Xpress Reviews: First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 2/27/2009 11:13:00 AM
The week of February 27, 2009
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Aaron, Richard. Gauntlet: A Novel of International Intrigue. Glass House. Mar. 2009. c.504p. ISBN 978-0-9816768-8-3. $25.95. F
Verdict: First novelist Aaron writes rich dialog and vivid action, not to mention fascinating characters, in this international thriller set into motion with terrorist threats. However, the story is slowed by too many lengthy, technical explanations and unnecessarily extensive biographies of peripheral characters. Some subplots further slow the pace. Overall, better editing would have trimmed the novel by a good 50 pages and made it a faster paced and more appealing thriller. For larger collections.
Background: Middle Eastern terrorists steal several tons of the high explosive Semtex in Libya just prior to its planned destruction. Now America’s small, new terrorism investigation agency, TTIC, has to stop a potential catastrophe. Along with figuring out where the explosives are, TTIC has to identify the target and deal with political rivalries, incompetence, and bureaucratic inertia in both the United States and Canada. Particularly intriguing characters include a Canadian cop of Hindustani descent and an autistic computer expert. [This novel is endorsed by the Autism Society of America.—Ed.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
Bi Feiyu. The Moon Opera. Houghton. 2009. c.128p. tr. from Chinese by Howard Goldblatt & Sylvia Li-chun Lin. ISBN 978-0-15-101294-7. pap. $18. F
Verdict: Egos collide in this exquisitely detailed portrait of the rivalries in the Peking opera world. Recommended for large public and academic libraries.
Background: This slim novel by Chinese screenwriter Bi Feiyu (cowriter, Shanghai Triad) is a study of ambition, jealousy, and the intricacies of life on the Peking stage. Xiao Yanqui is renowned (and irreplaceable) in her role as Chang’e, heroine of the Moon Opera; no one has attempted the role since she threw boiling water on her first understudy 20 years ago. As the novel opens, Xiao Yanqui has been invited to become Chang’e again. This time, her understudy is her own student, the prodigiously talented Chunlai. Who will be understudy, and who will be the star?—Anne Garner, NYPL
Briggs, Patricia. Bone Crossed: A Mercy Thompson Novel. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2009. c.310p. maps. ISBN 978-0-441-01676-1. $24.95. FANTASY
Verdict: Briggs makes her hardcover debut with the fourth novel in the increasingly popular Mercy Thompson series (Iron Kissed). Mercy is not just another cookie-cutter tough-chick urban fantasy heroine; she’s got a lot of style and substance and an intriguing backstory. Series fans will appreciate the resolution of some ongoing plot lines, and the romantic tension is strong. Since Briggs’s latest builds on events from previous novels, expect demand for earlier titles. Highly recommended.
Background: Mercy is recovering from a brutal assault, her love life is complicated, and the mistress of the local vampire seethe is angry because Mercy killed one of her vampires. Then her college friend Amber shows up, complaining of a haunted house. As a shifter, Mercy can see ghosts, so she heads to Spokane and gets involved in a conflict with Michael Blackwood, a suave, and very persuasive, vampire. But is Blackwood behind the haunting, or is something more sinister at play?—Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., Champaign, IL
Dodd, Christina. Danger in a Red Dress. Signet: NAL. Mar. 2009. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-451-22626-6. pap. $7.99. F
Verdict: Award-winning romance novelist Dodd offers another fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable page-turner. Fans will relish this latest offering, which concludes “The Fortune Hunters”series while blending it with her “Lost Texas Hearts” saga. Recommended for all public libraries.
Background: Desperate for work after being falsely accused of professional misconduct, home-care nurse Hannah Grey accepts a position caring for an elderly agoraphobe, the widow of a former magnate who absconded with his company’s capital and left his family disgraced and destitute. Their son Carrick will do anything to hunt down the family fortune, and he hires private eye Gabriel Prescott to put his mother’s house under surveillance. Gabriel, who has his own family secrets to uncover, finds himself staking out Hannah more closely than the house. This clever amalgam of two popular series provides a thrilling mélange of snappy dialog, likable characters, and steamy sensuality.—Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY
Emerson, Kate. Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace. Pocket: S. & S. Mar. 2009. c.400p. ISBN 978-1-4165-8320-2. pap. $16. F
Verdict: According to Emerson (who writes historical mysteries as Kathy Lynn Emerson), this initial entry in a new historical series is a truthful representation of the life of Jane Popyncourt, a member of the Tudor court from 1498 to 1528. Emerson’s careful attention to historical details is impressive and respectable; unfortunately, this makes it difficult to emotionally engage with the characters. While not an essential purchase, this may appeal to hard-core historical fiction fans, especially readers of Philippa Gregory and Anne Easter Smith.
