Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
English-language reviews of the latest Spanish-language books for adults
-- Library Journal, 06/15/2009
FICTION | NONFICTION | ALSO IN TRANSLATION
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FICTION
El rey siempre esta por encima del pueblo.
(The King Is Always Above the People).
Alarcón, Daniel.
tr. by Roberto Frías, et al. Mexico: Sexto Piso. 2009. 117p. ISBN 978-84-96867-43-7. pap. $16.95. STORIES
The Peruvian-born Alarcón is part of a new breed of emerging bilingual and bicultural writers. In 2007, Granta 
magazine named him one of the notable American voices of writers under 35, and the Bogotá World Book Capital and the Hay Festival named him one of the 39 most important Latin American writers under 39. The author of two books and numerous stories, Alarcón is also associate editor of the Lima-based literary magazine Etiqueta Negra. Many of the stories gathered here have appeared previously in magazines such as The New Yorker and Granta and are deeply rooted in Latin American sociopolitical realities. In “The Bridge,” for example, he examines the deaths of a poor couple who live in a shantytown of an imaginary sprawling city, humanizing the anonymity of what might not appear to be more than dots in a crowd of pedestrians. In the title story, a young man leaves his provincial town and heads for the city in the hopes of escaping. Poverty, political injustices, betrayal, broken dreams, and family intrigue are all part of Alarcón’s arsenal and are described with irony and humor in these well-crafted tales. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Más allá del caracol.
(Farther than the Seashell)
Atienza, Daniel.
Spain: Nowtilus. 2009. 284p. ISBN 978-84-9763-723-7. pap. $9.95. FICTION
In this debut novel, David, a man dying at a hospital, is challenged by a stranger (whom David calls Death) to confess the biggest mistake of his life. Once he does, David will be allowed to continue his journey beyond death. David accepts the challenge and narrates his story, starting with his simple yet happy childhood in a fisherman’s town in southern Spain. Using marine images—waves, wind, tides, sand—David faces the past as he recounts a family tragedy. In the process of narrating, David realizes that his habit of fleeing rather than facing difficult situations was the wrong thing to do in his search for happiness. This marvelous novel is divided into five parts, each with short chapters that make for a fast read. The author uses direct yet very poetic language. Finalist of the XIII Fernando Lara Prize for Novel 2008, this novel is not only pleasurable reading but also thought-provoking, forcing readers to reflect on their own existence. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Liliana Wendorff, Univ. of North Carolina Lib., Pembroke
No me enteré de nada.
(I Didn’t Get a Thing)
De Silva, Diego.
tr. by Sofía González Calvo. Spain: 451 Editores. 2009. 331p. ISBN 978-84-96822-55-9. pap. $26.95. FICTION
Things haven’t gone well for lawyer Vincenzo Malonconico since his wife, Nives, left him for an architect. In the space of a few short days, however, not only does Vincenzo get offered an intriguing new case, defending a man who found a hand in his garden, but Alessandra Persiano, the most beautiful woman in the court house, starts to pay him attention. Predictably, as soon as Vincenzo’s life starts looking up, echoes of his past life threaten to bring it all tumbling down. His ex-wife is suddenly attracted to him again, his son gets beaten up and believes he may be homosexual, while the case of the hand reveals Mafia connections. And don’t forget the neighbor with the crazy wife.… An Italian best seller, this lighthearted courtroom/family drama provides a shallow if amusing insight into contemporary European life. Though the use of common stereotypes results in flat characters and a predictable plot, it provides for a summer read. Recommended for large public libraries.—Alison Hicks, Univ. of Colorado Lib., Boulder
Los años del verdugo.
