Fiction

-- Library Journal, 3/15/2008

Fiction | Short Stories

Barron, Stephanie. A Flaw in the Blood. Bantam. Mar. 2008. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-553-80524-6. $24. F

In her first stand-alone penned under the Barron name, the author of the acclaimed Jane Austen mystery series (she also writes as Francine Matthews) delivers a remarkable gem of historical suspense based on her careful research of 19th-century British royalty. This rich thriller revolves around the recent death of Prince Albert, the beloved husband and consort of Queen Victoria, an event that raises many questions about the behavior of her courtiers and other royal family members. On the night the prince lies dying, Irish barrister Patrick Fitzgerald, who had helped investigate an attempted assassination of the queen 20 years earlier, is again summoned by Victoria, but the royal carriage conveying him and his assistant, Dr. Georgiana Armistead, to Windsor Castle is attacked. In an effort to protect Georgiana, also niece of the queen's personal physician, and to discover who tried to kill them, Fitzgerald leaves with Georgiana for France to visit Prince Leopold, Victoria's youngest and quite sickly son. Yet even there the couple find themselves pursued. Through Barron's careful, accurate period details, readers get a true sense of what it was like to live in Victorian England. Strongly recommended for historical mystery or suspense fiction collections. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 11/1/07.]—Carolann Curry, Mercer Univ. Medical Lib., Macon, GA

Bausch is best known for his short stories, but this powerful novella demonstrates his skill at spare language and tight construction. In the winter of 1944, a group of seven young American GIs slogs through the freezing rain near Cassino in southern Italy. The Italian government has fallen and the Germans are retreating northward. The Americans have just summarily executed a Nazi officer and his female companion, and they argue about whether it was the right thing to do. Marson, the group's leader, remembers promising his father that he would do his duty, but the words have lost their meaning in the fog of war. Scared and lost, they enlist the help of an elderly Italian, who leads them up a steep mountainside. Almost immediately they encounter enemy fire. Has the Italian betrayed them, and, if he has, what should they do about it? Like Matthew Eck's recent The Farther Shore, Bausch's book demonstrates that regardless of the geographical setting or historical period, all war stories are now fundamentally about Iraq. Recommended for most fiction collections.—Edward B. St. John, Loyola Law Sch. Lib., Los Angeles

Crouch's debut novel-in-linked-stories chronicles the life of Charleston debutante Sarah Walters from her learning the fox trot in grade school to her finding out family secrets in her mid-thirties. The narrative is as raw, frank, and underdeveloped as the characters within, each of whom makes decisions that are difficult to understand. For example, when Sarah's relationship with an abusive man ends and he starts dating someone else months later, she stalks him. She also plunges into excessive alcohol and drug use, which only further clouds her judgment. Unfortunately, Sarah does not have any Southern "sisters" in whom she can confide, as she and her "Camellias" talk more out of Camellia Society obligation than from any actual affinity; they, too, struggle with unhealthy relationships and addictions. In the end, Crouch's portrait of a lady lacks a distinct Southern charm and does not show contemporary women in a positive light. Stylistically, the book resembles Melissa Bank's The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, but the unexpectedly abrupt ending may confuse readers and leave them wanting more. For larger fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]—Anne M. Miskewitch, Chicago P.L.

Delbanco (What Remains) here fictionalizes the life of one of the most widely accomplished yet unknown characters in American history. Benjamin Thompson married well; betrayed and abandoned his country; invented, among other things, the most efficient fireplace of his time; made tremendous contributions toward the welfare of the poor in Munich; proudly acquired titles, including count of the Holy Roman Empire; and established the Royal Institution of Great Britain. But as seen here, he had an irrevocably fractured relationship with his daughter. Although the narrator, a distant relative of Thompson's, writes pulp romances for a living, the novel is far from formula and titillation. Thoroughly researched, it will appeal to readers who are interested in the history of science, the early years of this nation, and the turbulent central Europe of Napoleon. But it should also appeal to a wider audience because Delbanco writes beautifully. In the penultimate chapter, for instance, he skillfully depicts the count's loneliness and deteriorating mind as he catalogs his contributions to humanity, justifies his transgressions, and lashes out at his second wife. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.—K.H. Cumiskey, Duke Univ. Lib., Durham, NC

