Fiction

Evocative, smart, literary, and funny, Atkinson's third novel featuring one-time police detective Jackson Brodie (after Case Histories and One Good Turn) is both complicated and a page-turner. Set mostly around Edinburgh, Scotland, the tale begins with a six-year-old girl escaping an attacker who kills her mother, eight-year-old sister, and baby brother. Atkinson then weaves a plot that connects Brodie to the girl, now an adult, through coincidence and more tragedy, this time a train wreck. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Morse, who has a thing for Brodie, returns to his life, and a new character appears: Reggie, an orphaned 16-year-old girl with a criminal for a brother and a desire to study for her A-levels even though she has dropped out of school. The characters quote literature (sometimes in Latin), and fabulous turns of phrase abound, but the narrative remains buoyant; it is sprinkled liberally with humorous observations (particularly from Reggie), making each wild turn of events seem like just another bump in the road. A book that will easily stand up to more than one reading; highly recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—Nancy Fontaine, Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, NH

Barnes's second novel (after Finding Caruso) radiates compassion for characters struggling against dreadful odds. Thomas Deracotte, a physician by training, is an idealist whose single-minded vision takes him to a run-down farm in Idaho in a misguided move to live off the land. His wife, Helen, who married him in an act of rebellion against her wealthy family, is shocked by the brutal reality of life with Thomas; all he has to offer is a tent without plumbing or electricity. Even after baby Elise arrives, Helen is painfully lonely and longs for her family. Thomas delays setting up his medical practice because the townspeople still rely on the local pharmacist. His failure as both a doctor and a farmer drives him to abuse drugs he can easily obtain. Manny, the hired man, tries to keep the farm and the family together only to fall in love with Helen. Covering 17 years, Barnes's spellbinding story details personal tragedy and failed Sixties idealism but ends with the hope of a new generation. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO

Former NFL star Bavaro's autobiographical debut novel thrusts readers into the brutal world of an aging professional athlete. Struggling to bounce back physically each week, especially with his reconstructed knee, tight end Dominic Fucillo is feeling all of his 30 years. Nobody really cares about his situation, however. As Dom realizes, injuries are a concern only for the injured in this world of harsh competition. His team, the New York Giants, is driven by a fanatical coach to win the Super Bowl. Clichés abound, with grizzled locker room attendants, a cocaine- and booze-fueled star linebacker, and shady crime figures hanging around the stadium. Emerging from the violence is Dom, determined to achieve nobility through religion and his personal courage. The author gives readers a shocking look into the NFL, but excessive football details clutter the story and lend the feel of a how-to manual—a half page, for instance, is devoted to describing the steps involved in catching a ball. Several over-the-top action scenes also seem juvenile in tone. Only public libraries where football is king should consider purchasing. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L.

Making his Morrow debut, Bayard (The Pale Blue Eye) sets his latest historical adventure in the streets of Paris as the blood lust of the revolution subsides. It is 1818 when Vidocq, a former convict and the (real-life) founder of the newly created plainclothes investigative force known as the Sûreté, tracks down obscure medical student Hector Carpentier, whose name was found in the pocket of a dead man. As they work through the clues together, they move from the slums of Paris out to the royal gardens of Saint-Cloud. The duo soon realizes that the murders they are investigating may be connected to the whereabouts of Marie Antoinette's lost son, said to have died in the Black Tower. Then they conclude that they might have found the lost prince. As Vidocq and Carpentier fight to keep him alive, they face a dark cover-up and evil alliances that will shape the history of France. Bayard's well-crafted mix of history and suspense keeps this novel from getting bogged down in historical trivia. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Ron Samul, New London, CT

In Bell's fifth thriller starring Alexander Hawke, the British lord and spy has recovered from his last mission (Spy) and is relaxing on a Bermuda beach when he encounters Anastasia Korsakova, a beautiful Russian artist. Her father, a count, is about to receive the Nobel Prize in physics. Among his inventions are a fabulous airship with a new mode of propulsion and the Zeta, a computer that costs only $50. What Hawke doesn't know is that the count also happens to be a virtual tsar, secretly ruling the Russian Federation behind the president's back. Now, Russian troops are massed on the borders of the Soviet Union's former states, and a deadly agent has been sent to wreak havoc on an American town, only the first steps in a drive for global conquest. Yes, as one character puts it, the bad old days are back, Cold War II. Only now the once cozy equilibrium between East and West no longer holds. Hawke and his band of brothers may save the day but not without sacrifice. Many thriller writers come up with doomsday scenarios, most farfetched and unbelievable, but Bell delivers with larger-than-life characters full of élan and a threat that is both ingenious and convincing. Recommended for public libraries.—Ron Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson

Despite his fear of becoming his newspaper's token Jewish affairs correspondent, apathetic reporter Javier Mossen is strong-armed into interviewing expatriate Elias Traúm, who is visiting from Israel for the first time in 20 years. When Traúm is kidnapped from the Buenos Aires airport before Mossen's eyes, the unwanted assignment takes on a whole new meaning. Mossen becomes invested in both ensuring Traúm's safety and the story Traúm has to tell. Darkly comic and unapologetic, the novel subtly explores the political reality of Argentina's past and what it means to be a good Jew. Narrated by the sex-obsessed Mossen, this is the tale of Traúm's short visit to Argentina and the legacy of his role as one of the tres mosqueteiros, a group of precocious young radicals, two of whom joined the Montoneros during the Dirty War. It is also the story of Mossen's struggle to reclaim control of his life. Appropriate for large fiction collections, particularly those with strong Latin American or Jewish fiction collections.—Karen Walton Morse, Univ. at Buffalo Libs., NY

This sprawling, digressive, Jamesian "loose, baggy monster" reads like five independent but interrelated novels, connected by a common link to an actual series of mostly unresolved murders of female factory workers in the area of Ciudad Juárez (here called Santa Teresa), a topic also addressed in Margorie Agosín's Secrets in the Sand. The first part follows four literary critics who wind up in Mexico in pursuit of the obscure (and imaginary) German writer Benno von Archimboldi, a scenario that recalls Bolaño's The Savage Detectives. The second and third parts, respectively, focus on Professor Almafitano and African American reporter Quincy Williams (also called Oscar Fate), whose attempts to expose the murders are thwarted. The fourth, and by far the longest, section consists mostly of detached accounts of the hundreds of murders; culled from newspaper and police reports, they offer a relentless onslaught of the gruesome details and become increasingly tedious. The last section returns to Archimboldi. Boasting Bolaño's trademark devices—ambiguity, open endings, characters that assume different names, and an enigmatic title, along with splashes of humor—this posthumously published work is consistently masterful until the last half of the final part, which shows some haste. The book is rightly praised as Bolaño's masterpiece, but owing to its unorthodox length it will likely find greater favor among critics than among general readers. In fact, before he died, the author asked that it be published in five parts over just as many years; it's a pity his relatives refused to honor his request. [Also available in a three-volume slip-cased paperback edition.]—Lawrence Olszewski, OCLC Lib., Dublin, OH

