Xpress Reviews-First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 09/04/2009
The week ending September 4, 2009
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Aub, Max. Field of Honour. Verso, dist. by Norton. Sept. 2009. c.246p. tr. from Spanish by Gerald Martin. ISBN 978-1-84667-400-8. $19.95. F
Published originally in Spanish in 1943 and appearing in English for the first time, this is the first of five novels of the author’s cycle El laberinto mágico (The Magic Labyrinth). It begins with Rafael Serrador, who leaves his village and makes his way as a teenager to Barcelona, where he eventually is caught up in the outbreak of the Spanish civil war. The novel’s history is a saga in itself; Aub, born in France of German parents and considered a "national icon" in Spain today according to the publisher, smuggled it during the war from Spain to North Africa and finally to Mexico, where he lived the rest of his life.
Verdict Aub’s style—he was also a playwright—is to paint lightly with scraps and snippets of dialog, seamlessly translated by Martin, that cumulatively assume the force of reality. Sections will not be understood by readers with no background in the period, but for those with an interest in literary fiction or the Spanish civil war, this estimable work should find a devoted following.—Edward Cone, New York
Kane, Andrea. Drawn in Blood. Morrow. Sept. 2009. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-06-123680-8. $24.99. F
Kane’s sequel to Twisted reads more like a thrilling procedural than a romance. Featuring former FBI Special Agent Sloane Burbank and her partner/lover Derek Parkers, the book begins when Sloane’s mother is attacked during a break-in. Sloane is even more troubled when her father informs her that the robbery wasn’t random and that he needs her help and her silence. At odds with Derek in a case that involves Chinese gangs, murder, and stolen art, Sloane struggles to make it all work out. The intercutting of Sloane and Derek’s investigations with museum robberies and the machinations of gangster Xiao Long makes for an intriguing tale with a quick-fire pace.
Verdict Readers who like the strong suspense of Karen Rose and a competent heroine in the style of Jilliane Hoffman will find much to enjoy here. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09.]—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI
Parker, Robert B. The Professional: A Spenser Novel. Putnam. Oct. 2009. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-399-15594-9. $26.95. F
The latest (after Rough Weather) in the long-running Spenser series finds the wisecracking Boston PI employed by a bevy of beautiful women to investigate a handsome gigolo with a habit of seducing and blackmailing young wives of wealthy older men. Fists and literary allusions fly, accompanied by psychological commentary courtesy of Spenser’s longtime girlfriend, Susan Silverman. Many series regulars make cameos as Spenser unravels the gigolo’s blackmail scheme only to uncover other tangled webs of influence and victimization. The dialog crackles, and the plot moves quickly as Spenser discovers once again how sex, greed, and stupidity can disrupt the best laid plans, and how a personal moral code can be quite separate from social conventions or legal authority.
Verdict A fast-paced, enjoyable trip through familiar territory for fans of the series. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/09.]—Bradley A. Scott, Brighton Dist. Lib., MI
Roesch, Mattox. Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same. Unbridled. Sept. 2009. c.336p. ISBN 978-1-932961-87-4. pap. $15.95. F
In Roesch's first novel, narrator Cesar has grown up in Los Angeles, easily slipping into the gang life that has already sent his older brother Wicho to prison. Just before his senior year of high school, his mother (whose Eskimo heritage has gone without notice in a household led by her Mexican-wannabe husband) decides to take her younger son and move "home" to middle-of-nowhere Unalakleet, AK. There Cesar spends his days with his older cousin Go-Boy, a village favorite son, who has so far been able to hide the fact that he’s been kicked out of bible college. At first, Go’s natural leadership abilities and his place of honor in the community allow him to help his cousin navigate the culture shock and to find his way in a new place. But soon, Cesar realizes that his cousin is losing his grip on reality.
Verdict This beautiful story of cousins provides a great look at a culture few Americans know. It should appeal both to readers of coming-of-age stories and to those fascinated by small town culture.—Debbie Bogenschutz, Cincinnati State Techical & Community Coll. Lib.
Walsh, Therese. The Last Will of Moira Leahy. Shaye Areheart: Harmony. Oct. 2009. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-307-46157-5. $24. F
Ever since her twin sister’s fatal accident nine years ago, Maeve Leahy has been haunted by the sound of music and disturbing dreams—remnants of a childhood she has worked hard to leave behind her. An attempt to escape these memories brings Maeve to an auction house; here, she is compelled to buy an ancient sword similar to a dagger that her ten-year-old self had lost on a seaside adventure with her twin. This mysterious sword takes Maeve on a journey to Rome, where she finally comes to terms with her tragic past.
