Xpress Reviews—The First Look at New Books, October 8, 2010
Oct 7, 2010Week ending October 8, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Ball, Toby. The Vaults. Minotaur: St. Martin's. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780312580735. $24.99. F
Though clad in convincing period detail, Ball's atmospheric debut thriller is a story for the ages. Deep in the underground Vaults, where "The City" keeps criminal records, devoted but isolated city archivist Arthur Puskis discovers something that shouldn't exist: a duplicate copy of one man's file, identical except for the picture. So begins a story of dark doings at high levels. Puskis and two other unlikely heroes, the migraine-riddled investigative reporter Frank Frings and sleazy but staunch private detective Ethan Poole, each try to topple the regime of prizefighter-turned-mayor Red Henry and his creepy cronies. Ball creates a vivid supporting cast of thuggish police, union organizers, jazz musicians, and bomb-heaving anarchists, wraps them in haunted nighttime settings, and sustains the suspense in short, well-paced chapters.
Verdict Cleverly couching contemporary themes—big business's corrupt intervention in government, the threat to individual identity, and the distortion of information during technological "updates"—in spooky, lush historical trappings, this convincing novel will heighten readers' senses, engage their minds, and satisfy their craving for exciting stories. [Library marketing.]—Neil Hollands, Williamsburg Regional Lib., VA
Hollick, Helen. The Forever Queen. Sourcebooks Landmark. (Lost Kingdom-1066). Nov. 2010. c.656p. ISBN 9781402240683. pap. $16.99. F
Hollick ("Pendragon's Banner Trilogy") launches a new historical series about the Norman conquest of England with this biographical novel about Emma of Normandy (985–1052), the only woman to be crowned queen of two kings of England. As vivid as a tapestry, Hollick's novel weaves Emma's story from her arrival in England at the age of 13 to become the wife of Aethelred the Unready, through two exiles and a marriage to Cnut the Great of Denmark and regent to their son. Throughout, Emma strives to act in the best interests of the kingdom, persevering through the incompetence and petty arguments of the men around her. A compelling read that brings to life an oft-ignored period of English history, this volume was released in England as A Hollow Crown.
Verdict Although it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is best enjoyed as the start of an excellent duo on early medieval England; the second volume, I Am the Chosen King, will be published in March 2011.—Pamela O'Sullivan, Coll. at Brockport Lib., SUNY
Jacobson, Howard. The Finkler Question. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9781608196111. pap. $15. F
In tribute to his childhood pal, Samuel Finkler, Julian Treslove, a former BBC arts producer, has always privately thought of Jews as Finklers. Now in late middle age, Treslove and Finkler have remained friends and have also stayed close to their former history teacher and bon vivant, the nonagenarian Libor Sevick, another Jew. After a night out with his two old friends, Treslove is mugged by a female assailant who says something to him that sounds at first like, "Your jewels," but that he later interprets to be, "You Jew." This life-defining moment sparks an identity crisis, one in which Treslove, who has always been the envious outsider, comes to believe he might actually be Jewish. At the same time, Finkler, a widely regarded and well-known philosopher, joins the ranks of a group called "ASHamed," Jews who distance themselves from the Israeli cause in sympathy for the Palestinians. Just as an outbreak of violent anti-Semitic incidents causes Finkler to rethink his alliance with ASHamed, Treslove falls in love with Sevick's niece and becomes deeply immersed in Jewish studies.
Verdict The novel's underlying question is: Can you choose to be Jewish or can you choose not to be? This Man Booker Prize nominee is as entertaining as it is provocative and will be essential reading for thoughtful readers on either side of the debate. Highly recommended.—Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Kingston, Ont.
Karon, Jan. In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel. Viking. Oct. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 9780670022120. $27.95. F
Father Tim Kavanagh first appeared in Karon's popular Mitford series, which focused on small-town life in rural North Carolina, and later launched his own series in Home to Holly Springs. This new novel finds him grudgingly traveling with his wife in Ireland. A series of mishaps leaves the Kavanaghs at an Irish lodge for the entire vacation, allowing them time to become caught up in the lives of the owners, uncovering old secrets and finding resolutions to generational conflicts.
