Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 7/8/2008 9:33:00 AM

The week of July 8, 2008

Fiction | Nonfiction

Fiction

Burke, James Lee. Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel. S. & S. Jul. 2008. c.416p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4852-2. $25.95. F
Verdict: As this is the 17th entry in the Dave Robicheaux series (after The Tin-Roof Blowdown), Burke can be forgiven for some staleness. However, the change of scenery to Montana provides an extra spark and results in a title that ranks with as the best of Burke’s work. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/08.]
Background: Robicheaux and his longtime partner and friend Clete Purcel are visiting a friend in Montana when trouble finds them. A wealthy criminal whom Dave and Clete suspect to be an assumed-dead New Orleans mobster is living with his wife, a former country music star. Enter escaped convict Jimmy Dale, who is looking for his former lover—who happens to be the mobster’s wife. At the same time, a sadistic prison guard arrives trying to chase down Jimmy. Dave and Clete, of course, become immersed in bringing down a criminal while saving the hunted convict.—Craig Shufelt, Fort McMurray P.L., Alta.

Harris, E. Lynn. Just Too Good To Be True. Doubleday. Jul. 2008. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-385-49272-0. $23.95. F
Verdict: Harris’s talents as a novelist shine in this tastefully written tale that addresses such contemporary issues as sex, single parenting, role models, and spirituality. Recommended for all public libraries and popular African American fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/08.]
Background: In a series of letters and diary entries, Harris’s (I Say a Little Prayer) latest novel tells the story of Carmyn (Niecey) Bledsoe, a single mom who built her life around son Brady. As a Christian, Carmyn taught her son to love God and himself enough to sustain from temptation, namely, sexual temptation. As a result, Brady Bledsoe took a pledge of celibacy. Unshaken by the peer pressure of his college football teammates and the seduction attempts of a sexy cheerleader, Brady manages to stay focused on getting his degree and becoming an NFL player. Now in his senior year, this contender for the Heisman Trophy appears to be the perfect son. But the strong mother-son bond is challenged when secrets that Carmyn and Brady have hidden from the world and from each other are revealed.—Carol Johnson, Cleveland P.L.

Shan Sa. Alexander and Alestria. Harper: HarperCollins. Jul. 2008. c.256p. tr. from Chinese by Adriana Hunter. ISBN 978-0-06-154354-8. $23.95. F
Verdict: This reimagining of the life of Alexander the Great by the author of Empress would be a good choice for book groups, contrasting well with Stephen Pressfield’s The Virtues of War. For literary collections, especially where Shan Sa’s other titles were popular.
Background: Readers may choose to consider this love story another mythological fantasy involving the legendary Amazon queen and Alexander the Great. However, schools of current research argue for the existence of the warrior women during the 300s B.C.E. This historical basis is well hidden in Shan Sa’s narrative because she writes here as a poet, blending image, action, and character in a rhythmic stream and branching out from the possibility of an actual historical meeting into pure speculative fancy. The book follows Alexander’s conquests into Persia, alternating his point of view with that of Alestria and her closest companion, Tania, who roam the northern steppes with their horses. In pursuit of the Persian King Darius, Alexander, the effeminate mama’s boy–turned–warrior who prefers men, meets the fierce but beautiful Alestria; each mistakes the other’s gender but is irresistibly attracted anyway.—Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS

Michel, DeLauné. The Safety of Secrets. Avon. 2008. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-06-081736-7. pap. $13.95. F
Verdict: Readers will be drawn into this story of contemporary L A life infused with remembrances of childhood friendships and coming of age in the South. Michel’s characters are well developed, and she weaves a compelling plot. Highly recommended for all public libraries.
Background: A Louisiana-raised writer/actress and a cousin of novelist James Lee Burke, Michel founded Spoken Interludes, a reading series in New York and Los Angeles. Her second novel (following Aftermath of Dreaming) chronicles the friendship of Fiona and Patricia through tumultuous childhoods and adulthoods. Growing up in Lake Charles, LA, the two grow up and move to Los Angeles to become actresses. One gets famous, while the other gets married. Dark secrets may or may not take their toll.—Sarah E. Myers, Red Feather Lakes, CO

