Xpress Reviews—The First Look at New Books
Jul 22, 2010Week ending July 23, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Bruen, Ken. The Devil: A Jack Taylor Novel. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Sept. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 978-0-312-64696-7. $24.99. M
Jack Taylor is stuck in the airport in Ireland and approached by the handsome but off-putting Kurt in the first of a multitude of bars. After some verbal jousting, the two part ways, only to have Kurt reappear as "Carl Franz" at a party at the house of Jack's friend Ridge, back in Galway. One local hires Jack to find her missing son and another to, of all things, prevent some girls from bullying her daughter. Jack pops Xanax and drinks his Jameson with Guinness chasers and keeps meeting up with Kurt while people around him start to get hurt or die in sometimes gruesome fashion. Jack has his suspicions about Kurt's true identity but spends most of his time going from one bar to the next rather than doing any serious investigation.
Verdict This is best for series fans and those who like their protagonists to be Irish and well soaked in alcohol. For others seeking a tough detective battling mystical foes, consider steering them toward Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series or John Connolly's Charlie Parker series. [Library marketing.]-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids
Clearman, Deborah. Todos Santos. Black Lawrence: Dzanc. 2010. c.232p. ISBN 978-0-9825204-0-6. pap. $18. F
This slender debut novel covers a great amount of territory. When children's author/illustrator Catherine and her son Isaac flee their home in Iowa for Guatemala, she is hoping to straighten out her troubled 14-year-old son and reassess her failing marriage after discovering that her husband has been having affairs with his students. Depositing Isaac with her sister-in-law, the owner of a native crafts shop for tourists, Catherine seeks inspiration for a new book in the mountain community of Todos Santos, where Mayan folkways predominate and an unreasonable belief that tourists are baby stealers has swept the village. As Isaac finds trouble in the lowlands and xenophobic paranoia sweeps through Todos Santos, the novel comes to a terrifying conclusion in which all the protagonists are forced to realize what is important and what is not.
Verdict This novel by the program director for New York Writers Coalition and children's author (The Goose's Tale) will resonate with readers of feminist fiction in which heroines can make it without the trappings of conventional marriage and also with those who enjoy discovering the culture of exotic locales. Fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Anne Tyler may enjoy this title.-Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS
Miner, Erica. Murder in the Pit. Twilight Times. 2010. c.222p. ISBN 978-1-60619-110-1. pap. $16.95. M
When first violinist Julia Kogan makes her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera, she little suspects that her beloved mentor, Maestro Trudeau, will be shot dead during the performance. Then a few days later, another member of the Met corps is mysteriously killed. Convinced that the police have taken the wrong suspect into custody, her friend and fellow violinist Sidney Richter, Julia reluctantly joins with Det. Larry Somers to help solve the murders. Somers was put on the case because the Met's Board of Directors wanted a cop who knows opera.
Verdict This tour de force by Miner (Travels with My Lovers) sets an edge-of-your-seat read within the glamorous precincts of the New York's famed opera house. Opening her chapters with lines from various operas that foreshadow the action, the author deftly casts a web of suspicion over the Met's personnel, from the patrician general manager down to the stagehands. The characters are believably rendered, and readers without any knowledge of opera will still enjoy the spot-on detail about the Met and the many backstage shenanigans. Warmly recommended.-Edward Cone, New York
Mountain, Fiona. Lady of the Butterflies. Putnam. Jul. 2010. c.544p. ISBN 978-0-399-15636-6. $25.95. F
Raised by her Puritan father, Eleanor Goodricke knows only rigid austerity. She lives in a world without ribbons or sweets or friends. But the marshes that surround Tickenham Court are full of natural curiosities that fill her mind with more scientific pursuits. It is her unconventional ways and large estate that attract Edmund Ashfield, a bright young man with ties to the Royalists. Eleanor happily agrees to wed him, but then she meets Richard Glanville, his best friend and a scandalous cavalier. Eleanor's anguish over ignoring the magnetic Richard in faithfulness to her husband, Edmund, drives her to study butterflies with a burning passion. She begins a lifelong friendship with naturalist James Petiver, and together they make some interesting discoveries about butterflies and their environment.
