Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 12/23/2008 10:14:00 AM

Fiction

Chase, Ella March. The Virgin Queen’s Daughter. Crown. Dec. 2008. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-307-39480-4. $24.95. F
Verdict: Suspenseful scenes and intriguing details of court life almost make up for this novel’s slow start, ponderous dialog, and meandering points of view. Readers looking for the gloss of Philippa Gregory won’t find it here. For large public libraries where historical fiction is popular.
Background: Did the Virgin Queen Elizabeth have an illegitimate child? This compelling rumor is the foundation of Chase's debut novel. At 14, Princess Elizabeth is sent to live with Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife. Parr’s husband, the lusty, lecherous Sir Thomas Seymour, impregnates the princess, and nine months later, a midwife attending the secret birth steals the baby away instead of smothering it as ordered. The child, named Elinor de Lacey, is handed over to a country lord and lady. Years later, against her mother’s wishes, Nell attends court to serve the now Queen Elizabeth. Lies, treachery, and Nell’s secret are all revealed, threatening the Queen’s throne and Nell’s very life.—Jamie Kallio, Thomas Ford Memorial Lib., Western Springs, IL

Cornwell, Patricia. Scarpetta. Putnam. Dec. 2008. c.512p. ISBN 978-0-399-15516-1. $27.95. F
Verdict: Cornwell fans will find this reminiscent of the Scarpetta novels that hooked them years ago, and new readers will race to read the previous 15. Like a fine wine, Scarpetta has aged well. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]
Background: After 20 years, Cornwell still keeps us feverishly reading into the wee hours of the night. This 16th novel (after Book of the Dead) chronicling the career and personal life of Dr. Kay Scarpetta is another nail-biting thriller. Newly married and serving as chief medical examiner in Massachusetts, visiting lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and consultant to the NYPD, Scarpetta is summoned to New York to examine a psychiatric patient linked to a brutal homicide. She finds herself ensnared in a series of murders, forced to prove whether her patient is a victim or a killer. As the story unfolds, husband Benton, estranged colleague Marino, and niece Lucy all play a role in the case that endangers Scarpetta’s life and career.—Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights

Du Maurier, Daphne. Don’t Look Now: Selected Stories of Daphne Du Maurier. New York Review. 2008. c.384p. ISBN 978-1-59017-288-9. pap. $15.95. F
Verdict: Du Maurier (1907–89) crafted chilling, almost unbearably suspenseful conflicts that were turned into films like Rebecca. This excellent collection of her out-of-print and previously unpublished tales is recommended for all collections.
Background: "The Birds" (which served as the basis of Hitchcock’s film of the same name) follows one man’s efforts to understand and survive the relentless avian attacks as the rest of the world goes silent. "Blue Lenses" explores the power of sight and the isolation that accompanies seeing the world in a different way. These strange and stunning stories charm as they terrify and beg for repeat readings.—Jennifer Beach, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis

Francis, David. Stray Dog Winter. MacAdam/Cage. 2008. c.333p. ISBN 978-1-59692-315-7. $24. F
Verdict: In his sophomore effort, Francis (The Great Inland Sea) delves into political intrigue, 1980s style. The book suffers from vague descriptions—not even the conclusion’s frenetic action saves it from being a disappointment. Not recommended.
Background: Darcy Bright is an Australian artist who receives from his half-sister a train ticket to Moscow. There, he is flung into a world where his every action is observed, people are not who they appear, and his sister’s political activities place him in grave danger. Darcy soon comes to believe that he will die in Moscow if he cannot evade his captors and find his way home.—Natasha Grant, New York

Kaye, Sharon. The Aristotle Quest: A Dana McCarter Trilogy. Bk. 1: Black Market Truth. Parmenides. 2008. 408p. ISBN 978-1-930972-30-8. $24.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-930972-31-5. $14.95. F
Verdict: More dissertation than mystery, this book is bogged down by its ponderous research—it includes 40 pages of footnotes and a glossary. Recommended only for large libraries with the desire and budget to acquire all new popular fiction.
Background: Dana McCarter, the director of NYU’s new Advanced Institute of the Study of Antiquity, has a bad habit of purchasing black market manuscripts. When a stranger blackmails her for an assessment of a scroll, McCarter recognizes a lost Aristotle dialog. Soon, she is receiving visits from a Vatican Inspector, Muslim jihadists are plotting to destroy Christianity with the information revealed by the scrolls, and the ancient Cult of Dionysus resurges. Violence, romance, and treachery ensue.—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Fort Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL

Nunn, Malla. A Beautiful Place To Die. Atria: S. & S. Jan. 2009. c.388p. ISBN 978-1-4165-8620-3. $25. F
Verdict: This skillfully constructed and involving debut—intended as the first in the Detective Emmanuel Cooper series—reveals the terrible toll of apartheid and belongs in all mystery collections.
Background: Nunn, a South African–born writer, begins her series in 1952 with the murder of a white police captain in a small South African town riddled with apartheid. The victim was a son-in-law of a leader of the Afrikaner nationhood movement, and his five adult sons are out for vengeance. Arriving from Johannesburg to investigate, Det. Sgt. Emmanuel Cooper wrestles with the police Special Branch, whose officers are searching for communist connections to the crime. Making matters worse, he is targeted by official and unofficial law enforcers as he stretches the boundaries between black and white.—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA

Nonfiction

Joachim, David & Andrew Schloss with A. Philip Handel. The Science of Good Food: The Ultimate Reference on How Cooking Works. Robert Rose, dist. by Firefly. 2008. 576p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-7788-0205-1. $54.95; pap. ISBN 978-0-7788-0189-6. $37.95. COOKERY
Verdict: Highly recommended for larger public libraries and academic libraries with culinary arts degree programs.
Background: Joachim (The Food Substitutions Bible) collaborates with two other culinary experts to explain how science governs food preparation. Alphabetically arranged entries (with excellent cross-references) address the science behind various foods and cooking methods; 100 accompanying recipes are a bonus. Other classic culinary reference books such as The Oxford Companion to Food and Larousse Gastronomique include some of the same basic facts about the history of different foods and kitchen techniques, but Science of Good Food excels when it comes to giving readers a clear idea of the science involved in cooking.—John Charles, Scottsdale P.L., AZ

Jones, Quincy. The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions. Insight Editions: Palace Press International. 2008. 132p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-933784-67-0. $45. MUSIC
Verdict: This illustrated scrapbook highlights the career of an American musical icon, but readers looking for depth are going to be disappointed. A better way to understand the phenomenon who is Quincy Jones is to revisit the music he has produced over the last six decades.
Background: Quincy Delight Jones Jr., who turned 75 last year, orchestrated this lavish birthday card to himself. A preface by Maya Angelou, a foreword by Clint Eastwood, an introduction by Bono, an afterward by Sidney Poitier, and a predilection for referring to himself in the third-person make it abundantly clear that he lives in rarified circles. This is a beautifully composed collection of recollections and mementos, including facsimiles of letters, programs, newspaper articles, and scores—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR

Kane, Laura Towsend & others with David L. Townsend, M.D. Answers to the Health Questions People Ask in Libraries. Neal-Schuman. (Medical Library Association Guides.) 2008. c.247p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-55570-642-5. $65. HEALTH
Verdict: A sweeping study of frequently asked medical questions. Recommended for public libraries.
Background: Kane, Rozalynd P. McConnaughy, and Steven Patrick Wilson—three librarians—collaborate in compiling library patrons’ most common and most bizarre health-related questions. Responses to their survey yield a smorgasbord of medical information: some questions have no adequate answers, such as the potential hazards of cell phone use (unknown for lack of long-term data). The book’s scope is broad, and it offers a resource list and a comprehensive list of sources consulted, mostly web sites.—Lois Merry, Keene State Coll. Lib., NH

Knopper, Steve. Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age. Free Pr: S. & S. Jan. 2009. c.320p. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-5215-4. $26. MUSIC
Verdict: A highly entertaining, no-holds-barred account of the 30-year saga of digital recording, this covers the development of the compact disc, MP3 formatting, the rise and fall of renegade file sharing sites such as Napster, and iTunes and the era of legal digital downloads. A valuable historical and cultural document.
Background: Knopper (contributing editor, Rolling Stone) paints vivid and often unflattering portraits of industry movers and shakers and documents their egregious excesses during the era of big money and their frantic and often Luddite-like reactions to technological advancements. He includes detailed character studies of the major players who revolutionized the business (e.g., Napster’s Shawn and John Fanning, and Apple’s Steve Jobs).—Larry Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, PA

Lang, Heather. Head First Physics: A Learner’s Companion to Mechanics and Practical Physics.
O’Reilly. 2008. c.900p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-596-10237-1. pap. $29.99. SCI
Verdict: Designed as an AP Physics study guide, this volume would be equally useful for the average freshman physics college course. Students will come away with a genuine understanding of the subject, not just a fistful of equations. Recommended.
Background: Immunology Ph.D. Lang’s highly visual presentation makes this guide accessible and relevant to physics students. Sets of students talk out their problem-solving strategies with one another; "Question Clinics" dissect typical kinds of test questions, point out buzz words, and provide hints on how to approach the problem. Using techniques such as "be a part of it" and "do your answers SUCK" (do the Size, Units, Calculations, and "K"ontext make sense), the text is a valuable contribution to the student’s physics toolbox.—Marcia Franklin, MLIS, St. Paul, MN