Verdict Walsh’s debut seamlessly weaves together past and present. This tender tale of sisterhood, self-discovery, and forgiveness will captivate fans of contemporary women’s fiction.—Suzie Remilien, Long Island Univ. Brooklyn Lib., NY
Baigent, Michael. Racing Toward Armageddon: The Three Great Religions and the Plot To End the World. HarperOne: HarperCollins. Sept. 2009. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-06-136318-4. $26.99. REL
Speculative historian and New York Times best-selling author Baigent (The Jesus Papers) loves a controversy and is likely to stir one up with his latest, which posits that Jewish, Christian, and Islamic fundamentalists are conspiring to bring about an Armageddon by using myths to incite this great last battle. Correlating the tenets of the Chalcedon Foundation, Sharia law, and Americanized biblical doctrine, Baigent showcases how many believers have been trapped in a dangerous and distorted spirituality.
Verdict A somber and thought-provoking book, but readership will likely be limited to secularist, seeker, or conspiracy-theory followers.—Nancy Richey, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green
Bronson, Po & Ashley Merryman. NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children. Twelve: Hachette. Sept. 2009. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-446-50412-6. $24.99. CHILD REARING
Why are kids today so fat? Too much TV and Internet surfing, right? Nope. What’s better for kids—watching Power Rangers or Clifford the Big Red Dog? (It’s not what you think.) Prepare to be slack-jawed as Bronson (What Should I Do With My Life?) and Merryman excavate astonishing research that reveals why our parenting strategies have backfired: why smart kids are underperforming, why Baby Einstein watchers speak fewer words than their peers, and why kindergarteners in the gifted program are no smarter than others. Chapters address sibling relations, self-control, sleep effects, and other relevant topics. The book presents a panoramic view of the latest research and is further distinguished by pragmatic prose that avoids alarmism and sanctimony
Verdict This tour de force is one of the best parenting psychology books in years and will likely be seismic in influence.—Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI
Cannon, Christopher P. with Elizabeth Vierck. The New Heart Disease Handbook: Everything You Need To Know To Effectively Reverse and Manage Heart Disease. Fair Winds: Quayside. Sept. 2009. 392p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59233-381-3. pap. $24.99. HEALTH
This excellent overview covers cardiac diseases via separate chapters devoted to angina, heart attacks, peripheral artery disease, heart muscle disease, arrhythmia, structural heart disease, and stroke. Each condition is accompanied by easy-to-understand illustrations and the appropriate diagnostic tests, newest treatments, and medications. Effective methods to control high blood pressure and cholesterol and make necessary lifestyle changes are also discussed. An appendix covers life-saving techniques: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), and automatic external defibrillators (AED). The glossary and index are effective references.
Verdict This outstanding heart handbook covers every aspect of heart care and treatment. Highly recommended for both lay readers and medical professionals.—James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York
Hunt, Tristram. Marx's General: The Revolutionary Life of Friedrich Engels. Metropolitan: Holt. 2009. c.448p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8050-8025-4. $32. BIOG
British historian Hunt (Building Jerusalem) does an excellent job unraveling the seemingly contradictory life of Friedrich Engels, textile magnate and coauthor of The Communist Manifesto. A child of German mercantilists, Engels used his income from cotton mills in Manchester, England, to support Karl Marx and his family for many years. An ardent beer drinker and profligate lover of women, Engels was also an intellectual founder of communism and strove to calculate the human cost of capitalism by faithfully documenting the plight of the working class in slums and textile mills. Hunt’s well-researched biography features extensive notes and archival material, but it remains eminently readable.
Verdict This welcome book brings Engels out from Marx’s shadow and reveals that Marxism would not be Marxism without Engels.—Leslie Lewis, Duquesne Univ. Lib., Pittsburgh
Meyer, Nicholas. The View from the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood. Viking. Sept. 2009. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-670-02130-7. $25.95. FILM
Academy Award–nominated screenwriter and writer and/or director of Star Trek movies II (The Wrath of Khan), IV (The Voyage Home), and VI (The Undiscovered Country), Meyer delivers a graceful and self-reflective memoir. Unlike Julia Phillips’s acerbic You’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again, Meyer’s account of his 40 years in Hollywood testifies to the industry’s generosity. He traces the arc of his creative progression from university newspaper film critic through his Seven-Per-Cent Solution breakthrough to Star Trek and later projects.
