Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 4/28/2008 4:28:00 PM

The week of April 29, 2008

Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels

Fiction

Dunthorne, Joe. Submarine. Random. Apr. 2008. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-4000-6683-4. $22.95. F
Verdict: An engaging coming-of-age story about a boy whose intelligence is beyond his years but whose sensibilities are entirely those of a teenager. It will be enjoyed by young adults, college kids, and parents of teenagers.
Background: The twist in this appealing first novel by Welsh author Dunthorne is that the narrator—15-year-old Oliver Tate—comes from a family that is—gasp!—perfectly average. Better than average, in fact. These unabusive, undivorced, opposite-sex parents are loving and communicative; they live in a pleasant house in pleasant Swansea; they neither suffocate nor neglect Oliver. They have their rough patches but nothing they can’t get through. And still, despite having been raised by such a good mum and dad, Oliver acts out. His active imagination takes bits of information and half-understood perceptions and turns them into developed scenarios. He sees things in black and white, this or that. He poisons his girlfriend’s dog after reading that her eczema might be the result of an allergy to dogs. And her skin does clear up—but Oliver fails to see that the girl loves dogs, even if they do give her dermatitis. This sort of reasoning is behind the climax of the novel, where Oliver very nearly destroys a man’s life. Recommended for public libraries.—Liorah Golomb, Wichita State Univ., KS

Lewis, Jeffrey. Adam the King. Other. May 2008. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-59051-284-5. $21.95. F
Verdict: Lewis creates a rich cast of well-developed and refreshingly believable characters. Intelligent without being pretentious, funny, heartbreaking, and believable, this is a gem of a novel.
Background: Lewis’s fourth novel revisits characters first introduced in Meritocracy: A Love Story, beginning as wealthy, guilt-ridden Adam Bloch settles into his extravagant new home on the coast of Maine with his new wife and her two daughters. Several other characters; both locals and elite summer visitors, enter the story and round out this insightful look at the catastrophic trouble money and prejudice can create in even the smallest of towns. Wanting only to please his new bride, Adam embarks on a pool-building project that involves contact with longtime local Verna Hubbard, which eventually leads to the climactic conclusion that gives the locals at the general store a lot to talk about and readers quite a bit to consider.—Dora Wagner, Northwestern Coll. Lib., Saint Paul, MN

Park, Ed. Personal Days. Random. May 2008. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-8129-7857-5. pap. $13. F
Verdict: On the heels of Joshua Ferris’s much-lauded Then We Came to the End comes another (mostly) communally voiced workplace satire. Patrons who enjoyed Douglas Coupland’s Jpod and Max Barry’s Company will want to try this one.
Background: In this debut novel by the founding editor of the Believer magazine, a group of anxious officemates dissects their dwindling workforce. Initially, their speculation revolves around their boss, Russell, aka The Sprout (Russell—Brussels—brussels sprouts—the Sprout), and the blindingly attractive Maxine, a woman whose position in the unnamed New York company is as unclear as it is unimportant. Park’s clever tale does a good job of capturing cubicle paranoia and office minutia like scavenged supplies and elevator crushes. A standout tangent involves a coworker’s collection of quotes from management texts like Ernie and Bert in the Boardroom. The "secret" behind the random terminations is a bit out of the blue, but fans of Office Space snark will enjoy Park’s observations.—Karen Kleckner, Deerfield P.L., IL

Rich, Nathaniel. The Mayor’s Tongue. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Apr. 2008. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-59448-990-7. $24.95. F
Verdict: Unfortunately, Rich’s characters never quite come to life, and trying to connect with Eugene and Mr. Schmitz was more frustrating than insightful, despite the ending that ties up many of the loose ends. An optional purchase.
Background: This debut novel follows the lives of two men living in New York. Eugene, who works as a furniture mover, is a fan of literary giant Constance Eakins. During one move, he discovers that he has been hired by Eakins’s biographer, Abe Chrisholm. Eugene begins working for Abe and falls in love with his daughter, Sonia, who is sent to Italy to make contact with Eakins, even though the elusive author is believed to be dead. Meanwhile, as the wife of the elderly Mr. Schmitz lies dying, Mr. Schmitz recalls the carefree life he had as a young man with his friend Rutherford. After his wife dies, Mr. Schmitz travels to Italy, discovers Rutherford disabled by a stroke, and proceeds to tell Rutherford stories about his life. At the same time, Eugene tracks down Sonia, who is living with Eakins, a larger-than-life, self-appointed mayor of a village occupied by all the characters of his imagination.—David A. Beronä, Plymouth State Univ. Lib., NH

