Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 2/12/2008 11:47:00 AM

Week of February 12, 2008

Fiction | Nonfiction

Fiction

Mahfouz, Naguib. Morning and Evening Talk. American Univ. in Cairo. 2008. c.211p. tr. from Arabic by Christina Phillips. ISBN 978-977-416-099-8. $19.95. F
Verdict: This beautifully translated collection by the late Nobel laureate uses the quotidian activities of Egyptian life to explore meaning and an individual’s destiny. Fitting for wherever world literature is appreciated.
Background: Mahfouz (who died in 2006 at the age of 95) is arguably the master of the Arabic novel. In his lifetime, he continually evolved as a writer of both short stories (The Dreams) and novels as he dealt with themes including history, politics, fate, and the representation of human spirit. Originally published in 1987, this work is made up of 67 short stories that describe the lives of everyday Egyptians. Although Mahfouz avoids the extraordinary, when these stories of common life come together they form an intricate web of existence that begs the reader to ponder the weighty issues of fate, cause and effect, and purpose. Read in pieces or as a whole, the book results in an intriguing ode to the sacredness of each person’s life story.—Dora Wagner, Northwestern Coll. Lib., Saint Paul, MN

Nonfiction

Bhutto, Benazir. Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West. HarperCollins. Feb. 2008. c.328p. ISBN 978-0-06-156758-2. $27.95. INT AFFAIRS
Verdict: Bhutto’s strong plea for dialogue and a new understanding within and among today’s nations and cultures is of further note when compared with Pershev Musharraf’s vision in his own recent memoir, In the Line of Fire. A testament to her articulate intelligence, Bhutto’s book will deservedly attract wide attention because of its optimistic perspective, coupled with her brutal assassination in late December 2007, not long after she returned to Pakistan to stand for election. Recommended for both general and academic libraries.
Background: Educated in England and the United States and twice prime minister of Pakistan, Bhutto argues persuasively that Islam is a tolerant religion, fully committed to social justice and compatible with democracy, even as she recognizes that a struggle is ongoing between moderate and extremist Muslim groups. With extensive citations from the Koran and prominent Western academics (e.g., Princeton’s emeritus Bernard Lewis), she concludes that the violent clash between Islamic and Western civilizations is not inevitable, but that belief in such a conflict can help to bring it about. She assigns significant responsibility for the meager progress toward democracy in many Islamic nations to colonialism and interference by Western powers, supporting her position with a broad overview of the Islamic world and particular examination of Pakistan’s development since independence.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, Associated Colls. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

Castro, Fidel & Ignacio Ramonet. Fidel Castro: My Life; A Spoken Autobiography. Scribner. 2008. 724p. tr. from Spanish by Andrew Hurley. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-5328-1. $40. AUTOBIOG
Verdict: Castro’s book reads like a legal deposition, but as his comprehensive autobiography of record, it has considerable value and is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.
Background: Published in Spain and Cuba in 2006, Castro’s rambling autobiography (more political than personal), transcribed from over 100 hours of interviews conducted by Ramonet (editor in chief, Le Monde Diplomatique), is a truly massive tome. Castro’s persistent vision of a flawless and idyllic Cuba may be countered by the prevailing and more realistic worldview of his country; yet his thoughts and observations are important to history. His answers to Ramonet are often lengthy (the format is Q&A), but too frequently he responds by telling the journalist to look at his speeches and thereby does not newly answer the question at hand. Yet Castro often opens up on key historic issues—the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis are examples. His words are full of the usual Castro rhetoric, at times contradicting himself, but he manages to take full credit for Hugo Chavez’s return to power following the failed 2002 coup in Venezuela.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL

Danielsson, Krissi. After Miscarriage: Medical Facts and Emotional Support for Pregnancy Loss. Harvard Common, dist. by National Bk. Network. Mar. 2008. c.240p. index. ISBN 978-1-55832-353-7. $21.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-55832-354-4. $12.95. HEALTH
Verdict: This book serves as an important primer for those who have experienced miscarriage or wish to understand friends or loved ones who have been affected. Few resources of this quality are available, so public libraries and consumer health collections should purchase.
Background: One out of every five pregnancies will end in miscarriage; freelance writer Danielsson, who has had several miscarriages, takes on this topic with sensitivity and sincerity. Her comprehensive guide directs women through this common but misunderstood phenomenon, interweaving the thoughts and experiences of those who have miscarried with factual information and advice designed to support—whether readers have undergone their first miscarriage or many. Various reproductive experts are quoted throughout. Danielsson provides the pros and cons of various approaches to miscarriage management and pregnancy, as well as information on how to discuss the subject with one’s physician and health-care practitioner. One chapter speaks to partners of women who have miscarried, with tips on how to support one’s partner.—Lori Gluckman Winterfeldt, SUNY Maritime

Iliff, Brenda. A Woman’s Guide to Recovery. Hazelden. Mar. 2008. c.325p. index. ISBN 978-1-59285-479-0. pap. $14.95. HEALTH
Verdict: An empathetic and insightful manual tailored for women in recovery but also suitable for those who love them. A shoo-in for consumer health collections lacking a nuanced perspective.
Background: As director of the Hazelden Women’s Recovery Center, Iliff understands the singular challenges that women face upon recovering from addiction. In this helpful guide, she covers all of those issues—e.g., how to balance family responsibilities with self-care; how to deal with a relapse—underscoring that like the descent into addiction, recovery is a process, not an event, with ups and downs. Comments and stories of recovery from real women illustrate the many different ways women recover as well as the many diverse backgrounds of those interviewed. Iliff also outlines how the path to addiction and the road to recovery are different for women than for men. —Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Lib.

