Starred Reviews: February 2010
Featuring Doug Glanville, Alex Lemon & Alice Lichtenstein
By Jessica Roy & Heather McCormack -- Library Journal, 02/04/2010
| Head back to BookSmack! for more stories |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ARTS
Bryant, Howard. The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron. Pantheon. May 2010. 608p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-375-42485-4. $29.95. SPORTS
Bryant evokes the apparently distant world marked by cruel segregation, racism, and poverty of the soul, as well as reliving some of the greatest moments of baseball.
Charlesworth, James H. The Good and Evil Serpent: How a Universal Symbol Became Christianized. Yale Univ. (Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library). Mar. 2010. c.736p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-300-14082-8. $45. REL
Exposing the rich complexity of historic, symbolic, and religious meanings associated with serpents, this fascinating and comprehensive study is highly recommended.
Glanville, Doug. The Game from Where I Stand: A Ballplayer’s Inside View. Times Bks: Holt. May 2010. 304p. index. ISBN 978-0-8050-9159-5. $25. SPORTS
This entertaining, insightful, and humorous (read about his visits to Montréal) book is also provocative on the subject of performance-enhancing substances.
Hoagland, Tony. Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty. Graywolf. Feb. 2010. c.100p. ISBN 978-1-55597-549-4. pap. $15. POETRY
These poems are meant to shake up an already shaken world.
Lemon, Alex. Fancy Beasts. Milkweed. Mar. 2010. c.96p. ISBN 978-1-57131-443-7. pap. $16. POETRY
This book will likely appeal most to twenty-somethings with an emo/hipster bent, but even older readers will be impressed by Lemon’s calculated audacity.
Mariscal, Javier. Mariscal: Drawing Life. Phaidon. 2009. 308p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-7148-5757-2. $69.95. FINE ARTS
You can’t not love Mariscal’s style. His story and art will warm your heart.
Marmor, Michael F. & James G. Ravin. The Artist’s Eyes: Vision and the History of Art. Abrams. 2009. 224p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8109-4849-5. $40. FINE ARTS
At once demonstrating how truly miraculous our sense of sight is, along with our resultant ability to produce great works of art, this book is itself a rare accomplishment.
Maxymuk, John. Quarterback Abstract. Triumph Bks. 2009. 368p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-60078-268-8. pap. $19.95. SPORTS
This book is essential for all NFL fans and for all libraries that support them.
Meyers, Jeffrey. The Genius and the Goddess: Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe. Univ. of Illinois. Mar. 2010. c.384p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-252-03544-9. $29.95. FILM
This superbly written, thoughtful work will have wide appeal among general and academic audiences and will reward readers with deeper insight into two famous personalities and the world they inhabited.
Mills, Dorothy Seymour. Chasing Baseball: Our Obsession with Its History, Numbers, People and Places. McFarland. Apr. 2010. c.478p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7864-4289-8. pap. $39.95. SPORTS
A fascinating read that will be especially inspiring for women who love the game.
Poetry in Person: Twenty-Five Years of Conversations with America’s Poets. Knopf. Mar. 2010. c.352p. ed. by Alexander Neubauer. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-307-26967-6. $27.95. LIT
This is an important work for teachers, students, writers, and those who appreciate the power of words and how a poem comes into being.
Ryan, Kay. The Best of It: New and Selected Poems. Grove. Mar. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-8021-1914-8. $24. POETRY
Ryan’s poetry offers a fresh experience of seeing and knowing that all serious poetry readers will enjoy.
Shelden, Michael. Mark Twain: Man in White. Random. Apr. 2010. c.528p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-679-44800-6. $30. LIT
This superb biography, told in a nonacademic tone, is saturated with sadness, but every reader will be grateful that, finally, Mark Twain appears before us, warts and all. Highly recommended.
AUDIO
Fuerst, James W. Huge. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4417-2314-7. $50; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
A rhinestone-in-the-rough novel and an author to keep an eye on.
Gingrich, Newt & William R. Forstchen. To Try Men’s Souls. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 12 hrs. Macmillan Audio from BBC Audiobooks America. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7927-6681-0. $79.95; 10 CDs. retail ed. Macmillan Audio; digital download. F
Narrators William Dufris, Callista Gingrich, and Eric Conger are excellent in their conveying of emotion and accents, making us privy to these characters’ thoughts and fears, their courage and determination.