Thor, Brad. The Last Patriot. Atria: S. & S. Jul. 2008. c.348p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4383-1. $26. F
Verdict: Scot Harvath (The First Commandment) faces his greatest challenge in Thor’s breakthrough thriller. The one minor flaw is the rushed ending, which does more to allude to the next book than resolve the present story line. Nonetheless, Thor has written what will surely be a best seller. He claims to have received death threats because of the touchy subject matter (he portrays the Qu'ran as intentionally flawed and depicts the assassination of the Prophet Mohammed). Expect this to make headlines upon its release. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/08.]
Background: Trying to escape the life of a cover operative for Homeland Security, Scott Harvath and girlfriend Tracy are enjoying the quiet life when an explosion occurs near a café in Paris. They rescue the intended victim, who reveals a bizarre and shocking secret regarding Islam with ties to Thomas Jefferson’s presidency and the potential to devastate several current world governments. Harvath must choose between going back to the life he despises and saving the world or hiding the secret for the sake of millions of lives.—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Willett, Jincy. The Writing Class. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Jun. 2008. c.326p. ISBN 978-0-312-33066-8. $24.95. F
Verdict: While the early chapters in which Willett skewers writing workshop conventions are very funny, she’s unable to sustain the satirical tone, and the book devolves into a conventional mystery. With the exception of Amy and Alphonse, the characters are cardboard clichés. For larger fiction collections.
Background: In this follow-up to Willett's savage black comedy Winner of the National Book Award, which brilliantly explored the nature of sibling love and rivalry, readers meet novelist Amy Gallup, who has seen her literary star sink into obscurity. Her books are out of print, and she’s stopped writing except for her blog. Overweight and approaching 60, Amy is an embittered, widowed loner with only Alphonse, her bassett hound, for company, and she cobbles a living doing online editorial work and teaching fiction writing classes at the local university. Her current class is a mix of the usual writer wannabes—blonde airhead Tiffany McGee ("I don’t read a lot but I wanna write"), pompous surgeon Richard Surtees, who’s writing a medical thriller titled Code Black; matronly Dorothy Hieronymous ("a clueless Margaret Dumont book-club type"); retired schoolteacher Edna Wentworth, who shows some literary talent—but Amy soon realizes that one of her students may be a homicidal nutcase. And when a class member is murdered, Amy must dissect her students’ writings to identify the killer.—Wilda Williams, Library Journal

Nonfiction

Cacioppo, John T. & William Patrick. Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection. Norton. Aug. 2008. c.288p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-393-06170-3. $25.95. SOC SCI
Verdict: While this book's title makes the obvious point that people need people in order to thrive, its contents offer scientifically backed evidence to support it. A superb complement to John Bowlby’s Loss: Sadness and Depression, this is highly recommended for university and large public library collections.
Background: Cacioppo (Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor, Univ. of Chicago; coauthor, Social Neuroscience: Key Readings in Social Psychology) and Patrick, the former editor for science and medicine at Harvard University Press and the current editor in chief of the Journal of Life Sciences, provide fascinating scientific confirmation of what we already know. Introducing relevant evidence derived from closely controlled university experiments, accompanied by anthropological field observations and animal studies, the authors elucidate the underpinnings of human nature and behavior. Particularly fascinating are the discussions of the essential neurophysiology that accounts for the fact that we are hard-wired to seek human companionship.—Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law Lib., PA

Miller, Aaron David. The Much Too Promised Land: America's Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace. Bantam. 2008. c.416p. index. ISBN 978-0-553-80490-4. $26. POL SCI
Verdict: Veteran diplomat Miller has written a book of great significance owing to its breadth, objectivity, and judgment. Readers may come to share the author's sense of the great importance of peace and the "humility and uncertainty" needed for its realization. Recommended for all academic and public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]
Background: Miller's clear prose distills decades of personal experience as a principal in the Arab-Israeli peace process with interviews of 160 persons, including several former presidents and secretaries of state. His detailed accounts of negotiations depict a challenge for American foreign policy that makes astonishing the successes of President Carter and secretaries Kissinger and Baker, as well as more comprehensible the failures in the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. The author devotes attention to the political basis of support for Israel and the impact of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee. He affirms an "overriding reality" that American Jews perceive Israel as "surety of their own survival" while describing the consequences of occupation for Palestinians and Israelis. Miller urges that future peace efforts be shaped by consideration of "realities on the ground" and the use of his "Five Ts" of negotiation (top priority, tough, tenacious, trust, and timing).—Zachary T. Irwin, Behrend Coll., Penn State Univ., Erie

Cooper, Carol & others. Growing Up!: A Parent's Guide to Childhood. DK. Aug. 2008. c.320p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-7566-3671-5. pap. $19.95. CHILD REARING
Verdict: The four contributing authors, who have credentials in pediatrics, clinical psychology, family medicine, and child care, succeed in making this work cohesive. The format—one chapter for each year—and the many color photographs make the text inviting. Highly recommended for public libraries.
Background: Focusing on normal child development, Cooper, Kate Cronan, Tanya Byron, and Su Laurent describe in short paragraphs various aspects of a child’s growth, health, skills, and emotional and social life. Even though major childhood hurdles are not described at length (e.g., potty training gets one paragraph, eating disorders one page), readers will get a sense of what to expect in the normal development of their child from age three to 14 and when to seek help if problems arise.—Maryse Breton OCPL, Syracuse, NY

Honervogt, Tanmaya. The Complete Reiki Tutor: A Structured Course To Achieve Professional Expertise. Gaia, dist. by Sterling. Aug. 2008. 256p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-85675-282-4. pap. $19.95. HEALTH
Verdict: Written primarily as a textbook for Reiki practitioners, this is one of the few books available on Reiki. Honervogt’s easy-to-follow instructions and plentiful step-by-step photos make it a useful tool for individuals as well. Recommended for alternative health collections.
Background: Reiki is an ancient Japanese form of touch therapy and one of many currently popular holistic healing techniques. In her latest book, Reiki master-teacher Honervogt (Healing and Harmony Through the Hands) details the use of hands-on healing techniques that were created by 19th-century Japanese priest Reiki Master Mikai Usui and that became popular in the United States in the 1980s. She discusses the importance of heeding the subtle but significant messages of mind and body and how the spiritual discipline of Reiki can be used as a tool to achieve balance between physical and emotional energies to maintain health and heal an assortment of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual ills. There is also practical information on professional training and setting up a Reiki practice.—Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland

Jamal, Azim & Harvey McKinnon. The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All. Tarcher: Penguin. Aug. 2008. c.208p. index. ISBN 978-1-58542-668-3. $22.95. PSYCH
Verdict: Exercises and summaries provide excellent starting points for reflection and discussion on giving. Previously published in Canada by the authors, this is recommended for inspirational collections in public libraries.
Background: Motivational speaker Jamal (The Corporate Sufi) and fund-raising specialist McKinnon (Harvey McKinnon Associates, Canada) truly believe that giving brings out the best in people and makes the world a better place. Using examples from their own lives and from well-known stories of philanthropy (including examples given by Bill Clinton in his Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World), the authors demonstrate that everyone has something to give whether it be money, time, knowledge, wisdom, skills, leadership, attention, touch, advice, hope, laughter, or love. The positive results of giving affect not only the receiver but also the giver. By first listening to yourself, then clarifying your values and vision, you can discover what you can give and begin giving, first to your family, then expanding to your community and to the planet. Chapters address the basic questions: Why? What? To whom? How? When? Where? And how much to give?—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA

Probst, Barbara. When the Labels Don't Fit: A New Approach to Raising a Challenging Child. Three Rivers: Crown. Aug. 2008. c.272p. index. ISBN 978-0-307-39543-6. pap. $13.95. CHILD REARING
Verdict: Although some of Probst's communication strategies could be useful for older verbal children, libraries will get more nuanced information in a title like Roy Richard Grinker’s Unstrange Minds.
Background: Educator Probst challenges parents and educators who rush to use labels like autism, Asperger's, and ADHD to understand better children with developmental issues. The author argues that by coming to understand a child’s temperament and responding with her outlined strategies, parents will create an environment that will allow children to develop and prosper. While this sounds promising, the book provides an overly optimistic (bordering on naïve) plan for dealing with children with the above diagnoses. Her solutions all revolve around negotiation with the child, a very difficult task for a low or nonverbal child. Additionally, Probst suggests that pursuing treatment without a label of ADHD or autism will allow you to "view your child as fundamentally healthy." This comment will be sure to offend many parents of children with special needs and adds to the stigma associated with many of these diagnoses.—Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Welch, Bryant. State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind. St. Martin's. 2008. c.288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-312-37306-1. $25.95. POL SCI
Verdict: Clearly writing from left of center, Welch ends by strongly encouraging Democrats to fight against GOP manipulation. The book is not, and does not claim to be, impartial. Real political situations are alternated with short (sometimes fictitious) clinical stories, which can make the text a bit confusing. Recommended for larger public libraries.
Background: Lawyer and clinical psychologist Welch, formerly active in the American Psychological Association’s Practice Directorate, focuses here on "gaslighting"—a form of psychological manipulation that undermines the mental stability of its victims (the term derives from the movie Gaslight, a 1944 Bergman/Boyer chiller). Welch claims that Republicans and Republican pundits have increasingly used gaslighting techniques to their advantage in the past decade, with paranoia, sexual perplexity, and envy at the heart of their assaults. First, Welch explains the psychology behind all this and shows how GOP "gaslighters" have manipulated emotions to their advantage, e.g., our paranoia after 9/11 made us susceptible to President Bush’s claims about Iraqi weapons. Next, Welch discusses specific individuals, such as Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh, and explores their gaslighting methods. The author concludes by explaining the relevancy of this gaslighting and and its connection to current psychological arguments and issues like universal health care.—Leigh Mihlrad, Albany Medical Coll., NY

Worden, Minky. China's Great Leap: The Beijing Games and Olympian Human Rights Challenges. Seven Stories. 2008. 336p. index. ISBN 978-1-58322-843-2. pap. $18.95. POL SCI
Verdict: Because of its speculative nature, this book is not recommended as an objective resource on Chinese history. However, for its timely content, it is suitable for immediate use in both academic and public libraries.
Background: China’s recent attempts to clean up its image for the 2008 Olympic Games have ironically led to incidents like lethal police violence against a retarded man and the demolition of Petitioner’s Village, a place where Chinese citizens aired grievances with their government. This book collects essays by an international group of 24 journalists, human rights and history experts, and Chinese citizen activists, offering opinions that support or oppose the upcoming games. Kadhir Van Lohuizen even presents a photo essay. The book is divided into four parts: on China’s history, human rights, pollution and business practice (together), and politics. All the authors, including editor Worden (media director, Human Rights Watch) and such contributors as Wan Deng, a leading student organizer of the Tiananmen democracy movement, contribute thoughtful suggestions about how to use the games as an opportunity for human rights reform.—April Younglove, Linfield Coll. Lib., Portland, OR