Stylistically precise and emotionally evocative, this latest novel from prolific and much-lauded South African novelist, dramatist, and educator Brink provides a window on life in contemporary Cape Town. Only this window keeps shifting as one reads. Long known as a vocal opponent of apartheid, Brink is here less overtly political than in earlier novels like Act of Terror. The narrative offers three intertwining stories that probe familiar themes of racial tension and postcolonial identity. Characters, relationships, and events overlap in intriguing ways, with "Mirror" providing background information about characters appearing in the other two stories as well as an alternative version of the events in "Appassionata." While the female characters all seem somewhat alike, as if they were different versions of the same person, they are nevertheless strong and sexy. Though the sameness is probably unintentional, it adds to the surreal quality of the interwoven stories. Recommended for literary fiction collections and libraries with an interest in South African literature.—Gwen Vredevoogd, Marymount Univ. Lib., Arlington, VA

He's so tough and cold you'd expect to see him on a platter at a greasy spoon. He prays he won't meet up with any beautiful women with swanlike necks because he's sure to strangle them with his green rosary. He's an Irish cop no less, on temporary assignment in New York. He's Matthew Patrick O'Shea, and in a typically Irish variation on the good cop-bad cop routine, he and his partner play bad cop-worse cop in the desperate city. When O'Shea meets his partner's beautiful but profoundly retarded sister, it's easy to guess the outcome, although, when it comes, it's even darker than you imagined. Even if it were offered, O'Shea would reject coaching in victim selection from Dexter Morgan (of Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series), since he's all about in-your-face provocation. So is Bruen in this stand-alone thriller. The fare on offer at Chez Bruen features shards of spare sentences served up on lots of white space and presented with tons of attitude. Those who agree it's all in the presentation will be pleased, but those seeking meat and potatoes might be left wanting more. Suggested for public libraries as an example of first-rate nouvelle cuisine à la noir. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 7/08.]—Bob Lunn, Kansas City P.L., MO

Award-winning journalist Buruma (God's Dust) here turns to fiction, tracing the career of starlet Yamaguchi Yoshiko, a Japanese citizen born in the Chinese province of Manchuria, then occupied by Japan. Keeping her identity a secret, she plays a Chinese actress, goes to the United States after the war to make films, and eventually becomes a TV journalist in the Middle East. Part 1 is narrated by an American homosexual who befriends Yoshiko, Part 2 by an adoptive Japanese uncle, and Part 3 by a Japanese who follows her to Beirut. This story, grounded in the history of the various eras, is like a stew into which the chef has thrown so many ingredients we lose track of how it's meant to taste. Because so much is told to us—only occasionally do we overhear the characters interacting—the book reads less like a novel than a memoir or other nonfiction account, with often too much detail to absorb. Recommended for fiction collections where interest in the Far East and Middle East is strong. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—Edward Cone, New York

Strung-out police detective Archie Sheridan, still haunted by serial killer Gretchen Lowell, returns in Cain's high-octane follow-up to Heartsick. This time the first murder victim shows up in a park, followed by spare parts in a nearby doghouse. But trouble truly explodes when Hannibal Lector-like imprisoned killer Gretchen is beaten, her guard hangs himself, and—we saw this coming—she escapes. When Gretchen threatens Archie's children at school, he goes off the deep end and concocts his own plan to bring her in. More interesting is the subplot involving intrepid newspaper journalist Susan Ward, who loses her mentor in a suspicious car crash that also kills the popular senator whose sexual escapades she was planning to expose. Trouble is, her source shows up dead, too. Straddling both cases, Susan convinces Archie's partner, Henry, to drive straight into a major forest fire because she has figured out Archie's location. Sweetheart struggles under the weight of our expectations; it doesn't work well unless you've read the astonishing Heartsick. Nonetheless, expect high demand and a large marketing campaign. Recommended for all popular collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Teresa L. Jacobsen, Solano Cty. Lib., Fairfield, CA

In 1893 London, Robert Wallis is an impoverished poet who takes occasional refuge from his debts at a coffeehouse. There, a coffee merchant who notices his extraordinary palate hires Robert to create a flavor index for coffee suppliers to gauge the world's coffee supply. His success shapes his life as an expert taster and a reckless, self-centered adventurer who stumbles into the darkest corners of the world. When he falls in love with Emily, the daughter of the coffee company's owner, he is shipped off to Africa to avoid scandal. There Robert learns how plantations are started and managed. He witnesses the indentured locals laboring as slaves on the plantations and the harsh conditions under which they work and live. Robert's experiences change his view of love, business, politics, and coffee. Capella (The Food of Love) infuses history and style into a skillfully crafted blend that starts sweet, turns to a rich, full flavor, and leaves readers craving a bit more. Recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/08.]—Ron Samul, New London, CT

Cohen's (The Stone Angel) provocative new novel describes an America in the near future alarmingly like today's could become. And what a horrifying place it is! The mortgage crisis has gotten worse, more Americans have lost their jobs, and the economy is down the tubes. The plutocrats are doing fine: they take lavish government subsidies and privatize public resources: water, energy, highways, the postal service. Ordinary people pay inflated rates for diminished service. The government is solidly in bed with the fat cats. Television trivializes the issues, promoting whatever the government says it should say. Voters are clueless about what's really causing their discontent. An alliance of protest groups, some underground and some not, unites behind an initiative to reinstate paper ballots. (Internet voting opened the floodgates to voter fraud.) When their alliance is successful, the government moves rapidly to violence to suppress dissent. Corporate mercenaries subvert, intimidate, and kill their opponents. In this disturbingly real world, the bad guys have much too much firepower for the good guys ever to come out on top. Told from shifting perspectives on both sides of the battle, this timely, well-written, and very dark novel is a winner. Enthusiastically recommended for all public collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

When her beloved grandmother suddenly dies after routine hip surgery in India, UCLA medical student Jennifer Hernandez interrupts her studies and flies to New Delhi to claim the body. Arriving at the ultra-modern Queen Victoria Hospital, Jennifer notices problems with her grandmother's case that worry her. When a second, and then a third, sudden death of an American "medical tourist" occur over the next two days, Jennifer becomes suspicious. She turns for help to her mentor, New York City medical examiner Laurie Montgomery, who leaves immediately for India, accompanied by husband and fellow medical examiner Jack Stapleton. (Both characters appeared previously in the author's Chromosome 6 and Vector.) What the trio discovers is a vast conspiracy to undermine India's growing medical tourism industry by an American health-care firm willing to resort to blackmail, kidnapping, and murder. Cook's 27th medical thriller includes his standard brew of interesting characters, plenty of medical background, a fast pace, and increasingly unbelievable events. Fans willing to suspend disbelief will enjoy the ride. Recommended for popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/08.]—A.J. Wright, Anesthesiology Lib., Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham

This inspiring World War II novel features a large cast of skillfully drawn characters and celebrates the many sacrifices made by anonymous soldiers during the war; fans of Doig (This Whistling Season) will welcome his characteristic warmth and generosity. The narrative follows the members of an undefeated high school football team from Montana after the war casts them all over the globe. At the center is Ben Reinking, who has been selected by the army to report on his teammates in various theaters of the war. These reports quickly become popular, but as the losses mount, Reinking is increasingly pressured by the government to report information selectively or in ways that are misleading. In the end, Doig has important things to say about our thirst for heroes and heroic stories and where we might find them. He also shows great sympathy for the unheralded men and women who fought this war. Recommended for all libraries.—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT

In Victorian England, spinster Emily "Fido" Faithfull is earnestly engaged in the emerging women's movement. But her orderly life is disrupted when she becomes reacquainted with Helen, a former friend just returning from Malta, where her admiral husband has been posted for seven years. Though Helen is Fido's polar opposite in temperament and approach to life, they quickly reestablish a close friendship. Helen—selfish, manipulative, and thoroughly disenchanted with her husband—engages in risky behavior that results in a scandalous divorce trial, and Fido is caught in the middle of a struggle between the friend she so blindly believes in and the admiral, whom she respects. Donoghue's (Slammerkin) new historical novel brings alive events unfamiliar to most American readers. Though many of the legal details of the actual 1864 divorce case on which this story is based are on record, this more personal account results from the author's "connecting the dots" of her research with her own interpretation of likely events. It's an engrossing tale, and Donoghue's ability to steep the reader in the realities of the time makes her story ring true. Recommended for all public libraries as well as academic libraries serving women's studies programs. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/08.]—Caroline Mann, Univ. of Portland Lib., OR

In this delightful love story, author and naturalist Drayson (Confessing a Murder) introduces readers to the ornithological wonders of Kenya. Mr. Malik, a short, round, aging Indian man with a horrendous comb-over, is in love with Mrs. Rose Mbikwa, who is attractive, Scottish, and the leader of the Tuesday morning bird walks. Both have lost their spouses and both are devoted to Kenya, birds, and politics, but beyond that, they couldn't be more different. Nevertheless, Mr. Malik intends to invite Mrs. Mbikwa to the Hunt Club Ball. Alas, Harry Khan, a flashy playboy on holiday in Nairobi, also has his sights set on Mrs. Mbikwa. A contest is staged that grants the man who can sight the most bird species in one week the right to invite the lady to the ball. The course of the contest reveals the shallowness of Harry Khan and Mr. Malik's true worth. While the reader is pulled along by the suspense of the contest, the glorious sights, sounds, and smells of Nairobi provide lovely rest stops along the way. Recommended for all fiction collections.—Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Law Lib., Malibu, CA

Preston and Henry make an odd couple. Henry is an innocent, 20-year-old Bible salesman whom Preston picks up hitchhiking one day in postwar North Carolina. Preston has been looking for a new patsy to help him with his car theft ring. Of course he tells Henry that he is with the FBI and that they are out to catch the criminals behind the crimes. The earnest young Henry loves the idea of being a G-man and serving the Lord. As the two travel around the South, the reader learns not only about their escapades but also about Henry's upbringing, his first romance, and, finally, his questioning of the very religion that had him out on the road in the first place. In this comedic novel, Edgerton, the author of seven best sellers (e.g., Walking Across Egypt), gives us a satisfying twist on the coming-of-age tale. For all public libraries, especially where Edgerton has a faithful following. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/08.]—Robin Nesbitt, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OH

Thirty years in the making, this debut novel is a tale of time travel in which main character "Wheeler" Burden, a 1970s rock star, baseball prodigy, and philosophical thinker, finds himself whisked from 1988 San Francisco to 1897 Vienna. At that time, Vienna was at is cultural apex, and as the beloved home of Wheeler's favorite prep school history teacher, it had been described to Wheeler in much detail. While there, Wheeler meets up with an assortment of people, some personal to him (his father, Dilly Burden, for example) and some of future international acclaim (e.g., Sigmund Freud). As Wheeler grapples with revelations concerning his own heritage, he also is confronted with the pressing political/social realities then emerging in Central Europe. In particular, he witnesses the disturbing rise of anti-Semitism, and, though he knows he must not tamper with destiny, both he and his father struggle with the desire to confront an Austrian boy who will grow up to kill millions of Jews and tyrannize the entire world. Again and again, Wheeler faces the conundrum of knowing a future he doesn't dare disturb, and he reacts with both frustration and compassion. These dilemmas make for a good and compelling read. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/08.]—M. Neville, Trenton P.L., NJ

At 32, Jim Vilatzer is saddled with gambling debts that will take him years to pay off, especially if he continues working at his parents' restaurant, which is all he knows. He needs a fresh start. Relying on Russian-language skills learned from his immigrant grandparents, he accepts a job in Moscow interviewing survivors of the Gulag for an organization called the Memory Foundation. Jim is oddly rejuvenated by the grim city, and he discovers that he is a natural interviewer. To his colleagues' amazement, Jim finds and debriefs an impressive number of survivors, and he falls in love with the granddaughter of one of these men. Then he realizes that he is being followed, both by Russian agents and by the CIA. Fasman's second novel (after The Geographer's Library) combines elements of the coming-of-age story, the immigrant family saga, and the political thriller. There is enough material for two books, but the disparate parts don't mesh, and Fasman's frantic conclusion seems forced. Nevertheless, this book will have strong appeal to those interested in a portrait of modern Russia. Recommended for larger fiction collections.—Edward B. St. John, Loyola Law Sch. Lib., Los Angeles

Sisters Clement (Clem) and Louisa Jardine alternate recounting their lives from 1980 to 2005, literally traversing the globe in pursuit of fulfillment and, sometimes, love. Clem, four years the younger, is a biologist and wildlife specialist who protects various forms of endangered species, herself included. Louisa is a potter-turned-art magazine writer who feels overshadowed by her daredevil sibling. The book opens as the sisters reconnect in Vermont at the home of their recently deceased great-great-aunt. Family secrets and sorrows are brought to light, with perhaps more on the way. But except for one or two episodes (especially Clem's hospital stay, where we discover the true meaning of the book's title), the women seem aimless and scattershot in their relationships, causing the reader to sigh and say, "Enough already." Glass writes exceptionally well, as evidenced by her earlier work (Three Junes; The Whole World Over), but these dysfunctional family members never quite find their bearings. With questions left unresolved, readers will walk away less than satisfied. Still, Glass is a National Book Award winner, and public libraries should buy for demand. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

Goodman (The Sonnet Lover) returns with her darkest, most complex novel to date. Classics professor Sophie Chase is trying to deal with the breakdown of both her marriage and her husband, who joined a cultlike group and disappeared. Her attempts to battle her inner demons while trying to be supportive of an intellectually promising but emotionally needy student fail when the student's estranged boyfriend arrives on campus with a gun. In the aftermath of the shooting spree, Chase takes advantage of a research opportunity in Italy, even though the lead professor is an old flame. Goodman always seamlessly blends present-day suspense with a mystery from the past, which here involves ancient papyrus scrolls, buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 C.E., that someone does not want restored. Goodman mixes literary prose with a page-turning plot, making her work appealing to a broad range of readers. Highly recommended for all fiction collections.—Beth Lindsay, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman

Graff (You Have To Kiss a Lot of Frogs) introduces us to 39-year-old publicist Aimee Albert, whose goyish boyfriend, Peter, breaks up with her when she asks if he could give up Christmas and raise kids in the Jewish tradition. Not wanting to hold her back, Peter lovingly ends things, and a depressed and disillusioned Aimee takes on her brother's offer for a makeover, inadvertently transforming herself into a shiksa. Her long, wavy, brown hair is cut, straightened, and dyed red, and her brown eyes are covered with green-tinted contacts. This new image is exactly what Josh Hirsch is drawn to at a kosher wine tasting, and he anxiously thinks Aimee is not Jewish. Realizing his mistake, Aimee does not correct him and proceeds to embrace all the stereotypes that seemingly make someone not Jewish. In this quest to reinvent herself, she destroys everything that makes her who she really is. Readers will enjoy Aimee's chance to rediscover herself and to recognize what she truly values. Recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Anne M. Miskewitch, Chicago P.L.