The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing. Univ. of Arkansas. 2008. c.466p. ed. by Marc Smirnoff. ISBN 978-1-55728-887-5. $34.95. MUSIC
Verdict: All public and academic libraries catering to serious music fans should purchase this gem of an anthology.
Background: Almost every year since 1996, The Oxford American’s Southern Music issue has hit newsstands with the force of a hurricane, blowing our minds with the audio CD and music criticism contained therein. Thanks to OA editor Smirnoff, much of that writing is now collected here. Rich vignettes include John T. Edge’s piece on the Allman Brothers; Cynthia Shearer’s search for Janis Joplin in her hometown of Port Arthur, TX; Mark Richards’s paean to Captain Beefheart; and Jack Hit’s tribute to Eartha Kitt.—Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Evanston, IL

Raftery, Brian. Don’t Stop Believin’: How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life. Da Capo. Jan. 2009. c.240p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-306-81583-6. pap. $16. MUSIC
Verdict: This book is for people who take karaoke seriously and know just the right songs to sing. Fans of pop culture and the writing of Chuck Klosterman will enjoy Raftery’s style. Highly recommended for popular collections in all public libraries.
Background: Raftery, a journalist who’s written for such publications as Wired, GQ, and Spin, doesn’t try to give readers an exhaustive history of karaoke. Instead, he recounts long nights spent pouring over song books in search of the perfect song. He relays his travels to Bangkok, Japan, and across the United States, spent talking to and singing with karaoke fans. Raftery also provides a three-step approach to determining if a song is going to be a karaoke hit.—Christine Schonhart, Boston P.L.

Ripert, Eric & Christine Muhlke. On the Line: Inside the World of Le Bernardin. Artisan: Workman. 2008. 239p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-57965-369-9. $35. COOKERY
Verdict: This book will please its niche audience of fans of Le Bernardin and those interested in the business side of a fine restaurant.
Background: Chef Ripert of Le Bernardin and New York Times writer Muhlke offer an in-depth look at the nuts and bolts of one of New York City’s best restaurants. Not a cook tell-all on the order of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, this book covers the preparation stations, sample menus, interviews, cooking tips, lists, and much more. The book’s last third includes approximately 50 recipes, almost all fish dishes, straight from the kitchen, with little pity taken on the home cook. Large color photographs of the restaurant, its staff, raw ingredients, and final finished products are prominent throughout.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio Libs., Oxford

Sullivan, James. The Hardest Working Man: How James Brown Saved the Soul of America. Gotham: Penguin Group (USA). 2008. c.272p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-592-40390-5. $25. MUSIC
Verdict: A fascinating exploration of the pivotal conciliatory role that the late "godfather of soul" James Brown playedin the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Recommended for large public libraries and libraries with an emphasis on African American studies.
Background: Sullivan, a journalist and cultural critic, examines Brown’s role in calming the roiling racial tensions in Boston and, later, Washington, DC. In 1968, Brown was at his artistic and commercial peak, and Sullivan demonstrates how the performer was able to function as a powerful cultural ambassador whose counsel and influence proved instrumental in calming the anger of grieving African Americans. Sullivan deftly weaves Brown’s proud musical celebration of his identity and heritage into the larger narrative of the civil rights struggle.—Dennis J. Seese, Jefferson-Madison Regional Lib., Charlottesville, VA

Xol, Eduardo & Steve Miller (text) & Bill Watson & Kathryn Watson (photogs.). Extreme Entertaining Made Simple. Celebra: NAL. 2008. 247p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-451-22416-3. $27.95. HOME EC
Verdict: This optional purchase features creative—if impractical—party planning suggestions.
Background: Fresh from his work on the TV program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Xol shares his decorating and design philosophies. He presents complete plans for six parties, complete with invitations and place settings, music, signature aromas, and food and drink, including lush photos on nearly every page. Unfortunately, Xol’s "extreme" ideas have several flaws: many centerpieces are so large that guests would not be able to see across the table, and serving Shirley Temples with gin doesn’t seem appropriate for the menu of the "Princess Party" suggested for Sweet 16s, Quinceañeras, Bat Mitzvahs, and Debutante Balls.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine Coll. Preparatory Lib., San José, CA

Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking: Recipes and Techniques for Successful Home Baking. rev. ed. 319p. ISBN 978-0-8487-3258-5.
Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Slow Cooking: Delicious New Recipes for Slow Cookers and Braisers. 287p. ISBN 978-0-8487-3259-2.
ea. vol: Oxmoor House. 2008. ed. by Chuck Williams. photogs. index. $34.95. COOKERY
Verdict: The extensive coverage, excellent illustration, and well-edited selection of recipes make these titles a worthy addition to almost any public library.
Background: Williams-Sonoma has expanded and updated its eponymous "Essentials" cookbook series with a revision to Baking, first released in 2003, and a brand new title, Essentials of Slow Cooking. The books are attentive to cooking techniques; especially in Baking, which, in its revised version, adds a chapter on chocolate and 20 new recipes to its already extensive coverage of breads, cakes, custards, cookies, and accompanying toppings and fillings. Slow Cooking includes recipes for meats and vegetables and provides instructions for both an electric slow cooker and a stovetop Dutch oven.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

See last week's Xpress Reviews