Background: Young Jane and her mother flee from France to England just days after the death of King Charles. Jane was too young to be told why and seems to forget the mystery until French prisoners, including a childhood friend, arrive at court. The unsurprising reveal comes near the end and has little impact on Jane’s choices for her future. An author’s note and a who’s who of the early Tudor court are useful in better understanding the story.—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., Rocky River, OH
Nothomb, Amélie. Tokyo Fiancée. Europa Editions, dist. by Penguin. 2009. c.160p. tr. from French by Alison Anderson. ISBN 978-1-933372-64-8. pap. $15. F
Verdict: Though Nothomb’s premise is engaging and there are sparks of humor throughout, this uneven novel leaves the reader a bit dazed, slightly confused, and curious as to what was lost in translation. Recommended for large public libraries.
Background: Amélie, the narrator, is a well-traveled, multilingual Belgian woman settling into the rhythms of life and work in Tokyo when she meets Rinri. Under the pretense of French lessons, the two soon establish what can only be seen as a relationship of convenience. Though love blossoms in Rinri’s heart, the most Amélie can muster is a sense of comfort and doting affection for her suitor. Readers may identify with Amélie’s indifference, despite the little space Nothomb (Fear and Trembling) allots to the two-year affair and to developing characters. Readers gain the most insight into Amélie in Nothomb’s portrayals of her mountain climbing experiences; her exhilaration is found in her freedom. The affair ends quietly and without much fanfare.—Dora Wagner, Northwestern Coll. Lib., St. Paul
O'Brien, Ally. The Agency. St. Martin's. 2009. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-312-37944-5. $24.95. F
Verdict: This whodunit from O’Brien—pseudonymous for Brian Freeman (Stalked) and entertainment agent Ali Gunn—is a sharp and sexy introduction to the cutthroat world of media agents. Readers who enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada or Bridget Jones’s Diary will love this novel for its humor, spirited heroine, and abundance of catty antagonists and snappy dialog. Recommended for public libraries.
Background: When the head of the literary agency Bardwright International dies under bizarre circumstances, Tess Drake, aging party girl and successful agent, decides to strike out on her own, taking with her a key client, a successful children’s book author. But Cosima, the new head of Bardwright wants to keep Tess in line and proves a formidable adversary. A plagiarism subplot and various romantic intrigues (Tess has lovers on both sides of the Atlantic) keep the drama from flagging—even as certain plot elements feel predictable or over-the-top.—Beth Johns, Saginaw Valley State Univ. Lib., MI
Robillard, G. Xavier. Captain Freedom. Harper: HarperCollins. Feb. 2009. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-06-165068-0. pap. $13.95. F
Verdict: Written as a superhero’s memoir, this debut novel by Robillard, a McSweeney’s contributor and humor blogger, is full of creaky old jokes that weren’t funny ten years ago. In the same genre, Austin Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible and Joss Whedon’s short online film Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog do a better job of walking the line between relatability and schadenfreude. Not an essential purchase.
Background: Captain Freedom, despite his ability to fly, predict the weather, and evade attack with amazingly fast reflexes, is kind of a jerk. He has a ridiculous ego, a pathetic backstory, and he doesn’t even understand the difference between spam and regular email. Our hero drives a gas-guzzling FUV (Freedom Utility Vehicle), his adopted son/sidekick thinks he’s endearingly lame, and he’s never found his true archenemy, even after placing an online ad. Captain Freedom has so many failings that he’s not much fun to read about.—Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib.
Sewell, Kitty. Bloodprint. Touchstone: S. & S. Feb. 2009. c.368p. ISBN 978-1-4165-8514-5. $24.99. F
Verdict: This taut psychological thriller features an appealingly flawed protagonist and enough buried secrets and surprising twists to overshadow the occasional predictable plot development.