(The Years of the Executioner)
Eiroa, Mauro.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2009. 235 p. ISBN 978-84-96822-70-2. pap. $18.95. FICTION
There’s a whole branch of Spanish literature devoted to childhood memories of “Franquismo,” and it usually features kids traumatized by hardship, abusive priests, and oppressive military figures and hymns. In Eiroa’s contribution to the genre, which stands out for its homeliness, ten-year-old Manu tries to cope with his mother’s incarceration for her political opposition to General Franco’s regime in the early 1970s. Constructed around the memories of Manu in an unknown future, the story follows him as he learns to play Beatles songs on the guitar, vacations in Galicia, and enjoys his favorite movies. Franco’s name is never mentioned, but his presence stands in the background as exemplified by the title, in which the word verdugo (“executioner”) seems to hint at the dictator. These are not the only subtleties at play here. The author seems intent on shielding the reader from anything upsetting; for instance, it’s implied, but never made apparent, that Manu and Jonás masturbate each other at night and that their father cheats. Although there’s some worthy material in this first novel, Eiroa’s vagueness and penchant for indulgent memories make this novel as easy to forget as it is to read. Recommended for large fiction collections and bookstores.—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY
Cartas de amor y desamor.
(Letter of Love and Unlove)
Freire, Espido.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2009. 95p. ISBN 978-84-96822-76-4. pap. $26.95 with CD. FICTION
In a collection of six letters, Freire, author of the Premio Planeta winner Melocotones helados (Planeta, 1999), recounts the story of love gone wrong in disparate ways. The first two letters recall happier times and reflect on relationships that have stagnated in boredom, complaints, and reproaches while ignoring tender details and losing spontaneity. In the third letter, the writer reluctantly struggles to forgive. The embittered author of “Reproach” denounces the one who left her as neither lover nor friend and proclaims her decision to survive the desperately dysfunctional relationship. In “Goodbye,” we see the familiar ashes of a relationship and the unsentimental realization that there will be other lovers and other houses. The final letter, “Rupture,” is one of the best and most ferocious denunciations of a faithless lover to be found anywhere. While the ending to each relationship is different, they are all equally heartrending. The literary equivalent of a blues song, this is guaranteed to bring on a good cathartic weep. With a CD of the author reading aloud all six letters; recommended for bookstores and libraries with extensive fiction collections.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
Nunca fui primera dama.
(I Was Never First Lady)
Guerra, Wendy.
Spain: Bruguera: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2008. 290p. ISBN 978-84-02-42046-6. pap. $20.95. FICTION
Award-winning Cuban poet Guerra’s third novel comes on the heels of Todos se van (“They All Leave”), an autobiographical novel based on Guerra’s own diary that won the first Bruguera Prize in 2006 and has been translated into various languages. Divided into four sections and narrated mostly by Nadia, it comprises three interrelated stories of women tied to the recent history of Cuba: the narrator; her mother, artist and poet Albis Torres (who figures prominently in Todos se van); and the neglected Celia Sánchez, the first woman to lead a revolutionary squadron in the Sierra Maestra and the reputed lover of Fidel Castro. By way of Paris, Moscow, and Miami, the author weaves together history and “herstories” and reconstructs lives past and present with remaining fragments. She fuses storylines, questions communication and memory, and includes articles, personal letters, songs, diaries, conversation transcripts, television, and radio programs. “Palabras contra el olvido” (“Words Against Forgetfulness”), a chapter title and radio program, encapsulates well the diligent labor that Guerra novelizes. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores serving Cubans Americans.—Sophie Lavoie, Univ. of New Brunswick, Fredericton
Columnas de humo.
(Columns of Smoke)
Pandiani, Alvaro.
U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2009. 370p. ISBN 978-1-60255-291-3. pap. $18.99. CHRISTIAN FICTION
Deftly drawing from his professions as physician and pastor, Pandiani has written an emotionally charged novel 
that won the Grupo Nelson Prize for Christian Fiction. In March,1857, when an official in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay, falls severely ill and dies, the physicians fear the worst: yellow fever. The epidemic quickly escalates and in two months claims 1000 lives. In a parallel plot, the Indian Brother Ventura is tormented by hatred for those who massacred his tribe and believes that the epidemic is God’s means of avenging the deaths of his people. In a rapid denouement, Ventura finds his way to forgiveness and learns that judgment is the privilege of God alone. Based on historical figures, the characters lack depth and breadth, and their dialog often seems forced and stilted, but Pandiani’s lightning pace and tight prose seizes the reader as the apocalyptic events unfold. Pandiani succeeds in crafting a historical novel that is strikingly relevant for our time by exploring the political, social, and spiritual dimensions of crisis and the problem of evil. Recommended for bookstores and public libraries with appreciative audiences of historical and Christian fiction.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
El viaje del elefante.