Verdict Laden with anecdotes and insightful commentary, Meyer’s story is far more than the obligatory addition to the Star Trek canon. Meyer is smart and funny, and he excels at making meaningful connections between his art and life. A rich and textured story that will endear itself to film fans and Trekkies.—Barry Miller, Austin P.L., TX
Murray, Stuart A.P. The Library: An Illustrated History. Skyhorse, dist. by Norton. 2009. 320p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-60239-706-4. $35. HIST
It is difficult for librarians not to warm to a book about libraries, but this study by Murray (America’s Song) is something of a puzzle. The coverage is ambitious: 12 chapters take the reader around the globe from 3000 B.C.E. to the present. The final section provides brief descriptions of 50 extant libraries; not quite a Michelin guide but perhaps of interest to travelers. Given the breadth of coverage, the treatment is necessarily cursory, and this quality makes the book of limited use for students. It is well illustrated, but the writing is clumsy, with facts more piled on than woven together. Murray includes the high and low points of library history but provides little analysis or reflection.
Verdict This is not an essential purchase for libraries, but it may be of some interest for library gift shops.—Jan Blodgett, Davidson Coll. Lib., NC
Roseman, Ed. Edly's Music Theory for Practical People. 3d ed. Musical EdVentures. 2009. c.200p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-9661616-6-3. pap. $25. MUSIC
Composer, performer, and teacher Roseman adds seven chapters on chord extensions, voicing, voice leading, and harmonizing to the third edition of his music theory manual, which begins with tonality and progresses through chords, harmonies, chord progressions, modes and scales, and more. The book is intended for self-instruction and can even be used by students unable to read music (but they may struggle as the material becomes more complex). Exercises and concepts build on each other so that by the time the circle of fifths (for example) is explicitly introduced, perceptive readers will have already deduced it. The lack of a CD is a drawback.
Verdict Roseman’s breezy style sometimes glosses over complex concepts that other theory books treat in necessary detail. This book will likely appeal to music teachers and self-directed learners, especially those with some performance experience.—Genevieve Williams, Pacific Lutheran Univ. Lib., Tacoma, WA
Rosen, Michael. What Else But Home: Seven Boys and an American Journey Between the Projects and the Penthouse. PublicAffairs: Perseus. 2009. c.384p. ISBN 978-1-58648-562-7. $24.95. AUTOBIOG
Rosen (Turning Words, Spinning Worlds: Chapters in Organizational Ethnography) recounts how a trip with his wife and their two sons to the park near their penthouse apartment in New York City changed their lives forever. His older son made new friends—five boys, all black or Hispanic and all from poor families—who ultimately became part of the family. The "accidental family" clashes over values, language, perception, and acceptance, but their conflicts lead them to an amazing level of harmony and to lives these "adopted" boys may never have thought possible. Nothing is sugarcoated as Rosen recounts many grimace-worthy incidents and flaws.
Verdict Although burdened with unnecessary minutiae of day-to-day life, this is an awe-inspiring story of success over insurmountable odds.—Jane B. Marino, Great Neck Lib., NY
Stanley, Ralph with Eddie Dean. Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times. Gotham: Penguin Group (USA). Oct. 2009. c.320p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-59240-425-4. $27.50. MUSIC
Stanley, who became a Grammy Award winner and a legend in his seventies and has inspired the likes of Alison Krauss and Loretta Lynn, opens up in this rare and candid account of his impoverished upbringing and the early days of bluegrass and its revival. In his timid voice, Stanley, with Dean (Pure Country: The Leon Kagarise Archives, 1961–1971), tells of the heartbreaking loss of his bandmate and brother from alcoholism, his music, and his friendship with the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. His rivalry with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, his thoughts on contemporary country music, and his one-of-a-kind meeting with Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs, who later performed with him in the Clinch Mountain Boys, are some of the humorous events that line the story.
Verdict Country and bluegrass music lovers will enjoy this story from the man who was there at the beginning of bluegrass and at its rebirth with the soundtrack to the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?—Brian Sherman, McNeese State Univ. Lib., Lake Charles, LA
