Xpress Reviews--The First Look at New Books
Aug 12, 2010
Week ending August 13, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Bail, Murray. The Pages. Other. Aug. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 978-1-59051-353-8. pap. $14.95. F
Erica Hazelhurst is an unmarried Sydney philosophy professor who worries that her chosen work is turning her into a harsh woman. Called upon to evaluate the unpublished life's work of Wesley Antill, a recently deceased amateur philosopher, Erica travels inland to the remote sheep station where Wesley spent his final years composing his magnum opus in an abandoned shearing shed. What might have been a routine task quickly becomes a transformative experience for Erica, her psychoanalyst friend Sophie, and Wesley's two siblings. Erica soon settles into an unfamiliar but soothing rhythm on the station as she explores the rugged local terrain, befriends Wesley's sister, and finds herself drawn to his brother, Roger. Interweaving Erica's story with snippets of Wesley's self-reproving memoirs, noted Australian author Bail crafts a strange and impressionistic philosophical fable. Throughout, he strikes a brilliant thematic balance between theory and experience with sharp prose and dazzling imagery.
Verdict While not as lyrical as Bail's acclaimed Eucalyptus, this work possesses a similar quiet charm. Recommended for readers who enjoy spare, atmospheric literary fiction.—Kelsy Peterson, Prairie Village, KS
Cook, Thomas H. The Last Talk with Lola Faye. Houghton Harcourt. Aug. 2010. 288p. ISBN 978-0-15-101407-1. $25. F
While on a book promotion tour in St. Louis, history professor Lucas (Luke) Page has managed to unload a single autographed copy of his latest tome onto a rather dowdy but delightfully irrepressible older woman who introduces herself as Lola Faye Gilroy. She's the woman he's regarded for years as the reason for his father's murder decades before in the small town of Glenville, AL. Her appearance opens the floodgates of memory as surely as if she were Proust's madeleine. The remainder of the novel is the extended conversation between the two, fueled (for him) by glasses of pinot noir and (for her) by appletinis with occasional forays into calamari ("it's like a cross between a French fry and a rubber band"). During the evening, she develops a taste for both as the pair unearth the sins, lies, blindness, and odd murders that have brought them to where they are.
Verdict Edgar and Barry Award winner Cook (The Chatham School Affair, Red Leaves) has described himself as "one of the best-known unknown writers"; with his latest he'll likely retain his title for, in this genre-driven world, mystery fans will find him discursive, while he may well be overlooked by his real audience, fans of quirky small-town fiction of the type written by Richard Russo. However, those seeking a good, old-fashioned, character-driven storyteller who offers something to mull over would do well to seek out Cook on his next book tour.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO
Evanovich, Janet. Wicked Appetite. St. Martin's. Sept. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-312-65291-3. $27.99. F
Elizabeth "Lizzy" Tucker was surprised to inherit Great Aunt Ophelia's house in Marblehead, MA, just outside of Salem, but even more surprised to hear that her own superior cupcake baking skills came from being an Unmentionable. Diesel, agent for the Board of Unmentionable Marshalls, or BUM, drops this information bomb in order to use Lizzy's ability to find empowered objects, specifically the Seven Stones of Power. BUM needs to have possession of all seven stones, each representing a deadly sin, before the "other side" collects them and brings about Hell on Earth. It's hard to find a reliably humorous author, but Evanovich always delivers. Stephanie Plum fans will recognize Diesel, Wulf, and Carl the monkey from the "Between-the-Numbers" series, and they'll also recognize some of Lizzy's characteristics, like compulsive eye-rolling, blasting her hair dry, and destroying multiple fancy black cars. But for this reader, those distractions soon fell away, and the book was only put down briefly for mealtimes.
Verdict The first in an entertaining new paranormal series, a great choice for fans of Jennifer Crusie and Mary Kay Andrews. [A 2.5 million–copy first printing; CD and digital download available from Macmillan Audio.]-Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH
Hiaasen, Carl. Star Island. Knopf. Aug. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-307-27258-4. $26.95. F
At age 22, Cherry Pye is a fading pop star whose handlers, manager, and publicity gurus are trying frantically to orchestrate a comeback-with little help from Cherry-while keeping her fragile emotional state a closely guarded secret. The plan seems to be working until Cherry overdoses—again—and in the resulting melee, one of the ever-present paparazzi kidnaps Ann DeLusia, Cherry's stunt double, thinking he has the real star. A master at character creation, Hiaasen (Nature Girl) has amassed as weird a cast as ever graced Miami Beach, including a one-armed bodyguard with a unique prosthesis, an obsessed paparazzo whose unwashed state and obsession are an affront to all but Cherry, fraternal twins who have spent thousands of dollars to look identical, and Skink, the reclusive former governor of Florida, who lives in the wilderness of the Florida Keys and uses every ploy at his command to thwart development of the state's natural lands.