Background: Traumatized by the death of her husband, Madeleine Frank moves from the Florida Keys to Bath, England, and begins a career as a psychotherapist. She becomes intrigued by a troubled patient whom she suspects may hold the key to her own past. Additional complications in Madeleine’s life include her mentally ill mother’s unnervingly accurate predictions, a friendship with an imprisoned psychopath, and a souring romance. Alternating between the past and the present, sunny Florida and gray Britain, this book remains readable as it navigates varied terrain.—Amelia Brunskill, Dickison Coll., Carlisle, PA
Weber, Carl. Up to No Good. Dafina: Kensington. 2009. c.297p. ISBN 978-0-7582-3178-9. $24. F
Verdict: Weber (Something on the Side) knows street lit, and his effort relies on nonstop drama to chronicle a man and his two grown children’s seedy relationship issues. Fans will enjoy the juicy tidbits—if they can endure the trite dialog and unsatisfying ending. Reservedly recommended for large public libraries.
Background: When Darnel catches his fiancée cheating with his best friend on the eve of their wedding, he sets out to stalk her, destroy her relationships, and ultimately break her down. Jamie, Darnel’s sister, is struggling to understand her boyfriend’s suspicious behavior, and the patriarch, James Black, a ladies’ man, is too preoccupied with a new relationship to help his children. In the end, each member of the Black family must overcome their individual issues or risk being consumed by them.—Natasha Grant, New York
Webster, Brenda. Vienna Triangle. Wings. 2009. 228p. ISBN 978-0-916727-50-5. pap. $16.95. F
Verdict: Webster effectively uses her knowledge of psychology, also displayed in her memoir The Last Good Freudian, to tell an intriguing story. Good for large collections.
Background: While vacationing on Cape Cod in the summer of 1968, Kate Berg’s mother, Emily, twists her ankle. She is assisted by Helene Deutch, a disciple of Sigmund Freud; Kate is working on a study of female psychologists, so this accident provides a golden opportunity. With Helene’s help, Kate uncovers the mystery of her grandfather—her grandmother was in Vienna during Freud’s time—but the intrigue involving Sigmund Freud and disciples Helene, Viktor Tausk, and Lou Andreas-Salomé create another mystery. Kate finds that while having an affair with Tausk, Andreas-Salomé regularly met with Freud, making both men suspicious. To understand what else happened, Kate must unravel the complex web of relationships in Vienna.—Josh Cohen, Mid-Hudson Lib. Syst., Poughkeepsie, NY
Brown-Waite, Eve. First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria: How a Peace Corps Poster Boy Won My Heart and a Third World Adventure Changed My Life. Broadway. Apr. 2009. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-7679-2935-6. $23.95. AUTOBIOG
Verdict: This is ultimately rather thin stuff, with the author’s churlish moments unfortunately more memorable than the times she is genuinely touched by her surroundings. Optional at best.
Background: Brown-Waite’s story begins as she joins the Peace Corps, falls in love with her recruiter, and goes to live in Ecuador. She didn’t complete the full tour of service for personal reasons and felt that she owed it to herself to try overseas living again. She got her chance when her husband (the erstwhile recruiter) took a job in Uganda; the three years they spent there make up most of the book. To her credit, the author is candid about her frustrations and whiny moments, seemingly aware that she might come across as annoying. In the end, however, her purportedly life-changing experiences read more like a catalog of personal hassles. The writing is amusing in parts, but the narrative rarely rises above the superficial: Ugandans talk funny, they smell, some of their customs are irritating—and there are bugs!—Megan Hahn Fraser, Univ. of California Lib., Los Angeles
Caine, Alex. Befriend and Betray: Infiltrating the Hells Angels, Bandidos and Other Criminal Brotherhoods. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin’s. 2009. c.304p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-312-53719-7. $25.95. CRIME
Verdict: Caine chooses his stories well; the book ends just as they threaten to become repetitive. This enthralling memoir will be a hit with all true-crime readers.