Verdict Travel might not suit Father Tim, but the new setting breathes new life into Karon's stories. The novel is at its best when the Irish characters are on stage, especially those whose story is told through an old journal. Fans will want to continue the series; enough backstory is provided to make this accessible to new readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/10.]—Jan Blodgett, Davidson Coll. Lib., NC
Milan, Courtney. Trial by Desire. HQN: Harlequin. Oct. 2010. 352p. ISBN 9780373774852. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Dressed in a servant's cloak, Lady Kathleen Carhart is sneaking down a country road near her Berkshire home when a carter's horse goes wild and a bearded gentleman steps in to save her. Having secreted her friend Laura in a nearby cottage, Kate had wanted to remain beneath notice. Unfortunately, her rescuer is her husband, Edward, returned from three years on family business in China. Edward left Kate just months after their forced wedding and wants to reclaim his place in her life now that he is more mature and reliable. Sadly, he isn't so fast to reclaim his place in her bed. With Laura hiding from her abusive husband, Kate has enough on her mind without having to decipher her enigmatic husband and why he left her in the first place.
Verdict Milan's sophomore effort (after Proof by Seduction) is a dark journey that confronts domestic abuse and Edward's own black nature, perhaps the Victorian version of manic depression. This complex and emotionally wrought romance reveals marriage in a less-than-blissful light but demonstrates how with trust as well as love our protagonists will come home to each other.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Percy, Benjamin. The Wilding. Graywolf. Oct. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 9781555975692. $23. F
Issues of fatherhood and manhood are at the center of this debut thriller. Justin Caves hopes a last hunting trip to Echo Canyon, soon to be turned into Oregon's newest golf resort, with his father and his son will help mend some fences. Schoolteacher Justin has a strained relationship with his construction worker father and feels disconnected from his videogame- and music player-obsessed son. Meanwhile, at home, Justin's wife is confronting her own feelings about her marriage, family, and the child she lost. There are many threads to this story, from urban sprawl and the disappearance of the wild to Native American issues and even the plight of Iraq veterans with head injuries. The natural wilderness is embodied in the grizzly bear rumored to have found a new home in Echo Canyon. These disparate elements finally converge in an exciting climax that will test the relationships of Justin and his family.
Verdict This novel by an award-winning short story writer and contributor to Esquire magazine should appeal to readers who enjoy family dramas and vividly drawn outdoor adventures, particularly those set in the West.—Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green
Nonfiction
Blom, Philipp. A Wicked Company: The Forgotten Radicalism of the European Enlightenment. Basic Bks: Perseus. Nov. 2010. c.352p. bibliog. ISBN 9780465014538. $29.95. HIST
In the 1750s there emerged in Paris a clique of thinkers whose philosophical leanings led them to advocate radical change. Baron d'Holbach hosted the salon where they met; Denis Diderot was the acknowledged star of the circle. Hume visited with them for a while; Rousseau hovered outside the circle, at first as friend, then enemy. The group hoped for social as well as intellectual change, but when the Revolution came, it took a different path. The Revolution's leaders, especially Robespierre, neither wanted nor needed skeptics like Diderot or Holbach; a state religion suited them better than atheism. In the following century, Holbach's and Diderot's ideas virtually disappeared from sight, supplanted by what Blom (The Vertigo Years: Europe, 1900–1914) labels "the soft Enlightenment" of Voltaire and Kant. Blom reminds us that some 18th-century reformers were thoroughgoing materialists, scoffing at religion, even deist religion, and criticizing an oppressive, irrational society.
Verdict There's little new or original in this book, but its subject matter holds up, and Blom writes well. Given the topic, the absence of Frank E. Manuel's The Eighteenth Century Confronts the Gods in the bibliography is puzzling.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Dando-Collins, Stephen. The Great Fire of Rome: The Fall of the Emperor Nero and His City. Da Capo. 2010. 256p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780306818905. $25. HIST
Surprisingly little nonfiction exists for a general audience about the Great Fire of Rome, which devastated the city in the summer of 64 CE. Dando-Collins (Blood of the Caesars) fills this gap with an exciting, novelistic account of the fire that remains solidly grounded in the primary source literature. Beginning with the first day of January of that year, the narrative describes events building up to the fire and then the aftermath until the death of Nero in 68 CE. For a nonscholarly audience, Dando-Collins clearly describes the problems in the contemporary sources, i.e., how it is more likely that worshipers of Isis were cast as scapegoats for the fire than Christians. He argues that Nero was a relatively popular young emperor who could have done great things but that the fire undid his rule and his personal life—leading to an early end for Nero and the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Verdict This book will appeal to general Roman history buffs and students with its fast pacing and dramatic content. Recommended.—Margaret Heller, Dominican Univ Lib., River Forest, IL
Hesser, Amanda. The Essential New York Times Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century. Norton. Oct. 2010. c.1056p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780393061031. $40. COOKING
New York Times food editor and writer Hesser (Cooking for Mr. Latte) spent six years combing the Times's vast recipe archive, cooking her way through more than 1000 recipes to assemble this indispensible tome culled from 150 years of the paper's food columns. This daunting compendium features both noteworthy classics (Osso Buco) and modern recipes (Smoked Mashed Potatoes) that have been tested and, in some cases, updated for the contemporary cook. Chapters begin with a time line and are arranged by type of food (e.g., soups, vegetables, cakes) then chronologically within the chapter, making for a fascinating historic overview of the interests of American cooks. Recipes contain informative, entertaining, and unaffected introductions by Hesser coupled with cooking notes and serving suggestions. Citations for the original articles are included, should one wish to read the recipe in its original context.