(The Elephant’s Journey)
Saramago, Jose.
tr. by Pilar del Rio. Argentina/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2008. 270p. ISBN 978-987-04-1169-7. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Nobel laureate Saramago was inspired to write this novel while dining at a Salzburg restaurant called The Elephant and learning that in the mid-16th century, John III, king of Portugal, made a present to the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who was visiting in neighboring Spain. The choice of his gift, an elephant, was novel as well as risky, but the memory of this tale lives on. Saramago takes poetic license to describe the journey made by the elephant, Salomon, from Lisbon to Vienna with his Bengali keeper, Subhro. When the Archduke Maximilian rechristens them as Soliman and Fritz, the elephant keeper shows himself to be more sagacious than the capricious archduke. The elephant is ultimately the major character of this tale and has a personality and style totally his own, gaining the admiration, love, and awe of those who come into contact with him. The elephant’s great dignity and perspicacity are totally credible, making him a far wiser judge of character than the archduke himself. Light, fanciful, and wise, this is one of the most delightful of Saramago’s books. Highly recommended for all libraries.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Un lugar llamado oreja de perro.
[A Place Called Oreja de Perro (Dog’s Ear)]
Thays, Iván.
Peru/Spain: Anagrama, dist. by LD Books. 2008. 212p. ISBN 978-84-339-7182-1. pap. $35.95. FICTION
Peruvian author, TV personality, and blogger Thays achieved international fame with this fourth novel, finalist of the prestigious Premio Herralde de Novela in 2008. Written in an austere, concise style, it follows an unnamed journalist who travels to a rural village called Oreja de Perro, which was ravaged by Peru’s dirty war in the 1980s and still reels from the violence of the past decades. As he waits for the arrival of President Toledo, who is expected to announce a welfare program there, the journalist tries to make sense of his failed marriage and the loss of his son, Paulo. The novel works best at its most intimate moments, especially the harrowing account of Paulo’s death, a masterpiece of constrained emotion. The parallelism with the country’s own upheaval and mourning may seem a bit calculated, but it feels thoughtful and sincere. Although not without flaws (there’s one too many female character falling in love with the hero), this is a brilliant entrance of Thays into Latin American literature’s major league. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores.—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY
Vive tu vida al rojo vivo.
(Make Your Life Prime Time)
Arrarás, María Celeste.
U.S.: Atria: S&S. 2009. 258p. ISBN 978-1-4391-0188-9. pap. $21. AUTOBIOGRAPHY
One of Spanish-language television’s most popular news personalities, Arrarás built a solid reputation as an award-winning journalist before signing on to host Univsion’s Primer Impacto. In 
2002, she made headlines when she jumped ship to sign with the competing Telemundo/NBC partnership. She is now host and managing editor of the popular news show Al rojo vivo and in 2008 became the first Telemundo star to cohost the NBC Today show. Her first book, Selena’s Secret, on the life and death of Tejano music singer Selena, generated some controversy when Selena’s father disputed her conclusions. Here, in a warm and engaging work that offers insight into her upbeat approach to life, Arrarás offers brief chapters each relating a personal experience that illustrates a value or principle she hopes will guide her children. Along the way, she shares the intimate details and challenges of her personal and professional lives—her reaction to her husband’s infidelity, her shock at discovering the abuse of her son by a trusted nanny, her disappointment at being defrauded by her personal assistant. This quick read will delight and inspire many fans. Highly recommended for all public libraries and general bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Las parejas inteligentes enriquecen juntas.
