Fiction

Alameddine (Koolaids; The Perv) assumes the role of a hakawati, a Middle Eastern storyteller, in a tour de force that interweaves at least five separate narratives into an exquisite tapestry in the denouement. He spins the story of Osama al-Kharrat, a Lebanese American returning to Beirut to sit at his dying father's bedside; the al-Kharrat family's rise to prominence, from its beginnings in a Lebanese Druze village and a Turkish Armenian village; the Mameluk warrior Baybars, known for his victory over the Mongols; the mythic Fatima, who became the consort of the jinni Afrit-Jehanam; and, above all, the disintegration of a tolerant, civilized Lebanon into a battleground for competing religions, ethnicities, and ideologies. Each narrative is further enhanced by smaller stories about raising pigeons and playing traditional melodies as well as tales drawn from the Koran, the Bible, The Arabian Nights, Ovid, Shakespeare, and every person who ever spoke to the author. This magical novel is epic in proportion and will enchant readers everywhere. Recommended for all libraries.—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

As in his nationally best-selling The Kitchen Boy and Rasputin's Daughter, Alexander here melds historical fact with fictional speculation. Chapters alternate between the perspectives of Pavel, a peasant, and Elisavyeta (Ella), the German-born granddaughter of Queen Victoria, sister-in-law to Czar Nicholas and the privileged wife of Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovich, a Romanov. In 1905, czarist soldiers fire at a group of peaceful protesters, and Pavel's young bride is among the murdered. Determined to avenge her death and eliminate the aristocracy, Pavel becomes a dedicated revolutionary. When he assassinates Sergei, Ella's life takes a dramatic turn: she sells her worldly possessions, establishes a convent, and perseveres by helping Moscow's poor. Then, seized in the night, she comes face to face with Pavel in the distant woods of Siberia. Pavel's accounts, though sometimes bogged down by stock revolutionary phrases, reveal how ideology as well as riches can blind individuals. Similarities in Ella's and Pavel's situations provide one of many discussion points, which will draw the interest of book clubs; public libraries will also want copies for historical fiction fans.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato

Portugal spent much of the 1960s trying to retain control of its African colonies, Angola and Mozambique. An unwilling participant in these campaigns until 1973, Antunes wrote about them in Fado Alexandrino, first published in 1983 and translated into English in 1990, and in this earlier book, which was first published in 1980. Like Antunes himself, the narrator is a psychiatrist who loathes his discipline's contemporary pretensions. As he returns from a vacation in the Algarve to his institutional work in Lisbon, he engages in a spirited and imaginary dialog with his daughter. So repugnant is psychiatry to him that sometimes he is even nostalgic for the war, because at least in war, things are simple: one tries to stay alive, and there is no time for tricks or perversity. Yet the autopsies he performed outdoors in Angola amid swarms of panicked insects continue to haunt him. Influenced by Faulkner and Céline, Antunes is fond of cryptic similes and metaphors that translator Landers handles masterfully. His search for meaning in an uncaring and venal society is breathtaking and inspiring. Recommended for most libraries.—Jack Shreve, Allegany Coll. of Maryland, Cumberland

Aston, the author of four other popular Darcy novels (e.g., Mr. Darcy's Daughters), now focuses on Mr. Collins's two daughters, Charlotte and Eliza. The sisters have little in common but the need to make advantageous marriages. The elder, Charlotte, beautiful but cool and controlled, casts her younger sister in the shade. But Eliza's warm heart and lively spirit win her friends among the ton. Another Austen character, Caroline Bingley, appears as the envious Mrs. Warren. She never forgave Darcy for marrying Elizabeth Bennet and seeks revenge by encouraging her stepson, George, to dishonor Charlotte. Luckily, Charlotte discovers their plot and preserves her reputation. Meanwhile, Eliza has become involved with a wealthy banker tainted by his involvement in "trade"—their relationship is as tempestuous as that of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet—and she risks her reputation by pursuing her beau to prevent him from leaving the country. Unfortunately, George Warren catches them in a compromising situation at an inn and threatens to ruin their reputations. Although several main characters are little more than cardboard cutouts, the plot is entertaining. Recommended for public libraries where there is a demand for books in the Austen vein.—Loralyn Whitney, Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib., Edinboro