Nonfiction

Brodsky, Phyllis L. The Control of Childbirth: Women Versus Medicine Through the Ages. McFarland. Jul. 2008. 211p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7864-3362-9. pap. $35. MED
Verdict: This fairly lively, though at times repetitive, history would've been stronger had it quoted more frequently the feminist scholarly literature on the topic. For example, though Brodsky mentions pioneering 16th-century French midwife Louise Bourgeois extensively, she does not cite Wendy Perkins’s Midwifery and Medicine in Early Modern France: Louise Bourgeois. There are also a handful of spelling errors and typos throughout, such as the last names of anatomist Andreas Vesalius and medical report author Abraham Flexner, though these are spelled correctly in the index. An optional purchase for public libraries lacking other books on the topic, such as Jean Donnison’s Midwives and Medical Men or Edward Shorter’s Women’s Bodies, or where there is constant interest in the subject.
Background: Maryland-based Brodsky, a nurse who has published articles in nursing journals about childbirth, presents a brief book on a complex topic: how and why women became excluded from their own child-bearing experience and how this power can be regained. Readers get coverage of the centuries-long battles between midwives and physicians in Western Europe and the United States, the treatments to which women were subjected, the medicalization of childbirth, and some of the current controversies (e.g., epidurals, elective Caesarian sections, home childbirth).—Martha E. Stone, Massachusetts General Hosp. Lib., Boston

Felsenthal, Carol. Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House. Morrow. May 2008. 368p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-06-123159-9. $25.95. POL SCI
Verdict: This book will be in particular demand during this election year; Felsenthal does not avoid the topics that general readers will enjoy reading more about. Recommended for public libraries.
Background: Huffington Post blogger and unauthorized biographer Felsenthal (Power, Privilege and the Post: The Katharine Graham Story) spent a couple of years observing and assessing the life of President Bill Clinton since his departure from the White House. Not surprisingly, she takes readers back and forth in time, so that she connects his post-presidential traits and habits with his modes of operating in the past. Her well-written account makes use of over 150 interviews she undertook with Clinton associates, including friends, former colleagues, and occasional enemies. Evidently, the Clintons’ inner circle cooperated with the author, who offers updates and new information on Bill Clinton’s past and present relationships with the first President Bush, his own vice president Al Gore, and Hillary, as well as other women who have been subjected to the Clinton rumor mill. Most of Felsenthal's interviewees gave a pass on describing Bill Clinton's character flaws. Felsenthal herself, however, deeply observes his preoccupation with his legacy and the competitive instincts aroused in him on that account (vis-à-vis other ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents who have won the Nobel Peace Prize, for example). She also ponders what Bill Clinton’s role will be in the White House if he finds himself there as the president’s spouse.—Karen Sutherland, DesPlaines Valley P.L. Dist., IL

Garcia, Oz with Sharyn Kolberg. Redesigning 50: The No-Plastic-Surgery Guide to 21st-Century Age Defiance. Collins: HarperCollins. May 2008. 288p. index. ISBN 978-0-06-076047-2. $27.95. HEALTH
Verdict: As part of his antiaging regimen, Garcia recommends some less-proven tactics, such as nutraceuticals, aka oral supplements. Some, like alpha-lipoic acid, green tea, and probiotics, have done well in testing, but others are not as understood and need more testing. This is a good summary of where we stand now, but it is by no means a complete recipe for eternal youth.
Background: Every day, in every way, we’re getting older and older. But today’s 50-year-olds don’t want to look or feel the way their parents did. Garcia, nutritionist to the glitterati, here summarizes all the currently available options (including some light plastic surgery) for staying as youthful as we can as long as we can, with the input of celebrity health experts like Roni DeLuz and David Barton. We know that diets rich in green leafy vegetables and whole grains are better for us than yesterday’s heavy meat and potatoes fare. We're well aware that regular, vigorous exercise keeps not only our bodies but our brains functioning well as long as we live. Skillful hair coloring and makeup can also play up our better features and play down the defects.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with the Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