In this darkly humorous debut novel, Los Angeles screenwriter Daniel Bloom faces a spiritual crisis. The driven and successful Daniel (he penned the screenplay for the very profitable Helsinki Honeymoon, originally titled Captives) has neglected his family to focus on his career. Also increasingly despondent about current events, he becomes obsessed with an idea for a screenplay about an assassin who eliminates the corporate and political leaders Daniel feels are responsible for the state of the world. Distressed by this obsession, he seeks spiritual counsel from the highly unorthodox rabbi who teaches his son's bar mitzvah class. Soon Daniel is growing a beard, giving up meat, and taking a trip to Israel in a vague and dimly understood quest for spiritual renewal. Abruptly returning after wife Caroline is involved in a car accident, Daniel hits bottom. Caroline asks for a divorce, his son becomes estranged, and he must find a way to complete the screenplay while repairing his life. This wittily incisive take on the film business, suburban life, and contemporary dystopia is recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Lawrence Rungren, Merrimack Valley Lib. Consortium, Andover, MA

Born in the United States to a Palestinian father and an Egyptian mother of Greek descent, Nidali begins life with an identity crisis on many levels. Originally assumed to be a boy, she is given a name that means "strife" or "struggle" by her father, who adds the feminizing "i" when he realizes that she is actually a girl. The family moves to Kuwait when Nidali is a baby and lives there until Iraq invades the country on Nidali's 13th birthday, forcing them to flee to Alexandria, Egypt, and eventually to Texas. Jarrar's debut novel is a coming-of-age tale told from Nidali's perspective, spanning her birth through acceptance into college. Since her parents fight constantly and her father is abusive, school serves as a refuge throughout, as Nidali studies hard, establishes friendships, and faces issues of belonging, parental expectations, religion, sexual experimentation, and rebellion. This wonderfully engaging work has vivid descriptions of the different places Nidali lives and the culture she grows up in; the only negative is that the novel is perhaps unnecessarily laced with strong language, which may make it less universally appealing. Highly recommended.—Sarah Conrad Weisman, Corning Community Coll., NY

In her first novel in five years (after L'Affaire), Johnson moves operations out of France and south to Morocco. In a Notorious-style intrigue, Lulu Sawyer is a CIA spy infiltrating the expatriate community in Marrakech. While undercover, she stays at the villa of her wealthy British boyfriend, where she meets a wide cast of characters who could all be innocent bystanders or double agents. They include her Moroccan contact, a young French-Muslim girl escaping certain death in Paris, a gorgeous Saudi wife, and a brother come to exact an honor killing. Morocco is not an original location for a spy story (think Casablanca and The Man Who Knew Too Much), but it works well as a showcase for modern issues like Muslim extremists, terrorism, and money laundering. Sprinkled with deception, romances, and quotes from the Qu'ran, this novel makes a good read, despite its rather unsatisfactory ending. Johnson's Francophile fans may be disappointed with this change in location from her popular Paris-set novels (Le Divorce, Le Mariage, L'Affaire), but other readers, particularly those interested in spy stories or mysteries with a strong female protagonist, will enjoy this. Recommended for fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Anika Fajardo, Coll. of St. Catherine Lib., St. Paul, MN

This early novel by controversial Albanian author Kadare was originally published in 1963; Coltman's English translation, based on the French edition, first appeared in 1971. (The only other English translation currently available is by W.H. Allen.) The book's protagonist is an Italian army officer who has come to Albania to recover the bodies of soldiers who died twenty years earlier in World War II. The General and his team carry crudely drawn maps and directions to burial sites supplied by aging war veterans. At first, the General fantasizes about returning home in triumph with his army of dead soldiers, but his optimism quickly fades. Rain and cold weather make recovery difficult, and the sullen Albanians continue to treat the Italians as invaders. It doesn't help that German recovery teams are there at the same time. The clerical routines of the mission become increasingly oppressive. Before long, the General is haunted by terrifying dreams and hallucinations. He starts to see living people as skeletal remains and, fatally, begins to feel sympathy for the Albanians. This gloomy but powerful antiwar novel provides an excellent introduction to Albania's best-known author.—Edward B. St. John, Loyola Law Sch. Lib., Los Angeles

In his ninth book, acclaimed writer/professor Kluge (e.g., Eddie and the Cruisers) cleverly combines an affectionate memoir with some elements of suspense. Famous writer-in-residence George Canaris is killed by a hit-and-run driver while preparing to leave his 30-year teaching post at a small Ohio college. Prior to his appointment there, Canaris was a renowned novelist, but he hasn't published anything since, so a search ensues after his death to find the hidden "beast" of a manuscript he presumably has tucked away. Instead, the work discovered was written by Canaris after he was asked to resign his position one year before; this work describes his life and teaching that final year amidst both caring colleagues and sinister foes. Readers learn about an interesting group of characters who've intersected this man's life, many of whom ring true as individuals and as archetypes of literature students, academics, and small-town inhabitants. Kluge also provides insight into a successful writer's fears about writing a failed novel and the pressures to publish continually. Effectively shunning pedantry, Kluge dispenses lively gems of wisdom about the writing process itself while sprinkling the narrative with references to contemporary culture, giving the story a worthwhile bounce. Recommended for all fiction collections.—M. Neville, Trenton P.L., NJ

This first work by German author Krausser to be translated into English is a typical love story: boy meets girl during a world war, boy handsomely pays girl for his first kiss during an air raid, girl disappears, and boy spends the rest of his life obsessively stalking her throughout both West and East Germany. The "boy," a reclusive millionaire industrialist who is dying, has hired a young writer to fashion his life—which he relays over eight days through anecdotes, transcripts, surreptitiously recorded conversations, and secret police files—into a novel to be published after his death. His obsession is so creepy and the indifference of his "beloved" so unwavering that it is difficult to doubt the veracity of the story he tells. In his final days, the millionaire admits that life is impossible without compartmentalizing one's experiences, yet he is so unsure of some of his actions that he regularly asks the writer what he would have done in the same circumstances. The story of his spying on the girl, which he claims to have done to ensure her happiness, parallels that of the police in both East and West, who would justify their behavior similarly. The result is both highly involving and chillingly acute. Enthusiastically recommended for public and academic libraries.—K.H. Cumiskey, Duke Univ. Libs., Durham, NC