Verdict Intended as an "eclectic panorama" of recipes rather than an encyclopedic cookbook, this is an excellent addition for home chefs of all abilities. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/10; six-city tour.]—Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR
Laszlo, Ervin. Chaos Point: 2012 and Beyond; Our Choices Between Global Disaster and a Sustainable Planet. Hampton Roads. 2010. 208p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781571746429. $16.95. SCI
This expanded version of Laszlo's The Chaos Point (2006) predicts human society is headed for a major crisis in the near future, which will be driven by extreme inequality of wealth, plus unsustainable human financial systems, social structures, consumption, and ecological pressures. A philosopher of science, systems theorist, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Laszlo (Worldshift 2012) argues that human society will be faced with a breakdown or a breakthrough. However, a "chaos-window" allows sudden societal changes that could enable the breakthrough. Laszlo calls for a holistic and sustainable way of living, led by a critical mass of "cultural creatives," and asserts that developing a new universal morality will be essential. More suggestions of tactics to reach our breakthrough would have been appreciated.
Verdict The comprehensive apocalyptic message will ring true to many, but the book will probably appeal more to New Age readers than to environmentalists.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., BC
Pearl, Nancy. Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers. Sasquatch. Oct. 2010. c.320p. illus. ISBN 9781570616501. pap. $16.95. TRAV
Many readers see armchair travel as an opportunity to, as Pearl (Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason) writes, "get a feel for the soul of a country." Her preference for romantic travel is apparent as she frequently cites works about exotic places written from an outsider's perspective rather than that of a local. Readers expecting completely realistic portrayals may not appreciate Pearl's emphasis on mysteries, and the frequent mixing of best sellers and literary works may be annoying to some. She includes geographical information about the regions she covers. The book is organized alphabetically, but the name of a country or city doesn't necessarily fall at the beginning of the section name—for example, Paris is found under W ("We'll Always Have Paris") rather than P.
Verdict This is recommended for voracious armchair travelers and librarians looking for a quick readers' advisory tool for patrons who value setting and frame.—Victor Or, Surrey P.L. & North Vancouver City Lib., BC
Powell, John. How Music Works: The Science and Psychology of Beautiful Sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyond. Little, Brown. Nov. 2010. c.288p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780316098304. $24.99 with CD. MUSIC
In this distinctive combination of scientific treatise and laugh-out-loud commentary, composer and physicist Powell addresses why music sounds as it does, investigating aspects of pitch, timbre, rhythm, and instrumentation. He conflates expert if somewhat overextended descriptions of frequencies and decibels with witty repartee about seminal rock songs and classical selections, mostly to good effect. On rare occasions Powell overstates a case, such as in his diatribe against keys representing any particular emotion; his view can hardly be considered settled doctrine, but perhaps he is just being provocative. The "Fiddly Details" section gives further explanations of the more challenging topics, and the bibliography includes several classic titles as well as current papers by leaders in the field.
Verdict Powell has carved out an intriguing niche by using humor to enliven what could have been an otherwise dry introduction to acoustics; as long as readers are aware of this they should glean some useful background for music study while simultaneously being entertained.—Barry Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH
Restak, Richard, M.D. & Scott Kim. The Playful Brain: The Surprising Science of How Puzzles Improve Your Mind. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). 2010. 304p. ISBN 9781594487774. $26.95. HEALTH
Restak, prolific author and award-winning neuroscientist, and Kim, author and prolific puzzle designer, are the dream team promoting healthy brain functioning through puzzle-solving. Different types of puzzles stimulate activity in different brain areas, so Restak explains the science and Kim gives the readers puzzles to solve. Thankfully, the author says that even just trying to solve a puzzle helps your brain, even if you don't solve it. The book is divided into sections on memory, perception, and cognition, which have separate chapters focusing on more specific areas, e.g., the perception section breaks down into visual thinking, spatial thinking, and listening, and all are generously peppered with appropriate puzzles. The simply written but very engaging text helps make dense scientific information accessible. The puzzles are a delight to solve (or at least to attempt).