Goodall, Jane with Thane Maynard & Gail Hudson. Hope for Animals and Their World. 11 CDs. retail ed. unabridged. 12¾ hrs. Hachette Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-1-60024-868-9. $39.98; Playaway digital; digital download. NATURE
With its powerful and important message, this book has the muscle both to inspire and effect real change.
Munro, Alice. Too Much Happiness. 10 CDs. library ed. 11¾ hrs. Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4159-6685-3. $80; 10 CDs. retail ed. Random Audio; digital download. F
An intriguing book that will appeal on many levels; strongly recommended for Munro fans and for those who appreciate fiction with some depth to it.
Walls, Jeannette. Half Broke Horses. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 8 hrs. Recorded Bks. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4407-5810-2. $92.75; 8 CDs. retail ed. S. & S. Audio; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Walls steps back further in time, piecing together family lore, verifiable facts, and stretches of her own imagination to capture the voice and life of this remarkable woman.
Zuckoff, Michael. Robert Altman: The Oral Biography. 15 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 18 hrs. Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4159-6648-8. $100; NA CDs. retail ed. abridged. NA hrs. Random House Audio; digital download. FILM
An intimate, inspirational, and unsettling snoop from which listeners will be unable to turn away.
CHRISTIAN FICTION
Coppernoll, Chris. Screen Play. David C. Cook. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-1-4347-6482-9. pap. $14.99. CF
CF meets chick lit in this inspirational novel of modern love.
Garrett, Ginger. Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther. David C. Cook. (Lost Loves of the Bible). Mar. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-4347-6801-8. pap. $14.99. CF
This reissue is sure to earn Garrett new readers, especially those enthralled with women of the Bible stories and fans of Francine Rivers.
Sawyer, Kim Vogel. Katy’s New World. Zondervan. (Katy Lambright). Feb. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 978-0-310-71924-3. pap. $14.99. CF
This YA series launch will also appeal to adult readers and brings a new dimension to the ever-popular Amish subgenre, focusing on the more modern Mennonite sect that, while embracing modern comforts, still lives simply.
FICTION
Abraham, Pearl. American Taliban. Random. Apr. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 978-1-4000-6858-6. $25. F
The author has taken a complex and volatile subject and brought it to a human scale, without compromising or trivializing the global importance of the issues raised.
Barclay, Linwood. Never Look Away. Delacorte. Apr. 2010. c.432p. ISBN 978-0-553-80171-2. $25. F
The pages fly in this gripping, twisty tale of betrayal and heartbreak.
Chung, Sonya. Long for This World. Scribner. Mar. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-4165-9962-3. $25. F
Readers who enjoyed superbly crafted, globe-trotting family sagas such as Kamila Shamsie’s Burnt Shadows Naeem Murr’s The Perfect Man, or Chang-rae Lee’s A Gesture Life will swoon over Chung’s breathtaking debut.
Grushin, Olga. The Line. Marian Wood Book: Putnam. Apr. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-399-15616-8. $25.95. F
Recommended ecstatically, especially for readers with an interest in cultures other than their own.
Hill, Joe. Horns. Morrow. Mar. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-06-114795-1. $25.99. F
With his sophomore effort, Hill has written a novel that is all his. Highly recommended.
Kirwan, Larry. Rockin’ the Bronx. Brandon, dist. by Dufour. Feb. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-86322-418-8. pap. $19.95. F
The prolific Kirwan offers writing about the transformative and curative powers of music and performance that is brilliant on its own, but his lovingly rendered portrait of American and Irish social and political realities in the 1980s is both brutal and magical.
Lamott, Anne. Imperfect Birds. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Apr. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-59448-751-4. $25.95. F
This is a deft, moving look at an extremely fragile and codependent mother-daughter relationship and how an out-of-control teenager affects a life, a friendship, and a marriage.
LeCraw, Holly. The Swimming Pool. Doubleday. Apr. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-385-53193-1. $24.95. F
With a strong underlying theme of longing woven throughout, LeCraw’s work skillfully takes these characters through varying emotional journeys.
