems that anything Asian is an aversion for twenty-something Ben Tanaka, a directionless, negative, and highly defensive movie theater manager residing in the Bay Area. Of course, Ben refuses to acknowledge his attraction to all things non-Asian, especially blonde girls, which his Asian girlfriend finds so apparent in his wandering eye and choice of Sapphic Sorority DVDs. Ben is finally forced to deal with his conflicting leanings and Japanese heritage when his girlfriend leaves for New York to attend film school. Alone, he searches for new girlfriends and conducts café chats with Alice, his lesbian friend. Yet his old obsessions motivate him the most. Tomine’s first full-length graphic novel (originally serialized in Optic Nerve) is a subtle and restrained real-life drama that confronts racial and sexual norms. The racial identity of the characters is ostensibly represented by their hair color, and Tomine’s realistic black-and-white artwork further suggests this symbolism by drawing the focus there. His use of facial expression and command of dialog keep the reader engaged in this character study; the story line itself is rather conventional and feels familiar. A few panels of frontal nudity and instances of language, plus the more adult subject matter, make it more suitable for older teens on up. Shortcomings would be a credit to any graphic novel collection.—David Garza, AWBERC Lib. U.S. EPA, Cincinnati
Wagner, Matt. Grendel Archives. Dark Horse. 2007. 104p. ISBN 978-1-59307-729-7. $14.95. F
This handsome hardcover volume collects the rare first appearance of Grendel, as well as the first three issues of the original Grendel series. These early stories tell the origins of socialite supercriminal Hunter Rose, aka Grendel and his constant antagonist Argent, an Algonquin who was forced into a wolflike form and compelled to fight injustice by an ancient curse. Originally published between 1982 and 1984, these issues represent the earliest version of Grendel’s story, which was, as Wagner describes in his introduction, "abandoned at an unfulfilling stage." Wagner would later revisit the characters and retell the completed story, arguably in a much more elegant and sophisticated fashion, in Grendel: Devil by the Deed. The writing and art are fairly rough around the edges, particularly in Grendel’s first appearance in Primer #2, which gives these early issues a punky zinelike quality. By issue two of the solo series, Wagner’s graphic style is much more confident, frequently using innovative page layouts and taking full advantage of Grendel’s black-and-white costume to create striking compositions. Fans of Grendel would enjoy reading these ambitious early attempts, but their rawness and the lack of a follow-up to the cliff-hanger at the end of issue three would most likely be a turnoff for most new readers. Suggested as an optional purchase as a complement to other Grendel collections (Grendel: Devil by the Deed, Grendel: Red, White and Black, and Grendel: Black, White and Red would be better choices to start with). Contains violence, brief nudity, and some objectionable language.—Ben Lathrop, Fairfield Lane Lib., OH
Yatate, Hajime & Yoshiyuki Tomino (text) & Masatsugu Iwase (illus.). Gundam Seed Destiny. Vol. 3. Del Rey: Ballantine. 2007. 192p. tr. from Japanese by Ikoi Hiroe. ISBN 978-0-345-49276-0. pap. $10.95. F
The entire Gundam saga is military sf, but many of the series within that saga have surprising depth of characterization and insight into the human condition. That is the case here, where the focus is on the forces of politics and industry that can contribute to war. At the heart of the story are military men and women who are trying to halt a needless war triggered by an act of apparent terrorism. Because this manga series was created after the anime version of the same story, it has a very cinematic style, but it also seems a bit rushed in spots. In an attempt to show the complexity of battle, the artist creates a "fog of war," which may seem confusing at times. Still, the action will hold the attention of the casual reader, and the philosophy will stir the interest of the more serious one. Readers will find it essential to read the prior volumes, but the series itself can stand alone without reading decades of related material. The story contains violence and death without emphasizing gore. This four-volume series is recommended for teen collections.—Nick Smith, Pasadena P.L., CA
Wann. Can’t Lose You. Vol. 5. Netcomics. 2007. 189p. tr. from Korean by Jeanne. ISBN 978-1-60009-043-1. pap. $9.99. F
In the previous volumes of Can’t Lose You, the pauper Yooi Kang served as a decoy for the princess Lida Yoo, who was threatened by unknown assassins. While in disguise, Yooi fell in mutual love with Gaon Gil, Lida’s powerful and handsome boyfriend. However, Lida demanded that Yooi return both the fortune and the fiancé in time for her elaborate engagement party—a party that culminated in Yooi running away, Gaon realizing that he was about to marry the wrong woman, and Lida shot by an assassin. To save Lida, Yooi returns to the family that rejected her based on a prophecy that Yooi would kill her grandfather. When the shaman prophetesses predict a harsh fortune for Gaon, Yooi runs off, seeking refuge with her friend Nao Suh. In this next-to-last volume, Yooi is hiding from her ruthless grandfather, a heartsick Gaon, and a jealous Lida, trying to live long enough to foil the prophecy. Can’t Lose You is frothy soap of fortune, fashion, and fixation; like Gossip Girls and The A List, it’s a girlishly guilty pleasure. The premise and plot are silly, but the beautiful and emotive character designs, the luxuriously textured prints and textiles, and the occasional use of photorealistic landscapes make this an outstanding series from an artistic perspective. Recommended for older teens and public library collections where shojo and soonjung titles, such as 100% Perfect Girl or Manhwa Novella Collection, Vol. 2: 9 Faces of Love, also by the same manwha-ga, are popular.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton
Whedon, Joss & others (text) & Paul Lee & others (illus.). Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Omnibus. Vol. 1. Dark Horse. Jul. 2007. 320p. ISBN 978-1-59307-784-6. pap. $24.95. F
In a world where vampires, demons, and magic are real, one girl in each generation fulfills the role of the Slayer—a chosen one to fight against the forces of darkness. Buffy Summers has just taken on the mantle of Slayer, and she has no idea what she’s doing. This volume collects various issues of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series and related miniseries published between 1999 and 2003, comprising five separate stories all connected by the loose theme of Buffy’s origin and the earliest days of her vampire-slaying career. Fans of the television show, accustomed to the hyper-competent version of the titular superheroine featured there, will find a much more human Buffy here, dealing with deep uncertainties and an error-prone learning process, both in terms of the rules of supernatural combat and universal teenage angst. Familiar supporting characters, such as the vampires Angel, Spike, and Drusilla; the watcher Rupert Giles; and Buffy’s little sister, Dawn, all receive story time as well. The stories vary in quality; "Slayer, Interrupted" is the strongest, featuring an interesting villain and genuine character development for both Buffy and Giles. The art overall is passable, with some chapters capturing the likenesses of the actors who originated the roles and the overall visual style of the television show, while others are streamlined and cartoony. All in all, this is a potentially entertaining collection, though the realization of that potential will depend largely on how big a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer the reader already is. Suitable for teens with no objections to exploding vampire bodies and gratuitously skimpy outfits on teen cheerleaders.—Dale W. Glaser, Sterling, VA
Kerry, John & Teresa Heinz Kerry. This Moment on Earth: Today’s New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future. 7 CDs. unabridged. 9 hrs. Tantor Audio. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4001-0438-3. $29.99. NAT HIST
Here, Senator Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry discuss dangers to the environment from manmade pollutants. Their thesis states that ordinary people who are passionate about saving the environment can effect change. This is also the story of activists who made a difference in the struggle to clean up the environment, and the first crusader mentioned is Rachel Carson and her fight against the dangers of spraying DDT. Teresa uses "dirty Pittsburgh in the 1960s and 1970s" as an example of a city that has become environmentally friendly owing to its highly efficient heating and cooling methods. This Moment on Earth is not just about the environment, however. It also has a political message: the Kerrys blame the government’s inattention to the environment on Republican administrations past and present. Dick Hill does an excellent job of reading, but the work is at times dry and goes into too much scientific detail about the chemistry of certain toxins for the lay listener to understand. Hill also describes important web sites that are easier to grasp on paper than on audio. Recommended for the nonfiction collection of public libraries that own the hard copy.—Ilka Gordon, Park Synagogue Lib., Pepper Pike, OH
Leon, Donna. Suffer the Little Children. 7 CDs. unabridged. 8 hrs. Sound Library: BBC Audiobooks America. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7927-4842-7. $74.95. F
The 16th Venetian procedural featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti focuses on a baby-snatching case and the rivalry between the city police and the carabinieri. Guido gets involved when the carabinieri brutally injure a pediatrician accused of illegal adoption as they try to arrest him and remove the child to an orphan agency. The Commissario’s forces uncover a scam involving doctors and pharmacists billing for bogus appointments. The series’ real stars, the charm of Venice, and the cultural and sensual pleasures of Italy continue in their major roles. Unfortunately, David Colacci’s lack of a feminine voice renders the recording confusing at times. Recommended, nevertheless, especially where the series is popular.—Sandy Glover, Camas P.L., WA
Maupin, Armistead. Michael Tolliver Lives. 6 CDs. unabridged. 7 hrs. HarperAudio. 2007. ISBN 978-0-06-125641-7. $34.95. F
It has been 18 years since listeners last heard from Maupin’s popular "Tales of the Cities" series about gay life in San Francisco during the AIDS era. Michael "Mouse" Tolliver, the likable lead character, is now in his mid-fifties, coping well despite having AIDS himself and in the midst of a relationship with a much younger man. Fans of the series will be happy to hear that Mouse’s wry observations about life and his friends are as acute and witty as ever. This novel is a reunion of sorts with Mouse reflecting on his past and reconnecting with friends and family. He returns to his home state of Florida to visit his dying mother and spend time with his brother and family. He is also still in touch with the wonderful characters from the previous books, like Anna Madrigal, his transsexual landlady, now in her eighties and facing health problems of her own. Brian, Mona, and MaryAnn are here as well, not as prominent as some listeners might’ve hoped, but Maupin has not forgotten them. Mouse’s bittersweet reflections of time past and his wisdom and thankfulness that came with maturity make this an engaging novel. The author’s narration renders this a rewarding listening experience. Recommended for public libraries.—Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence
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