Verdict This rollicking tour de force lampoons south Florida's celebrity subculture while including the obligatory environmental subplot for which Hiaasen is known. Highly recommended. [A 500,000-copy first printing; 12-city tour.]—Thomas L. Kilpatrick, formerly with Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale
Nonfiction
Ashby, Ralph. Napoleon Against Great Odds: The Emperor and the Defenders of France, 1814. Praeger. 2010. 256p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-313-38190-4. $44.95. HIST
The bulk of English-language books on the Napoleonic wars focus on the Russian Campaign of 1812 and/or the Waterloo Campaign of 1815. There are not many that deal with the fighting in Germany in 1813 or the defense of France in 1814, before Napoleon's first exile. Those books that do discuss the latter campaign all tend to say the same thing: that the Allied Coalition and/or war weariness in France spelled the end of the Empire. Ashby (history, Eastern Illinois Univ.), an army veteran, has written an intriguing book that takes into account the additional perspective that Napoleon simply ran out of time in preparing for the defense of France in 1814. The lust for revenge had driven Russian Tsar Alexander and Prussian Field Marshal Blucher to invade France in the winter rather than wait for spring and more agreeable maneuver weather.
Verdict Told in a fast-paced, clear voice, Ashby's book, surveying events both on and off the battlefield, challenges the reader to reexamine the facts and look deeper into the reasons underlying Napoleon's defeat in 1814.—David Lee Poremba, Keiser Univ. Lib., Orlando, FL
Bittman, Mark. The Food Matters Cookbook: 500 Revolutionary Recipes for Better Living. S. & S. Sept. 2010. c.608p. index. ISBN 978-1-4391-2023-1. $35. COOKING
Bittman's newest cookbook complements his Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, in which he argues the need for Americans to change their diets for medical and ethical reasons. His two goals with this collection of recipes are to help people to eat healthier to lose weight and to eat more sustainably. Sustainable eating means eating seasonally, limiting damage to the environment, avoiding exploitation of people or animals, and cutting out junk food and processed foods and limiting animal products. The bulk of our diet should come from fresh produce, whole grains, and legumes. Meats, cheeses, and alcohol are not completely removed but reduced and are ingredients in some of the recipes. Most of the recipes are short and easy to follow. Almost everything can be found in local supermarkets, as Bittman aims to make eating well easy. He includes variations that will give readers inspiration to experiment.
Verdict Highly recommended for everyone looking to improve their health or eat responsibly. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/10.]-Kimberly Bartosz, Univ. of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha
Fuller, Graham E. A World Without Islam. Little, Brown. Aug. 2010. c.352p. index. ISBN 978-0-316-04119-5. $25.99. INT AFFAIRS
Fuller (former vice chair, National Intelligence Council, CIA; The Future of Political Islam) refutes the opinion that Islam is intrinsically prone to conflict and bears significant responsibility for violent relations with Western states. The author convincingly argues that non-Islamic sources of conflict alone would generate violence in a "world without Islam." Fuller's strength here is his willingness to examine several cases: those where conflict would probably be intense had Islam never existed, such as that between the Latin West and Byzantium; conflicts in which Islam reinforces fundamental geopolitical problems, such as Palestine and Kashmir; and conflicts that are basically ethnic rather than religious, such as between the Chinese government and Turkic Uighurs. Comparison between the latter conflict and the Chinese government's peaceful relations with ethnic Chinese Muslims, the Hui, supports the argument. Fuller's conclusion suggests that U.S. Middle East policy should react as though "Islam did not exist" and, instead, focus on other basic sources of conflict.
Verdict Some readers may feel that Fuller's premise amounts to refuting a "straw-man," yet the impact of Samuel Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order and the notion of "Islam's bloody borders" ensure the relevance of this closely argued, complex, and thoughtful book. It should become a part of further discussion about the nature of contemporary international relations. Highly recommended.—Zachary T. Irwin, Penn State-Erie
Fullman, Joe. Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Cadogan: Interlink. 2010. 224p. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-86011-425-0. pap. $17.95. TRAV
To Americans, the city of Bath, with its elegant architecture, Roman baths, and associations with Jane Austen, may be the most popular destination in this compact region, where one is rarely more than 20 miles from the ocean; however, the southeast corner of England offers much more for visitors. Fullman, who has written several Cadogan guides, highlights the many attractions related to the area's rich seafaring history, startlingly beautiful countryside, and historic homes and villages. He includes numerous places to take children, and recommended restaurants and hotels cover a range of budgets. Fullman provides a great deal of practical advice on how to get the best out of one's trip, as well as numerous web addresses for additional information.