(Smart Couples Finish Rich)
Cerbasi, Gustavo.
tr. by Reina María de Lourdes Hernández Fuentes. U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2009. 176p. ISBN 978-1-60255-147-3. pap. $13.99. FINANCE/SELF-HELP
Cerbasi (economics & business administration, Univ. of Sao Paulo) is Brazil’s leading financial speaker and a 
best-selling author. This guide helps couples deal with one of the big challenges of married life—how to handle money. Cerbasi stresses the need for couples to talk about money issues and urges couples to set and then work toward financial goals together. He identifies five ways that individuals deal with money matters and outlines the positives and negatives of how different combinations may play out in a marriage. The second part of the book discusses the financial challenges and changes that couples face at different periods of their life together—courtship, saving and planning for their wedding, spending and saving money as a couple, and planning for a growing family. The third part of the book discusses emergencies, investment strategies, and retirement. This much-needed book is recommended for large public libraries with business collections, academic libraries, and bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
El Maestro de las emociones.
(The Master of Emotions)
Cury, Augusto.
tr. by Maria Fernanda Oliveira. U.S.: Grupo Nelson (Análisis de la inteligencia de Cristo). 2009. 190p. ISBN 978-1-60255-133-6. pap. $12.99. SELF-HELP
A Brazilian psychiatrist and the prolific author of best-selling books on positive thinking and psychology, Cury here offers the second of a five-book series. It’s a fairly perfunctory evaluation of the life of Christ, showing how the challenges he faced could have resulted in his abandoning his goals (calling) and becoming a defensive and aggressive person. Instead, Cury suggests, Christ controlled his emotions and remained positive and practical, able to face pain and discouragement with a self-assured outlook on life. The author suggests that readers who adopt this Christ-like discipline can better withstand overwhelming life challenges. Though Cury himself is not well known outside the Portuguese-speaking world, he is writing in a genre of Christian writers worldwide who combine psychology and the teachings of Christianity to encourage positive thinking and lifestyle changes. Recommended for public libraries with strong Spanish-language self-help and spiritual collections.—Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, UT
Literatura y derecho ante la ley.
(Literature and Law)
Magris, Claudio.
Mexico: Sexto Piso. 2008. 84p. ISBN 978-84-96867-35-2. pap. $15.95. ESSAY
With a prolog by Spanish philosopher Fernando Savater, this work is yet another indication of Italian-born Magris’s skills at seeing the bigger picture when analyzing creative writing. Magris addresses the manner in which literature and law can—or better yet, must—coexist, even while they may appear to be at odds. The author notes that whereas some writers may not have accepted the imposition of laws or legal dictation on literary innovation, others have been profoundly interested in the codification of language. In fact, both law and literature make use of the same material and language and in one way or another pass judgment on the world. Magris’s volume is brief but challenging, requiring both a far-reaching knowledge of literary and legal history and an interest in reflecting on what language in its diverse genres has meant to writers and other users throughout the centuries. Surely this is a book to be read by many and savored for the wisdom of the author who so skillfully elucidates the wisdom of writers of all times and types. Recommended for literary nonfiction collections.—Kathleen March, Univ. of Maine, Orono
Vive tu sueño.
(Put Your Dream to the Test)
Maxwell, John C.
tr. by Enrique Chi. U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2009. 247p. ISBN 978-1-60255-133-6. pap. $14.99. SELF-HELP
A world-renowned writer of Christian self-help books, Reverend Maxwell frequently addresses business ethics, but here he focuses more broadly on achieving one’s life-long aspirations. His stated goal is to help readers map out a strategy for success in life. To that end, he provides a step-by-step plan of action by taking readers through ten questions related to success in any endeavor. This volume is being published simultaneously published in Spanish and English, suggesting the extent of Maxwell’s popularity. Recommended for libraries with a significant Spanish-speaking clientele.—Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
El banquete de las banquetas.
(Banquet of Sidewalks)
Newman, Robin.
