Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 10/30/2009 1:14:00 PM

The week of Oct. 30, 2009

Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels

Fiction

Diamant, Anita. Day After Night. Scribner. 2009. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-7432-9984-8. $27. F
Atlit, an interment camp for illegal refugees near Haifa in what is now Israel (formally Palestine under British rule), is the setting for this engrossing and historically accurate novel by the author of The Red Tent. Here, Diamant gives voice to women who survived the Holocaust and seek freedom in Israel. Her story is narrated by four women with vastly different experiences: Shayndel, a Polish Zionist; Leonie, a Parisian beauty; Tedi, a Dutch Jew who had been living in hiding; and Zorah, a concentration camp survivor. As their friendships develop and they struggle to create new lives, the women revisit past horrors of escaping the genocide.
Verdict Tragedy and redemption are artfully paired in this stirring novel. Recommended for readers interested in modern Jewish Zionist history and fans of stirring rescue and human-interest stories. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]—Molly Abramowitz, Silver Spring, MD

Porkpie, Jonny. The Corpse Wore Pasties. Hard Case Crime: Dorchester. Nov. 2009. c.224p. ISBN 978-0-8439-6123-2. pap. $7.99. M
Porkpie is an emcee/comic for neo-burlesque shows in New York City, a profession in which you either stink or swim. Fortunately, Porkpie’s gift on stage transfers effortlessly onto the page in his debut mystery. At the start, our hero, also named Jonny, is seen on stage by the audience guilelessly administering real poison, in a bottle labeled Poison, to one of the burlesque artistes who flops over, dead, onto her pasties. It seems the victim was hated by the other performers on the bill, so Jonny has his work cut out proving his innocence while eluding the cops. Along the way, he is subjected to rigorous slapstick workouts in a dominatrix’s salon and finds himself, half naked, dangling from the Brooklyn Bridge. Still he manages to hang on to his trademark hat and dignity.
Verdict Don’t give up your night job, Jonny; it’s too good a backdrop for the much-hoped-for sequels that will nestle comfortably between Gypsy Rose Lee’s classic The G-string Murders (1941) and Kinky Friedman’s mysteries. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 8/09.]—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO

Carlin, George with Tony Hendra. Last Words. Free Pr: S. & S. Nov. 2009. c.320p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-4391-7295-7. $26.99. FILM
For nearly 15 years, the late Carlin, one of the most influential standup comedians of the 20th century, talked to comedian Hendra (Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul) about his life and career with the aim of completing an autobiography. Carlin died in June 2008 before it came to fruition, and here Hendra offers what he assembled from their conversations. Carlin describes his Roman Catholic upbringing in New York City and how his mother’s love of words influenced his later career. Detailing the history of his more famous pieces, his struggle for self-expression, and his considerable health and drug problems, this is an uplifting memoir of a true American original whose wit and charm changed comedy forever.
Verdict This fast-paced and witty read will appeal to fans of Carlin’s previous works (e.g., When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?). Highly recommended also for readers of memoirs and behind-the-scenes commentary on the performing arts and comedy world.—Sally Bryant, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA

Ellis, Richard. On Thin Ice: The Changing World of the Polar Bear. Knopf. Nov. 2009. c.416p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-307-27059-7. $27.95. NAT HIST
Prolific natural history author Ellis (Tuna: A Love Story) focuses on the history and impact of human contact with the polar bear from early Arctic explorations to the present. After describing hunting, mating, and hibernation habits, Ellis discusses the bear’s place in the culture of native peoples and its later exploitation as large game, zoo animals, and performing circus animals. Addressing global warming and melting polar ice, which threaten to drive the bear into extinction, Ellis expands on the politics of polar bear protection and preservation.
Verdict Well documented with 26 pages of cited references, Ellis’s book offers a vast amount of detailed information essential for students and academics researching the polar bear. However, On Thin Ice may be dense for recreational readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/09.]—Betty Galbraith, Owen Science & Engineering Lib., Washington State Univ., Pullman