Having met Cornelia Brown in de los Santos's well-reviewed debut, Love Walked In, we now follow her and her oncologist husband, Teo Sandoval, to suburban Philadelphia. Piper Truitt lives across the street with her husband and two young children. She considers herself the arbiter of style and local propriety. Add to the mix waitress Lake and her son, Dev, who is enrolled in a private academy far superior to his previous California public school. From the outset, Cornelia and Piper are traveling down different paths, while Cornelia and Lake seem to hit it off. Go figure? But there is more beneath the surface of these women and their motivations than the lovely locale can mask. Dev thinks he and his mother moved to the area because his long-lost (and unknown to him) father is there. But how do you go about locating someone who's been gone for 13 years? Then Piper becomes caregiver to her longtime friend Elizabeth, diagnosed with cancer, a role that seems more appealing to Piper than wife to Kyle. These family dynamics collide and reconfigure in a variety of ways that readers will find fascinating. De los Santos keeps us totally engaged with these fragile creatures, who get under our skin and, ultimately, into our hearts. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/08.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

In a change of pace from her best-selling The Jane Austen Book Club, Fowler has written a mystery that's barely a mystery but is every bit an absorbing and funny novel. Rima, a woman who has mastered the art of losing (including her mother, brother, and father) arrives in Santa Cruz, CA, to stay with her godmother, the famous and reclusive mystery writer Addison Early, whose book titles and plots provide chuckles throughout. Rima wants to learn the truth of the nature of the relationship between Addison and Rima's father, Bim, who might have been complicit in an old murder, as implied in one of Addison's novels. Yet the greater mystery turns out to be Addison, who seeks to protect her privacy and her works from her increasingly intrusive fans. One of the most refreshing things about Fowler's witty novel is its currency. At one point, Addison remarks that today's novels are unreliable guides to daily life since no one in them watches television. Indeed, Fowler's own characters write blogs, read message boards, watch YouTube, and consult (and even edit) Wikipedia. This insightful and engaging book is recommended for all public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]—Amy Watts, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens

Harrison's (The Havana Room) latest thriller opens with the explosive, rather disgusting murder of two seemingly unimportant Mexican illegals and, from there, pulls readers in on a ride they won't want to end. Harrison manages to connect an assorted group of characters: an ex-fireman almost destroyed by 9/11, a brilliant Chinese woman on the run, a dying police officer working his last case, small-time mafiosi, and an aging multibillionaire who will do whatever it takes to keep his reputation intact. Ray Grant is just trying to take care of his dying father and come to terms with his past—he had no idea when he hooked up with the pretty Jin-Li that he would be opening the door to a twisting world of greed, murder, and manipulation. When Jin-Li, connected to her brother's paper-shredding company (where secrets are not always shredded), goes on the run, Ray is the only one who can safely find her. Add to the growing list of Harrison thrillers that cannot be put down; highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]—Marianne Fitzgerald, Anne Arundel Schs. Dist., Annapolis, MD

The second installment (after Genghis: Birth of an Empire) in Iggulden's historical saga about Genghis Khan finds the Mongolian warlord consolidating his power over the tribes of his homeland and casting his eyes toward the temptations of the rich but decadent empire of the Chin (modern-day China). As in the first volume, Iggulden believably portrays the superstitious mysticism and ruthless realpolitik of the age without losing sight of his characters' fundamental humanity. His Genghis, although an uncanny and ruthless military genius, still has very human concerns about family and tribe, even as he evolves from an upstart border warlord to a fearsome conqueror. Readers who enjoy well-researched tales of historical adventure with an emphasis on political intrigue, exotic settings, and military conflict will enjoy the ride. For all popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/07.]—Bradley A. Scott, Brighton Dist. Lib., MI

She was a minor character in The Aeneid, a "silent, shrinking maiden," but in Le Guin's brilliant reimagining of the last six books of Virgil's epic poem, Lavinia, the Latin king's daughter with whom the Trojan hero Aeneas founds the Roman Empire, finds her voice and springs fully to life. Protesting the Roman poet's dull, conventional portrait of her—"He slighted my life in his poem"—Lavinia takes us back to a Bronze Age Italy inhabited by Latin-speaking tribes. Under the rule of her father, the kingdom of Latinus is at peace until Lavinia turns 18 and the suitors arrive. Her mother Amata wants her daughter to marry her handsome, ambitious nephew, Turnus, but Lavinia is reluctant. Like her father, she can commune with the sacred spirits and in a memorable dreamlike scene meets the dying Virgil, who tells her Aeneas's story and her role in his life. Thus armed, Lavania resists her mother's will and decides to make her own destiny when early one morning the Trojan black ships sail up the Tiber River. As Le Guin's afterword acknowledges, this beautiful and moving novel is a love offering to one of the world's great poets, and former high-school Latin scholars may return to Virgil with a renewed appreciation. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07; for another interpretation of The Aeneid, see Jo Graham's Black Ships, LJ 2/15/08.—Ed.]—Wilda Williams, Library Journal