Verdict The author of three historical mysteries but a newcomer here, Mountain is a writer to watch. She is on par with such leading historical authors such as Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory. Her fourth novel, based on the life of entomologist Eleanor Glanville (1654-1709) and published in the UK as Rebel Heiress, is fascinating, well paced, and full of rich detail. Eleanor is a three-dimensional figure, full of passion, intelligence, and warmth. Highly recommended for historical fiction fans, especially for readers who enjoy England's Restoration period.-Anna Nelson Karras, Collier Cty. P.L., Naples, FL
Rodale, Maya. A Groom of One's Own. Avon. Jul. 2010. 368p. ISBN 978-0-06-192298-5. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Sophie Harlow hates weddings. She especially hated her own, one year ago, when she was left at the altar for another woman. Now she is one of four unconventional Writing Girls who report for the London Weekly in the 1820s. Sophie's beat, unfortunately for her, is society weddings. Distracted upon leaving one such affair, she is near trampled by a carriage only to be plucked from death's door by This One, a green-eyed gallant named Mr. Brandon. She soon discovers that he is actually the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon (a double duke), betrothed to Clarissa Richmond, and their wedding is to be covered exclusively for the Weekly by the renowned, and now besotted, Miss Harlow. Can editorial ethics overcome the stirrings of passion? Can a gentleman think about one woman, even one who makes him laugh and forget his responsibilities, when he is about to be wed to another?
Verdict Rodale (The Heir and the Spare) has written a delightful romance that has all the wit and farcical machinations of an episode of I Love Lucy. Our protagonists early on acknowledge their attraction. How they find their way past society's strictures and into each other's arms is at the heart of this satisfying and sweet charmer. For romance fans everywhere.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Nonfiction
Darling-Gansser, Manuela (text) & Simon Griffiths (photogs.). Spring in Sicily: Food from an Ancient Island. Hardie Grant, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Aug. 2010. 260p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-74066-739-5. $44.95. COOKING
Full of "I can do this!" recipes, this book is a jewel. The well-traveled Darling-Gansser has written similar titles (Winter in the Alps, reviewed below, and Autumn in Piemonte) and again presents more than just a cookbook. Griffiths's color photographs of Sicilian scenes complement beautifully written descriptions of the island's history as well as recipes ranging from a simple pasta primavera to eggplant and fish dishes. Less useful are recipes for exotic dishes like linguine with sea-urchin roe, but these are tied to descriptions of regional cuisine. Recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, each with the much-desired color photograph of the finished dish. There's a thorough recipe index as well.
Verdict Highly recommended for regional cooking and travel collections. Though a bit pricey, this is a useful and enjoyable book.-Elizabeth Rogers, CEF Lib. Syst., Plattsburgh, NY
Darling-Gansser, Manuela (text) & Simon Griffiths (photogs.). Winter in the Alps: Food by the Fireside. Hardie Grant, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Aug. 2010. 264p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-74066-738-8. pap. $34.95. COOKING
First published in 2007 in the UK, Darling-Gansser's (Spring in Sicily, reviewed above) beautiful book features gorgeous photos of food and the alpine village experience. She calls this "a personal journey in Switzerland in winter." Chapters titled "Journey on the Glacier Express" and "Pass of San Bernardino" are complemented by memories of her family (her grandfather had a restaurant there) and recipes of the region-e.g., B?che de No? (Christmas Log), muesli recipes from a chapter on the rejuvenating quality of the Alps, Nuvolone (Cloud Souffl?, and Verdure al forno della Mamma (Mamma's Baked Vegetables). Also scattered throughout are pictures of Darling-Gansser and her family.