From the time Louise de Vallière was a little girl, she had a way with animals, horses being her particular favorite. After her mother marries a marquis following the death of Louise's father, the young woman (affectionately called Petite) is sent to the court of Louis XIV and attracts the Sun King's attention with her equestrian skills. As they secretly launch a passionate affair, Petite carefully observes life in the French court. Intrigue, romance, and manipulation abound as courtiers jockey for higher positions. In time, Petite is made an official mistress of the king, and her two surviving children by Louis are acknowledged. But there are plans afoot to knock Petite out of her favored spot, and she must use all of her wits to survive. Following up her popular trilogy of novels about Josephine Bonaparte, Gulland now gives us an inside look at the magnificent court of the Sun King. Recommended for all fiction collections. [In the manuscript's final stages, Gulland took the interesting approach of asking a book club to critique the book.—Ed.]—Anna M. Nelson, Naples Regional Lib., FL

The author of both historical fiction (e.g., The Wind of the Khazars) and religious fiction (see the following review) turns to the 16th century and a little-known crusade by a Jewish prince who went to Italy to marshal support for a Jewish state in what is now modern-day Israel. David Reubeni, the prince of Chabor, claims that he is one of the descendants of the tribe of Reuben (one of the ten tribes out of 12 that disappeared from history). He is a prodigious scholar, a military genius, and an enigmatic figure in his white woolen tunic with the Star of David emblazoned on the front. After passing through deserts and traveling by ship from Arabia, he arrives in Venice and finds the Jews there and in other cities living in ghettos, impoverished and longing for the messiah to relieve their misery. Reubeni refuses their adoration and the appellation of messiah. He wants to establish a land where Jews can live in peace and to convince Pope Clement II of his mission; the key to his strategy is a Judeo-Christian alliance that could counter the growing influence of Islam across the Mediterranean. This exciting and well-researched book is highly recommended.—Molly Abramowitz, Silver Spring, MD

Known for his previous fictionalizations of biblical women ("The Canaan Trilogy": Sarah, Zipporah, and Lilah), Halter here crafts the story of Miriam (Mary), who is in league with Barabbas and the Essene Joseph of Arimathea against the Roman occupiers and their puppet client-kings, the house of Herod. She is brash and passionate, given to fits of righteous indignation and fierce loyalties. An ancient Near Eastern feminist, Mary spouts abundant highly charged speech and eschews marriage because "I have other things to do in this world than be a man's wife." Her work is bearing the Messiah, a thing she asks of the Lord rather than a thing thrust upon her. Halter's Mary exists on the border between visionary and madness, and she blames herself for Jesus's eventual arrest for forcing his hand at the wedding in Cana. Some historical elements give pause (for instance, the Essenes were a separatist movement unlikely to join in political intrigue), and, as with Halter's previous works, he runs out of creative energy before getting to the conclusion. But the modern twist is intriguing. Recommended where interest in biblical fiction warrants.—Sandra Collins, Byzantine Catholic Seminary Lib., Pittsburgh

Set in Pakistan in the 1980s, this first novel revolves around the events leading up to the plane crash that killed General Zia, then president of the country. The crash has been the subject of all sorts of rumors, and the author energetically seizes upon them and adds several of his own. The novel centers on Ali Shigri, a junior under officer in the Pakistani air force and son of a high-ranking commander who apparently committed suicide years earlier but whose death is beginning to look more like a political execution. When General Zia comes upon a passage in the Qur'an that he thinks foretells his death, he expands his already severe dictatorship by calling for heightened security. Shigri is taken into custody and given the full interrogation treatment but is eventually released. He then prepares for a demonstration of a military drill with his squad in front of the president himself. In keeping with the novel's somewhat surrealistic approach, a crow that has overheard a blind woman curse the president has flown several thousand miles to intersect with the flight route of the presidential party. Entertainingly bizarre and still seriously literate, this novel is recommended for larger fiction collections.—Jim Coan, SUNY at Oneonta