Lichtenstein, Alice. Lost. Scribner. Mar. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-1-4391-5982-8. $24. F
Welcome spring, welcome back Lichtenstein.
Lynds, Gayle. The Book of Spies. St. Martin’s. Mar. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-312-38089-2. $25.99. F
Readers of both espionage and artifact novels should be well sated but will crave subsequent escapades with these characters.
Marlantes, Karl. Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War. Atlantic Monthly. Apr. 2010. c.592p. ISBN 978-0-8021-1928-5. $24.95. F
Obviously not a brief, cheery read, this is a major work that will be a valuable addition to any permanent collection.
Soli, Tatjana. The Lotus Eaters. St. Martin’s. Apr. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-312-61157-6. $24.99. F
Soli’s poignant work will grab the attention of most readers. A powerful new writer to watch.
Stewart, Leah. Husband and Wife. Harper: HarperCollins. May 2010. c.344p. ISBN 978-0-06-199214-8. $24.99. F
The writing is tactile, elemental, even comical, providing readers with a situation that could so easily be their own.
Syjuco, Miguel. Ilustrado. Farrar. May 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-374-17478-1. $26. F
Through his vivid use of language, Syjuco has crafted a beautiful work of historical fiction that’s part mystery and part sociopolitical commentary.
Udall, Brady. The Lonely Polygamist. Norton. May 2010. c.572p. ISBN 978-0-393-06262-5. $26.95. F
Udall observes with a keen eye for the ridiculous while showing compassion.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Willingham, Bill (text) & others (illus.). Fables: The Deluxe Edition. Vertigo: DC Comics. 2009. 264p. illus. ISBN 978-1-4012-2427-1. $29.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Excellent artwork by Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, and Craig Hamilton and well-thought-out stories will entice even those who usually don't read graphic novels.
MYSTERY
Banks, Ray. No More Heroes: A Cal Innes Novel. Houghton Harcourt. Mar. 2010. c.261p. ISBN 978-0-15-101459-0. $25. M
Banks is one of the freshest voices in hard-boiled crime fiction today. His protagonist talks to readers like an old friend, fills us in on the action, and lays everything out so well that we even feel his back pain, know his fear, and grow to appreciate his considerable charm.
Bannister, Jo. Liars All: A Brodie Farrell Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Apr. 2010. c.319p. ISBN 978-0-312-61239-9. $25.99. M
This is a heartbreaker as only Bannister can write. She just gets better with each book.
Box, C.J. Nowhere To Run: A Joe Pickett Novel. Putnam. Apr. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-399-15645-8. $25.95. M
Echoing themes from earlier books (Winterkill), Box views the quandary from all sides in this well-structured novel.
Hays, Tony. The Divine Sacrifice. Forge: Tor. Apr. 2010. c.303p. ISBN 978-0-7653-1946-3. $24.99. M
Serves up fifth-century church politics, warring philosophies regarding the celibacy issue, and a portrait of Arthur as an intelligent man caught between the growing dogma of the Church and his desire to bring all his subjects under the rule of the crown.
Hirahara, Naomi. Blood Hina: A Mas Arai Mystery. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin’s. Mar. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 978-0-312-54555-0. $24.99. M
In his fourth outing (after Snakeskin Shamisen), the Hiroshima survivor is self-deprecating and humble yet takes a sure, straightforward approach to helping those in trouble.
Nesbø, Jo. The Devil’s Star. Harper: HarperCollins. Mar. 2010. c.320p. tr. from Norwegian by Don Bartlett. ISBN 978-0-06-113397-8. $25.99. M
Scandinavian noir is alive and well, and Nesbø is one of its best authors.
Wiley, Michael. The Bad Kitty Lounge. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Mar. 2010. c.278p. ISBN 978-0-312-59300-1. $24.99. M
Though the twisting tangle of plot lines at times goes over the top, Wiley, a Shamus Award nominee for The Last Striptease, keeps us guessing to the end.
Winspear, Jacqueline. The Mapping of Love and Death: A Maisie Dobbs Novel. Harper: HarperCollins. Apr. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-06-172766-5. $25.99. M
An engaging plot coupled with captivating characters makes this the best Dobbs novel to date.