Background: A chance encounter with a drug dealer led small-time Canadian hood Caine into a decades-long career as an undercover operative. A former gang member, prisoner, and Vietnam War vet, Caine had a lot of experience with the macho worlds he inhabited, and his success rate at infiltrating the gangs and gathering intelligence was remarkable. His story is a page-turner from beginning to end, as he covers his first experience infiltrating a Hong Kong Triad cell through his time with the Bandidos and Hells Angels biker gangs and a brush with the Russian mob. He also delves into the politics of undercover operations and the danger of operatives losing themselves in their own covers and overidentifying with the targets. Indeed, he came close to choosing his Bandido gang over his difficult law-enforcement handlers, who sometimes viewed him as little better than the thugs he befriended.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH
Duelfer, Charles. Hide and Seek: The Search for Truth in Iraq. PublicAffairs: Perseus. 2009. c.560p. index. ISBN 978-1-58648-557-3. $29.95. INT AFFAIRS
Verdict: Ambassador Hans Blix’s Disarming Iraq is a less self-serving book. Nevertheless, Duelfer has written a valuable account of U.S. policy toward Iraq over 30 years.
Background: Duelfer was a career U.S. government employee when he was detailed to the UN Special Commission on Iraq during the Clinton administration, later becoming head of the Iraq Survey Group (2000–03) and writing its final report. In both positions he was charged with seeking out and monitoring Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program and ensuring that it had really ended. He spent a great deal of time in Iraq, working with Iraqi government officials, scientists and technicians, and others. Because of that extensive in-country experience, he was unfavorably impressed with the analysts that Washington sent to work on his teams, considering them to be naive and uninformed. His reports that the WMD program had, indeed, ended were greeted skeptically in Washington. The text here is a bit heavy-handed, belaboring the point that he knew more than the other staff and that Washington was unwise in choosing its sources of advice about Iraq.—Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., NY
Fieldy with Laura Morton. Got the Life: My Journey of Addiction, Faith, Recovery, and Korn. Morrow. Mar. 2009. c.288p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-06-166249-2. $26.99. MUSIC
Verdict: Korn’s bassist, Fieldy, is the second member of the metal band to chronicle his journey from drugged-out, decadent rocker to sober, born-again Christian rocker. But unlike former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch’s Save Me from Myself, this effort is disappointingly shallow. Recommended for libraries with extensive music collections.
Background: While Save Me from Myself was an honest and compelling catharsis of dealing with demons, Fieldy’s book reads like a machismo-driven and insincere account of excesses and embarrassing moments. Korn fans will appreciate the few nuggets of backstage life but will be disappointed by the brief sketch of the band’s interaction and history (certain band mates are scarcely discussed) and the absence of a more intimate or self-reflective tone.—Robert Morast, Fargo, ND
Fuchs, Marek. A Cold Blooded Business: Love, Adultery, and Murder in a Small Kansas Town. Skyhorse, dist. by Norton. Mar. 2009. c.208p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-60239-254-0. $24.95. CRIME
Verdict: The author is talented but should read his Ann Rule before attempting another true-crime book. Optional.
Background: This is a short but compelling account of the 1982 murder of David Harmon, a case that Fuchs covered for the New York Times. Harmon and his wife, Melinda, were members of an evangelical church in Olathe, KS, a town famous as the site of the crimes covered in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. When David Harmon was found beaten to death in his bed, his wife and Mark Mangelsdorf, a close family friend, were considered the primary suspects. But owing to a string of police errors and the lack of DNA testing at the time, the case was cold until 2003, when Melinda and Mark were indicted for murder. The narrative is good but could have been fleshed out quite a bit more; Fuchs doesn’t provide an in-depth portrayal of either perpetrator, leaving the reader unsure of the real motive for the crime.—Daisy Porter, San José P.L., CA
Geagan, Kate. Go Green Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low-Carbon Footprint Diet. Rodale. Mar. 2009. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-60529-989-1. pap. $19.95. HEALTH
Verdict: With a mainstream green revolution upon us, this indispensable book reveals the connections between a healthy diet and planet. Deeper and more substantive than the average diet trend book, this guide’s sound research and advice will benefit all readers. Recommended for all libraries.
