Fiction

Barbery, Muriel. Gourmet Rhapsody. Europa Editions, dist. by Penguin. Sept. 2009. c.160p. tr. from French by Alison Anderson. ISBN 978-1-933372-95-2. pap. $15. F

This follow-up to the best-selling The Elegance of the Hedgehog, also expertly translated by Anderson, alternates chapters about a famous food critic, on his deathbed in a Paris hotel as he searches his past for a very particular taste, with chapters about his life and work from the various viewpoints of his acquaintances, family, employees—even the cat. While his own children certainly despise him the most, they are not alone, and yet some find the self-absorbed epicure delightful, warm, and brilliant. This multifaceted study of one man's life is at times charming and astute and at others merely painful or contradictory, depending on the chapter's narrator. Barbery's latest book works more as a culinary tour de force than a substantive novel with well-developed characters or interesting plot. VERDICT This work will delight foodies with a love of language but may disappoint readers looking for a novel they can really sink their teeth into.—Gwen Vredevoogd, Marymount Univ. Lib., Arlington

This semiautobiographical novel clinically chronicles the rise and fall of the Løvin family. These assimilated Danish Jews survive the Holocaust and various wars but fall victim to the advice of their patriarch, Maximilian Løvin, "Be a Personality." The family's decline, marked by adultery, alcoholism, drug addiction, and violent personality disorders, is seen through the eyes of three succeeding generations of women: Grandmother Katze, her daughter Li, and granddaughter Zeste. The author (Deliver Us from Love), who began her writing career as a journalist, describes her cast of misfits with a cool reportorial eye, making it difficult to become engaged with the dysfunctional Løvins. Caring motherhood would seem to be an activity of the lower classes, and the Løvin offspring display the obvious signs of their neglect by frequent visits to mental wards and drug rehab centers, as well as suicide attempts and sudden religious conversions. VERDICT With no happy ending, this book should appeal primarily to readers who love books about dysfunctional families like Anne Enright's The Gathering and Augusten Burroughs's Running with Scissors.—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

Wyatt Hayes IV is independently wealthy, has a Harvard Ph.D., and enjoys a life of leisure and luxury in Manhattan. We meet him at an elite social event where he breaks up with his beautiful, shallow girlfriend. Lucy Jo Ellis is a mousy Midwestern transplant whose dreams of becoming a fashion designer collide with a reality of bad jobs and no lucky breaks. On the same night as Wyatt's humiliating breakup, Lucy attends a fashion event, thinking that she's been invited to network but learning upon arrival that she is expected to serve hors d'oeuvres. Spotting a drenched and sneezing Lucy on the street later that evening, Wyatt bets his best friend that he can transform any woman into society's "It" girl and joins forces with an initially reluctant Lucy to upstage the New York elite. VERDICT Clark's debut Because She Can did for publishing what The Devil Wears Prada did for fashion. She scores again with this retelling of the Pygmalion story, which features crisp, funny prose and endearing characters. A fun read for fans of well-written chick lit.—Beth Lindsay, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman

Delivering a polemic against capital punishment, Estrin (Insect Dreams) follows five characters, each of whom plays a major role in the first execution by guillotine in Paris in 1792. They include Pelletier, the victim; Sanson, the executioner; Schmidt, the machine's builder; and Father Grenier, Pelletier's spiritual counselor. But the principal protagonist is Doctor Guillotin, whose advocacy of a more merciful method of execution led to the guillotine's development. Though these characters are based on real people, Guillotin is the only genuinely compelling and three-dimensional one here—perhaps because he is one of the few about whom much is known, given his extensive writings. The use of an omniscient third-person narrator allows Estrin to include chapters reflecting on the execution's significance and the issue of capital punishment today. These sections are generally preachy and not particularly enlightening. VERDICT The portrayal of Guillotin is this novel's principal strength. Admirers of Estrin's novels and readers of literary fiction who aren't put off by the author's strident opposition to capital punishment may enjoy.—Douglas Southard, CRA International, Boston