Larsen's second thriller (after The Perfect Assassin) is a well-written, well-researched, and compelling tale of the chase for nuclear secrets in the final days of World War II. Nazi sniper Alex Braun, a German raised in the States, is smuggled into America to locate a Third Reich spy buried in the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. British intelligence major Michael Thatcher discovers Braun's presence but not his purpose or his whereabouts—he's staying with an old flame, the wealthy Lydia Cole. Braun, who wants to get the spy's secrets and sell them to the Soviets, is a killer, and his trek to both New Mexico and Guam is littered with the bodies of those who've crossed his path. Meanwhile, Thatcher and Lydia have joined the chase. An easy and gripping read, this is recommended for all popular fiction collections.—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Ever since Knopf editor Sonny Mehta bought the U.S. rights last November, the prepublication buzz on this dark, moody crime thriller by a Swedish journalist has grown steadily. A best seller in Europe (it outsold the Bible in Denmark), this first entry in the "Millennium" trilogy finally lands in America. Is the hype justified? Yes. Despite a sometimes plodding translation and a few implausible details, this complex, multilayered tale, which combines an intricate financial thriller with an Agatha Christie-like locked-room mystery set on an island, grabs the reader from the first page. Convicted of libeling a prominent businessman and awaiting imprisonment, financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist agrees to industrialist Henrik Vanger's request to investigate the 40-year-old disappearance of Vanger's 16-year-old niece, Harriet. In return, Vanger will help Blomkvist dig up dirt on the corrupt businessman. Assisting in Blomkvist's investigation is 24-year-old Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but enigmatic computer hacker. Punkish, tattooed, sullen, antisocial, and emotionally damaged, she is a compelling character, much like Carol O'Connell's Kathy Mallory, and this reviewer looks forward to learning more of her backstory in the next two books (The Girl Who Played with Fire and Castles in the Sky). Sweden may be the land of blondes, Ikea, and the Midnight Sun, but Larsson, who died in 2004, brilliantly exposes its dark heart: sexual violence against women, a Nazi past, and corporate corruption. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/03.]—Wilda Williams, Library Journal

Shamus Award winner Lehane's first historical novel is a clear winner, displaying all the virtues the author (Mystic River) has shown in his exceptional series of crime novels: narrative verve, sensitivity to setting, the interweaving of complicated story lines, an apt and emotionally satisfying denouement—and, above all, the author's abiding love for his characters and the human condition. In 1917, the Great War in Europe is still being waged, but with America's entry into the conflict, people expect it to end soon. Boston's policemen have a grievance. With their wages scaled to the cost of living in 1905, earnings lie well below the poverty level, and working conditions are appalling. The city government has reneged on its promise to readjust wages after the war. With anarchists planting bombs and social unrest in the air, there is little sympathy in Boston for the policemen's threat to strike. When the strike finally breaks in 1919, the strikers receive an object lesson in the bitter truth that "different sets of rules [apply] for different classes of people." Against this background of turmoil, an unexpected friendship develops between Irish American policeman Danny Coughlin and African American Luther Laurence, on the run from gangsters and police. Lehane's long-awaited eighth novel is as good as it gets. Enthusiastically recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

Known for suspenseful novels set in the world of 18th-century finance, e.g., the Edgar Award-winning A Conspiracy of Paper, Liss often portrays hard-drinking yet likable scoundrels who thwart conspiracies as complex and labyrinthine as finance capitalism itself. Fans of those earlier books won't be disappointed by his fifth novel, a fast-paced and complex narrative that reimagines the events surrounding the Panic of 1792. The book's main characters are reliably roguish Ethan Saunders and beautiful widow Joan Maycott, who encounter Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and other famous figures of the era. Events get moving when Saunders sets out to find an ex-lover's husband and uncovers a plan to ruin a wealthy financier. As the plot unfolds, however, it becomes clear that the stakes are much higher than personal revenge. Liss portrays post-Revolutionary Philadelphia and New York more effectively than he does the western Pennsylvania frontier, where the villains are somewhat cartoonish, but this detracts only slightly from a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Douglas Southard, CRA International, Inc., Boston

This ambitious epic novel about the life and loves of a Lisbon drag queen is also a page-turner, but only in the sense that one must constantly refer to the provided Dramatis Personae to keep the characters straight. Lobo Antunes (The Return of the Caravels) is that rare contemporary writer who treats the page as a canvas; his prose is rich in lyrical and psychological detail and filled with repeated phrases and enigmatic symbols—a jackdaw, a mastiff with a bow, the figure of a dwarf from Snow White atop a refrigerator—that evoke memories or dreams. While most of the novel is narrated by Paulo, son of the drag queen Carlos (based on a real Lisbon transvestite, Ruth Bryden, who died in 1999), the occasional passages related by other narrators are written in the same unique style, which makes it difficult to tell them apart. This is a fine introduction to the work of a highly rewarding author but may require a commitment of several months to digest. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Forest Turner, Suffolk Cty. House of Correction Lib., Boston

Ludwig's narrator, Beth Levy, is born in 1952 into a household of women with high relationship expectations and thwarted ambitions. Her mother, Goldie, wanted four children and a big house. Maternal aunts Carrie and Sarah wanted, respectively, a lost child and a wildly adventurous life. As for Beth, she yearns to follow in the footsteps of her late Uncle Phil. Told that he had been killed in World War II, Beth sees no impediment, despite Goldie's discouragement, to pursuing the love of astronomy she shares with him. The claustrophobic swamp of too many generations under one roof works against the need of all concerned to carve out their own romantic and professional lives while watching out for those they love. And Beth is caught in the bewildering middle, protected from the foibles of the adults who love her even as they unwittingly use her as an ally and a sounding board for their individual neediness. In her debut novel of a multigenerational Jewish Winnipeg family, award-winning Canadian short story writer Ludwig beautifully illustrates the secrets and sins that erode facades, damage trust, and threaten potential. Highly recommended.—Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib.. MI

In England, 1348 was a very bad year: rains fell from Midsummer's Day to Christmas, causing crops to rot in the fields, and the plague swept through the country, killing and displacing high and low alike. Told from the viewpoint of Camelot, a peddler of relics, Maitland's story twists and turns deftly as a motley crew of travelers seek to hide their secrets from one another. Held together more by fear than comradeship, they wend their way across the south of England, seeking lasting refuge from the uncertainties of life. Like the pilgrims of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, to which this book has been likened, each of the travelers has a tale to tell. Those tales intertwine and unfold in a page-turning novel in which hope seeks to balance despair despite everything. Maitland, whose previous novel, The White Room, was released in the United Kingdom 12 years ago, has put the intervening years to good use. This novel vividly evokes the landscape of 14th-century England without putting too many 21st-century interpretations on actions and events. Public libraries should have this on their shelves. [See Prepub Alert & Prepub Mystery, LJ 6/1/08.]—Pamela O'Sullivan, SUNY at Brockport Lib.