Gordon, Suzanne & others. Safety in Numbers: Nurse-to-Patient Ratios and the Future of Health Care. ILR: Cornell Univ. May 2008. c.284p. index. ISBN 978-0-8014-4683-2. $26. MED
Verdict: While clearly supporters of ratios, the authors stress that the existing systems are works in progress and present both positive comments from nurses working under the ratios and negative ones from researchers, nurse managers, and executives who are still not convinced. The result is a unique, readable, and balanced account of a workplace debate that will continue to play out and may ultimately have an impact on other professions as well. Recommended for hospital, academic, and public libraries.
Background: The national attention drawn by California nurses as they pushed their legislature to enact mandated nurse-to-patient ratios has faded, but the ratios remain in place, as they do in somewhat different form in the Australian state of Victoria. These unique laboratories are studied in depth by Gordon (Nursing Against the Odds), John Buchanan (director, Workplace Research Ctr., Univ. of Sydney, Australia; Fragmented Futures), and Tanya Bretherton (senior research fellow, Workplace Research Ctr.). They describe the systems originally in place, the arguments and legislative struggles, and implementation. The research to date on the ratios’ effects on patient safety, economic impact, nurses’ morale, retention, and health and the continuing controversies is also presented.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp. Lib., Denver

Klauer, Jana, M.D. The Park Avenue Nutritionist's Plan: The No-Fail Prescription for Energy, Vitality & Weight Loss. St. Martin's. May 2008. c.288p. index. ISBN 978-0-312-37848-6. $23.95. HEALTH
Verdict: Readers of Klauer’s previous book will no doubt be interested in this one. Suitable for public libraries.
Background: In this sequel to her best-selling How the Rich Get Thin, weight-reduction physician Klauer (research fellow, New York Obesity Research Ctr., St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hosp.) outlines an eight-step program to combat the loss of energy and focus. She explains basic nutritional concepts and advises readers to limit their intake of a number of dietary elements, such as natural or artificial sugar, high glycemic starches, and caffeine, encouraging instead an abundance of whole grains, vegetables, and water. She discusses the benefits of various nutrients and antioxidants and makes suggestions for featuring these in one's diet. A strong proponent of exercise, Klauer describes ways to incorporate energy-boosting activity into our days. Additional features include a chapter of recipes and a very nice chart outlining the nutritional components of various grains.—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib. & Information Ctr., Atlanta

McMoyler, Sarah with Armin Brott. The Best Birth: Your Guide to the Safest, Healthiest, Most Satisfying Labor and Delivery. Da Capo Lifelong. May 2008. c.258p. index. ISBN 978-0-7382-1121-3. pap. $18.95. HEALTH
Verdict: The authors' emphasis on learning as much as possible, on being open to change, and on remembering that the need for an epidural or a C-section is not a sign of failure is welcome. This reviewer wishes only that more gender-neutral language was employed.
Background: This is not so much a checklist of things to do during labor and delivery as a philosophical preparation for the birth of the baby. The emphasis is on mental and emotional well-being for a healthy mom and a healthy baby. McMoyler, who has 20 years of experience as a labor and delivery nurse and a childbirth educator, and best-selling child rearing author Brott (The Expectant Father) explain there is no such thing as failure and prepare expectant couples for any eventuality. They offer help, both medical and nonmedical, for easing pain and explain who is who and how to work with the medical team and well as what to expect during labor and delivery. A final chapter of personal stories completes the book.—Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Lib.

Powter, Susan. The Politics of Stupid: The Cure for Obesity. Atria: S. & S. May 2008. c.192p. ISBN 978-1-4165-8511-4. pap. $14. HEALTH
Verdict: Although Powter is self-promoting and takes on all the ills of society (not only that of the food industries), she offers a fresh voice in the world of losing weight and staying fit. Recommended for all libraries.
Background: Author of best sellers like Stop The Insanity! and Food, Powter is once again taking aim at the fitness and diet industries as being counterproductive to health and wellness. In a nutshell, she advises women to exchange a lifestyle that isn’t working (i.e., one incorporating endless diets and quick fixes) for a lifestyle that will work by making conscious choices in the areas of food and exercise. Powter’s prescription for wellness is simple: eat, breathe, move, and think. Eat whole, raw foods; exercise for 30 minutes or move to put oxygen into your blood stream; and think about what you put into your body before you engage in old habits. Powter dispels the glamour of the high-fat, refined foods that are promoted by advertisers and blames government lobbies and the fitness/diet industries for the epidemic of obesity. The only wayt around it, says Powter, is to change one’s behavior and accept responsibility for the outcome.—Deborah Bigelow, Leonia P.L., NJ

Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America. Univ. of Wisconsin. (Print Culture History in Modern America). May 2008. c.376p. ed. by Charles L. Cohen & Paul S. Boyer. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-299-22570-4. $65. REL
Verdict: Readers interested in exploring American religious history will learn how religious tracts, self-help books, mass-market paperbacks, and other texts have influenced and been influenced by experiences of faith. Recommended for academic and large public libraries with an interest in American studies.
Background: This timely sixth volume in the series addresses the increasingly prominent debate over the role of religion in American public life. In it, editors Cohen (history & religious studies, Univ. of Wisconsin) and Boyer (history, emeritus, Univ. of Wisconsin) and 11 other contributors survey the history of religious print culture in postbellum and modern America, looking at the reformed Protestant bibliocentrism that lay the early foundation for a religious print culture. One of the discussion’s weaknesses is that it does not speak to Catholicism’s contribution, an omission the editors acknowledge and one that will hopefully be addressed in a future edition. That said, the insights offered here will enable readers both to recognize that many contemporary religious trends were echoed in an earlier religious renaissance and to explore related issues. For instance, pamphlets, central to modernist efforts to combat the antievolution movement, were also responsible for bringing theologically sophisticated views of science before the Americans masses.—Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L. Dist., FL

Weintraub, Pamela. Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Disease Epidemic. St. Martin's. May 2008. c.400p. index. ISBN 978-0-312-37812-7. $24.95. MED
Verdict: Though clearly biased in favor of the existence of chronic Lyme, this book is exhaustively researched and is highly recommended for public and academic libraries.
Background: Weintraub, an experienced science journalist, began researching Lyme disease when her family became seriously ill after moving to the New York countryside. She soon met many people with similar complaints—persistent fatigue, pain, and cognitive problems. Long-term doses of antibiotics helped many of these patients, but most doctors hesitated to prescribe them partially because of the side effects from overusing antibiotics but also from fear of legal accusations of mistreatment. Weintraub aptly illustrates the frustrations of the patients as well as the trials of maverick doctors who are attempting to treat patients the best way they can. Lyme disease was rigidly defined at its outset, and most of those early descriptions are still accepted by mainstream medicine. Although several promising research studies are cited here, there are still many problems and misconceptions to be resolved, and the controversy continues to play out in both the media and the medical literature.—Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

Graphic Novels

Jones, Kelley. The 13th Son: Worse Thing Waiting. Dark Horse. 2007. 96p. ISBN 978-1-59307-551-4. pap. $12.95. F
Verdict: Horror master Jones’s monster epic chronicles the adventures of the hunter known only as the 13th Son. Recommended for teens and up and only for die-hard Jones enthusiasts. There are better horror and Jones works out there; check out the Elseworld’s tale Batman & Dracula: Red Rain.
Background: The book harkens back to the days of EC comics, full of macabre horrors, shocking gore, and vile deeds set within a supernatural background populated by a menagerie of monsters. As the 13th Son tracks and brutally destroys his prey, his own twisted history is slowly revealed. The plot suffers from disjointedness and uneven pacing. While there are some promising aspects, none is brought to satisfying fruition. Perhaps the biggest miss is the 13th Son’s characterization. Neither hero nor villain, he is more concerned with eradicating monsters than saving their intended victims. Establishing the protagonist with a gray morality is a good way to start, but the concept isn’t expanded upon. The narrative progresses too fast, without allowing tension to build. While horror elements are present, the overall atmosphere and impact of the work is diminished. Jones, perhaps best known for his fantastic Batman work, delivers great-looking monsters. The main protagonist himself is a bit bland in design—basically a skull with a glowing eye—but overall, the pencils are tight and establish a moody atmosphere. The dominance of hues of orange and red in both background and monsters, however, seems to be an ill fit to an otherwise dark and twisted tale.—George Sun, New York

Lieberman, A.J. (text) & Al Barrionuevo (illus.). Martian Manhunters: The Others Among Us. DC Comics. 2007. 206p. ISBN 978-1-4012-1335-0. pap. $19.99. F
Verdict: J’Onn J’Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, is the last survivor of the Martian race, or so he believes. This ambitious attempt to showcase a truly alien character and his unique motivations turns out to be a collection of hits and misses. Not recommended.
Background: Despite having lived for many years on Earth—sometimes masquerading as various human personae, other times serving as a stalwart member of the Justice League of America in his green-skinned alien form—J’Onn J’Onzz has created an emotionally solitary existence on his adopted homeworld. All of that changes with the discovery of six other Martians held captive in a government research facility. This collection of an anthology chapter and the first eight issues of a new, ongoing series intended to redefine and revitalize a decades-old character proceeds at a brisk pace leading to a frenetic climax, but it frequently overreaches. A government conspiracy and cover-up are further complicated by the involvement of the Martian Manhunter’s fellow superheroes, whose main agenda seems to be to make his life as difficult as possible. Rapid-fire plot twists seem contrived; when the Martian Manhunter’s newfound kinsmen behave erratically, their actions are blamed first on a species-specific disease, then on the idea that the aliens belong to a different species, and finally on the psychic mind control of a previous, unknown villain. The dialog is somewhat stilted and occasionally suffers from typos. The art is dark and muted, evoking a film noir atmosphere, but there are some distracting composition choices.—Dale W. Glaser, Sterling, VA