Fairview's (An Improper Suitor) contribution to the growing genre of Jane Austen offshoots imagines what happens to Caroline Bingley after her hoped-for marriage to Mr. Darcy falls through. To her shock, Caroline finds that her heart was truly engaged when it came to Fitzwilliam. Those hurt feelings have convinced her that she needs to be even more practical when it comes to marriage. Thus, in her initial interactions with Darcy's American cousin, Robert Darcy, she makes it abundantly clear that she is not for him. But her resolve is challenged when she is forced into proximity with the troublesome Robert. As the novel progresses, many of the familiar and beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice make an appearance to help or hinder the couple. And, surprisingly enough, given Miss Bingley's unlikability in the original work, Fairview manages to make Caroline sympathetic and the progression of her romance with the other Mr. Darcy heart-warming and charming. VERDICT Given the steady stream of sequels, prequels, and alternate tellings (e.g., Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), it's not surprising that the resulting books have been uneven—good, bad, and ugly. Fairview's effort falls squarely in the good category. This will appeal to Austen and Regency romance fans alike. [See also Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway's Lady Vernon and Her Daughter: A Jane Austen Novel, p. 54, and Jane Austen and Ben H. Winter's Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, p. 53.—Ed.]—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

It's the late Sixties, and Jess Leighton is caught up in the racial tensions, antiwar protests, gender issues, and sexual freedom of the times. She is also dealing with family issues. Her father is a moody painter who abandons the family and heads to Vermont when he hits the big time, leaving Jess's mother, a professor, to find her own way and support herself and her daughter. Eventually, she divorces him—at a time when women were just discovering this new route to freedom from dead-end marriages. Jess grows up with many more options than her mother but has a hard time finding herself; she experiments with drugs and sex, joins a commune, and tries to operate a sustainable restaurant. VERDICT The recently deceased French, author of the classic feminist title The Women's Room, covers familiar ground in her final novel, and her characters do little to inspire. Readers interested in feminist fiction might do better to go back and read her 1977 novel.—Robin Nesbitt, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OH

Gargash's unusual first novel propels the reader into the restrictive world of 1950s Dubai. Noora, a spirited tomboy, has always taken on both male and female roles in her household. As she grows to womanhood, however, she finds herself increasingly trapped by the narrow expectations of both her brother and her extended family. After several attempts to assert her independence, Noora finally accepts her role as third wife to a wealthy merchant; yet her internal struggles multiply, eventually disrupting the entire household. Gargash's central metaphor is heavy-handed: not even the most literal-minded reader could fail to see the connection between Noora and the sand fish. The novel shines, however, in its vivid descriptions of town, sea, and desert, which are a luscious treat for readers who value setting. Indeed, the novel's heavy reliance on visual elements almost guarantees a film version somewhere down the line. VERDICT Gargash's poignant plot will appeal to diehard fans of world literature, but Noora's story just might pack more punch on the big screen.—Leigh Anne Vrabel, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

The late Harris's final novel brings back femme fatale Yancey Harrington Braxton (Any Way the Wind Blows), who is determined to get back on top of her game after suffering setbacks in her acting career. She reminds herself that she had been taught by the best diva bitch of them all, Ms. Ava Middlebrook, Yancey's show biz mother and longtime rival. It looks as if Yancey has hit pay dirt when she meets the handsome and successful S. Marcus, who shows a genuine interest in her career. But then her narcissistic mother comes back into her life, seeking payback for Ava's role in getting her locked down for seven years. At the same time, a younger, more beautiful starlet appears on the scene: Miss Maddison B., the daughter that Yancey gave up for adoption when she was in college…or so she thought. Harris offers something for everyone: mystery, romance, betrayal, intrigue, and revenge. He also brings back some old characters and introduces a few new ones to make this a great read. VERDICT Harris fans will anticipate this one, and readers who enjoy other African American authors like Victoria Christopher, Carl Weber, Connie Briscoe, and Kimberla Lawson Roby will be lining up as well. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09.]—Carol Johnson, Cleveland P.L.