Translated from the original French, this new novel by Russian writer Makine is the story of Elias Almeida, an African boy who grows up to be a revolutionary after seeing his mother killed in Angola in the 1960s. Along his perilous way, Elias finds his father in time to see him shot by counterrevolutionary soldiers. The young African meets Che Guevara and is sent first to Cuba and then to Moscow for training. There he falls in love with Anna, a young Siberian woman who eventually marries another Russian. His love for Anna and the memory of their winter journey to her home in Siberia shine somewhat improbably like a beacon of purity and true love for Elias and contrast dramatically with the unrelenting brutality that makes up so much of his tragic world. This work will be appreciated by the many readers who enjoyed Makine's previous novels, such as Dreams of My Russian Summers.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

This debut novel enfolds the lives of 90-year-old Yiddish poet Itsik Malpesh and the story's narrator, the young translator of Itsik's memoirs, who is employed at a warehouse for Jewish books. Born in Kishinev, Russia, Itsik learns the story of a girl named Sasha Bimko. Four years his senior, Sasha—the butcher's daughter—bravely prevented an assault on Itsik's mother when he was born during a pogrom. Sasha moves away after her father is murdered, and as Itsik grows up, she becomes his poetic muse. After immigrating to the United States, Itsik writes love poems to Sasha while working in the infamous garment factories of New York's Lower East Side. When Sasha shows up during Itsik's highly publicized poetry reading, they immediately fall in love but are separated by a jealous misunderstanding; later, the narrator discovers that he has an uncanny connection to the couple. Although Itsik's life is cleverly narrated, he and many of the other characters lack depth, and many unfolding events push the story outside the realm of believability. An optional purchase.—David A. Beronä, Plymouth State Univ., NH

What does Superman have to do with the biblical story of Cain and Abel? Combining his love of comic books with a heart-pounding plot, Meltzer's (The Book of Fate) latest thriller ingeniously answers the question. When Calvin Harper was a child, his father murdered his mother and was sent to prison. Growing into adulthood, Calvin becomes a federal agent but loses his job in a scandal and now helps the homeless. One evening in a park he discovers his father with a gunshot wound. Turns out Calvin's father was shot with the same gun that in 1932 killed Mitchell Siegel, the father of the creator of the Superman comics. Helping the father he hasn't spoken to in years puts Calvin in harm's way, because a killer tattooed with the mark of Cain is after a certain book that might identify the murder weapon used in the Cain and Abel story and will stop at nothing to get it. The novel's overall theme of family resonates, and the relentless pace and twists of the narrative sizzle on the page. Meltzer is a genius. For all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

With her second historical novel (after Nefertiti), also set in ancient Egypt, Moran continues to delight. Following the murder of Nefertiti and most of her family for their heretical beliefs, the sole survivor, Princess Nefertari, is raised in the household of Pharaoh Seti I. Although much loved by the crown prince, Ramesses II, Nefertari is feared and hated by the people of Egypt because of her birth family's unpopularity. But, young as she is, Nefertari discovers that there is great power in her love for Ramesses and her gift for languages and political maneuvering, and she uses both to carve a place for herself as queen of Egypt. As readers of the Bible may recall, it is Ramesses II who is credited with releasing the Hebrews from slavery following the demands of Moses. Moran puts a twist on this story and uses it as a subplot in a wonderfully original way. It's all here: palace intrigue, politics, romance, warfare, and religion. As beautifully written and engrossing as her first novel, this should enjoy wide readership. Recommended for all popular fiction collections. [Moran participated in the historical fiction panel at this year's Day of Dialog program at BookExpo.—Ed.]—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage P.L.

Kim Larsen just graduated from high school and is spending her last summer working at the Conoco station and hanging out with her friends before heading off to college. But one day, she doesn't show up for work, and her bed is still empty the next morning. As her parents frantically begin searching for her, posting missing posters, working with a detective, and leading volunteers through the woods, the cold reality of the loss sinks in. Kim's younger sister, Lindsay, the bookish band geek, tries to help hunt for Kim but is caught up in her own storm of emotions. O'Nan (Last Night at the Lobster) has created a compelling portrait of what happens to both a family and a community when someone goes missing. The grief, worry, and hope surges up and down as good and bad news arrives, giving those of us lucky enough not to face this kind of loss a glimpse of what it must be like to have one's life turned upside down in a matter of days. Recommended for most public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/08.]—Robin Nesbitt, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OH

In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, setting off a catastrophe of flooding, panic, and death on a scale never before been seen in the United States. Piazza (Why New Orleans Matters) recaptures the devastation of that storm and its aftermath through the stories of two families—one black, one white—who are driven from their homes by floodwaters and spend days as evacuees in shelters and on the road, finally ending up in Houston and Chicago, where they try to piece together temporary lives while waiting to see what the future holds. Through the Donaldson and Williams families—their memories, their longings, their determination—Piazza paints a beautiful portrait of the Crescent City, as indefatigable in spirit as its citizens. This emotional novel reads like a memoir, teeming with fear, anger, pathos, hope, determination, and love. It is absolutely essential reading for every American who watched and prayed through those terrible days. Highly recommended for all fiction collections. [This book was just picked for the One Book, One New Orleans program.—Ed.]—Thomas L. Kilpatrick, Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale

In this epistolary novel by the popular Rice (Last Kiss) and her friend Monninger (Home Waters), Sam West dogsleds across Alaska to the site of the plane crash that killed his only child, Paul, three years earlier. Meanwhile, Sam's wife, Hadley, rents a cabin off the coast of Maine to rekindle her passion for art. Paul had dropped out of Amherst College and was on his way to teach in a remote Inuit village when he died. His death signaled the last breath of the Wests' marriage as well. Or had it been dying long before their son's demise? Sam initiates the correspondence, but soon each spouse comes to view it as a means of being truly honest one last time before their divorce becomes final. As Sam writes, "Something has changed with us…. It makes no sense to name it, though. Not yet. I trust these letters." However Sam's journey alters course and the couple's relationship remodels itself, readers will trust in the privilege of going along for the ride. Though the segmentation of voices leaves one less engaged than one might wish, this is still a satisfying read. Recommended for public libraries. [Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

This follow-up to Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Gilead (2004) is a concurrent narrative rather than a sequel, as if the earlier novel's journal entries had concluded with "Meanwhile…." The plot here concerns the large family of elderly Rev. Robert Broughton, specifically two of his adult children, who have returned to Iowa temporarily. Youngest sister Glory keeps house for her dying father, but her efforts are eclipsed by the reappearance of bad-boy favorite child Jack Ames Broughton two decades after a scandalous departure. Pain-filled and mysterious, Jack reengages uncomfortably with relations and neighbors, forcing them to confront perhaps unbearable truths about themselves and society. In Robinson's characteristically calm, measured language, the author creates three-dimensional characters that move believably within beautifully realized physical and psychological space as they confront (and challenge the reader with) deeply serious questions of faith, moral responsibility, and the racial divide in America. Fans of Gilead will be grateful for this expansion of the story—and for its closing hint of a possible return to the extended Ames/Boughton families, whose two small sons will carry their complicated heritage into the cultural revolutions of the 1960s. Highly recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/08.]—Starr E. Smith, Fairfax Cty. PL, VA