Minnesota Civil War buff Paul Eden's death at a reenactment of the Battle of Kirby Creek near Corinth, MS, is the result of a sniper's bullet gone wrong, but the incident is ruled an accident for lack of evidence, although locals have their suspicions. Tensions rise when John Rane, a news photographer from St. Paul, arrives a week later with Eden's reenactment gear, a rare Civil War rifle, and camera equipment he doesn't use and seeks out Deputy Sheriff Kenny Beeman, the sniper's intended victim. Together, Rane and Beeman plot a showdown at a reenactment of the Battle of Shiloh scheduled for the next weekend. As the men lay their plans, they gradually reveal their pasts, their motivations, and their temperaments. Meanwhile, the sniper's life takes a series of unexpected turns, which makes the outcome of the showdown as uncertain as the Battle of Shiloh 145 years earlier. Logan (Vapor Trail; Absolute Zero) has penned a tightly woven, low-key thriller that is fascinating for its historical theme, attention to detail, and analysis of the opposing psyches of North and South. An intensely gripping story of greed, manipulation, family dysfunction, and murder; highly recommended.—Thomas L. Kilpatrick, formerly with Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale

In this sequel to Lutz's side-splittingly funny debut novel, The Spellman Files, licensed P.I. Isabel "Izzy" Spellman has been arrested for the fourth time in two months, and no one from her oddball family of fellow investigators will bail her out. Her sister, Rae, has run over Izzy's "fiancé," Inspector Henry Stone, during a driving lesson. The senior Spellmans have staged a "disappearance," their term for a vacation where no one can reach them. To complicate Izzy's life further, a man with the suspiciously ordinary name of John Brown has moved next door, and she's absolutely positive he's up to no good. In other words, it's life as usual for the zany Spellmans, and who knows what will happen next. Once again, Lutz treats readers to a madcap roller-coaster ride. Fans of such hilarious sleuths as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, Meg Cabot's Heather Wells, and Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles Yablonsky will find that Izzy Spellman can make them laugh their socks off, too. Sure to be popular in fiction collections of all sizes. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/07.]—Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib. Media Ctr., AZ

Lucy is a drug addict, as is her mother. Her grandmother believes in reincarnation. Her half-sister believes in research and Jesus. Her father is believed to have released an incurable strain of the plague that is killing capriciously across the United States. Lucy, in her way, hopes to get drug-free, but her pessimistic outlook, her chronic depression, her crazy family, and the world that surrounds her all conspire to keep her from achieving that goal. She can't have the man she loves; she doesn't appreciate the man she has. After a wild stay at a Texas rehab, Lucy finds that her sense of the world has shifted. When her mother dies, and Lucy "inherits" her best friend's baby, her transformation to cautious optimism is complete. First novelist Maazel's descriptive powers are strong, and she captures the alternating hope and despair of her complex and quirky characters as they confront the unknown and the unknowable. Recommended.—Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence

Murray (The Conquest) delivers an exceptional sequel to The Queen Jade that offers not only the hope of many future adventures in her "Red Lion" series but also a cast of impassioned, scholarly, and culturally proud Latinos. Bookstore owner and inadvertent adventurer Lola Sanchez is less than two weeks from her wedding to archaeologist Erik Gomara when a stranger approaches her with a Medici document that he claims reveals an Italian cache of Montezuma's gold. The stranger "abducts" Lola to Florence to solve the Medici riddle and to guide him to the booty. Racing after them, Gomara joins a treasure hunt 400 years in the making. Murray's novel is exquisitely researched and entices the reader to book a literary tour of the regions covered, but at the same time, she never loosens her grip on the adventure. Family dynamics play heavily here as a host of characters from the first novel return. The big reveal is unexpected and clever. We should eagerly await the next book in the series. Recommended for most popular fiction collections.—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Fort Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL

Price (Samaritan) is an exceptionally accomplished storyteller whose ear for the accents of New York is the equal of the late, lamented George V. Higgins's love for Boston speech. And though what Price narrates often disturbs, it is just as often funny. A hood advises a young accomplice how to use a gun for the first time: "You just do it to get it done with, then you can start concentratin' on getting better at it, havin' fun with it." The novel starts with a killing, the consequence of a late-night robbery. The killing is almost accidental; an eyewitness exclaims, "It was like God snapped his fingers." Eric, a 35-year-old failed actor and writer, is paralyzed by guilt over his failure to stop the murder. The police, who find him highly suspicious, arrest him, and everything goes downhill from there. When the shooter is finally caught, he is a pathetic man-boy from the projects. Price's New York is a city that no longer works: too many people are left bruised, with no safety net. Strongly recommended for fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/07.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

When paparazza Jimi Anne Hamilton shows up in rural Darby, NY, with a bruised face and a duffel bag full of cash, she is only looking for a quiet place to lick her wounds. She never imagines that accepting a ride from a handsome white contractor with a knack for angering jealous husbands will leave her as breathless as the celebrity chases that made her famous in L.A. Big-city, African American Jimi and blue-collar Caleb are both trying to rebuild their lives. They soon learn it's one thing to rebuild, another to reinvent. Jimi's wealthy brother doesn't like her slumming with the locals, and Caleb's recently paroled brother is intent on proving that a bad man can't change. One of the strengths of Siplin's (Such a Girl) contemporary interracial romance is a hero who is as well developed and interesting as the leading lady. Recommended for larger libraries.—Karen Kleckner, Deerfield P.L., IL

Although his plot may be somewhat familiar, Stella (Shakedown) has crafted a true page-turner that grips the reader from the prolog and doesn't let go until the final page. Agnes Lynn is a former prostitute now working as an office temp, dating a former cop, and trying to recover from her former life. When her still-prostituting friend Rachel turns up dead, Agnes's attempt to investigate her passing opens up a larger story involving a mysterious Arab, a snuff film, and the Russian mafia. The independent and headstrong Agnes is determined to avenge Rachel's death while resisting the best efforts of her current suitor and some dedicated cops. At the same time, the Russian mob is equally determined to silence Agnes before she causes them problems. Agnes is a flawed heroine, a refreshing change from too many lesser novels, and Stella remains a master of creating complex and believable characters. Stella has quickly become one of crime fiction's leading lights, and this latest effort will burnish that well-deserved reputation. A great book; recommended for all public libraries.—Craig Shufelt, Fort McMurray P.L., A.B.

What would you do if the lover you spurned 30 years ago and hadn't heard from since suddenly sent a letter demanding your help, even insisting that you plead his case before the very man who stole him from you? This is the dilemma facing Erneste, who has spent those intervening decades holed up in the remote Swiss resort town in which he lost his love, consoling (or punishing) himself by becoming the kind of waiter so perfect you barely notice he's there. In his first novel to be published in English, Sulzer creates a refined, operatic atmosphere in which Erneste's past and present mingle like air and fog. At times, the prose reads like low-watt Ann Patchett, though some of its elements evoke Thomas Mann's Death in Venice (e.g., the hotel setting, the character modeled on Mann) and Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day (e.g., the repressed servant, the pre—World War II flashbacks). The pace is leisurely, the plotting unfolds predictably—with two major exceptions—and the story's eroticism is restrained and mainstream. Some readers will want to shake Erneste and tell him to get over it already, but more compassionate readers may be intrigued by his masochistic psychology. Recommended for larger collections.—Stephen Sposato, Chicago P.L.

Clear your calendar and prepare to read: Cannie Shapiro (of Good in Bed) is back! Cannie, now 42, has been married to her "Doctor Peter" for more than ten years, and "baby" Joy is turning 13. In alternating chapters covering roughly a year, Cannie and Joy share the emotion-packed experiences of parenting and being a teen. (At some point, Weiner may have planned this as The Bat Mitzvah Diaries.) Added complications are Peter's desire for a baby via surrogate and Joy's classmates' discovery of the sexy novel Cannie published a decade ago, Big Girls Don't Cry (i.e., Good in Bed). Joy vacillates between loving and hating her mother and her complex family structure, while Cannie struggles to let her baby grow up; readers will laugh and cry for them both. Returning in this sequel, among others, is Cannie's best friend, Sam, still looking for the perfect mate (i.e., an unmarried Jewish male under 60). With six best sellers in seven years, Weiner is a talented writer who consistently delivers the goods. (Note: F—k is sprinkled judiciously throughout.) An essential read for fans and an essential buy for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/07; originally slated for October 2007 publication.—Ed.]—Rebecca Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights

Wolitzer follows up her strong previous works, The Wife and The Position, with an equally riveting tale. Continuing her feminist view of contemporary society, she examines the lives of highly educated professional women who take a ten-year break from their careers to raise children only to realize after a time that they need to examine their inner lives to see if a former career, or something completely different, beckons. The book centers on four New York City women with sons at an expensive private school. Amy Lamb, an attorney—turned—stay-at-home mom, becomes obsessed with her new friend Penny's illicit affair. Amy's best friend, Jill, must face the truth of her adopted Russian daughter's learning disabilities. Artist Roberta's husband is trying to make it big with his puppetry. Other mothers feature in the story, and characters from the past, too, are introduced (e.g., Amy's mother, an intense feminist author back when "working mother" was an oxymoron). Beautifully written and cleverly paced, this novel has a great story with messages on many levels. Only one complaint: with all the bouncing back and forth among characters, readers may find it frustrating having to switch to a different character just as the character they're on is getting interesting! Can you say "sequel"? [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/07; Riverhead plans an online reading-group guide.]—Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC

This first book-length publication of Chinese writer Zhu's fiction in English contains five novellas and a short story, all written between 1994 and 2000. Meant to be representational of modern-day life in China, the gritty pieces are sprinkled with profanity, violence, and sexuality and are all told from a male protagonist's perspective. In the title story, a father and son explore the darker side of prostitution. "A Hospital Night," one of the more notable and semicompassionate reads in the collection, describes the ordeal of a young man who agrees to help take care of his female companion's cantankerous father after his gallbladder surgery. In exploring such subject matter, the author joins fellow Chinese writers, such as Li Yung-p'ing with Retribution, to present the patriarchal and ruthlessly chauvinistic side of Chinese society. This collection is not for the casual reader: the stories, though compact, are intense and can be difficult to follow at first glance. Academic and larger public library collections of Chinese literature may be interested; all others can pass.—Shirley N. Quan, Orange Cty. P.L., Santa Ana, CA

These dozen short stories, previously published from 1950 to 1970, demonstrate the range of one of the most admired writers in horror fiction, best known for I Am Legend. The title story (once adapted into a Twilight Zone episode) asks, If you could press a button and receive $50,000, but someone you don't know dies, would you? "Girl of My Dreams" features a despicable protagonist who uses his girlfriend's psychic talent for personal gain. "Mute" is aching and lyrical, exploring the loss of innocence from a fresh angle. "A Flourish of Strumpets" reads like Thurber gone a touch off-color. "'Tis the Season To Be Jelly" is just plain odd. Demand may be driven by the recent I Am Legend film, but these stories deserve to be read in spite of the movie's popularity. Highly recommended for popular fiction collections.—Karl G. Siewert, Tulsa City-Cty. Lib., OK

Given the popularity of graphic novels, superhero movies, and television shows such as Heroes, it is not surprising that authors continue to write books based on the superhero genre. Rogers's debut novel revolves around a fictional location in New Orleans, where a number of individuals endowed with special powers live anonymously with costumes and masks. The early chapters are made up of flashbacks from 35 years in the past, presenting vignettes with the backgrounds of the major heroes and villains living in the city. The main storyline revolves around a typical good-vs.-evil battle similar to that featured in Alan Moore's Watchmen. The city's history of corruption adds to the moody atmosphere. The plot is not particularly original, and many of the characters are one-dimensional, but the use of the city almost as a character helps to make the book more interesting. Of interest in larger adult/teen collections.—Joel W. Tscherne, Cleveland P.L.

This reworking of the authors' prize-winning novella of the same name is now a collection of "loosely autobiographical" vignettes examining the experiences of a markedly phobic couple, their neighbors and in-laws, their five beloved, damaged adopted children, and their heavily inhabited house. The narrative conceit is author as character; the keyword is dread. Readers may struggle now and then with the presentation's surreal nature as they ponder such themes as living with the fact that the very best one can do (for damaged children) isn't enough. The titular "man on the ceiling" seems to represent not only dread of the future but also regret for the past. Horror is a slippery mode; even cautioned about the theme and lulled by the charming humor and the occasionally splendid verbal music, readers may not be prepared for the heartbreaking outcomes of the spate of cheerful, mundane events. The metaphorical man can descend from the ceiling at any time to make things happen, revive repressed memories, or take over lives, redirect them, perhaps end them. Recommended for libraries where the novella was popular.—Jonathan Pearce, California State Univ., Stanislaus