Verdict Pictures of alpine villages along with luscious food cannot go far wrong, and the recipes are clearly written. Much fun for food and travel lovers.-Barb Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO
Gordon, Emily Fox. Book of Days: Personal Essays. Spiegel & Grau. Aug. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-385-52589-3. pap. $15. LIT
This is a gathering of Gordon's autobiographical essays, effectively her third memoir, after Mockingbird Years and Are Your Happy? Readers will find the author often revisiting experiences covered in those previous books, such as her teenage time as a psychiatric patient at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA, and her subsequent decades in various forms of therapy. She discusses such epidsodes as classic transference, of feeling beleaguered by the system, of individual, group, and couples therapy (she has had each kind), and of feeling as if she has seen her last therapist. She uses psychiatric jargon with ease and relates stories about her therapy with humor and bluntness, showing how therapy has informed her life, from being a young faculty brat to being a newlywed, graduate student, faculty wife, writer, and mother.
Verdict Naturally, as essays originally published separately, this book does not provide one unfolding story. There is redundancy both among the essays and between them and her previous memoirs. Those who like autobiographical pieces on therapy and/or recovery-and who have not read Gordon's previous titles-might appreciate this collection more than those familiar with her memoirs.-Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence
McMurtry, Larry. Hollywood: A Third Memoir. S. & S. Aug. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-4391-5995-8. $24. FILM
McMurtry is best known for his novels, a number of which have been made into successful films, notably Hud, The Last Picture Show, and Terms of Endearment. In his spare time, McMurtry has worked on numerous film treatments and screenplays, and he and his writing partner won an Oscar for their screenplay adaptation for Brokeback Mountain. In this brief book, McMurtry writes of the challenges of scriptwriting, the tedium of attending awards ceremonies, a heart attack that shook his creative confidence, and his lifelong passion for collecting and selling books. His admission to liking Hollywood does not prevent his penning of some hard-edged portraits of actors, agents, producers, and directors. There's surprisingly little information on the making of Lonesome Dove, one of the most popular miniseries in television history.
Verdict McMurtry's latest memoir is a fast, breezy read with many deliberate digressions and his characteristically sharp observations. However, interest will probably be limited to hard-core McMurtry fans, film buffs, and industry insiders.-Stephen Rees, formerly with Bucks Cty. Free Lib., Levittown, PA
Nadel, Ira. Leon Uris: Life of a Best Seller. Univ. of Texas. (Jewish History, Life, & Culture). Oct. 2010. c.376p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-292-70935-5. $27.95. LIT
The man who was to become a mid-20th-century blockbuster best-selling author left high school to join the Marines in World War II. Leon Uris's first novel, Battle Cry (1953), drew on those experiences, painting a flattering picture of the Marines at Guadalcanal. Battle Cry, as Nadel (English, Univ. of British Columbia; Various Positions: A Life of Leonard Cohen) points out, contained Uris's first depiction of the "tough Jew," a stereotype that surfaced in other Uris novels, e.g., Exodus, and defined his self-image. Exodus topped the New York Times best sellers list for many weeks in 1958 and has never been out of print. Trinity (1976), on the Irish troubles, spent well over a year on the list. Nadel admits that Uris wasn't that good a writer although he had a gift for action scenes. How then did he succeed where better writers failed? It was partly timing. He catered to a growing public demand for big novels on grand historical themes. Uris was a pioneer in negotiating big-dollar multiple book contracts with movie contracts negotiated in advance as well. But no matter how successful he became, he remained desperately unhappy, alienating all who knew him well, including his three wives and his children.
Verdict Arguably, Uris deserves a biography, but this one cannot be especially recommended owing to plodding prose, sometimes descending into too much detail and trivia and other times failing to delve deeply enough into matters that a sound biography should cover. An optional purchase.-David Keymer. Modesto, CA
Reichert, Michael & Richard Hawley. Reaching Boys, Teaching Boys: Strategies That Work-and Why. Jossey-Bass. Aug. 2010. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-470-53278-2. pap. $29.95. ED
Reichert (executive director, Ctr. for the Study of Boys' and Girls' Lives) and Hawley (founding president, International Boys Schools Coalition) conducted a survey at 18 boys' schools in six countries (including the United States) to identify best practices in boys' (ages 12-18) education. A synthesis of these lessons showed that boys are relational learners (connecting first to the teacher), they elicit the kind of teaching they need (teachers adjust until learning improves), and successful lessons are transitive (sufficiently engaging). The 100-plus lessons given as examples in the text aptly illustrate the eight kinds of activities teachers reported using: role play/performance, open inquiry, motor activity, teamwork/competition, personal realization, novelty/surprise, creating products, or lesson as game. The authors also address effective teacher presence and use of class feedback.
