Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 3/11/2008 3:33:00 PM

The week of March 11, 2008

Nonfiction | Graphic Novels | Audio

Nonfiction

Capra, Massimo (text) & Christopher Campbell (photogs.) Massimo’s Italian Kitchen: Authentic One-Dish Meals from a Seasoned Chef. Sellers. 2008. 192p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-56906-995-0. $22.95. COOKERY
Verdict: The brief descriptions preceding each recipe lend the book context, while the beautiful color close-ups accompanying most of the dishes will make readers head to the kitchen, pronto. Purchase where patrons crave relatively simple Italian fare.
Background: Capra, originally from Cremona, Italy, now chef at two restaurants in Toronto, has put together his greatest-hits collection, which covers soups, salads, pastas, risottos, entrees, and desserts. The recipes give both metric and American measurements and are neatly and clearly formatted for easy use. Fresh fish, other seafood, vegetables, and herbs are heavily utilized throughout. Rice, polenta, and potatoes also find their way into many recipes, so it isn’t all about pasta either. Note that raw eggs feature in several of the desserts (semifreddo, zabaglione, coffee parfait). Overall, the recipes are suited to home cooks and generally live up to their one-dish billing.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

Douglas, Scott. Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian. Da Capo. Apr. 2008. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-7867-2091-0. $25. AUTOBIOG
Verdict: This self-described "humor memoir" provides a mostly enjoyable glimpse into the sometimes maddening world of public librarianship. Footnotes, asides ("short pointless interludes"), and other McSweeney’s-esque touches can be grating; acknowledgement that "many things…have been exaggerated to make this book more entertaining" affirms a not-always-reliable narrator. Smirkier than Don Borchert’s wry library memoir Free for All, it nonetheless provides real insight—assuming you can believe it. Click here for Douglas’s blog.
Background: A college student who fell into a job as a public library page, then went to library school at 23, Douglas, now a 28-year-old Anaheim Public Library (CA) staffer and McSweeney’s contributor, looks skeptically at the value of his LIS education. Life in the library runs the gamut, including bureaucratic slogging (staff committees, grant writing), minor crisis (rats, masturbators, crazy patrons), and productive work. Douglas holds forth on fellow librarians—they lack social skills and don’t read—but more productively applies his skepticism to a fast-food chain plumping summer reading or politicians who neglect the library. Still, a broad variety of patrons—kids, teens, seniors, immigrants, the homeless—make use of the library and harvest his sincerity: "I was staying because I liked helping people."—Norman Oder, Library Journal

Dusoulier, Clotilde. Clotilde’s Edible Adventures in Paris. Broadway. Apr. 2008. c.304p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-7679-2613-3. $17.95. COOKERY
Verdict: A delightful guide, and the next best thing to spending some time in Paris in the company of the charming, informative, and opinionated Dusoulier.
Background: Dusoulier (Chocolate and Zucchini) has been hailed by the New York Times as "the Parisian friend we all wish we had." Whether this is your first encounter with Dusoulier’s writing, or just the latest delightful installment, it is very likely that upon reading it you will be immediately gripped with the desire to travel to Paris to visit the many restaurants, markets, bakeries, specialty food shops, bookstores, and other establishments she describes. Entries are organized geographically by arrondissement, and give clear directional information and hours. Interspersed throughout the book are short descriptive notations on dining, cooking, and imbibing in France, which should be particularly helpful to the first-time traveler. Twelve recipes inspired by, or adapted from dishes at the places the author frequents are also included, which should be within the reach of most people.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

Farrelly, Elizabeth. Blubberland: The Dangers of Happiness. MIT. Mar. 2008. c.288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-262-56236-2. pap. $19.95. SOC SCI
Verdict: Farrelly (architecture, Univ. of Sydney), an award-winning writer on architecture and the environment, challenges both the senses and the intellect in what at times reads like a stream-of-consciousness tirade against all readers know or think they know. Because it can be a dizzying, confusing ride, the book may have to be put down, then picked up later. Still, this is a trip worth taking.
Background: Blubberland, Farrelly argues, is excess, overkill and overindulgence, sometimes good and sometimes bad. More than an analysis of values or the lack thereof and more than a series of random thoughts, her book takes a stand on want and need, suburban sprawl and consumerism, individual choices and herd mentality, beauty and postmodernism, culture and nature, and the author’s dream of a city center, with references to Plato, Alvin Toffler, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde, Helen of Troy, Thumbelina, and countless sociologists, psychologists, and critics. Farrelly writes at an accelerating pace, much like that of America’s growing waistline and uncontrolled desires.—Robin K. Dillow, Rotary International Archives, Evanston, IL