It's mid-1944, and war has come to Hungary when the country is occupied by its erstwhile ally Nazi Germany. Teenage Lili Bandel hides behind a wardrobe as German troops empty her town of its Jewish inhabitants. The sole surviving member of her family, Lili makes her way to Budapest and is taken in by the Becks, a family of prosperous Hungarian Jews. Kertes's (dean, creative & performing arts, Humber Coll., Toronto; Boardwalk) imaginative re-creation of this era is peopled with such historical figures as Raoul Wallenberg, Adolf Eichmann, and Alexander Korda, lending authenticity to a somewhat old-fashioned saga that follows the Beck family and friends through the fateful final days of the Holocaust. A statement about the Swede Wallenberg, who rescued countless Hungarian Jews, sets the moral tone: "Wallenberg had come back to Hungary, to someone else's cause, to someone else's misery, to stand in front of the most formidable army in the world, and with what? Papers. Common sense. Law. Civility." VERDICT Warmly recommended for all readers with an interest in this era.—Edward Cone, New York

This appealing novel by the author of This Charming Man explores the lives and loves of the residents of a Dublin town house by way of a wandering spirit. At its heart are relationships, romantic and familial, and the multigenerational characters have their own individual quirks. Watching each of them grow, change, and love through the eyes of an innocent yet determined spirit makes for some very entertaining reading. The resolution is neat but not pat, and the real reason for the spirit's visit to 66 Star Street makes for a sweet twist at the end. VERDICT Much has been said about the "new generation" of chick lit, but Keyes has been writing thoughtful novels about women's lives for years. She isn't afraid to tackle thorny subjects, but her appealing, relatable characters and gentle humor keep the tone light. Readers who enjoy intelligent, humorous women's fiction (à la Jennifer Weiner) should give Keyes a try. [See Prepub Alert, p. 41.]—Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., IL

Single mom Mia Saul, whose divorce left her with an angry daughter, an ex with a casual attitude toward child support, a deep sense of bitterness, and increased isolation from family and friends, is living in a rundown New York apartment when a magical ATM starts spitting out extra money. It can't be a bank error; on following visits it gives more money, emits an odd glow, and even displays the message, "A gift, for you, Mia. Use it well." Taking the admonition to heart, she shares the money with those less fortunate but finds that the unexpected largesse brings her new set of problems. Mia makes some poor choices throughout the book, culminating in a doozy of an odd relationship toward the end, but McDonough's skillful characterization has the reader sympathizing rather than despising. VERDICT Readers who enjoy well-written fiction with hints of magical realism such as Merrill Markoe's Walking in Circles Before Lying Down will likely be charmed by McDonough's third novel (after In Dahlia's Wake and The Four Temperaments.)—Lisa Davis-Craig, Canton P.L., MI

As Henry VIII's go-to man for his dirty work, Thomas Cromwell (1485–1540) isn't a likely candidate for a sympathetic portrait. He dirtied his hands too often. In the end, Henry dropped him just as he had Cromwell's mentor, Cardinal Wolsey, who counseled the king before him. But as Mantel (Beyond Black) reminds us, Cromwell was a man of many parts, admirable in many respects though disturbing in others. Above all, he got things done and was deeply loyal to his masters, first Wolsey and then the king. Nor was Henry always bloated and egomaniacal: well into his forties, when in good spirits, the king shone brighter than all those around him. VERDICT Longlisted for the Booker Prize, this is in all respects a superior work of fiction, peopled with appealing characters living through a period of tense high drama: Henry's abandonment of wife and church to marry Anne Boleyn. It should appeal to many readers, not just history buffs. And Mantel achieves this feat without violating the historical record! There will be few novels this year as good as this one. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09; history buffs may also enjoy reading Robert Hutchinson's biography, Thomas Cromwell: The Rise and Fall of Henry VIII's Most Notorious Minister, reviewed on p. 66.—Ed.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