Mexico: Artes de México y Zimat. 2009. 2 vols, 96p. ISBN 978-970-683-348-8. $71.95. PHOTOGRAPHY
A consummate flâneur, Newman photographs Paris from a unique perspective. His is not the city of Eugène Atget, of arch elegance and labyrinthine allure. In his strolls, Newman photographs what he finds as he peers down at Parisian sidewalks: graffiti, cobblestones, fallen leaves, bird feathers. The several hundred photos thus display a whimsical view of the city but can be puzzlingly anonymous. Couldn’t these be the byways of Lyons or Bordeaux? The book boasts an innovative format: it’s a landscape shape bound on both lateral sides, forming two volumes that open as French doors. Each page has several photographs, mounted in multiple squares or rectangles. Any page on the left may be matched with one on the right, producing a kaleidoscopic effect, a kinetic reservoir of compound images. Nonetheless, the photographs, while possessing defined contrast, lack chromatic strength, ironic for the Ville des Lumières—the City of Lights. The text is in both Spanish and French. Recommended for comprehensive public libraries and collections specializing in visual arts and communication.—Edward A. Riedinger, Ohio State Univ. Lib., Columbus
Un bolsillo de voces.
(A Pocketful of Voices)
Sagástegui, Anita & John Oliver Simon, eds.
U.S.: Univ. of Washington. 2009. 200p. ISBN 978-1-931883-31-3. pap. $10.95. POETRY
Originating from the Center for the Art of Translation’s education arm, Poetry Inside Out, this collection features original poetry and translation by second through ninth grade students. Poetry Inside Out is an arts program in the San Francisco Bay area whose outreach into bilingual elementary and middle schools expands children’s experience of poetry through translation and composition. The seventh volume in their “Best of Poetry Inside Out” series, this book is a showpiece for the program. Each chapter covers a key element in the curriculum, from understanding how metaphor works to using poetic forms like haiku and tanka. Each topic, be it the idea of self or the use of imagery in a poem, is described on one page followed by a facing translation and focuses on one poem by a renowned poet such as Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, or Alejandra Pizarnik. Students’ writing, also with facing translations, then illustrates the lesson. Some of the writing is outstanding, given the age of the authors; for example, a sixth grader wrote “secret world/ gummies, 12 cents, and magic” a riddle that the poem’s title, “Pocket,” answers. This book might prove useful for teachers or artists creating a poetry curriculum, especially given the number of age-appropriate poems, but it is not a how-to. Recommended for public and school libraries.—Salwa Jabado, New York City
La riqueza en cu4tro pisos. Un plan para construir tu independencia financiera.
(Four Steps to Wealth: A Plan To Build Your Financial Independence)
Serbia, Xavier.
Spain/U.S.: Santillana USA. 2009. 332p. ISBN 978-1-60396-217-9. pap. $16.99. FINANCE
A popular Spanish-language media personal finance guru, Serbia here offers a four-step plan to 
financial independence. Written in a straightforward, easy-to-follow manner, the book outlines solutions to many of the financial challenges that affect today’s American family. The author addresses Latinos living in the United States, and he serves his audience well, offering culturally relevant examples and advice. With each of the four steps—Survival, Security, Accumulation, and Distribution—Serbia includes useful spreadsheets so that readers can plug in their own numbers. This may feel like 20/20 hindsight, but it does allow one to reformulate financial plans. The lesson to be gained is that, above all else, planning and informed decision-making is paramount to improving one’s personal finance. While at first glance the advice may seem obvious, e.g., save more, read the fine print, many people will likely benefit from Serbia’s back-to-basics reminder. Highly recommended for public libraries.—Laura Torres, Arlington, MA
El viaje a la ficción. El mundo de Juan Carlos Onetti.
(A Trip to Fiction: The World of Juan Carlos Onetti)
Vargas Llosa, Mario.