Background: Geagan, an award-winning dietician, consultant, and speaker, reveals the carbon impact of our food sources and their long-term effects on our health and the planet. Locavores will rejoice at the book’s emphasis on local sources and seasonal eating—and all readers will be aided by its inclusion of narratives, nutrition information, and recipes.—Sarah E. Myers, Red Feather Lakes Community Lib., CO
Haskell, Molly. Frankly, My Dear: Gone with the Wind Revisited. Yale Univ. 2009. c.272p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-300-11752-3. $24. FILM
Verdict: Prolific film reviewer Haskell delivers an accessible and entertaining analysis of Gone with the Wind’s enduring popularity. Recommended for all collections.
Background: The novel and the film versions of Gone with the Wind are American icons, and Haskell (From Reverence to Rape: The Treatment of Women in the Movies) nimbly breaks down the complicated network of stereotypes, archetypes, and mythology at the heart of the story that keep it so captivating and controversial. This book will appeal to anyone who has ever seen the movie, read the book, or just wondered what exactly the fuss was about.—John Helling, Bloomfield-Eastern Greene Cty. P.L., IN
Humes, James C. Speak Like Reagan: Charm, Inspire and Deliver a Winning Message. Sourcebooks. Mar. 2009. c.192p. ISBN 978-1-4022-1758-6. pap. $12.99. COMM
Verdict: Marginal, though those who read exhaustively on Reagan or public speaking might be interested.
Background: With fear of public speaking ranking high on any list of phobias, sometimes higher than the fear of death, thousands of books, articles, web sites, and classes offer suggestions for becoming a confident and effective public speaker. Adding to this genre, Humes, a speech writer for four former presidents, promises that emulating Ronald Reagan’s communication style can advance one’s career. The book is an odd mix of anecdotes about Reagan, snippets of speeches (Reagan’s and others), stories from Humes’s career, and advice to prospective speech givers. Each chapter is broken into short segments with bold headlines, some only a paragraph long, giving the book a choppy look and feel. Humes covers storytelling, humor, what to wear, and such tiny details as avoiding dairy products before speaking. He ends the book with “Ten Tips To Speak Like Reagan.”—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.
James, John W. & Russell Friedman. The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses. rev. ed. Collins Living: HarperCollins. Mar. 2009. c.192p. ISBN 978-0-06-168607-8. pap. $15.95. PSYCH
Verdict: A practical guide to coping with the grief of death or divorce, complemented by excellent exercises for finding peace and regaining energy. Highly recommended for public library and other self-help collections.
Background: In this updated classic, James and Friedman (founders, Grief Recovery Institute; coauthors, When Children Grieve) argue that mourning is an emotional rather than an intellectual experience. Instead of working toward closure, the grieving are encouraged to examine their relationships with their lost loved ones and address any unresolved issues. The authors present effective tools for dealing with painful emotions (e.g., relationship graph, completion letter) and conclude with a discussion of other types of loss (e.g., career change, infertility and health issues, loss of faith).—Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN
Jarvis, Jeff. What Would Google Do? Collins Business: HarperCollins. 2009. 257p. index. ISBN 978-0-06-170971-5. $26.99. BUS
Verdict: A well-indexed and thought-provoking survey of how the Internet—and specifically Google—have changed the business landscape, and what companies must do to keep up. Highly recommended for public, academic, and business libraries.
Background: Jarvis (interactive journalism, Graduate Sch. of Journalism, CUNY; founding editor, Entertainment Weekly) argues that services and industries can no longer survive as exclusive gatekeepers of information. Google and the Internet have irrevocably changed market expectations—customers now want and expect control over the choices they make. Google dominates the new advertising marketplace through its highly successful business model as developer of freely available information platforms focusing on client interaction. Jarvis demonstrates how businesses can flourish by focusing on customer and client dialog and defining the scope of their services and products within niche markets. [See LJ Talks to Jeff Jarvis.—Ed.]—Robert L. Balliot, Bristol, RI
Liebler, Nancy & Sandra Moss. Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way: Creating Happiness with Meditation, Yoga, and Ayurveda. Wiley. Apr. 2009. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-470-28631-9. pap. $16.95. HEALTH
Verdict: A well-written, informative, and helpful introduction to ayurveda—the world’s oldest system of natural medicine, developed in India—that explores its potential for treating depression. Recommended.