Verdict Offering practical strategies based on grounded research that educators can use, this is an impressive addition to the growing body of literature and research on how best to teach boys. Strongly recommended for teachers and education scholars.-Jane Scott, George Fox Univ. Lib., Newberg, OR
Roman, James. Chronicles of Old New York: Exploring Manhattan's Landmark Neighborhoods. Museyon Guides. 2010. c.260p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-9822320-6-4. pap. $17.95. TRAV
Not quite a history book and not quite a travel guide, this is rather an intriguing mix of both. Roman, a native New Yorker with a background in real estate and as a contributor to New York Living magazine, brings to this guide an intimate knowledge and love of New York's neighborhoods and the quirks of history that have helped shape the city. The historical segments are smart and easy to read, full of details that bring the city to life. The sections are arranged by both neighborhood and topic, from Harlem to George Washington, Prohibition, and the history of Fifth Avenue. The walking tours at the end of the book have good maps, photographs, and lists of relevant subway stops. An extensive bibliography helps to make up for the lack of footnotes or direct references to sources within the text.
Verdict A fun, intelligent walk through New York's past for history and architecture buffs, best used with another guidebook for hotel and eatery information.-Sara A. Miller, Atlanta-Fulton P.L. Syst.
Stipp, David. The Youth Pill: Scientists at the Brink of an Anti-Aging Revolution. Penguin. Jul. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-61723-000-4. $26.95. SCI
Weiner, Jonathan. Long for This World: The Strange Science of Immortality. Ecco: HarperCollins. Jul. 2010. c.320p. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-06-076536-1. $27.99. SCI
For two books on more or less the same subject, these are quite different works. It is no coincidence that, as the baby boomer generation ages, the subject of lifespan enhancement has become more popular. Certainly, too, the significant increases in average life expectancy both fuel and provide credence to hopes for not only living longer but living longer, well. Stipp, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, has written the more thorough, investigative overview on the whole field of gerontology and its expanding frontiers. From the history of attitudes and philosophies on old age and various nostrums that have been pitched to the hard science of the cellular mechanisms of aging, genetic studies, and dietary variables and finally to what is becoming the big biotech business of life extension, Stipp covers the field admirably. Ultimately, the "youth pill" that may (or may not) add years to peoples' lives is derived from resveratrol, renowned as an ingredient in red wine. This tour de force is recounted with insight, authority, and a somewhat breezy style reminiscent of the best of Natalie Angier's works.
By contrast, Weiner, whose writing has won him a Pulitzer Prize, begins with a history and survey of the field, but throughout focuses on the work, career, and personality of Aubrey de Grey, a colorful Englishman who really, truly believes that practical immortality (or at least what he calls "negligible senescence") is achievable. Through his give-and-take discussions with de Grey, Weiner explores the frontiers of the science and, also, in a very illuminating way, tackles the philosophical significance of extremely long life. Imagine, for example, a world where people cease to be interested in reproducing. What would such a society look like? De Grey believes that it will happen and has a seven-pronged plan for making it so. Is he to be taken seriously, though? In that regard, it is interesting that the central subject of Weiner's book merits just one passing mention in Stipp's, and that is in a rather dismissive context.
Verdict For anyone wishing to understand the proven science and imminent frontiers of gerontological research, Stipp's text is better and serves as a good update to Stephen Hall's Merchants of Immortality. Weiner's book is more thoughtful at pondering the "what if" scenarios of a future society of Methuselahs.-Gregg Sapp, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, WA