Mitchell, an award-winning Canadian filmmaker, offers a deeply affecting account of immigrant struggles, reaching back into her own family history for the basis of her debut novel. After Theo and Maria Mykolayenko escape Stalin's purge in the Ukraine with their children, they start a new life on the sweeping plains of Canada in the 1930s. With the help of his sister Anna, who already has a homestead nearby, Theo acquires a homestead only to be beset by prairie fires, blizzards, and prowling coyotes. They work on against the odds to better their lives, but their good fortune is short-lived. Anna's good-for-nothing husband, Stefan, returns after a long absence. Stefan, the schemer, always with a deal in the works, orders Theo off his farm, then finds a loophole in Theo's homestead papers that creates legal troubles. Tragic in Shakespearean proportions, Mitchell's stark portrayal resembles Grapes of Wrath in its brutal description of immigrants' suffering and will to survive. This book will have immediate appeal to readers searching for superb historical fiction filled with tension, unforgettable characters, and a dramatic setting. VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09.]—Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO

The son of a painter who's fled Moscow for New York marries a ballerina, and their daughter (well, it's probably his daughter), dreamy, conniving, and amoral, eventually has an unfortunate encounter with her widowed mother's protector, then free-floating sexual and literary experiences until graduating from college and marrying the enormously fat, enormously rich scholar Philip Wild, who indulges in experiments in auto-dissolution, a sort of self-willed dying of various body parts. That is the bare bones of a story contained in 138 note cards that Nabokov left at his death with instructions to burn. Of course, it's beside the point—we're reading this not for plot but for a glimpse into the mind of a great writer. As a bonus, we get the languid atmosphere, the honed language, and that Nabokovian sense that sex and death are linked as self-obsessions. VERDICT Son Dmitri pondered for decades before deciding to release these cards. Should he have done so? Probably, yes: it's astonishing to get this last bit of light from Nabokov. Pop readers titillated by mention of Lolita won't get it, but serious readers and scholars will definitely want to read and ponder. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/09; the book includes removable facsimiles of the cards, though the library edition has nonremovable cards.—Ed.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal

Oates once again takes us to deteriorating upstate New York, this time the city of Sparta, where, as in We Were the Mulvanys, a tragic incident has devastating effects on two families. When Zoe Kruller is found brutally murdered, suspicion falls on husband Delray and on lover Eddy Diehl. Neither man is arrested, but each is forced to live under a veil of continued suspicion. In this story, it's the children who suffer the most, and they also narrate: first Eddy's daughter Krista and then Delray's son Aaron. Eddy separates from his wife and family and leaves Sparta, but Krista believes in her father's innocence, recounting life before and after the crime and offering her recollections of Zoe. Aaron recounts finding his mother's body and the bitterness of living with such notoriety. In typical Oates irony, Krista develops a crush on Aaron, climaxing in a deeply emotional scene; 15 years later they find out who killed Zoe. VERDICT Not Oates's best work, but her readers will find the psychological suspense combined with tragedy and redemption a good read. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09.]—Josh Cohen Mid-Hudson Lib. Syst., Poughkeepsie, NY

The authors (Rubino writes a contemporary mystery series and a volume of Sherlockian novellas) have brought Jane Austen's fragmentary and unfinished 1795 epistolary novel, Lady Susan, to life with this clever adaptation. Deftly quoting from and expanding on the original letters, they incorporate them into a sympathetic tale of a widow and her orphaned daughter deprived of their home and lifestyle by the untimely death of Lord Vernon. Forced to depend on the unwilling hospitality of her husband's heir, Lady Vernon does her best to adapt, all the while hoping to improve her daughter's fortunes, not to mention happiness, through an advantageous marriage. Though far more sympathetic than the original self-seeking Lady Susan, Lady Vernon is also the victim of relentless gossip and misunderstanding as she drifts from country house to country house, her vulnerable position highlighting the dangerous plight of women whose economic well-being was subject to the whims of their husbands and the good nature and generosity of the husbands' heirs. VERDICT A surprise ending and livelier, more fully realized characters will reward those familiar with the original and tempt others to read it for the first time. Austen fans will enjoy, although it may be a harder sell for standard historical fiction readers. [See also Monica Fairview's The Other Mr. Darcy, p. 48, and Austen and Ben H. Winters's Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, p. 53.—Ed.]—Cynthia Johnson, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA

In 1815 on his way to Paris, young medical student Daniel Conner is robbed of his letters of introduction and his rare coral samples by a mysterious woman. Thus begins his frantic search for his belongings and the thief in postrevolutionary Paris. To restore his name and appointment at the famous Jardin des Plantes botanical garden and museum, Daniel is drawn into an underground of thieves, philosophers, students, artists, and thugs. When he finally tracks down Lucienne, the beautiful coral thief, Daniel becomes intoxicated with her mystery and her vast knowledge of the natural world. As he learns about Lucienne's dark secrets, Daniel is slowly pulled into a daring heist to steal a precious diamond hidden in the museum where he works. VERDICT Like Catherine Delors's Mistress of the Revolution, this strong historical novel by the author of Ghostwalk contrasts the era's passion for science, philosophy, and history with its desire for love, devotion, and beauty. The prose is elegant and well paced, and the plot is filled with exciting twists and turns. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]—Ron Samul, New London, CT

"In the sixty-first year of his life, Liam Pennywell lost his job." Echoing loudly the cadences of biblical prose, Tyler's opening sentence portends Liam's ominous downward spiral. Soon after he's forced into early retirement from a second-rate private boy's school, Liam moves to a smaller apartment. Once unpacked, he lies down to sleep and wakes up the next morning, head sore and bandaged, in the hospital. With no recollection about how he ended up there, Liam wanders through his days searching, much like Noah scanning the desolate waters for land. Along the way, he meets Eunice, who cannot prod his memory of that night but does stir some of Liam's other long-forgotten feelings. Working at her characteristically leisurely pace, Tyler poignantly portrays one man's search for wholeness and redemption as he picks up the shards of a life shattered by the crashing waves of aging. Unlike similar Updike and Roth characters, who worry more about their inability to perform sexual athletics any longer, Tyler's character struggles with the visceral loss of identity brought on by forced retirement and the indignities of memory loss. VERDICT Another winning effort by Tyler; for readers of Reynolds Price's The Promise of Rest and early Tyler novels such as Dinner at Homesick Restaurant. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]—Henry Carrigan, Evanston, IL

Unt (1944–2005) was one of the most esteemed writers in his native Estonia. This work was his last and most political novel, according to translator Dickens, who provides a helpful introduction. In 1940, Bertolt Brecht spent some time in Finland while fleeing Hitler and waiting for a visa to the United States, but this is not a dramatic war story. With Brecht in Finland are his wife, Helene, and his children, along with a couple of his mistresses. Brecht is shown here as living in his own world, regardless of family pressures or the ongoing war. The author frequently interrupts the narrative with his own digressions on Estonian history and politics. Unt concludes his "documentary novel" by alternating a selection of Brecht's poems with various chilling wartime documents issued by the Soviet government. VERDICT This cerebral book is better suited to academic audiences than to lay readers and will appeal mainly to more scholarly readers who have an interest in Eastern European history and literature.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

A new novel by the Edgar Award-winning author of Citizen Vince is cause for celebration; though tedious passages of indulgent free verse threaten to derail an otherwise promising premise, Walter manages to pull it off with zippy dialog and a likable, if extremely flawed, main character. Matt Prior is a former journalist who bailed from his newspaper job to start a misconceived web site—poetfolio.com—featuring literary writing about the financial world. Now his web site is floundering, and he has no job prospects in sight. Convinced that his wife's furtive text messages signal an affair with a high school flame and desperate for cash to prevent his mortgage lender from foreclosing on their house, Matt stumbles into an unlikely money-making venture: drug dealer to the middle-aged. Fans of the TV series Weeds will not be disappointed. Manic, sleep-deprived, cringe-inducing hilarity ensues as Prior sinks lower and lower toward rock bottom before he finds a glimmer of redemption. VERDICT Prior is a zany, foul-mouthed Willy Loman in search of a stimulus package, and readers looking for some humor with their layoff notices will certainly relate.—Christine Perkins, Bellingham P.L., WA