Background: Clinical psychologist Liebler (Michigan Sch. of Professional Psychology) and Moss, an ayurveda practitioner, champion ayurveda’s powers in treating depression, claiming that mental disturbances are not merely caused by a chemical imbalance but by the complex breakdown of mind, body, and spirit. The authors identify three types of depression—Airy (Vata), Burning (Pitta), and Earthy (Kapha)—and describe the healing potential of optimizing digestion, rest, exercise, meditation, and breathing techniques. Antidepressants and talk therapy are not incompatible with the techniques they recommend. Boxes highlight major concepts, and questionnaires assist in assessing progress.—Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Lib.
Newberg, Andrew, M.D., & Mark Robert Waldman. How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist. Ballantine. Mar. 2009. c.368p. illus. ISBN 978-0-345-50341-1. $27. PSYCH
Verdict: A provocative and valuable addition to the self-help/spirituality genre, this fusion of faith and science is an excellent choice for general collections.
Background: Physician Newberg and counselor Waldman (Ctr. for Spirituality and the Mind, Univ. of Pennsylvania; Born To Believe) reveal the specific regions of the brain that respond to thoughts, emotions, and experience to argue that these areas are can be modified by willed concentration and practice. They present a meditation program to reduce anger and fear and increase serenity and love. They embrace faith (not necessarily religious), diversity, tolerance, and “compassionate communication.” Extensive notes—73 pages—include hundreds of recent references to neuropsychological research. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/08.]—E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
Nugent, Rory. Down at the Docks. Pantheon. 2009. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-375-42064-1. $24.95. SOC SCI
Verdict: Nugent’s empathetic narrative honors the independent fishing community, but in the form of a eulogy. Essential reading for anyone in the region.
Background: Mariner, adventurer, and author Nugent (Drums Along the Congo) lived for years in the once booming, now busting port city of New Bedford, MA, and chronicles its denizens in this generous, elegiac book. Looking back to the 19th-century whaling trade and even to pioneering settlers of coastal Massachusetts and, unblinkingly, to the economically fragile present, Nugent considers the entire history of fishing in New Bedford. In vignettes centering on a fiery local waitress, a seventh-generation fisherman, the doyenne of a fading lesbian power culture, an unrepentant jinx, and other characters for whom the term colorful does scant justice, he introduces a community bound by tradition, superstition, recalcitrance, and a profound, more visceral than affectionate love for the sea. Always at the mercy of wind and waves, contemporary fishermen are now endangered by corporatization, the war on drugs, environmental regulation, and the vagaries of worldwide markets. The symbolism of the final chapter, recounting the deliberate sinking of a dilapidated wooden fishing vessel, is unmistakable.—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Worthington Libs., OH
Plotkin, Abraham. An American in Hitler's Berlin: Abraham Plotkin's Diary, 1932–33. Univ. of Illinois. 2009. c.272p. ed. by Catherin Collomp & Bruno Groppo. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-252-03361-2. $60; pap. ISBN 978-0-252-07559-9. $25. HIST
Verdict: American labor activist Plotkin’s diary captures the mood of nascent Nazi Germany and is recommended for academic libraries with extensive labor collections.
Background: Labor experts Collomp (Université Paris VII-Denis Diderot) and Groppo (Centre National de la Rescherche Scientifique-Paris) have excavated a unique gem in this diary. Plotkin went to Germany to study its progressive labor programs (such as unemployment insurance) and arrived in Berlin to witness the crucial struggle between the Communists, Social Democrats, and the Nazi party. His diary is a meticulous six-month long record of the Nazi rallies and his encounters with anti-Semitism, and it includes whole conversations between labor leaders on Hitler and the role of labor in the future of Germany.—Maria C. Bagshaw, Ecolab, Inc.