REFERENCE
America in World History. 4 vols. M.E. Sharpe. 2009. 512p. ed. by Susan Crean. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7656-8171-3. $299. REF
This timely, nonacademic encyclopedia of U.S. history—the first of its kind in a decade—is highly recommended for school and public libraries/
QFinance: The Ultimate Resource. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. 2009. 2160p. ISBN 978-1-84930-000-1. $250. REF
An ambitious and important publication; recommended for finance professionals, academic and business libraries, as well as large public libraries.
ROMANCE
Brockway, Connie. The Golden Season. Onyx: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2010. 378p. ISBN 978-0-451-41283-6. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL
Overflowing with delicious wit, exceptionally well-developed, captivating protagonists, memorable supporting players, and a classic plot with brilliant new notes, this emotionally rich romance is one to be savored.
Kinsale, Laura. Lessons in French. Sourcebooks Casablanca. Feb. 2010. c.480p. ISBN 978-1-4022-3701-0. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL
Funny, clever, and laced with whimsy, this lighthearted charmer is pure magic; a surefire winner for all collections.
McDonald, L.J. The Battle Sylph. Leisure: Dorchester. Mar. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-8439-6300-7. pap. $7.99. FANTASY ROMANCE
Deftly written, intensely seductive, and emotionally compelling, this riveting story introduces readers to characters they want to know better and a mesmerizing, magical world that they won’t want to leave.
Nash, Sophia. Secrets of a Scandalous Bride. Avon. Mar. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-06-149330-0. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL
Graced with empathetic characters, emotional intricacy, and unexpected plot twists, this final book in the “Widows Club” series ties up a variety of loose ends and is a perfectly delicious series finale.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Buckley, Julie A., M.D. Healing Our Autistic Children: A Medical Plan for Restoring Your Child’s Health. Palgrave Macmillan. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-230-61639-4. pap. $18. MED
Essential for parents of newly diagnosed children as a way to learn about medical treatments or as a guide to start treatment.
Charleson, Susannah. Scent of the Missing: Love & Partnership with a Search and Rescue Dog. Houghton Harcourt. Apr. 2010. c.304p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-547-15244-8. $26. PETS
This memorable tribute to the dedication of these dog-handler teams is an essential read for dog lovers.
Cruise, David & Alison Griffiths. Wild Horse Annie and the Last of the Mustangs: The Life of Velma Johnston. Scribner. Mar. 2010. c.320p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-5335-9. $25. NAT HIST
This important addition to the history of mustangs and animal protection laws is highly recommended for animal lovers and Western history buffs.
De Laurentiis, Giada. Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California. Clarkson Potter: Crown Publishing Group. Mar. 2010. c.240p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-307-45101-9. $35. COOKING
This is highly recommended and will be in demand.
Delgado, Jane L. The Latina Guide to Health: Consejos and Caring Answers. Newmarket. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 978-1-55704-854-7. pap. $15.95. HEALTH
An excellent addition to Latino home libraries and public and consumer health libraries.
Frankel, Bethenny with Eve Adamson. The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life. Fireside: S. & S. 2010. 296p. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-9799-5. pap. $16. COOKING
Time-starved cooks are bound to appreciate Frankel’s advice and flexible dishes.
Leonard, Annie. The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health—and a Vision for Change. Free Pr: S. & S. Mar. 2010. c.352p. illus. ISBN 978-1-4391-2566-3. $26. SCI
An important work for consumers of all ages.
Yearwood, Trisha with Gwen Yearwood & Beth Yearwood Bernard. Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood: Stories & Recipes To Share with Family & Friends. Clarkson Potter: Crown Publishing Group. Apr. 2010. c.224p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-307-46523-8. $29.99. COOKING
This is highly recommended for country music fans and Southern cooks.
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
Yolen, Jane & Midori Snyder. Except the Queen. ROC: NAL. Feb. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-451-46273-2. $23.95. FANTASY
Reminiscent of the urban fantasy of Charles de Lint in their ability to blend human characterizations with the world just beyond the borders of human perception, the authors succeed in crafting a modern fairy tale that should appeal to a broad readership.