Goldstein, Bruce. Puppy Chow Is Better Than Prozac: The True Story of a Man and the Dog Who Saved His Life. Da Capo. Mar. 2008. 304p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-56858-384-6. $25. PETS
Verdict: From the opening sentence—"It had been six weeks since the knives in my sink tried to kill me"—to the last—"I thank God this book was written by Bruce Goldstein. Not in memory of"—readers will appreciate how one seemingly insignificant four-legged creature made a life-altering difference to a young, suicidally depressed man. Four paws up.
Background: Joining the recent wave of memoirs about dogs and their owners (e.g., Jim Grogan’s Marley & Me and Ted Kerasote’s Merle’s Door), Goldstein’s book differs in that it focuses on the ability of canines to touch our souls and provide unconditional love and support during times of extreme psychological stress. In that respect, it is similar to Mark Doty’s Dog Years. But in Goldsetin’s case, Ozzy, the dog, doesn’t die in the end. Sure, he’s getting on in years, but you can save the tissue for a forthcoming sequel.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI

Kurutz, Steven. Like a Rolling Stone: The Strange Life of a Tribute Band. Broadway. Apr. 2008. c.224p. ISBN 978-0-385-51890-1. $23.95. MUSIC
Verdict: Kurutz’s book has a great beginning and a heartwarming, affirming end, but the repetitive middle parts feel occasionally like the Keith Richards solo set during a show—perfect time for a beer and a bathroom break. File this mostly succesful venture into the world of tribute bands next to Rob Sheffield’s Love Is a Mix Tape or Mitch Myers’s The Boy Who Cried Freebird.
Background: After writing a couple of magazine articles on the subject, Kurutz decided to get his ya-ya’s out with Rolling Stones imitators Sticky Fingers as they trekked around the country in 2005. Duly embedded, Kurutz became a party to the strange twilight world between stardom and fandom that tribute acts inhabit. Somewhere among depressing wedding gigs, a never-ending stream of replacement Mick Taylors, and turf wars with other Stones imitators, Kurutz realizes the truth: it’s the love of music. Where surely the temptation was overwhelming to hang these chumps with their own leopard-skin pants, Kurutz starts to feel empathy for and a connection with these bands; in the book’s most surreal moment, Kurutz goes to a real Stones concert and subconsciously begins to see them as the facsimiles!—Matthew Moyer, Jacksonville P.L., FL

Graphic Novels

Britt, Mark Haven. Full Color. Image Comics. 2007. 166p. ISBN 978-1-58240-840-8. pap. $15.99. F
Verdict: Britt’s mix of interconnected young urban fringe-dwellers and small-time criminals propelling themselves and one another through sometimes violent, sometimes whimsical escapades could be superficially described as Quentin Tarantino meets Richard Linklater, but "warmed-over Go" is more accurate. Funny thing, though—in the right hands, this material could make for a spiffy movie. Its profanity and violence make it suitable for teen readers and up; fans of Love and Rockets and Why I Hate Saturn might enjoy it.
Background: It makes sense that a pressure cooker like New York City inspires such immeasurable creative output: think of it as a collective safety valve or coping mechanism. Unfortunately, to quote the late Theodore Sturgeon, "90 percent of everything is crud." I bring this up not to trash Britt’s Full Color—it is a sincere, well-designed, and kinetic piece of work. However, its only significance is that it is the inevitable by-product of artist Britt’s tenure in the Big Apple. His blend of minimal, sometimes surreal dialog and black-and-white artwork (wise choice, that) comes off as a cross between David Rees (Get Your War On; My New Filing Technique Is Unstoppable) and Jock (The Losers). —J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB

Buccellato, Steve. Battle of the Bands. Vol. 1. Tokyopop. 2007. 192p. ISBN 978-1-4278-0054-1. pap. $9.99. F
Verdict: Fans of Scott Pilgrim’s band showdowns will delight in the souped-up antics of Led Salad, though song lovers might be disappointed by the singular lack of performance. And followers of Love Hina’s unfortunate hero will see a kindred spirit in Chet, who rarely appears anything other than wholly loveable and entirely hopeless. Violence, language, and sexual content make this appropriate for collections that serve older teens and adults.
Background: Led Salad is a girl-punk band in need of a new roadie when their beloved Mark leaves to pursue domestic bliss. Enter Chet, a down-and-out musician with no girl, no band, and no apparent skills. One lucky moment lands him the job of schlepper and protector to the band in a world where battles get real and when fans scream for blood, they mean it literally! Buccellato, in his Tokyopop profile, lists both Love Hina and Scott Pilgrim as favorites. The influence of both is evident in the pages of this GN.—Ruthanne Price, Vaughan Pub. Libs., Ont.