Susannah Prue is a surrogate mother on the run and ready to give birth. She has fled Chicago and the Forsythes, the baby's biological parents, in a car that makes it as far as a kitschy Southwestern motel. Her third-trimester panic has been brewing for some time, as she learns more about Kit and Julian Forsythe, wealthy, educated, yet often shallow and emotionally dysfunctional. The Thunder Lodge Motor Inn, inhabited by owners Marlon and Char Garland and their developmentally disabled teenaged son, Tim, is an unlikely oasis for Susannah. Other guests arrive, including Dicey and her hermaphrodite niece, Frankie. These unlikely inhabitants create a sort of impromptu family—complete with bickering and compassion and trips to nearby roadside attractions. With Susannah's due date drawing near and her car still waiting for repairs, she makes a last-ditch attempt to reach the ocean, taking Frankie and Tim with her. Shearn gives us a touching, funny, and lyrically written story with well-drawn characters seeking acceptance and peace. The awkward and unlikely flash-forward at the end reads like an unnecessary after-thought but shouldn't keep readers away from this satisfying first novel. Recommended for larger fiction collections.—Jenn B. Stidham, Houston Community Coll. Lib.

Short delivers an impressively mature first effort by turning a six-year-old's obsession with a series of children's books into a multilayered narrative involving father-son affiliations—in this case, a terribly flawed one. Michael Halligan never recovers from his mother's death from a miscarriage, especially since he is left alone with his abusive, mob-connected father. The two ultimately part ways in violent fashion, and Michael perseveres to get an education, find a wife, and create a healthy family life. Unfortunately, some of his father's demons become his own, and the only pure aspect of his life turns out to be his dogged pursuit of collecting a copy of every Big Little Book in existence. Short manages to turn the outwardly dreary, uninteresting Michael into a character who is not only sympathetic but complex and compelling. He also skillfully advances the character of Michael's father, Paddy, from a roguish drunkard into an old man trapped in a life he didn't choose. The moral dilemmas that can complicate family commitment are presented very clearly here. Highly recommended.—Kevin Greczek, Hamilton, NJ

Recounting a student sex scandal at a prestigious Vermont private academy, this explosive novel from Shreve (Body Surfing) is more transfixing than a multicar pileup on the interstate. Told from the perspectives of the students involved, the school administrator, the parents, and numerous bystanders, the story keeps unraveling as it slingshots back and forth in time. At each revelation, readers keep hoping that things will turn out differently, that there will be survivors, despite the carnage before their eyes. Yet that one night can never be undone: "A single action can cause a life to veer off in a direction it was never meant to go." Shreve arrows in on many targets—underage drinking, instant exposure via the Internet, familial expectations, youthful insecurities, and peer pressure, among them—as she flawlessly weaves a tale that is mesmerizing, hypnotic, and compulsive. No one walks away unscathed, and that includes the reader. Highly recommended. [Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

The year is 1948, the place is Los Angeles, and the name of the game is survival. Con man Louis Greenberg supplements his swindles with occasional gigs in underground jazz clubs as he tries to break into L.A.'s bebop scene. Hampered by a shady past and a desperate passion for a woman he can never openly acknowledge, Louis does everything he can to catch a break. However, as his cons grow more and more elaborate, the possibility of failure looms large. Jazz aficionados and historical fiction fans alike will relish Silber's exciting slice of Americana and will probably want to jot down the titles she cites in the Acknowledgments section for further reading and research. Readers who enjoy gritty, naturalistic fiction will also be pleased by the book, which pulls no punches in its examination of racism, patriotism, and capitalism in America. While not for the faint of heart, Silber's debut definitely stands out from the pack. Recommended for medium to large fiction collections.—Leigh Anne Vrabel, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

Smith here finishes her "Red Hat Club" trilogy (The Red Hat Club; The Red Hat Club Rides Again), reuniting narrator Georgia Baker with her four best friends, women who meet monthly at Atlanta's Swan Coach House Restaurant to celebrate life. They support one another, cheer for one another, and help each other through the good and bad. This time, Georgia is the one who needs help; her brilliant 28-year-old daughter has announced her intentions of becoming the third wife of her father's best friend from college, "Wild Man" Wade. Georgia, a true drama queen, has a detective investigate her future son-in-law's past. What could go wrong during all the parties, snooping, and a wedding with a groom older than his mother-in-law? Smith's latest, filled with humor, a few tears, and some prayers, will delight her fans. The warm, satisfying story will also find new readers, who can easily catch up with Georgia and her friends. This enjoyable book is recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Lesa Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ

On the world called Arbre, time runs in counterpoint: the ponderous flow of ritual and study behind the doors of the great "maths," or monasteries, against the constant flux of cultural change in the world outside. Devoted to scientific rather than religious practice, these sanctuaries maintain an austere and ceremonial cloistered existence for decades, even centuries, before opening briefly to see what has changed. Every so often, major outside events break the great cycle and force the maths to change. Fraa Erasmas, a not especially distinguished member of one of these cloisters, finds himself at the center of one of these events and, as so often happens, ends up trying to save the world. Stephenson (Cryptonomicon) is not afraid to spend as much time as it takes to explore everything that interests him, whether it's the geometry of cake cutting or the particulars of a 1000-year-old collection of assorted garden furniture. In less skilled hands this might be tedious, but here the layers of world building are the foundation for an enthralling tale that, even at over 900 pages, is over almost too soon. For some fans, this may be a welcome return to sf after his epic historical trilogy, "The Baroque Cycle," but readers with an interest in science and philosophy will also enjoy it—there are dozens of famous ideas and theorems half-hidden throughout the novel. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08; includes a bonus CD with music composed for Anathem.]—Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib.

Viswanathan's enormous first novel spans 66 years—from 1896 to 1962—in the life of one Tamil family. The matriarch of the clan, Sivakami, a Brahmin, was married at ten and widowed at 18. Already a mother of two, Sivakami was determined to set a pious example. This meant that she shaved her head, wore only white, and touched no one, not even her children or grandchildren, between dusk and dawn. What's more, she obeyed the custom of staying inside her home, venturing outdoors only three times in the many decades before her death. Sivakami's proscribed world is portrayed in amazing detail, and the life of the Brahmin elite is vividly captured. Unaccountably, the book fails to mention Gandhi—a prominent figure in this era—making the political landscape somewhat incomplete. This is especially odd since social change forms the backdrop of Viswanathan's sweeping narrative. Still, the portrait she paints is dazzling. Gender rules, class relations, and the political castes of late 19th- and early to mid-20th-century India are well presented, making this an important work of historical fiction. Highly recommended for all collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/08.]—Eleanor J. Bader, Brooklyn

Vizenor (Hiroshima Bugi: Atomu 57) presents his latest novel as one side of a dinner conversation between a retired Native American journalist and a French cultural historian, to whom the narrator reacts though her voice is never heard. Over a series of elegantly prepared dinners of local animals and vegetables at the Mayagi Ashandiwin Restaurant, the narrator tells the historian a story of his youth, when he and his fellow altar boys tormented Father Meme with a bizarre parody of the Stations of the Cross and then beat him to death. Of course, Father Meme (the red-headed priest's nickname comes from the Anishnaabe for woodpecker) had hideously abused the altar boys before they came up with their scheme for the sacrifice that would save other boys on the reservation. This is a short novel but one that should be slowly savored. The beauty of the stained glass and the Gregorian chants recalled by the narrator, contrasted sharply with the ugly baseness of violated bodies and spilled fluids, bring the horrifying experience to life. Recommended for literary fiction collections.—Debbie Bogenschutz, Cincinnati State Technical and Community Coll.