Annette Majoris is bored to death with her job as host of a nighttime talk show in Minneapolis, and on one shift, she wonders aloud if maybe the Vietnam War never happened. Maybe it was a government experiment in mass mind control. Soon, she is flooded with phone calls from vets who knew they were there and vets who would prefer to think their memories are not real but government-implanted. Right-wing nut groups and Republican kingmakers attach themselves to her coattails, and protestors picket her personal appearances. Before long, Annette is feeling the truth of the proverb about being careful what you wish for. Hawley (Trip Sheets) has given us a well-written, fast-paced story with believable characters who could have easily been cardboard stereotypes. Talk-show listeners will recognize the forces at play here, and this novel will appeal both to them and to fans of political novels like Larry Beinhart's The Librarian and American Hero, the basis for the movie Wag the Dog. Strongly recommended for popular fiction collections.—Debbie Bogenschutz, Cincinnati State Technical & Community Coll. Lib.

When his mother's cancer worsens, Scott leaves New York and returns home to Kansas to help her. He is quickly drawn into Donna's obsession with stories about missing children—an obsession that is linked to her own mysterious disappearance for a time when she was a child. Scott's meth addiction makes it hard to judge his mother's mental and physical state, but his longing to comfort and connect with her has him playing along, well past the point of safety. Donna's conflicting stories, Scott's own evasions, and the bizarre complicity of a teenage boy make for a heady, sometimes overheated brew, but Heim writes movingly of physical decline and death. And while the reader may be frustrated with characters who lack all common sense, their behavior fits the story's logic. The overall effect is a combination of mystery, literary fiction, ode to the missing, and love story about family. Heim's first novel, Mysterious Skin, was made into a well-received independent film in 2005. Recommended for larger fiction collections.—Devon Thomas, DevIndexing, Chelsea, MI

It is the usual romantic tale of a marriage of convenience: a devastatingly attractive, confirmed bachelor who needs an heir marries a beautiful, portionless gentleman's daughter who is to expect nothing from the union and be grateful for her good fortune in winning such a prize. There is, however, a twist: he prefers men to women, she is a secret authoress, and even the refreshingly open and honest marriage contract that acknowledges this cannot save Andrew Carrington and Phyllida Lewis from the pain that inadvertent misunderstandings and well-meant deceptions bring to any relationship. Sparkling with Regency wit and panache, Herendeen's debut novel, originally self-published in 2005, is a brilliant exploration of love, sexuality, class, and gender, but above all, it is a wonderful love story. Highly recommended for those readers comfortable with alternative sexual and erotic literature.—Cynthia Johnson, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA

"Dear Lars, I know you will never ever say nothing about what happened." These words, found in an old letter addressed to his deceased father, shake New York psychoanalyst Erik Davidsen to the core. Was his father once involved in something questionable? Despite the misgivings of his sister, Inga, recently widowed and contending with both a conflicted daughter and a nasty reporter threatening to unburden herself of secrets regarding the duplicity of Inga's celebrated novelist husband, Erik tracks down the truth—which is both stranger and more gratifying than he could have imagined. But this is not a novel about solving mysteries: it's about the secrets we keep and the delicate tangle of relationships we maintain. Even as he sorts out his father's life, Erik must come to terms with his own devastating loneliness and his attraction to his new tenant, Jamaican artist Miranda—who is in turn being stalked, sort of, by her daughter's father. Complex relationships, indeed, but the narrative is breathtakingly clear, heartfelt, and involving. Hustvedt (What I Loved) has written a novel of quiet strength; recommended for most collections.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal

Deep in Inner Mongolia, at the time of the Great Leap Forward, Han Chinese scholar Chen waits for hours with his mentor, Old Man Bilgee, watching wolves as they prepare an attack. He's already learned how closely the wolves and the nomads are linked—Tennger, god of the grasslands, has seen to it, and even Genghis Khan borrowed the wolves' tricks. Suddenly, the wolves drive an enormous herd of gazelle into deep snow, where many of them literally drown. The wolves leave the carcasses preserved in the drifts, to be eaten later when food is scarce. Bilgee allows that they can take a few, but others, less attuned to the ways of the grasslands, take more. And so the wolves go hungry and manage a gruesome revenge. Thus commences a struggle that symbolizes not only the subjugation of nature by humans but the subjugation of Mongolia by China. The author, who writes under a pseudonym, volunteered along the border of Inner and Outer Mongolia in the 1960s and writes with piercing perception about native and wolf ways. The result is a naturalistic, gripping, and deeply affecting novel reminding us how badly we humans have managed our world. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/07.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal

Kalla's fifth thriller is the second to feature Dr. Noah Haldane, an infectious-disease specialist working for the World Health Organization. In his first appearance, in Pandemic, Haldane faced a virulent new strain of bird flu. This new medical adventure takes him and his colleague, the crusty Scotsman Duncan McLeod, to rural France, where they encounter a puzzling outbreak of mad cow disease and its human equivalent, Creutzfeld-Jacob disease. Along with the beautiful Elise Renard, envoy from the European Union's Agricultural Commission, the two men investigate the facts but discover a deeper mystery. Meanwhile, in Antarctica, a team of scientists has drilled down to a lake three miles below the earth's surface, and a Russian entrepreneur and her Dutch associate—two of the nastiest women you can imagine—are ready to exploit the commercial possibilities of this water that is free of any earthly pollution. How these two narrative lines intersect provides the drama and suspense in this well-written novel. Kalla, an emergency-room physician, employs just enough medical realism to carry a wild tale through one cliff-hanger chapter after another. Buy wherever this type of medical fiction is popular.—A.J. Wright, Anesthesiology Lib., Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham

Lee's second novel (after Country of Origin) returns to the fictional town of Rosarita Bay, CA, a bucolic location outside of San Francisco that also was the setting for Yellow, his short story collection. The book's central character, Lyndon Song, is a brooding Brussels sprouts farmer who was once an internationally acclaimed sculptor. The bastion of solitude Lyndon has created for himself is disrupted horribly when his brother Woody, a Hollywood movie producer, visits on Labor Day weekend. Woody's ostentatious ways and questionable ethics clash, as always, with Lyndon's quiet lifestyle; their coming together results in trips to the ER, crazy traffic chases, and multiple brushes with the law as Lyndon attempts to prevent developers from taking his land away. Lee's novel tries to be a wacky, madcap Carl Hiaasen kind of page-turner while occasionally taking a break for some philosophical introspection. Though sometimes fun, it's not that successful; the wackiness seems to take away from rather than complement its meditations. Recommended for large regional fiction collections.—Kevin Greczek, Hamilton, NJ

Mothers, from the overbearing to the overly accommodating, interact more or less successfully with their sons in this fifth novel from Medwed (How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life). Maisie Grey, the divorced mother of a teenage son, Tommy, strives to be nothing like her ex-mother-in-law, Ina, whose controlling and narcissistic ways contributed to the demise of Maisie's marriage. Maisie also runs her own company, Factotum, which provides personal-assistant services for her clients, many of whom are eccentric professors from one of the many universities in the Cambridge, MA, area where she lives. When Tommy returns home from his summer with his father, Maisie finds her mothering skills put to the test, as he has brought home his vegan goth girlfriend, September, who has just been kicked out of her house. Even though she doesn't like September, she allows the girl to move into Tommy's room because of memories of her mother-in-law's disapproval. As Maisie becomes the catalyst for change in the household, her own life changes for the better. Quirky characters keep this drama of relationships in their many forms interesting. A quick and satisfying read; recommended for all public libraries.—Karen Core, Detroit P.L.

In his fourth thriller set in and around Cape Town, South African crime writer Meyer interweaves the stories of three desperate individuals. Thobela Mpayipheli, a former Xhosa assassin last seen in Heart of the Hunter, is unable to stop two gas station thieves from killing his stepson. Driven by vengeance and armed only with an assegai (a spear), he begins to track down the thieves. Unsuccessful at first, he expands his crusade to include those suspected of sexual crimes against children. As the bloody killings mount, Detective Inspector Benny Griessel, an alcoholic determined to stay sober in order to win back his wife and children, is assigned the assegai case. Meanwhile, Christine van Rooyen, a prostitute with a young daughter, tells a clergyman how she became involved with the local boss of a Colombian drug cartel. In time, the lives of all three will collide with devastating results. Readers will need a measure of patience to handle the quick jumps between stories and the half-page or so that it takes to figure out whose story is now center stage. Still, Meyer's ability to probe the depths of his major characters makes this read well worth the effort. Recommended for public libraries.—Ron Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tuscon