Peru/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2008. 248p. ISBN 978-603-4016-96-5. pap. $19.99. ESSAY
Uruguayan Juan Carlos Onetti, along with Vargas Llosa, contributed to the Latin American “Boom” literature t
hat shook up culture around the world in the 1960s and 1970s. In this labor of love, Vargas Llosa takes the reader through Onetti’s life and times, firmly placing his work within the context of Latin America’s struggles in the 20th century. He analyzes Onetti’s complete body of work, beginning with the first novel, El pozo,published in 1939, and examining each novel through Cuando ya no importe,published a year before Onetti’s death in 1994. Vargas Llosa’s meticulously researched analysis covers Onetti’s relationship with great authors from Borges to Faulkner and adroitly illustrates his theses about art and the human condition. It is a fascinating read that portrays a very human Onetti: as a child hiding in a closet to read, a political prisoner exiled by Uruguay’s military dictatorship, anda tourist who, along with Vargas Llosa, was guided around 1960s San Francisco by Beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. An indispensable selection for academic libraries and large public libraries with strong Latin American literature collections.—Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Ctr., Tulsa City-Cty. Lib. Syst.
¿Es posible una revolución socialista en Estados Unidos? Un debate necesario.
(Is a Socialist Revolution in the United States Possible?: A Necessary Debate)
Waters, Mary-Alice.
U.S.: Pathfinder. 2009. 92p. ISBN 978-1-60488-019-9. pap. $7. SOC SCI
Waters is a life-long Socialist activist and president of Pathfinder Press, a Socialist publishing company. This book is made up of two lectures that she gave in 2007 and 2009 in Caracas, Venezuela, at its international book fair. There is additional text by Norton Sandler, an activist and colleague of Waters, and Olympia Newton, who covered both speeches for the Militant, a Socialist newspaper based in New York. Inspired by Cuba’s revolutionary past and persistence, Waters argues that not only can the United States experience a Socialist revolution but that it may simply be inevitable, given what she views as the country’s unsustainable growth and the mounting level of discontent among the working class. Her 2007 speech is occasionally eerily prescient, given the current economic climate. In addition to addressing economics, she also speaks at length about the growing U.S. immigrant population and its relevance to the Socialist movement. Recommended for public libraries and for academic libraries as primary source material on U.S. Socialist movements.—Laura Torres, Arlington, MA
FICTION
El buen canario.
(The Good Canary)
Helm, Zach.
tr. by Eduardo Rabasa. Mexico: Sexto Piso. 2009. 264p. ISBN 978-84-96867-38-3. pap. $24.95. DRAMA
Californian Helm is considered a “boy wonder” in the realms of directing and play- and screenwriting. Like many young playwrights, he began doctoring scripts in Hollywood and eventually had his own scripts accepted. 
His best-known screenplays resulted in the films Stranger Than Fiction and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. In 2007, the actor John Malkovich acted in and directed his play The Good Canary; a Mexican production followed. This translation of Helm’s play includes photographs from both the Mexican and the French productions, as well as texts by Malkovich and Fabrizio Mejia Madrid. Like many contemporary plays, Helm touches on modern ailments and alienation, here exploring anorexia, rape, and social expectations. And as in many classics, the tragic heroine here combines touches of Blanche DuBois’s vulnerability and Hedda Gabler’s cruelty. Despite its New York–centric feel, Helm’s play is universal enough to be at home on stages in Mexico City and Paris. The Mexican production of The Good Canary ran for the weeks to sold-out houses. This handsome edition is recommended for libraries and bookstores with strong drama collections.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
El arte de conducir bajo la lluvia.
(The Art of Racing in the Rain)
Stein, Garth.
tr. by Agustín Pico Estrada. Spain/U.S.: Suma de letras/Santillana. 2009. 353p. ISBN 978-1-60396-615-3. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Enzo narrates his life story, beginning with his impending death. He’s not afraid of dying, as he’s seen a television documentary on the Mongolian belief that a good dog will be reincarnated as a man. Yes, Enzo is a dog. And he belongs to Denny: husband, father, and customer service technician. Denny’s dream is to be a professional race-car driver, and Enzo recounts the triumphs and tragedies—medical, financial, and legal—they share in this quest, the dangers of the racetrack being the least of their obstacles. Enzo ultimately teaches Denny and the reader that persistence and joie de vivre will see them through to the checkered flag. Recommended for public libraries with large Spanish-language commercial fiction collections. [LJ 4/1/08]
Vía Revolucionaria.