Facaros, Dana & Michael Pauls. Barcelona and Catalonia. Interlink: Interlink Pub. Group. (Cadogan Guides). Nov. 2009. 320p. photogs. maps. ISBN 978-1-56656-768-8. pap. $21.95. TRAV
This latest Cadogan guide covers not only the city of Barcelona but also much of Catalonia, including the Girona Province, Tarragona, and the Lleida Province.Travel guide writers Facaros and Pauls (Corsica and Tuscany) cover history and art, Catalan myths and cultural topics, food and drink, and planning information. Included are a practical A-to-Z list of details about everything from the Internet to toilets; background information on key tourist sites and activities; suggestions on accommodations and dining; and an atlas and several train maps. Although there are a few color photos at this guide’s beginning, DK’s Eyewitness Guides use color throughout and are more visually appealing (see DK’s Eyewitness Barcelona & Catalonia, 2006).
Verdict A good up-to-date guide and overview; its supplemental coverage of Catalonia makes it particularly useful for those traveling to the region. Best to use it in conjunction with other guides on Spain and Barcelona.—Louise Feldmann, Colorado State Univ. Libs., Fort Collins

Jamieson, Theresa. Conscious Birthing: Yoga and Meditation for Pregnancy. Sterling. 2009. 200p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-86351-391-3. pap. $21.95. HEALTH
Pregnancy is a time of change. As women’s bodies grow, their center of gravity changes, and exercise routines may need adjustment, according to Australian naturopath and yoga teacher Jamieson (The Complete Book of Yoga and Meditation For Pregnancy). Her newest book is geared toward women interested in yoga and alternative therapies during pregnancy and childbirth. Providing easy-to-use instructions with explanatory photographs, Jamieson covers seated, squatting, standing, balancing, and pelvic floor exercises as well as breathing and meditation techniques. She also has a chapter on complementary therapies—aromatherapy, herbs, crystals, and art therapy—and provides a series of exercise programs for women to use during birth and the first year after giving birth. Included, too, are warnings about postures or therapies to avoid during pregnancy. 
Verdict A good book for those interested in incorporating alternative therapies into their pregnancy health regimens.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA

Levitt, Steven D. & Stephen J. Dubner. SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance. Morrow. Nov. 2009. c.288p. index. ISBN 978-0-06-088957-9. $29.99. BUS
After their runaway hit Freakanomics, Levitt (economics, Univ. of Chicago) and journalist Dubner (Turbulent Souls: Choosing My Religion) return with new investigations. Readers will learn how the cure for childbed fever—a simple matter of doctors washing their hands—was teased out of hospital mortality statistics. The authors also examine the consequences of a garbage-collection tax imposed in Ireland: the intention was to reduce waste, but it led homeowners to burn trash in their backyards, and this tripled the rate of people setting themselves on fire. Other topics include the economics of prostitution, whether reducing carbon emissions to stop global warming stacks up against hard scientific evidence, and how a computer algorithm assists in the identification of possible terrorists.
Verdict Readable, irreverent, insightful, and an exemplary representation of analytical thinking, this is for readers who like to think—or possibly be infuriated.—Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

Moushabeck, Michel (text) & Hiltrud Schulz (photogs.). Kilimanjaro: A Photographic Journey to the Roof of Africa. Interlink: Interlink Pub. Group. 2009. 160p. photogs. maps. ISBN978-1-56656-781-7. $30; pap. ISBN 978-1-56656-753-4. $20. TRAV
A chance encounter with travel guide writer Jacquetta Megarry (Kilimanjaro: Summit of Africa) led Moushabeck, owner of Interlink Publishing, and his wife, Schulz, a freelance travel photographer, to a week-long stint in Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro. In this partly technical but mostly personal guide, Moushabeck devotes almost as many words to his fellow trekkers, guides, and porters as to the mountain. But while recounting every step of the journey, the author struggles to convey the mountain’s majesty and the emotional and physical impact of the trek, occasionally relying on Schulz’s photographs to make his point. 
Verdict This would find an appreciative audience among armchair travelers and collectors of travelogs and photo books. Those planning a trek up the mountain should consult a more technical guidebook.—Anna Creech, Univ. of Richmond, VA