Verdict Helping your brain function more efficiently and sharpen your thinking processes is a very popular topic. This book brings focus as well as practice examples (the solutions are in the book, too) to help the reader learn to tackle particular puzzles while improving specific brain function.-Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. P.L. Syst., NM
Sanchez, Sonia. I'm Black When I'm Singing, I'm Blue When I Ain't: And Other Plays. Duke Univ. 2010. c.208p. ed. by Jacqueline Wood. bibliog. ISBN 9780822347576. $69.95; pap. ISBN 9780822347781. $19.95. DRAMA
Acclaimed for her poetry, plays, and activism, Sanchez first achieved prominence as a member of the Black Arts movement of the Sixties. Although Sanchez is best known for her poetry, Wood (African American literature, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham) writes in the African American Review (Vol. 39, No. 1/2, 2005) that she "also merits acclaim as an important influence on black drama, a politically courageous, and artistically innovative playwright." The works collected here include two previously unpublished plays. They are complex in structure and use ritual and symbolism to address themes like racism and sexism. In an introductory essay, Wood sets Sanchez's plays in historical context and analyzes their literary and artistic significance. The book also includes three essays by Sanchez ("Poetry Run Loose: Breaking the Rules," "Ruminations/Reflections," and the preface to her play Uh, Uh; But How Do It Free Us?).
Verdict Recommended for academic collections supporting American literature and African American studies. [Previewed in "25 Reasons Why Academic Publishing Is Sexier Than You Think," BookSmack! 7/15/10.]—Carolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L.
Say It Loud! Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African American Identity. New Pr. 2010. c.304p. ed. by Catherine Ellis & Stephen Dury Smith. ISBN 9781595581136. $35. HIST
Ellis and Smith (consulting producer and executive editor, respectively, American RadioWorks; coeditors, Say It Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches) take as their starting point the year 1964 and end during the 2008 Presidential campaign. They include speeches from a range of activists, politicians, and academics, e.g., Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Seale, Angela Y. Davis, Shirley Chisholm, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Michael Eric Dyson, on the subjects of civil rights and race in America. Excerpts from each speech, as originally delivered, are included in an accompanying MP3-CD (with the exception of Ossie Davis's eulogy for Malcolm X). Each entry in the book is preceded by a biographical introduction (two or three pages), setting the speech in context. Barack Obama's 2008 address in response to the controversial statements by his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, is the final entry.
Verdict While Ripples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches, edited by Josh Gottheimer, extends from 1789 through 1998, Say It Loud is an accessible work for general readers and will appeal especially to those seeking only the more contemporary examples provided here. This will be an excellent purchase for public and high school libraries.—Jim Hahn, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana
Wills, Garry. Outside Looking In: Adventures of an Observer. Viking. Oct. 2010. c.184p. index. ISBN 9780670022144. $25.95. COMM
Wills dines with Hillary Clinton, is on John Waters's Christmas card list, and sailed often with William F. Buckley Jr. But he sees himself as a lifetime outsider, looking in on politics, contemporary culture, and religion. His "confessions of a conventional bookworm" will engage readers with the issues and people he has covered over his long career as a journalist and Pulitzer Prize–winning author (Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America). He writes lovingly of his years in Baltimore and includes remembrances of the glory days of Johnny Unitas and the Colts and his connections to the work of antiwar activists Dan and Philip Berrigan. A personal reflection on his father is both distant and warm—Wills refers to him simply as "Jack" but wraps up the section by acknowledging a small part of his own personality that is like his father's.
Verdict Wills's curiosity and personal integrity shine through this intellectual memoir that is both intimate and journalistic. Readers who have followed Wills's writing career will welcome these reflections on his life and the world around him.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.
Woo, Ilyon. The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times. Atlantic Monthly. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 9780802119469. $25. HIST
Seductive and willful, Eunice Chapman, a woman small only in stature, is the focal point of Woo's engaging debut historical study of one 19th-century upstate New York woman's fight for her children. Eunice married "old, disagreeable, and repulsive" James Chapman for economic survival and, through the legal doctrine of coverture, becomes civilly, and legally, dead. James, an alcoholic abuser, left Eunice in the fall of 1811 and found refuge among the Shakers, taking the children with him. Today, Shakers are remembered for their simple lifestyle and handiwork, but they were a radical, religious sect "that often swooped in on disconsolate spiritual seekers offering themselves up to hungry souls eager to rebound from their broken faiths." The life of a Shaker was about falling in line, and Eunice-when she sought out her family in the Shaker community-would have no part of any of it. Woo takes readers through Eunice's custody battle, which shook New York State, and the utopian Shaker world and larger society. Eunice obtained a divorce and regained legal custody of her three children in 1818.
Verdict Neglected history comes alive in this meticulously researched and compelling story of one tenacious woman. Strongly recommended to all interested readers.—Nancy Richey, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green
