Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 3/27/2009 9:00:00 AM
The week of March 27, 2009
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Iggulden, Conn. Genghis: Bones of the Hills. Delacorte. Mar. 2009. c.405p. ISBN 978-0-385-33953-7. $25. F
Verdict: The third and likely final volume in this lively series is a brilliant re-creation of the Mongolian Empire. This is historical fiction at its best, and readers can only wonder what path Iggulden will travel next. Highly recommended for fans of adventure and action-packed historical fiction. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/08.]
Background: Genghis Khan is lord of all he surveys, but his sons are growing up and jockeying for position as his heir. When a Moslem force destroys a Mongol army, the Mongol "hordes" make for the Arab world. The ensuing war is bloody and long, and the Mongolian victory still seems incredible, given that they were so outnumbered. Their success—as depicted in this thrilling narrative—was owing to their savage martial strategy and peerless leadership, discipline, and ability to endure hardship.—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
Kozak, Harley Jane. A Date You Can’t Refuse. Broadway. Mar. 2009. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-7679-2422-1. pap. $11.95. M
Verdict: Kozak engages the emotions—one minute she sends fissions of fear up your spine, and the next, she tickles your funny bone. Fans of Janet Evanovich, Toni Causey, and Lisa Lutz will enjoy this latest journey into the wild and wacky world of Wollie Shelley, as well as her three previous adventures (Dating Dead Men; Dating Is Murder; and Dead Ex).
Background: Trouble always manages to find Wollie, serial dater and greeting card artist–turned–amateur sleuth. Her latest job seems harmless enough. She’s supposed to teach social graces to talented but rough-edged Eastern Europeans who want to make their way in the entertainment world. The pay’s incredible, but the terms of employment include living on the boss’s compound. One hitch: the FBI wants Wollie to spy for them while she’s cloistered with Yuri Milos and company, because the feds suspect him of un-American activities. Witty dialog, madcap adventure, lots of danger, and unforgettable characters fill the pages of this wonderfully entertaining mystery.—Shelley Mosley, Community Coll. Lib. Media Ctr., Glendale, AZ
Lippi, Rosina. The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Mar. 2009. 351p. ISBN 978-0-425-22591-2. pap. $15. F
Verdict: This disarming and smart Southern novel will delight readers who love the charm of a Carolina evening and the sweet smell of possibility.
Background: Peripatetic John Dodge moves to Lamb’s Corner, SC, and is struggling to resuscitate the pen and stationery shop Scriveners when he encounters—and begins to woo—Julia Darrow, owner of a fancy linen and lingerie store—who conducts business and life in a pair of designer pajamas. Throw in Julia’s multiple rescued dogs, a Swedish contingent from a new automobile plant, interracial relationships, and a battle between congregations, and this latest from Lippi (her novel Homestead won the 1999 Pen/Hemingway Award) will satisfy most reading tastes. The author writes historical fiction as Sara Donati.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Alexander, Matthew with John R. Bruning. How To Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, To Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq. Free Pr: S. & S. 2008. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-4165-7315-9. $26. INT AFFAIRS
Verdict: While Alexander does use military lingo, the tone of the book is conversational, with short chapters. Serious military action is tempered with humor, though those sensitive to violence should be aware that there are several descriptions of brutal killings. Recommended.
Background: Alexander (a pseudonym), a former U.S. Air Force investigator, was hired to assist the army in interrogating al Qaeda suspects in Iraq after the controversy over techniques used at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay (and their subsequent failure to provide much useful information). The military turned to Alexander’s approach of respect, rapport, hope, cunning, and deception, positioning him and his team of "’gators" at the forefront of the mission to find and kill Abu Musab al Zarqawi, head of al Qaeda in Iraq. Because Alexander’s techniques were new, his ideas, he relates, were not accepted by everyone; weak leaders and jealous peers presented obstacles to his success, and he put his career in jeopardy to complete the mission. Names and identifying details have been changed and the work was submitted to the Department of Defense for vetting prior to publication, with redacted portions left in situ.—Jenny Seftas, Southwest Florida Coll., Fort Myers, FL
Blecha, Peter. Sonic Boom: The History of Northwest Rock, from "Louie Louie" to "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Backbeat: Hal Leonard. Apr. 2009. c.300p. photogs. discog. ISBN 978-0-87930-946-6. pap. $19.99.