Four sisters come to terms with the death of their mother over the course of one year, buoyed and buffeted by the letters and journal she left behind to guide them. Eldest daughter Lisa reaches a moment of truth with her boyfriend—to marry or not. Stoic Jennifer is at a crossroads in her marriage, complicated by the decision whether to have a baby. Amanda, consumed with wanderlust, wonders why she's always running away and considers what it would take for her to stay. And the youngest, 16-year-old Hannah, struggles to navigate her turbulent teenage years, mourning her mother while trying to comfort her father. Noble's fourth novel (after Alphabet Weekends) is a bittersweet yet ultimately uplifting story of love, family, and the bonds between mothers and daughters and among sisters. Letters and journal entries are sprinkled throughout the narrative, expanding the novel's focus to include the family's history from the very beginning and making for a sweeping, engaging, and comfortable women's fiction choice. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Amy Brozio-Andrews, Albany P.L., NY

The year is 1929, and in a small New England town, Jackie Sue McKay and Angus DeCosta are caught in a compromising position. McKay's family gets revenge by throwing Angus from a bridge, which leads to bitter strife between the two clans until another DeCosta family member is lynched. It looks like the Ku Klux Klan is involved, and soon there is yet another murder. Both the author and the publisher characterize this debut novel as a mystery, but it is better described as a dark drama. The story is told from the point of view of several different characters, with plenty of intrigue, conflict, and secrets to keep readers interested. Recommended for fiction collections.—Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs

The second title in Rice's "Christ the Lord" series (after Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt) picks up with the life of Jesus shortly before his public ministry begins. The young man known as Yeshua Bar Joseph is living among his family and friends in Nazareth, where public unrest is stirring against the political powers of the time. There are those who remember the stories surrounding Jesus's birth, but they do not quite understand what it all means even though they sense that he is special. Jesus himself wrestles with knowing that something is coming that prevents him from marrying and living life for himself, but he shares the same human emotions as his brothers and friends. Rice once again paints a powerful account of Christ's humanity while staying true to orthodox Christianity. And her well-drawn, believable supporting characters add to a vivid, captivating story. As the novel builds up to John's baptism of Jesus and the beginning of miracles, it will inspire readers to see Jesus in a new light. This is a novel that both religious and secular audiences can appreciate and enjoy; highly recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/07; 500,000 copies first printing; BOMC Main Selection.]—Tamara Butler, Bryant & Stratton Coll. Lib., Buffalo, NY

A big, sprawling Civil War epic, Rosen's first novel contains enough romance and history to draw Miss Scarlett's fans like flies to honey. Hugh Hallam, a careful and thoughtful farmer, and his wife, Serena, leave the luxury of Charleston, SC, behind for western Tennessee. Hugh works to develop improved cotton crops, and together with their children, the Hallams craft an idyllic life at Palmyra. Of course, that life depends on slave labor, and with the Civil War looming, the Hallams closely follow the politics and national trends that may change their way of life. The voice of the antislavery sentiment finds them in the person of newsman John Varick, who stays with the Hallams as he travels through the South working on a background report and who leaves abruptly after quarreling with Hugh. There's some annoying use of dialect, but plenty of battle detail and frequent appearances by real historical figures all add up to a winner for the historical fiction crowd.—Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., VA

Sarvas, writer of the highly praised literary blog, The Elegant Variation, has written a brilliantly funny and heart-wrenching first novel about one man's struggle to face the truth. Harry Rent, middle-aged, well-to-do, and prone to comical daydreaming, has recently lost his beautiful and practically perfect wife, Anna. Unable to get in touch with his grief, he becomes involved in the lives of two waitresses, Molly and Lucille, at the Café Retro. He has a crush on the young, hip, and intellectual Molly and tries to impress her by rescuing the lumbering Lucille from her pathetic life of ingrown toenails, unpaid bills, and jailed offspring. But each act of kindness produces its own set of problems for Harry, and he becomes increasingly mired in a life of dishonesty and fantasy. Gradually, his memories of his life with Anna begin rising to the surface, bringing with them both pain and enlightenment. Harry Rent is of the same ilk as Walter Mitty and Rabbit Angstrom: deeply flawed, likable, and hilariously, touchingly memorable. Highly recommended for all fiction collections.—Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Law Lib., Malibu, CA