Murase, Sho (text & illus.) & Matt Anderson (text). Me2. Vol. 1. Tokyopop. 2007. 192p. ISBN 978-1-4278-0063-3. pap. $9.99. F
Verdict: Murase’s brooding tale of loss bears her unique artistic stamp. The highly stylized artwork, while visually compelling, at length does damage to the story. The text of the book, a dizzying array of fonts, can at times be lost in the bold darkness of the page. As the tale continues in future volumes, there is potential for Murase to use her distinctive artwork to enhance the psychological and almost supernatural aspects of the story. The series is rated appropriately for older teens (16+).
Background: Bad things happen to Aki. A poet with a scar on her face, she must survive the relentless bullying of her classmates at school. Her beloved older brother, Ken, died in a fire, and she’s struggling with her grief. And through it all, she cannot escape the feeling that everyone loved her brother more, that she would have been better off dying in his stead. To complicate things, Ken’s belongings start showing up in her closet, and the police report that someone has been breaking into what remains of his burned-out house. Then a mysterious femme fatale starts avenging Aki by targeting her enemies at school. Aki, even at her most vulnerable, is drawn with solid reality in dramatic blacks and whites. Other characters are rendered in light, sketchy lines, becoming almost ephemeral. Murase makes it impossible to avoid the weight and darkness of Aki’s pain.—Ruthanne Price, Vaughan P.L.s, Ont.

Strait, Sonny. We Shadows. Vol. 1. Tokyopop. 2007. 192p. ISBN 978-1-4278-0104-3. pap. $9.99. F
Verdict: The modern, industrial world is draining faeries of their energy and making them sleepy—and prey to other denizens of faerie that can sap their magic to cast potent glamours. This first volume sets up several characters and narratives that should converge into one conflict for the faerie realm. Although rated for 13+, there is some offensive language and hints of nudity, so this item is more appropriate for public libraries than school library collections.
Background: Goat, a faerie princess in training, shakes off her sleepiness to train with her friend Mushroom, who knows more about Goat’s destiny than he’ll tell. In the human world, Jim Tucker is plagued by fey dreams that interfere with his work and send him to a therapist who seems to know more about the faerie realm than he shares. Meanwhile, Titania, queen of faerie, is also trying to protect the royal powers from vain and avaricious faerie folk. But when she is betrayed by her last ally, Titania prays for her beloved Puck to return and rescue her. The shadowy realm of the fey, both beautiful and dangerous, has offered rich material for writers, so it is appropriate that this OEL manga ventures into that territory. Manga influences are apparent, with cartoonish, doe-eyed characters, elaborate costuming, and the occasional chibi character, but the artist also owes a debt to the characters in Elfquest [http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/BookDetail.aspx?isbn=1401201288], acknowledged in a foreword by Wendy Pini, the creator of the successful series.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton

Warren, Adam (text) & Brian Denham (illus.). Iron Man: Hypervelocity. Marvel. 2007. 152p. ISBN 978-0-7851-2083-4. pap. $14.99. F
Verdict: Iron Man finds himself the target of annihilation in this collection of a limited series with a fast-paced arc. Warren (Livewires) and Denham (Darkness) never gain control of their hyperactive, megaindustrial, embattled Iron Man. The dialog reads like a computer programmer’s handbook, and the story is convoluted. The dark, realistic, and vivid artwork is a pleasant contrast to the commercialized manga layouts from Warren. The book self-censors, choosing black bars to cover expletives, but little is left to the imagination. This collection may appeal to superfans but not general audiences. Not recommended.
Background: The story takes off immediately, as Iron Man battles jet fighters and the ballistic onslaught of a paramilitary S.H.I.E.L.D. faction known as Cape-killers. Iron Man avoids attack after attack until his suit malfunctions. Suddenly, it is apparent that it is not Tony Stark in the retrofitted suit, but a digital, subconscious Stark. The suit engineered by Stark is able to engage as a digital replication of his biological and cognitive form in case of emergency or death. While Stark lies in a battle-induced coma, his brainwaves are able to communicate with the circuits of his independently functioning armor; similarly, the armor suit is able to download Starks cognitive thought. Almost immediately after Iron Man goes online, a mecha-elite subculture begins to download viruses into the digital-powered armor. The evening turns into a virtual and physical war as Stark attempts to regain control of his armor before his life is deleted.—Frank Stapleton, Torrance P.L., CA

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