Prato, Greg. Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. ECW, dist. by IPG. Apr. 2009. c.480p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-55022-877-9. pap. $19.95. MUSIC
Verdict: Sonic Boom is a solid survey of Northwest rock, save for cursory sections on 1980s metal and punk and early 1990s grunge. Tackling a more manageable slice of history, Grunge Is Dead offers a definitive oral history of grunge. Both books are recommended to general readers and music buffs.
Background: Blecha (Rock & Roll Archaeologist) delves into the origins of the organ-driven, jazz-tinged sound of Northwest bands like the Wailers and adds new information about the guitar instrumentals of the Ventures, local music entrepreneurs, and raucous garage rockers such as the Sonics. Prato, a contributor to All Music Guide and Billboard.com, offers accounts from more than 125 musicians (with the exception of Nirvana), record label owners, and scenesters. The book traces grunge’s meteoric rise from the 1980s hard-core punk scene to the success of Sup Pop Records and charts its decline owing to the growing prevalence of heroin use.—Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Casey, Michael. Che’s Afterlife: The Legacy of an Image. Vintage: Random. Apr. 2009. c.384p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-307-27930-9. pap. $15.95. SOC SCI
Verdict: This investigation of iconography (and Che’s Guevara’s somewhat distorted legacy) is appropriate for academic libraries and institutions with cultural and art history collections.
Background: The Argentine revolutionary, Marxist, physician, author, and guerilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara has, in modern times, found his complexity reduced to a single image: the 1960 photograph taken by Alberto Korda that has been reproduced on countless T-shirts. His image has taken on a life of its own, and journalist Casey explores how Che—as man and myth—continues to be significant and shows how we derive meaning from symbols.—Cynde Suite , Bartow Cty. P.L., Cartersville, GA
Davis, Seth. When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed Basketball. Times Bks: Holt. 2009. c.336p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-8050-8810-6. $26. SPORTS
Verdict: A thrilling re-creation of one of the most famous basketball games in history—published to coincide with its 30th anniversary. Some readers may be disoriented with the number of names and dates, but true fans will relish the behind-the-scenes details and excellent pacing.
Background: Davis (NCAA basketball analyst, CBS Sports) chronicles the college basketball season that culminated in a final game meeting of two titans: Larry Bird, of Indiana State’s Spartans, and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, of Michigan State’s Sycamores. Davis delves into the early careers of two great basketball heroes and captures the excitement of two lesser-known teams reaching NCAA basketball’s ultimate stage.—Rachel Winchel, Louisiana Tech Univ., Ruston
George, Nelson. City Kid: A Writer’s Memoir of Ghetto Life and Post-Soul Success. Viking. Apr. 2009. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-670-02036-2. $25.95. AUTOBIOG
Verdict: Readers who enjoy George’s fiction (e.g., Show & Tell), nonfiction (e.g., Hip Hop America), or film and TV production and direction work (e.g., Life Support) will appreciate this story of how he used his love of writing and music to transcend his circumstances.
Background: George grew up in the Samuel J. Tilden housing project in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY. Through his mother’s music and book collection, he discovered a love of soul music and literature. He writes of this passion motivating and sustaining him as he graduates from St. John’s University, becomes a successful journalist, and collaborates with some of the most influential people in black popular culture, including Spike Lee, Russell Simmons, Bryant Gumbel, and Chris Rock.—Joshua Finnell, McNeese State Univ. Lib., Lake Charles, LA
Holstein, William J. Why GM Matters: Inside the Race To Transform an American Icon. Walker. 2009. c.288p. index. ISBN 978-0-8027-1718-4. $26. BUS
Verdict: Holstein makes a plea for the government to save General Motors from bankruptcy in this well-written but disappointingly uncritical portrait of a corporation on the brink. With federal assistance for America’s auto industry remaining a current issue, this book is recommended for all interested readers.