In this latest novel by Schutt (Florida), the angst of very rich girls undergoing the stress of senior year in a Manhattan prep school is leavened by their reactions to a classmate who is ill in the hospital with a rare form of cancer. Astra Dell, who lost her own mother a few years ago in a violent accident, haunts her classmates: she becomes a rationalization for their bulimia and a reason to blame themselves for caring so deeply about their college applications. Her best friends rarely visit, or they resort to sending her thoughtless letters, but Marlene, a scholarship student, finds herself more comfortable on the neutral ground of the hospital room than in school. She regularly brings Astra her homework and becomes her most devoted visitor. Schutt's spare and artful prose strikes a balance between poignancy and cynicism in illustrating the interconnections of classmates, parents, and teachers. Some chapters are mere brief impressions, but these snippets cohere into a picture of the school's community and its sharp divisions of class and wealth. Recommended for popular fiction collections.—Reba Leiding, James Madison Univ. Libs., Harrisonburg, VA

Scott (Hen's Teeth; Boudica) has already achieved success as a suspense and Celtic historical/fantasy author. With this new work, she makes her mark with an apocalyptic thriller. The end is nigh, dated specifically, 12/21/12. Dr. Stella Cody and her new husband have a chance of stopping Armageddon but first they must find the titular crystal skull, decode Elizabethan ciphers, escape assassination attempts, determine whom they can trust, and engage in some metaphysical/New Age shenanigans. If Stella and Co. can manage all of that, the date of the Mayan prophecy will come and go without incident. Set against the backdrop of fictitious Bede's College in England, the novel moves between the present and the life of Bede's benefactor Cedric Owen in the 1500s. The guiding force behind Owen's life—from an early encounter with Nostradamus to his years in New Spain to his death in England—is his guardianship of the carved sapphire skull. Scott's extensive research, her composite histories, her inclusion of real archaeological sites, and the actual existence of crystal skulls make for a compelling adventure novel. Recommended for most popular fiction collections.—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL

Last year's Man Booker Prize winner is a story with a message: Animal is a teenage boy who lives on the streets of the Indian city of Khaufpur. He goes around on all fours since his spine is badly damaged; he cannot walk normally. As an infant, he was one of the thousands of victims of a poison gas leak at an American-owned company, here just called "the Kampani." Animal also lost his parents "that night" (as the local people refer to the horrible event). Animal has a lively mind and a way with words, some of them angry and profane, some of them bitterly funny, as he gets caught up in the struggle of those in Khaufpur who seek long-delayed justice from the Kampani. Sinha, who frequently contributes to bhopal.net, has clearly based his story on the human and environmental disaster at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal in 1984. The result is a gripping novel that also reminds us of a continuing real-life tragedy. Recommended for all larger collections.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

Grisly, gruesome, and gory are just three ways to describe this debut novel by young British screenwriter Smith. While adapting a short story by sf writer Jeff Noon, Smith came across the true account of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, who after killing more than 50 women and children was executed in 1994. His story inspired Smith to write this grim, 1953-set novel, which ties together just about all of the worst aspects of the Stalinist regime. The Ukrainian famine and the unrelieved horror of the gulag, among other historical hooks, add to the saga of ex-soldier and police official Leo Demidov, who dissects the morbid clues left by the killer. The paradox of crime in a workers' paradise denies any legitimacy to Leo's investigation, since, by definition, such repellent crimes are impossible. With some 20 foreign sales to date and film rights already in Ridley Scott's hands, this successor to Hannibal Lector's lurid mantle has nonstop plotting, a nonstop pace, and even a surprise ending. Horror genre readers will thrill to it; others may be advised to ask for a barf bag as well as their date due slip. Suspense collections in large libraries will likely need several copies to fill waiting lists. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/08.]—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA

This epic first novel involves the life of Philip Arminius Khoo-Hutton—half-British and half-Chinese, who lives on the Malaysian island of Penang prior to World War II. Feeling like an outcast in his aristocratic British family, he befriends an older Japanese diplomat, Endo-san, who teaches him the art of aikido. A sacred bond grows between student and teacher—"next to a parent, a teacher is the most important person in one's life." When war erupts and the Japanese invade Malaya, Philip finds his loyalty divided between his family and Endo-san. In a series of dramatic events, he discovers support from his courageous Chinese past told through his grandfather, a sustaining friendship with a fellow student of aikido name Kon, and a mysterious association with Endo-san that has been playing out for hundreds of years and can only be broken in a ritual of death. Philip's personal drama unfolds against the backdrop of fascinating glimpses into Chinese culture, British imperialism, and the Japanese occupation that eventually claims the lives of everyone around him. Strong characters and page-turning action make this a top pick for historical fiction.—David A. Beronä, Plymouth State Univ., NH

This elegiac novel features the long, tragic friendship of three young people coming of age in the 1970s. They meet as undergraduates at Swarthmore and begin their adult lives full of promise. By the end of the novel, that promise has given way to sadness, regret, and defeat, mainly because of bad choices. All three protagonists are skillfully rendered. Daniel and Marghie are fraternal twins, children of a Nobel prize—winning physicist, while Gabriel is the son of a rabbi from New Orleans. Although parts of the novel would have benefited from further development, much here is beautifully drawn: Gabriel's failed or unrealized romantic relationships prove especially poignant. These young people also lose their parents, and Taylor handles these passages with eloquence and pathos. This is a novel about friendship, loneliness, and the hazards adults encounter as they make their way in the world. Although not without its flaws, it nonetheless has much to offer. Recommended for libraries with large fiction collections.—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT

Trollope (The Rector's Wife) excels at character development and realistic dialog, two talents displayed in this novel of various women drawn together—though not over a book club or knitting group, as in many other works. Retiree Eleanor often sees Paula and Lindsay, two harried young mothers, passing on the street and decides they should have time to relax. Paula and Lindsay, who have never met each other before, turn down Eleanor's offer of babysitting but are flustered enough to accept her invitation to visit her one Friday evening. The group soon expands to include Blaise, Eleanor's neighbor; Karen, Blaise's coworker; and Jules, Lindsay's younger sister. Trollope outlines each woman's history, deftly interweaving their individual stories with those of the new connections growing among them. When Paula begins dating Jackson Miller, the equilibrium of the group is altered, and as Jackson becomes a part of all of their lives, events occur that will change the group forever. Trollope's novel rings true, portraying the complexities of contemporary women's lives without sentimentality or melodrama. Recommended.—Beth Lindsay, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman

Vega Yunqué (Blood Fugues) writes this satirical novel in the form of an ethnic chick-lit memoir. Its narrator, Rebecca, is a "horny white girl" from Manhattan who vows not to hold back any of the details of her freakiness. She certainly makes good on that promise: in Chapter 1, Rebecca and her "Rican" beau, Charlie Maisonet, have sex on the subway and under the seats at the Angelika Film Center, and things only get more sordid from there. But Vega Yunqué finds more in his protagonist than an idiot babbling about multiple orgasms. As Rebecca bounces among various jobs (e.g., social worker, stripper, independent filmmaker) and cultures (inspired by Charlie's family, she "converts" to Puerto Rican, renaming herself Zoraida Delgado), her predicament becomes emblematic of the identity crisis many modern-day Americans face. Though Vega Yunqué's digressions on everything from the Iraq War to Jewish baseball players make for a disorienting read, he never lacks for ideas. Recommended for most fiction collections, with a caveat for readers who blush easily.—Forest Turner, Suffolk Cty. House of Correction Lib., Boston

On the heels of a critical book about her work (Jeanette Winterson: A Contemporary Critical Guide) comes this ninth novel by Winterson (Sexing the Cherry). Taking on humanity's mindless reliance on technology and the resulting environmental devastation, the story opens in a future where the ability to genetically "fix" oneself at any age is but one example of how new solutions create new problems—in this case, men desiring ever younger females. But such dilemmas pale in the face of one overwhelming reality: humans have worn out the planet. So they decide to move to Planet Blue. Unfortunately, doing so proves much more difficult than anticipated. This book is a tour de force that skips backward in time, with all sections involving a woman named Billie or a man named Billy, reinforcing the theme that we repeat our mistakes, that "Everything is imprinted forever with what it once was." Billie is a fascinating character, as is her beloved Spike, the first Robo sapiens. While some readers might not care for the kaleidoscopic structure or eroticism, this beautifully written book is nevertheless recommended for all libraries.—Evelyn Beck, Piedmont Technical Coll., Greenwood, SC