Originally published in 1931, this is an account of a crime and its aftermath, interspersed with flashbacks that may illuminate the cause of the crime and the root of the perpetrator's moral defectiveness. The title character is the novel's unreliable narrator. Letham, who describes himself as "a physician, a man of scientific training of certain philosophical aspirations," is ever a medical researcher and taxonomist, categorizing his fellow men impassively as either frogs or rats. After murdering his wife, Letham is sent to the yellow fever-ridden penal colony C, where he is able to continue his epidemiological work and questionable experiments. The author, Jewish physician Weiss, is often compared to friend and contemporary Franz Kafka, but Weiss's work is more realistic, clearly influenced by his own life and work in the medical field. Rotenberg's translation is clean and attentive, but this is nevertheless a very slow read. VERDICT Essential reading for fans of German expressionism and of interest to readers of psychological novels but overlong for the casual reader.—Karen Morse, Univ. of Buffalo Lib., NY

This collection marks the first publication of Davis's stories in one volume, including stories from two previous collections, the acclaimed Break It Down and Varieties of Disturbance. Davis's highly original voice ranges from tweetlike one-liners with title ("Index Entry Christian, I'm not a") to longer works of several pages. Many stories are first-person accounts of the narrator analyzing, or overanalyzing, some situation he or she is encountering, as if waking from a dream. As she writes in "Story," "I try to figure it out." Davis, unlike some writers of nontraditional fiction, doesn't take "stop making sense" as her personal motto. Her art lies in getting the reader to look at everyday situations from a new and different perspective. VERDICT This will be prized by those who are already fans of Davis's work and should also appeal to discerning readers of more plot-driven, conventional fiction ready for something challenging and thought-provoking.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

In Venice, an old-time singer drafts a guitar player from one of the piazza's bands to accompany him as he serenades the wife he is about to leave. She later turns up in the tale of a sax player whose own wife, having left him, offers to pay for plastic surgery that could help his career. A man who once shared a love for show tunes with an old friend is asked by her husband to act the fool to help save their marriage. A self-centered songwriter breeds disruption while working at his sister's inn, and an inspiring cellist encounters a most unusual teacher. Despite what one might expect from the title, these aren't stories about music, which is simply enfolded in the characters' lives; the music doesn't so much inspire the action as frame it. The writing is lighter and more loose-limbed than one might expect of the author of Never Let Me Go, but it delivers the same scary insights into human misbehavior. VERDICT Once again Ishiguro does something different; recommended for anyone who loves thoughtful writing. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal

"Songs of the Eastern Slavs." "Allegories." "Requiems." "Fairy Tales." These are the four categories assigned to the fantastic and allegorical stories assembled here, dark fairy tales for brave American readers. A living legend in Russia, Petrushevskaya is also controversial. The translators identify her tales as nekyia, night journeys to the land of the dead, as in Homer's Odyssey, and they're just long enough to haunt. Petrushevskaya's tone stays as grave as anything in the uncensored Grimm Brothers archives, but the writing is not without the black comedy familiar to readers of Soviet literature. Still, as the title suggests, dread and desperation run deep in these stories—"She was convinced that if she could keep from spilling the vodka, all her wishes would come true." The more macabre tales of Poe, Gogol, or even Borges are valid reference points. VERDICT Readers who can stomach the gallows humor, or at least sympathize with the absence of a merciful god or benevolent neighbor, will find much to ponder in her stories.—Travis Fristoe, Alachua Cty. Lib. Dist., FL