Verdict For travelers with a hankering to see the dramatic scenery that inspired Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this excellent guide provides plenty of encouragement and information to keep visitors of all ages happy for a week or more.—Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts Lib., North Adams
Iverson, Annemarie. In Fashion: From Runway to Retail, Everything You Need To Know To Break into the Fashion Industry. Clarkson Potter: Crown Pub. Group. Aug. 2010. c.336p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-307-46383-8. pap. $16.99. CAREERS
Iverson (coauthor, Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty), former editor in chief of YM and Seventeen, has written a comprehensive guide for budding fashionistas desiring a career in the competitive fashion world. An initial aptitude survey provides insightful feedback to use while reviewing the particular work cultures, job title descriptions, and individual profiles included within the four broad fashion career categories: creators, visualizers, critics, and sellers. The categories coincide with the survey results, so readers can flip right to the area of their best-scored fit first and then return to read the book in its entirety. Chapters like "Fashionista Boot Camp" and "Fashionista Survival Guide" provide straight talk and professional direction about educational choices, portfolios, résumés, what to wear, internships, character, ethics, and more.
Verdict This smart, savvy fashion career guide is packed with practical knowledge and expert guidance from an industry insider. An essential purchase for high school, public, and academic libraries as well as art and graphic design schools. [Ebook 978-0-307-71766-5.]—Jane Scott, George Fox Univ. Lib., Newberg, OR
Jacobs, Lynn F. & Jeremy S. Hyman. The Secrets of College Success. Jossey-Bass. (Professors' Guide). Aug. 2010. c.224p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-470-87466-0. pap. $15.95. ED
Wife-and-husband coauthors Jacobs (art history, Univ. of Arkansas) and Hyman present the second book in their "Professors' Guide" series and cover some of the same territory as their first effort, Professors' Guide to Getting Good Grades in College. The sections on picking courses, the importance of attending class and taking good notes, how professors grade, writing a great paper, and acing exams will look familiar to readers of the first book. The style is also similar-lots of easy-to-read lists interspersed with tips and pointers and sprinkled with what adults think of as "kidspeak" (sweet, bummer, and texting abbreviations like IOHO and BFF).
Verdict Though this book does not break new ground in the popular college prep genre, it is a well-organized, quick read. Not likely to be examined cover to cover by your average 18-year-old, it will be appreciated by keen yet nervous soon-to-be college students and their parents.—Sara Holder, McGill Univ., Montreal
Savage, Jon. The England's Dreaming Tapes. Univ. of Minnesota. Sept. 2010. c.752p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-8166-7292-9. pap. $25.95. MUSIC
The 1991 publication of Savage's England's Dreaming was a coming-of-age moment in the study of punk, and it remains one of the most respected histories of the genre. Here, Savage presents the transcripts of his research interviews with the artists, managers, designers, and fans who witnessed the birth of the London scene-in a format as raw and uncompromising as the times they describe. He provides little bibliographic support beyond a short introductory paragraph to each interview and an index and makes no attempt to explain his subjects' more obtuse references. Even hard-core fans may find themselves struggling to recall the significance of every event or personality named. Still, the wealth of firsthand information makes this a valuable resource.
Verdict A richly rewarding if disorganized book with much to offer scholars and scenesters. Highly recommended for academic collections. Readers requiring a more accessible overview of punk's roots would be better served by Clinton Heylin's Babylon's Burning or, of course, Savage's original England's Dreaming. [Previewed in "25 Reasons Why Academic Publishing Is Sexier Than You Think," BookSmack! 7/15/10.]—Neil Derksen, Gwinnett Cty. P.L., Lawrenceville, GA
Wright, James "Tappy" & Rod Weinberg. Rock Roadie: Backstage and Confidential with Hendrix, Elvis, the Animals, Tina Turner, and an All-Star Cast. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Sept. 2010. c.240p. illus. ISBN 978-0-312-64664-6. $25.99. MUSIC
Wright's gossipy and salacious memoir of behind-the-scenes drama in the rock world of the Sixties is an entertaining and lively if not in-depth read. Wright got his start with the British band the Animals and worked as road manager and assistant for Herman's Hermits and Ike & Tina Turner and eventually with Jimi Hendrix. Writing with music business agent and manager Weinberg, Wright reminisces along the way with great spirit about his own examples of the archetypal stories that rock music memoirs have contained for decades: drunken escapades, clashing egos, sordid and numerous sexual encounters, and woes about money. Music is kept mostly in the background as the focus is the dynamic and sometimes outrageous personalities of the artists, managers, groupies, and hangers-on; Wright's depictions of the conflict between the drudgery and excitement of constant touring, which creates a singular and rootless life for the musicians and those around them, are vivid, sometimes explicit, and told with witty verve.
Verdict Rock enthusiasts who are keenly interested in the personal lives of musicians and the backstage life will enjoy this book.—Jim Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. Lib., NJ