Ennis, Garth (text) & Carlos Ezquerra (illus.). A Man Called Kev. Wildstorm: DC. 2007. 112p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1324-4. pap. $14.99. F
Verdict: Characters and situations send up the traditions of spy and black-ops adventures, offering a satisfying level of gore leavened with sophomoric humor. Ample violence, coarse language, and sexual content earn this one its mature audience rating. Fans of the Authority series should enjoy this final chapter.
Background: Ex-SAS man Kevin Hawkins has had a hand in many a dirty deed and carries more than a few dark secrets. Now it seems his past is catching up with him, and one of those secrets just might be the death of him—and everyone he knows. Just how does a government assassin ease into retirement? Ennis (Preacher) and Ezquerra (Judge Dredd) team up again to finish off the Authority series. Seedy but honorable Kev is an appealing antihero, skilled in the art of war but somewhat at a loss on the home front. The action is well drawn in full color, with the fast pace of an action flick.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., BC

Fujisawa, Tohru. Rose Hip Zero. Vol. 3. Tokyopop. 2007. 208p. tr. from Japanese by Takae Brewer. ISBN 978-1-4278-0027-5. pap. $9.99. F
Verdict: With its nonstop action and snappy dialog, Fujisawa (best known for his GTO series) delivers a cop buddy drama featuring Matrix-style fighting. The story goes over the top with secret research and genetically engineered supervillains, but where would the challenge be if the fate of the world did not rest with our heroes? The slick artwork is an adrenaline rush of terrific action sequences and exciting close quarters fighting. Rated ages 16+ for lots of gun violence, gore, strong language, and moderate fan service.
Background: The Tokyo Police are under siege; high-ranking police officials are being assassinated. Packing his trademark .44 magnum, Kyoji Kido rejoins the elite antiterrorist division, but he’s shocked to learn that his new partner is a beautiful, buxom 14-year-old girl. Former ALICE member Kasumi Asakura is actually a super-soldier with deadly aim. ALICE, a mercenary group responsible for terrorist attacks, recruits kids, drugs them, and uses them as trained killers. Cooperating with the police, Asakura hopes to abolish ALICE and save her former "teammates." In Vol. 3, Kido, Asakura, and the police battle ALICE and its calculating leader, ZERO, who hints that they are part of a larger organization whose corruption is far-reaching. Secret experiments are being conducted on humans in order to transform them into human weapons designed to kill on a massive scale. What is the connection to Asakura?—June Shimonishi, Torrance P.L., CA

Ito, Junji. Uzumaki. Vol. 1. Viz Media. 2007. 202p. tr. from Japanese by Yuji Oniki. ISBN 978-1-4215-1389-8. pap. $9.99. F
Verdict: This GN is creepy and chilling in the tradition of the best horror, where the everyday becomes sinister and menacing. Rated ages 16+, it features some violence, including self-mutilation, but this first volume is not as dark as Museum of Terror. Recommended for collections that also include horror titles.
Background: Kirie and her boyfriend, Shuichi, live in the quiet, isolated town of Kurozu-cho. The couple is about to become witnesses to the possession of the town’s denizens by the uzumaki, or spiral, a symbol that begins to manifest in whirlwinds, whirlpools, and in the bodies of the villagers. The uzumaki appears to have the power to possess human bodies, filling them with either a passionate obsession for or with a revulsion toward the spiral, mesmerizing its victims like a snake about to strike. When Kirie refuses to run away with Shuichi, the couple must watch helplessly as their friends, family, and the other villagers fall victim. The artwork is naturalistic as well as creepily grotesque, especially when the uzumaki forces its prey to express the spiral symbol. Like Museum of Terror, Uzumaki was also a feature horror film in Japan. When the manga was originally released in North America in 2001, Uzumaki was nominated for an Eisner Award.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton

Johns, Geoff (text) & Lee Moder (illus.). 978-1-4012-1390-9. DC Comics. 2007. 189p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1390-9. pap. $17.99. F
Verdict: Overall, this first of two volumes is choppy and confusing for new readers, but it will still find a home in libraries owning the JSA graphic novels as a complementary series.
Background: Johns (Green Lantern; Teen Titans; 52) and Moder (Legion of Super-Heroes; Painkiller Jane) leap into teen angst with the introduction of Courtney Whitmore, a teen uprooted from her home and friends in California by her mother’s second marriage. Courtney’s stepfather, Pat Dugan, has reasons of his own for moving his new family to Blue Valley, NE, and Courtney stumbles across one of his secrets when she opens a box of his memorabilia: Pat used to be Stripesy, the sidekick to the Star-Spangled Kid. When Courtney confiscates some of the Kid’s equipment to make a costume for a dance at her new school, she inadvertently (but enthusiastically) accepts the mantle of the Star-Spangled Kid to protect her new friends from an attack. The subsequent discovery that Pat built a suit of armor, S.T.R.I.P.E. (Special Tactics Robotic Integrated Power Enhancer), to help keep track of and protect Courtney leads to conflict as she tries to exert her independence. Guest appearances by the Marvel family, Solomon Grundy (who murdered the original Star-Spangled Kid), and Young Justice (the precursor to the current Teen Titans series) add moments of solemnity and humor. DC Comics, however, could have improved the story by including Courtney’s guest appearances in JSA that fill in the gaps between issues.—Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA

Kindt, Matt. Super Spy. Top Shelf Productions. 2007. 336p. ISBN 978-1-891830-96-9. pap. $19.95. F
Verdict: It’s sometimes hard to tell the characters apart or to know whose side they’re on and where the action is taking place—appropriate, perhaps, in dealing with a profession that trades in ambiguity and deception but detrimental to drama. It also might have strengthened the book to have fewer story lines explored more deeply. Overall, a startling, absorbing work that deserves a place in most YA and adult collections.
Background: One of the encouraging signs of the maturation of the graphic novel as a medium is the widening scope of its subject matter. Witness these coolly observant related tales of a clutch of spies during World War II. The dashing adventurers of vintage movies they are not—in fact, the eponymous "super spy" manages to get done in by his own equipment. There’s also a terrifying female assassin derived more from thriller fiction than from reality. They’re struggling functionaries whose desperate endeavors lead to their sudden, violent death as often as to success, itself as likely to be haunted as triumphant. The skillful, scratchy art, washed in muted tones, reflects the urgency of their situation as well as its paradoxical mundanity.—Andrew Moore, Wayland P.L., MA

McCay, Winsor & Ulrich Merkl. The Complete Dream of the Rarebit Fiend (1904–1913) by Winsor McCay "Silas." Ulrich Merkl. 2007. 464p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 978-3-00-020751-8. $114 with CD-ROM. GRAPHIC ARTS
Verdict: Simply put, Winsor McCay was one of the most fertile and extraordinary minds ever to put pen to paper, and Merkyl has honored his work with one of the finest reprint projects ever published. Any and every library, especially academic, that can afford this nine-and-a-half-pound, 17" x 12" x 1½" book will be greatly enriched by its voluminous and substantial presence on its shelves.
Background: Handbound, limited to an initial print run of 1000 copies, and seemingly weighing in the vicinity of a metric ton, this behemoth is not a book to curl up with in bed. Instead, you could probably curl up on this massive and substantial compendium featuring the entire nine-year run of Winsor "Silas" McCay’s comic strips. Having put in considerable toil in self-publishing a magazine about comics, this reviewer can only just begin to imagine the mind-boggling effort that publisher Merkl put into this 464-page labor of love. Aside from being lavished with McCay’s undeniably brilliant Rarebit Fiend strips, the book features indelible photos of the studiously dapper artist, copious notes, and marvelously illuminating touches like McCay’s own essay written for a 1905 edition of the New York Evening Telegram. Here, the artist states that "Dream of a Rarebit Fiend is no joke, satire, or burlesque" and that he goes about his comic strips as seriously as his "co-worker down the hall writing an obituary notice of some great political organization." But even in his text pieces, McCay’s wit sparkles: "I put my heart into my drawings and act them out in my imagination as an actor might. Thus when I am illustrating a man having a skeleton pulled out through his mouth by a dentist you can imagine the terrible sufferings I endure."—Robert Young, The Comics Interpreter, Charleston, SC

Nishi, Yoshiyuki. Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation. Vol. 1. Viz Media. 2007. 208p. tr. from Japanese by Alexander O. Smith. ISBN 978-1-4215-1376-8. pap. $7.99. F
Verdict: The art style is cartoonish, similar to Shaman King, and with hints of a conspiracy and darker powers, Naruto fans may also be interested in this series. The ghosts and haunts are scary, disjointed, and multilimbed puppets, but they have the potential for redemption not found in Bleach’s homicidal Hollows. For fans of supernatural shonen adventures with horror elements.
Background: "Over 80,000 people go missing in Japan each year. A full tenth of that is thought to be due to ghosts…so magic law is our only defense!" As supernatural investigators and magical advocates, Muhyo and Roji defend normal people from predatory ghosts that haunt homes, temples, and graveyards. Muhyo, a judge and executioner who is one of the youngest masters of magic law, pronounces the crimes and sentences each ghost or wicked spirit for preying on the living. Roji, Muhyo’s gentle but less than capable assistant, ably finds clients and trouble for the Bureau. In this volume, Roji and Muhyo rescue young girls from the spirits of possessive former friends and jealous admirers, wrestle with "parasitized" furniture and boarding houses, and discover a plot to harm Muhyo. An odd couple of shamanic police, Muhyo is onion-shaped, abrasive and sarcastic, the arrogant genius who can be occasionally tender, while sproutlike Roji is a sweet, gentle, magical bumbler.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton

Tales from the Crypt. No. 1. Papercutz. 2007. 112p. ISBN 978-1-59707-083-6. $12.95. F
Verdict: This current iteration hearkens back to the original print run and largely succeeds in its all-ages feel. Recommended for all collections, especially those serving readers ages 10+.
Background: Much like the zombies, ghouls, and other creatures that inspire it, Tales from the Crypt is a horror franchise that just won’t stay dead. From its inception in the early 1950s as a quirky, pun-filled take on the genre, through modern iterations including an HBO series and two films, Tales has successfully juggled its classic formula of cheesy plots and twist endings with enough modern elements to keep the franchise relevant for each new generation. This volume presents four short horror stories interspersed with pun-filled introductions from the iconic Crypt Keeper and his companions. The stories run the gamut, from new takes on classic tales, such as a doll-obsessed middle-aged man whose compulsive pursuit of a Japanese model in "For Serious Collectors Only" leads to ghastly consequences, to twists on modern tales, such as The Devil Wears Prada rip-off "Runway Roadkill!" The artistic styles vary—two of the tales borrow from the original EC Comics look and feel, with exaggerated facial features and 1950s-style monsters, while the other two feature modern, pop-art stylings, such as cleaner lines, saturated colors, and cartoonlike production qualities.—David Ward, Univ. of Illinois Undergraduate Lib., Urbana

Audio Reviews

Clinton, Bill. Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World. 5 CDs. unabridged. 6 hrs. Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4159-4730-2. $60. POL SCI
Verdict: Using his natural gift for sharing stories, Clinton weaves the tales of these extraordinary people into a book that will show us all how to do something for the greater good. Highly recommended for all libraries. [Also available as downloadable audio.—Ed.]
Background: Although not as colorful or as charismatic as his autobiography, Clinton’s latest book is just as important. Using inspiring stories of real people, he shows how easy it is for all of us to give. There is the shattering example of Tsepang Setaka, a young Lesotho woman who was kidnapped, raped, and later found to have contracted HIV and TB. Instead of giving in, she decided to give time. She works as an "expert patient," helping others with HIV/AIDS and educating them in preventative measures. But there are many ways to give, and Clinton elaborates on each one.—Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., RussellvilleBritt, Mark Haven. Full Color. Image Comics. 2007. 166p. ISBN 978-1-58240-840-8. pap. $15.99. F

Michaelis, David. Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography. 10 CDs. abridged. 13 hrs. HarperAudio. 2007. ISBN 978-0-06-136707-6. $39.95. LIT
Verdict: Graham’s excellent narration and the iconic topic mean this work should get serious consideration. [Also available as downloadable audio.—Ed.]
Background: Holter Graham narrates this biography of beloved cartoonist Charles Schulz, known as Sparky, who grew up in the Twin Cities, the only child of Carl, a barber, and Dena, who dressed her son impeccably despite their small income. Dena and Carl did not value books or education; however, their slight, shy son was intelligent and found joy in reading. At an early age, Schulz recognized his gift for art and knew he wanted to draw a syndicated comic strip. Dena suffered a long, painful illness and died within days of Schulz’s departure for boot camp in 1942. Military life gave the reserved Schulz confidence; upon his return, he created a strip titled Li’l Folks, soon to evolve into Peanuts. Children in comics were common; however, Schulz’s children were unique, expressing adult emotion—anxiety, fear, longing, and a constant search for love. Characters evolved from people in Schulz’s own life. The Little Red-Haired Girl, for instance, was a girlfriend who jilted Schulz in 1950, her physical characteristics inspired by a coworker. Lucy came via Joyce, the cartoonist’s wife of 20 years. The male characters Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroeder, and Snoopy reflected various aspects of Schulz’s own personality. Although Schulz achieved fame and wealth beyond his wildest dreams, he was unhappy and lonely. Readers may be shocked to learn that he did not value his own talent as an artist or believe his work would endure.—Risa Getman, Hendrick Hudson Free Lib., Montrose, NY