Mendosa, David. Losing Weight with Your Diabetes Medication. Da Capo Lifelong. (Marlowe Diabetes Library). Mar. 2008. c.240p. index. ISBN 978-1-60094-045-3. pap. $14.95. HEALTH
Verdict: Unfortunately, this book comes off like an infomercial for Byetta, the first of the glucagon-like peptide 1s to be marketed, and for Mendosa’s web site. While there is some useful information here about the new drug, patients will find more objective information—including a warning about cases of acute pancreatitis associated with its use—on MedlinePlus. Pass.
Background: Twenty-one million Americans have diabetes, 85 percent of whom are overweight or obese. Losing weight makes diabetes management easier and lowers the risk of complications, but some of the medicines prescribed for treating type 2 diabetes actually promote weight gain. Freelance journalist and consultant Mendosa, who has diabetes, discusses the various drugs used to treat the disease. Sulfonylureas and metformin have been used for many years, but now a new class of drugs, glucagon-like peptide 1s (GLP1s), is available. These drugs have an interesting side effect, appetite reduction, which, when combined with diet and exercise, facilitates weight loss. Mendosa explains how the drugs work and why lifestyle changes are necessary for maximum benefits.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L.

Sehgal, Kabir. Jazzocracy: Jazz, Democracy, and the Creation of a New American Mythology. Better World. Mar. 2008. c.255p. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-615-17693-2. $24.95. SOC SCI
Verdict: In his first book, Sehgal argues for jazz and democracy as similar, positive mediums on which to base new American mythologies. Recommended for jazz collections.
Background: While touring with Wynton Marsalis and assisting John Kerry’s presidential bid, Sehgal noticed similarities between American democracy and jazz. In both, he sees a balance between the individual and the group, independence and cooperation; both allow room for improvisation while maintaining a structural base. Sehgal maintains that the structure of our country is solid but argues we need new mythologies to support it. Mythologies (like the American dream) have served to define the values that we pass along to help create a sense of who we are as a people. Sehgal sees current popular art, specifically rap music, as laden with "vapid materialism" and "self stereo-typing," and therefore unworthy of the task. He advocates for a mainstream expression that will help steer public opinion toward positiveness, writing that we need modern American classics that strengthen and unite us. He considers jazz the perfect vehicle.—L.P. Smith, Oakland

Sex for America: Politically Inspired Erotica. Perennial: HarperCollins. Feb. 2008. c.288p. ed. by Stephen Elliott. illus. ISBN 978-0-06-135121-1. pap. $13.95. LIT
Verdict: According to Elliott, erotica should be "a good literary story with something to say about the world"; this entertaining and thought-provoking collection of sexy, graphic tales embodies that standard. Patrons who appreciate both erotica and political satire will snap it up.
Background: In this provocative anthology, risqué stories by known literary figures like Jerry Stahl, Anthony Swofford, and James Frey go back to back with the steamy work of Alison Tyler and Tsaurah Litzky, popular authors of contemporary erotica. A lascivious gun-shop encounter with Dick Cheney, a sneak attack that leaves no doubt of a Dutchman’s opinion of U.S. foreign policy, and a bleeding-heart liberal in the clutches of a conservative dominatrix are among the many memorable moments. Editor Elliott, no stranger to either erotica or political discourse, has authored six books, including My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up and Looking Forward to It, a memoir about the 2004 U.S. presidential race.—Jeanne Bogino, Learning Resources Ctr., Southern Vernon Coll., Hancock, MA

Sitkoff, Harvard. King: Pilgrimage to the Mountaintop. Hill & Wang: Farrar. 2008. c.288p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-8090-9516-2. $25. BIOG
Verdict: Sitkoff focuses almost entirely on King’s public life, expertly examining the evolution of his political and philosophical thought as well as providing unflinching scholarly analysis on the victories and setbacks suffered by the Civil Rights Movement. Recommended for academic and public libraries.
Background: In this biography of Martin Luther King, Sitkoff (history, Univ. of New Hampshire; A New Deal for Blacks) skillfully illustrates his subject’s deep immersion in and emergence from the Southern Baptist tradition while emphasizing the influence of Gandhi’s effective use of nonviolent resistance and the impact it had on King’s political development. Rather than recount only the civil rights leader’s storied triumphs, such as the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act in 1965, Sitkoff also reviews his failed campaigns in cities like Chicago. These setbacks ultimately extended King’s focus from equal rights, exclusively, to a more radical, all-encompassing, multitiered socioeconomic reorganization of American society and increasingly strident opposition to the Vietnam War.—Dennis Seese, Jefferson-Madison Regional Lib., Charlottesville, VA

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