It's December, and 11-year-old Isabelle hasn't spoken in eight months. Her puzzled parents have been in turn patient, forceful, despairing, and supportive, trying every method they can think of to get Isabelle to talk. She has seen four psychologists without improvement, and now her private school has issued an ultimatum: Isabelle will be expelled if she doesn't start speaking when school resumes in January. Readers will sympathize with Isabelle's parents as they struggle to keep their normal holiday traditions alive despite a daughter who refuses to sing Christmas carols, order her own meal in a restaurant, or even visit with neighbors. Just as we're about to lose patience with her, however, Isabelle herself takes on a voice in the story, emerging as an independent character who loves her parents deeply but is powerless to change her behavior no matter how much she wants to. This story of a family in crisis builds in emotion until a spellbinding climax brings things to a realistic and satisfying close. Recommended for all public libraries.—Kellie Gillespie, City of Mesa Lib., AZ

Set in Wisconsin, this deeply nuanced epic tells the story of a boy, his dog, and much more. Father, son, and even dog take turns narrating before the story is told primarily by the inexplicably mute Edgar Sawtelle. Part mystery, part Hamlet, the story opens with a sinister and seemingly unrelated scene that begins to make sense as the narrative progresses. The rich depiction of Edgar's family, who are breeders of unique dogs, creates a warm glow that contrasts sharply with the cold evil that their family contains. This tension, along with a little salting of the paranormal, makes this an excruciatingly captivating read. Readers examine the concept of choice, the choice of the dogs in their relationship with people, and the choice of people in their acquiescence to or rejection of their perceived destiny. Ultimately liberating, though tragic and heart-wrenching, this book is unforgettable; overwhelmingly recommended for all libraries.—Henry Bankhead, Los Gatos P.L., CA
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The stories in this new collection from Berg (Open House) are full of events to which most women can relate: being on Weight Watchers but taking a day of freedom and eating donuts, steak, and pie or being divorced and finding a like-minded group of women with whom to spend time. Some stories will make the reader laugh out loud in recognition, but others are heartbreaking; in "Rain," for instance, a long-lost love is diagnosed with cancer. Still others are both fun and affecting: in "Sin City," the widowed Rita decides to live it up and head for Las Vegas. She goes on a shopping spree, buying new clothes for her getaway weekend. On the flight west, she discovers a kindred soul in Henry and opens a new chapter in her life. This collection will find favor with Berg's many fans and will entice new readers as well. These readable treats remind us of the surprises and delights of life. Highly recommended for public libraries.—Robin Nesbitt, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OH

In her elegant new collection, Ozick (Heir to the Glimmering World) examines with characteristic humor the passions that motivate the human heart and the human foibles that often lead to self-deception and misery. In the wonderfully witty and biting opening novella, "Dictation," Miss Bosanquet and Miss Hallowes, the respective amanuenses of Henry James and Jospeh Conrad at the height of their careers, concoct a marvelous scheme to write themselves into posterity. This novella alone is worth the price of the book for its detailed portrayals of characters and its careful construction of story. "Actors" follows the fortunes of Matt Sorley as he searches for work in New York and eventually is tapped to play Lear in an adaptation of the play that features Lear as a Jewish emigrant. Sorley's production is interrupted by a real Lear—an elderly and quite mad Jewish actor who had performed this role originally many years ago. In "At Fumicaro," an art critic attempts to marry his Italian maid only to realize that she has strung him along to rob him. Finally, in "What Happened to the Baby?" a young girl rehearses the story of her uncle's infidelity and her aunt's Medea-like revenge. Ozick is at the top of her form in these splendid stories, and every library will want a copy. Highly recommended. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/07.]—Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Evanston, IL
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