Pogrebin, Abigail. One and the Same: My Life as an Identical Twin and What I’ve Learned About Everyone’s Struggle To Be Singular. Doubleday. 2009. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-385-52156-7. $26. PSYCH
Much has been published on raising twins but surprisingly little on the reality of being a twin. An identical twin herself, Pogrebin, a TV producer and journalist, closes the gap with this wide-ranging journalistic exploration of twinship. In a series of colorful profiles of identical and fraternal twins with varying relationships—from the idealized bond bordering on romantic love, easy and essential camaraderie, the painful rejection of all connection, and even the heartbreak of the death of a twin—Pogrebin probes the concept of individuality. With less success, she also attempts to investigate why the idyllic twinship of her own childhood turned into the muddy tug-of-war she and her sister have now, an effort that feels incomplete.
Verdict A bit like what a visit to Twinsburg, OH, the must be like, the best here lies in getting to know the various twins profiled. Readers who are twins will glimpse aspects of their lives here and there. Those who parent or otherwise know and love twins will learn much about the core link they share.—Rebecca Miller, Library Journal

Stein, Elissa & Susan Kim. Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation. Griffin: St. Martin’s. Nov. 2009. c.288p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-312-37996-4. pap. $27.99. SOC SCI
With wit, sarcasm, and common sense, Stein (Stewardess: Come Fly with Me!) and Kim, a playwright and TV writer, discuss the cultural history of menstruation. Outlining women’s reproductive physiology, from menses to menopause, they provide answers to the question, "Am I normal?" and examine feminine-care manufacturing, pharmacology, advertising, and the greater women’s health industry. Included are 20th-century advertisements, in full color, which highlight cultural mores in the public discussion of menstruation. Conveying a great deal of information in an approachable and straightforward way, the authors use a pop culture lens to posit a modern, feminist, female perspective on menstruation.
Verdict This entertaining and insightful book for women of all ages is a good, popular companion to Lara Freidenfelds’s recent and more academic The Modern Period.—Kate Farley, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ. Lib., Savannah, GA

Wels, Susan. Amelia Earhart: The Thrill of It. Running Pr. 2009. 224p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7624-3763-4. $35. BIOG
The saga of Amelia Earhart’s flying career and mysterious disappearance over the Pacific in 1937 is alive and well. Case-in-point: this captivating biography is followed by the release of a Hollywood biopic and fashion line featuring Earhart’s flying togs, as well as another expedition to Nikumaroro island in search of the heroine’s remains. Here, Wels covers uncharted territory in Earhart’s otherwise familiar life, thanks to newly available archives. Inside are peeks into Earhart’s dysfunctional childhood as a result of her father’s alcoholism; her ensuing transatlantic, transcontinental, and Pacific flights; her open marriage and belief in psychic phenomena; her association with fellow women flyers; and her relationship with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Wels also notes her numerous flying mishaps, which critics blamed on poor judgment and limited experience, and her musings about the possibilities of flying post-motherhood, uttered just prior to her disappearance. 
Verdict Wels adds to the Earhart reservoir new research and fresh insights. The writing is lucid and well paced, and the layout is superb. Ric Gillespie’s Finding Amelia: The True Story of the Earhart Disappearance offers a harsher treatment of Earhart’s airmanship, but mystery buffs, Earhart followers, and aviation enthusiasts will groove on this handsome biography.—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland

Graphic Novels

Brooks, Max (text) & Ibraim Roberson (illus.). The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. Three Rivers: Crown. 2009. c.144p. ISBN 978-0-307-40577-7. pap. $17. GRAPHIC NOVELS
This graphic novel spin-off of Brooks’s New York Times best seller The Zombie Survival Guide recounts 12 brief historical tales of zombie shenanigans involving prehistoric man, a Roman commander in ancient Scotland, Francis Drake, plantation slaves, and more. The narration, delivered as a dry and factual account, is a distilled version of what appears in the Survival Guide and, consequently, offers no added depth or insight. It is as if Brooks used the graphic novel format as a vehicle through which to build another franchise rather than as tool for ingenuity. An in-depth retelling of each tale in a series of graphic novels would have been better. The real treat is Roberson’s illustrations (curiously, his name doesn’t appear in the press release, cover, or title page). The brilliantly shaded, exquisitely detailed black-and-white panels give justice to the gruesome zombies, the historical scenery, and the extreme human emotions.
Verdict Although the script is uninspired, the topic matter and illustrations lend enough drama to pique the interest of zombie enthusiasts and guide them to Brooks’s other books (including the excellent World War Z).—Ann Kim, New York

Endou, Minari. Maria Holic. Bk. 1. Tokyopop. 2009. c.192p. ISBN 978-1-4278-1671-9. pap. $10.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Kanako Miyamae has a fear of men and will break out in hives at the slightest physical contact with one. Hoping to find true love, she transfers to an all-girls school, only to draw the attention of the beautiful, manipulative Mariya Shidou (really, a boy in disguise). Kanako’s attempts at befriending her classmates and her harassment by Mariya are played for laughs. Maria Holic is light and funny, atypical to other shojo manga where cross-dressing high schoolers (such as in Ouran High School Host Club) learn about human nature by experiencing the world as the other sex. 
Verdict Intended for boys 16 years and older, this comedy delivers wacky schoolgirl hijinks with light doses of profanity and fan service. Endou’s (Dazzle) skillfully drawn harem of cute girls and the alluring yet sinister Mariya make this an amusing read. Will appeal to Rosario + Vampire fans.—June Shimonishi, Torrance P.L., CA

Lee, Stan. Fantastic Four: Lost Adventures. Marvel. 2009. c.200p. ISBN 978-0-7851-4047-4. pap. $24.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Among the many rare tales included in this collection is Jack Kirby’s once-missing Fantastic Four story (intended for the 103rd issue) that he had turned in, along with his resignation, to longtime collaborator Stan Lee and Marvel Comics. Along with notes on the rediscovered story’s rough illustrations are pieces written for the comic’s 25th and 45th anniversaries and a Stan Lee special titled "World’s End," written in the tradition of his work with Kirby. As a historical document, this is outstanding. As a set of Fantastic Four stories, it is less so. The multiple versions of Kirby’s writing are not among his best, and the 45th-anniversary short was a goofy throwaway. "World’s End" and the 25th-anniversary story, however, are delights.
Verdict This book is better suited to longtime comics readers than newcomers or casual readers.—Nick Smith, Pasadena P.L.

Liu, Marjorie (text) & Kalman Andrasofsky & Sara Pichelli (illus.). NYX: No Way Home. Marvel. 2009. c.184p. ISBN 978-0-7851-2832-8. pap. $19.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
With the help of high school teacher Cameron Palmer, Kiden Nixon is hiding out with fellow mutants and makeshift family Tatiana, Bobby Soul, and his Lil’ Bro. But when Cameron disappears, leaving signs of a violent struggle, Kiden and the others become primary suspects. On the run and looking for answers, they need all of their special abilities just to survive. This attractive update of Joe Quesada and Josh Middleton’s NYX miniseries eclipses the now-dated elements of rave culture and provides background for each character without straying far from the original. The art is crisp and cinematic with an effective variety of perspective, tone, layout, and detail. The emotional impact of the characters’ experiences as outsiders on the edge of homelessness could have been a bit stronger, but the effort is still enjoyable.
Verdict A good choice, especially for teen collections where X-Men and other Marvel heroes are popular.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., B.C.

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