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Bodart, Joni Richards. Radical Reads 2: Working with the Newest Edgy Titles for Teens. Scarecrow. 2010. c.464p. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-8108-6908-0. $45. PRO MEDIA
Public librarians serving teens will find this to be an excellent reader’s advisory tool as well as a professional resource on handling challenges and preparing book talks.
Brett, Regina. God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours. Grand Central. Apr. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-446-55652-1. $21.99. SELF-HELP
In this incredibly moving and inspiring essay collection, Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Brett recounts 50 hard life lessons.
Cohn, John M. & Ann L. Kelsey. The Complete Library Technology Planner: A Guidebook with Sample Technology Plans and RFPs on CD-ROM. Neal-Schuman. 2009. c.160p. ISBN 978-1-55570-681-4. $99.95 with CD. PRO MEDIA
This book provides a comprehensive wealth of information for libraries in need of creating or updating a technology plan.
Corbett, Christopher. The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West. Atlantic Monthly. Feb. 2010. c.240p. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-8021-7909-4. $25. HIST
Corbett’s intriguing book will appeal to readers interested in the narrative history of the American West and tales of the mining camps.
Downie, David (text) & Alison Harris (photogs.). Food Wine Burgundy. Little Bookroom. (Terroir Guides). 2009. 464p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-892145-75-8. pap. $29.95. TRAV
Beautifully depicted, handily sized, and substantially sourced for contact info and seasonal hours.
Freed, Rita. The Secrets of Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000 BC. MFA: Museum of Fine Arts. 2009. c.208p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-87846-747-1. $60. ARCHAEOL
A most impressive achievement that lay readers, too, will find intriguing.
Frost, Randy O. & Gail Steketee. Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things. Houghton. Apr. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-15-101423-1. $27. PSYCH
An excellent starting point for family, friends, and neighbors of hoarders, but the vivid writing will attract readers who enjoy fiction or memoirs about extreme behavior.
Hawass, Zahi (text) & Sandro Vannini (photogs.) The Lost Tombs of Thebes: Life in Paradise. Thames & Hudson, dist. by Norton. 2009. 288p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 978-0-500-05159-7. $80. ARCHAEOL
This spectacular publication is highly recommended for anyone, general or specialist, with an interest in ancient Egypt.
Heidler, David S. & Jeanne T. Heidler. Henry Clay: The Essential American. Random. May 2010. c.624p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-4000-6726-8. $30. BIOG
Anyone wanting to understand political, economic, and social life in the early republic will appreciate the Heidlers’ command of sources and balanced treatment of a man too long in the shadow of Andrew Jackson and very much a metaphor for his era.
Hodges, Graham Russell Gao. David Ruggles: A Radical Black Abolitionist and the Underground Railroad in New York City. Univ. of North Carolina. Mar. 2010. c.264p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8078-3326-1. $30. HIST
Essential for readers and scholars interested in antebellum America, the antislavery movement, black activists, or New York City history.
Kingma, Daphne Rose. The Ten Things To Do When Your Life Falls Apart: An Emotional and Spiritual Handbook. New World Library, dist. by Publishers Group West. Apr. 2010. c.240p. ISBN 978-1-57731-698-5. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
For those lost in the turbulence of life, Kingma offers a genuine hand through.
Mackay, Harvey. Use Your Head To Get Your Foot in the Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You. Portfolio. 2009. c.315p. index. ISBN 978-1-59184-321-4. $25.95. BUS
Highly recommended for job seekers and career changers at all experience levels.
Martini, Kitty & Candice Reed. Thank You for Firing Me!: How To Catch the Next Wave of Success After You Lose Your Job. Sterling. Mar. 2010. c.240p. index. ISBN 978-1-4027-6956-6. pap. $14.95. BUS
A great choice for most job hunters.
Ravitch, Diane. The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Basic Bks: Perseus. Mar. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-465-01491-0. $26.95. ED
Anyone interested in education should definitely read this accessible, riveting book.
Walker, David M. Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility. Random. 2010. c.240p. illus. ISBN 978-1-4000-6860-9. $26. ECON
The probable audience for this book will be fiscal conservatives, which would be a shame because it should be a wake-up call for everyone.