A little R & R is just the ticket: take it easy, see new sights. Thus Edinburgh policeman Ray Lennox, a supporting character in Welsh's Filth, is aboard a transatlantic flight bound for Florida along with his fiancée, Trudi. Ray carries a lot of baggage for which he'll have to pay extra: his last case involved the murder of a girl who had been sexually molested, and his failure to save her has fueled his chemical dependencies (this is a Welsh novel, after all). Once in Florida, Ray hooks up with a couple of fast Floridians, one of whom (surprise!) has a daughter targeted by a pedophile ring. Ray feels compelled to rescue her. Welsh, who now divides his time among Scotland, Ireland, and Florida, manages to inject interest into what is admittedly a recycled plot and adopts a mid-Atlantic dialect that should add to the book's appeal on this side of the pond. Never noted for his finesse, he comes up short against Dennis Lehane's Mystic River. Still, this is recommended for all larger public libraries because of name recognition (Welsh wrote Trainspotting) and because it is the perfect accompaniment to your next transatlantic flight. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/08.]—Bob Lunn, Kansas City P.L., MO

In 1929, a Cincinnati gangster whose driver relieved him of both money and stocks offers Jack Romaine an easy way out of his gambling debts by simply meeting Sally Price, the driver's girl, as she leaves prison. Sally winds up dead, killed by someone else after the money. The only clue Jack has is the name Alex Goodman, which leads him to Kaleidoscope, an off-season circus-freak beddy outside of Tampa. In this community, Jack quickly learns, he is the freak. Among the assorted characters he encounters are wise-cracking midget Tommie Speck, the three-breasted Cassandra, and Luna, the blue-skinned beauty who is the boss. They all clam up at the mention of Alex Goodman. Jack becomes a brodie, the lowest grunt, but he is slowly accepted after he saves the life of a pair of Siamese twins. When Sally's killer shows up, Jack finally makes some headway into discovering what happened to the missing money. Wimberley (The King of Colored Town) creates an array of circus characters rivaling those in Todd Browning's classic film Freaks. In the end, Jack has learned some humanity and can be a true father to his son. Recommended for larger libraries. [Wimberley's The King of Colored Town has just won the first Willie Morris Award for Fiction for a novel set in the South.—Ed.]—Joshua Cohen, Mid-Hudson Lib. Syst. Poughkeepsie, NY

While scouting about Wales on location for a family holiday, Aldous Jones is fortuitously knocked off his bicycle and into the compassionate hands of tenant farmer Hugh Evans. It is immediately obvious that he has found his place. Setting up camp in a tent in the middle of a field, Aldous, wife Colette, and their growing family delight in the farm rituals, the proximity to beaches, and the chance to escape their hot London home. From the Fifties on, their annual summer returns mark the rise and fall of the family fortunes. The great musical promise shown by eldest son Janus never materializes, and he begins to unravel mentally by his late teens. Soon after, Colette loses her own grip on reality when her mother dies and guilt envelops her. Nevertheless, the Joneses continue to pack up their tent each August and return to Wales. Shortlisted for the Whitbread in 2001, this affecting work is the first in a trilogy published out of sequence in North America; readers of the very charming sequel, A Curious Earth, will be pleased to learn how the quirky Jones family came by their eccentricities. Recommended for public libraries.—Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Kingston, Ont.

Chicago native Allen, author of the acclaimed novel Rails Under My Back and a poet and professor of African American literature and creative writing (Queen's Coll., New York), here offers a collection of ten short stories set mostly in inner-city Chicago and the rural South. Allen writes in a somewhat experimental style that favors edgy poetic language and occasional surrealism over conventional plot and a linear story line. Among his mostly angry, violent characters, there is someone named Hatch who appears in several stories, but as a different person each time. These stories don't try to meet us half way; they jolt us like a blast of rap heard from a passing car, and it takes a leap of the imagination to make sense of them. This collection will probably be more at home in a library's African American literature collection than on the shelf with popular fiction.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

Noted essayist Lopate returns to fiction with two novellas about marriage. The longer and more dramatically satisfying of the two is "The Stoic's Marriage," written as a journal by Gordon, a bombastic academic taken advantage of by his beautiful young wife, Rita, a Filipino immigrant with many secrets. As their marriage unravels, the narrator's entries become less pretentious; he learns to examine himself honestly. Like the protagonist of Candide, Gordon loses his naïveté and learns the value of work, and his transformation makes him ultimately a sympathetic character. Secrets also play a role in the climax of "Eleanor; or, The Second Marriage," in which the cracks in a supposedly perfect second marriage are revealed. This novella is less fully realized; it teems with too many undeveloped characters, especially during a long dinner party scene. We're given a glimpse of what others think of the couple, Eleanor and Frank, but these divergent viewpoints remain unexplored. Still, these pieces offer an interesting take on marriage and what it means to truly know your spouse. Recommended for all libraries.—Evelyn Beck, Piedmont Technical Coll., Greenwood, SC

McClanahan straddles the line between memoir and highly autobiographical fiction in this collection of nine stories. Or are they essays? It doesn't really matter, since whatever you call them it feels as if you are enjoying a few drinks and a few tokes with an old bullshit artist who will never let the unembellished truth stand in the way of a good story. McClanahan is something of an odd duck, born in 1933 but with the attitudes of a baby boomer, never exactly a beatnik but too old to really be a hippie. He was a Merry Prankster, but the only reference to it is a scant three pages about a delightful song he and his daughter wrote for Ken Kesey. Instead, he focuses on his hormone-driven high school years, which frankly are far from unique. This book will appeal mostly to older boomers and some seniors, so is probably more appropriate for public than academic libraries. Now, if he would only turn his considerable writing skills to his Prankster years, he might just end up with a best seller or at least a cult classic.—Jim Dwyer, California State Univ. Lib., Chico

Winner of the John Simmons Short Fiction Award, McNett's story collection is an exquisite blend of pain and humanity, featuring characters who find a way to carry on despite the extreme conditions of their lives. In "Catalog Sales," two daughters of divorced parents who have trouble being accepted at school when their clothes get too small and shabby must confront the youthful foreign bride their father showers with fancy new outfits. In the funny and poignant title story, church elder Mr. Bob looks after his minister's house while the humorless man takes his wife and five children on vacation. The minister loves only his difficult dog (to which he croons "Make One Dog Happy" to the tune of "Make Someone Happy"), and its escape prompts Mr. Bob to create a fake dog grave—just as both the family and the dog return. In "Helping," heavy, religious Ruthie's job as a personal aide to a severely disabled child in a wealthy home challenges her in ways she can't manage. Only wonderful writing could make stories this wrenching so enjoyable to read.—Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., VA