Background: Journalist Holstein tries to silence critics who argue that current management has pushed General Motors to the verge of financial collapse. He is stalwartly supportive of CEO Rick Wagoner’s efforts to restructure and revive the company, arguing that GM has the reforms in place to be able to compete if supported through the economic crisis. He contends that General Motors plays an intricate part in the national interest of the United States, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and should not be allowed to fold.—Robbie Allen, St. Johns River Community Coll., Palatka, FL
Kessler, David A., M.D. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. Workman. May 2009. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-60529-785-9. $25.95. HEALTH
Verdict: A cogent analysis of the American obsession with food and Americans’ propensity to overeat. Recommended for most public libraries.
Background: Former FDA commissioner Kessler (Question of Intent) argues that Americans have been conditioned to overeat; food has become a particularly powerful taste reward—the author reveals how the food industry uses sugar, fat, and salt levels to increase palatability (and keep people eating more). The last part of the book contains a framework to escape "conditioned hypereating" with a food rehab program.—Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Tompkins–McCaw Lib. for the Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs.
McDevitt, Jim & Eric San Juan. A Year of Hitchcock: 52 Weeks with the Master of Suspense. Scarecrow. Apr. 2009. c.384p. illus. filmog. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8108-6388-0. $49.95. FILM
Verdict: An informative survey of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, marred by familiar content and some clunky writing. Recommended for public and academic libraries seeking an up-to-date perspective on Hitchcock.
Background: Freelance writer McDevitt and newspaper editor San Juan review 68 of Hitchcock’s movies in chronological order, in what amounts to a yearlong, week-by-week master class in film appreciation. They examine how Hitchcock used suspense as a springboard for recurring themes (guilt, fear of authority, voyeurism) and delighted in shocking the audience (e.g., staging the famous crop duster attack in North by Northwest). The authors also cover Hitchcock’s casting of cool blondes and "everyman" actors to maximize the audience’s reactions at seeing screen icons in peril. Little-known trivia and descriptions of Hitchcock’s cameo appearances in his films are also included.—Stephen Rees, Levittown Lib., PA
Nicolaus, Martin. Empowering Your Sober Self: The LifeRing Approach to Addiction Recovery. Jossey-Bass. Apr. 2009. c.288p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-470-37229-6. $26.95. PSYCH
Verdict: This introduction to LifeRing Secular Recovery’s principles philosophy for overcoming addiction—without the religious underpinnings of most 12-step programs—will be well received by those seeking support on their road to recovery. Highly recommended for university libraries supporting the helping professions and larger public libraries.
Background: Nicolaus (Recovery by Choice), founder and CEO of LifeRing Secular Recovery, a nonreligious addiction recovery treatment alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous, provides an engaging guide for individuals and addiction treatment professionals seeking nonspiritual support and strategies. The author distinguishes LifeRing Secular Recovery from 12-step programs, includes numerous testimonials from members, and focuses on informing readers rather than converting them.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Wiseman, Nancy D. The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed Child. Da Capo. Apr. 2009. c.304p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-60094-065-1. pap. $16.95. HEALTH
Verdict: A comprehensive guide for parents coping with their child’s recent autism spectrum diagnosis. Strongly recommended for consumer health collections.
Background: Wiseman’s excellent hands-on overview of the first-year following a child’s diagnosis is based on her experience as president of First Signs, Inc., a national organization she founded to educate parents and professionals about the early signs of autism syndromes. Like Bryan Jepson in Changing the Course of Autism, Wiseman tries to stretch the understanding of autism from purely neurological/behavioral impairments to encompass "the entire body, including the brain, gut, and immune and metabolic systems." The book lays out day-by day, month-by-month guidelines for emotional acceptance and handling the details of home care, special education, insurance and medical costs, and negotiating with medical agencies and social bureaucracies.—James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York
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