Robertson, David. W.C. Handy: The Life and Times of the Man Who Made the Blues. Knopf. Mar. 2009. c.304p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-307-26609-5. $26.95. MUSIC
Verdict: An intricate and well-researched biography of W.C. Handy, the seminal and underappreciated American composer and cultural pioneer. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
Background: Born in Alabama in 1873, amongst the first generation of free African Americans, Handy possessed a superlative ear for pitch and an intuitive gift for reading and composing music. His rudimentary instruction in European classical music provided a framework from which he was able to transcribe, sell, and preserve African American folk melodies. Handy’s career paralleled the evolution of popular American music from the late minstrel era through ragtime, vaudeville, and the Blues. His sense of pitch, and classically trained ability to score and commercially reproduce “the blue note” was instrumental in pushing this unique African American art into mainstream popular culture.—Dennis J. Seese, Jefferson-Madison Regional Lib., Charlottesville, VA
Schroedel, Jenny. Naming the Child: Hope-Filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death. Paraclete. Mar. 2009. c.168p. ISBN 978-1-55725-585-3. pap. $14.99. HEALTH
Verdict: A sensitive, spiritually oriented compendium of voices of bereaved parents; recommended for public libraries with large perinatal loss collections.
Background: Schroedel (The Everything Saints Book; The Everything Mary Book) terms infant death a “forbidden room,” which most people prefer not to enter, deal with, or talk about. She draws on conversations with and pieces written by bereaved parents to present brief, practical suggestions for parents and those around them. Topics include the importance of naming the child and finding comfort in touch, words, one’s marriage, and other children. While the anecdotes in this book are unique, the advice overlaps with such other books on the topic as Michael Berman’s Parenthood Lost and Pat Schweibert’s Still To Be Born, Perinatal Loss. A short list of resources is included.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp., Denver
Shteir, Rachel. Gypsy: The Art of the Tease. Yale Univ. Mar. 2009. c.240p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-300-12040-0. $24. BIOG
Verdict: A revealing look at the rise and fall of the world’s most famous stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
Background: Shteir, award-winning author of Striptease,offers an intimate portrait of American icon Gypsy Rose Lee. She chronicles Gypsy’s early days in vaudeville, her growing fame as a burlesque dancer and actress, and her foray into writing—rendering her as a figure of unappreciated complexity. Far from a one-dimensional sex symbol, Gypsy distinguished herself by leaving a great deal to the imagination and regularly incorporating humor into her act. Shteir does an admirable job of re-creating Gypsy’s colorful life story and her cultural impact.—Troy Reed, Southeast Regional Lib., Maricopa Cty. Lib. Dist., AZ
Vos, Miriam B., M.D. The No-Diet Solution Obesity Solution for Kids. AGA Inst. Pr. Mar. 2009. c.275p. ISBN 978-1-60356-004-7. pap. $14.95. HEALTH
Verdict: A breakthrough guide to keeping children—as well as their families—at a healthy weight. Recommended for public library collections and hospital libraries with consumer health collections.
Background: Vos emphasizes that children should never be put on a diet—instead, families should work together to address their collective eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Using the “3Ps for Parents” and the “3Cs for Children,” Vos has parents Plan, Prepare, and Provide healthy meals for their families; while children Choose what to eat, Choose how much to eat, Choose if they want to eat. This book covers material similar to Amy Hendel’s Fat Families, Thin Families but includes more medical information (diagrams of insulin production and uptake) as well as a lengthy recipe section.—Rachel M. Minkin, Lansing Community Coll., Okemos, MI
Wolff, Daniel. How Lincoln Learned To Read: Twelve Great Americans and the Education That Made Them. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. Mar. 2009. c.352p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-59691-290-8. $26. ED
Verdict: Though Wolff falls into the historian’s trap of overusing phrases like must have and would have, rendering some passages rather dull, this collection is generally informative and easy to read.
Background: In this series of 12 linked essays, Wolff (4th of July, Asbury Park) explores the formal and informal education of 12 famous Americans, from Soujourner Truth to Henry Ford to Elvis Presley, chronologically from the early 18th- to the mid-20th century. He details the learning experiences, in and out of the classroom, that helped these men and women become great historical figures. He also probes the myths surrounding their early years, explaining how they each spoke of their education as they gained fame or power, and including snippets about their parents’ and grandparents’ education. Throughout, he offers relevant statistics—and the ideals—of the local, state, and national educational systems, linking such details from essay to essay.—Erica L. Foley, Clinton-Macomb P.L., Clinton Twp., MI
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