(Revolutionary Road)
Yates, Richard.
tr. by Luis Murillo Fort. Spain/U.S.: Punto de lectura: Santillana. 2009. 409p. ISBN 978-84-663-2262-1. pap. $13.99. FICTION
“So much nonsense has been written on suburban life and mores that it comes as a considerable shock to read a book by someone who seems to have his own ideas on the subject and who pursues them relentlessly to the bitter end,” said LJ’s reviewer (LJ 2/1/61) of this novel of unhappy life in the burbs. It is reminiscent of the popular film American Beauty in its depiction of white-collar life as fraught with discontent. Others have picked up on this theme since, but Yates remains a solid read. Recommended for public libraries and large bookstores. [LJ 9/15/00]
NONFICTION
Cómo criar niños autodiscipilnados. Edúcalos para sobresalir y cumplir sus metas.
(Raising a Self-Disciplined Children: Teach Them To Stand Out and Achieve Their Goals)
Brooks, Robert & Sam Goldstein.
tr. by Gerardo Piña. Spain/U.S.: Santillana. 2008. 363p. ISBN 978-970-58-0441-0. pap. $19.99. PARENTING
This book, authored by two clinical psychologists, is full of useful information for parents. Examining case studies to illustrate their points, they note that discipline is a teaching process that must actively involve parents and children working as a team. The goal is to keep children safe and make them responsible for their own actions and choices. Spanking and authoritarian methods are not effective. They only intimidate children. Parents should use positive feedback, offer children choices, and ask them to come up with solutions to problems. Of course, both the choices and the solutions must be realistic, e.g., “Would you like to clean your room now or in ten minutes?” This is an excellent book that empowers both parents and children to learn and grow. Highly recommended for parenting collections in public and consumer health libraries.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
Fueras de serie.
(Outliers)
Gladwell, Malcolm.
tr. by Pedro Cifuentes. Spain/U.S.: Taurus: Santillana. 2009. 328p. ISBN 978-1-60396-616-0. pap. $19.99. SOC SCI
Author of the best sellers The Tipping Point and Blink, Gladwell here has reached a tipping point in the consciousness of observers of popular culture. Following a format similar to his previous books, he gloms onto an apparent phenomenon—in this case people who seem significantly different from other people, whether for good or for ill—and offers startlingly logical explanations for why they stand out. Gladwell’s reasons have largely to do with things like where they come from and what month they were born in. It’s all very readable but not particularly surprising. No matter, libraries will need to acquire it. [LJ 10/1/08]
Cazadores de cuerpos. La experimentación farmacéutica con los pobres del mundo.
(The Body Hunters: Testing New Drugs on the World’s Poorest Patients)
Shah, Sonia.
tr. by Ricardo García Pérez. Spain: 451 Editores. 2009. 341p. ISBN 978-84-96822-69-6. pap. $26.95. MED
Would you let someone test an experimental drug on your child? Thousands in the United States did when Salk’s polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s, but since then, the willingness of Americans and others in wealthy countries to participate in clinical trials has decreased significantly. As such, a new system for locating and recruiting patients in poor countries has been engendered by the multinational pharmaceutical industry. Having spent years gathering research in Africa and Asia, investigative journalist Shah (Crude: The Story of Oil) explores the ethical issues involved and makes the case that the system is essentially exploitative. She includes among her examples of poor peoples’ rights being abused a lack of informed consent and oversight, a misunderstanding of the nature of placebos, and the receiving of free food in exchange for “volunteer” trial participation. She provides compelling evidence and suggests solutions that would still provide clinical data without exploiting the poor. Recommended for public and academic libraries. [LJ 6/15/05]
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