Xpress Reviews—The First Look at New Books, October 15, 2010
Oct 14, 2010Week ending October 15, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Heavey, Tara. Winter Bloom. Gallery: S. & S. Oct. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 9781439177938. pap. $15. F
Originally published in Ireland as Sowing the Seeds of Love, this latest novel from Heavey (Where the Love Gets In) finds Eva mourning the recent sudden death of her husband and baby daughter and doing her best to settle her four-year-old son into a new life in Dublin. Reaching a somewhat strained and tenuous agreement with her darkly mysterious neighbor Mrs. Prendergast, Eva is allowed use of a walled garden that she intends to resurrect as a community project. Joining her in her in the effort are Emily, a college-aged young woman who keeps to herself but slowly reveals her sadness; Uri, a meticulously dressed older man with a painful past but knowledge to share; and Uri's son, Seth, a gardener just out of a confusing marriage with a four-year-old child of his own. The group revives the dormant garden (though a conflict about the land and inheritance causes some minor tension) in much the same way they each piece together their broken lives: individually and communally.
Verdict Somewhat formulaic, though not without its charms, this is a good fit for fans of Marian Keyes and Katie Fforde.—Julie Kane, Sweet Briar Coll. Lib., VA
Kennedy, Douglas. The Pursuit of Happiness. Atria: S. & S. Oct. 2010. c.572p. ISBN 9781439199121. pap. $16. F
Kennedy continues his successful reentry into the U.S. market (after Leaving the World) with this European best seller, a love story set in Manhattan and spanning the years following World War II. Sara Smythe, a promising young writer, is cajoled into attending her older brother's bohemian party in Greenwich Village. From across a crowded room, she spots a handsome man in uniform. What ensues is a dance of witty and flirtatious dialog (à la classic Spencer Tracy–Katharine Hepburn movies) between the patrician and wary Sara and the intelligent Brooklyn-born, Irish-Catholic U.S. Army journalist Jack Malone. Their attraction, instantaneous and electrifying, leads to a single night of passion, declarations of true love, and promises of daily letters before Jack ships out to Europe the next day. Although Sara faithfully writes to Jack, she never receives a response. Filled with grief, she finally gives up attempts to locate him and makes every effort to move on with her life.
Verdict Kennedy vividly depicts the heady atmosphere of post–World War II New York City, the status of working women in the 1950s, the horrors of the McCarthy era, and the ways of the heart at any time. A romantic, sweeping read that will appeal to fans of women's and historical fiction.—Sheila Riley, Smithsonian Institution Libs., Washington, DC
MacLean, Sarah. Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing a Lord. Avon. Nov. 2010. 357p. ISBN 9780061852060. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Though a second son, Nicholas St. John has kept out of the limelight in deference to his slightly older identical twin brother, Gabriel, Marquess of Ralston (hero of MacLean's adult debut, Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake). A former tracker for the War Office, Nick finds his new status as a Lord to Land quite vexing. To avoid female mass hysteria, Nick answers a friend's plea to find his missing sister, which takes Nick north to Yorkshire. There he runs into (literally) Lady Isabel Townsend, an independent, straightforward woman who operates a secret safe house for girls and women, including Nick's quarry. Isabel is desperate for money, so she reluctantly accepts Nick's offer to appraise her cherished marbles. Unfortunately, his skills might be more dangerous to Isabel's heart than to her secrets.
Verdict MacLean imbues her protagonists with enough emotional baggage to weigh down a mail coach, yet each parries with wit and charm that belie their turbulent pasts. Clever inner dialog and intricate descriptions of sculpture give readers even more than they might hope for in this radiant romance. [MacLean will be reading at New York's Lady Jane's Salon on November 1.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Shanghvi, Siddharth Dhanvant. The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay. Griffin: St. Martin's. Oct. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 9780312593490. pap. $14.99. F
When Karan Seth, a talented young photographer with ambitions to capture his newly adopted city of Bombay in all its complexities and contradictions, is asked to photograph the reclusive pianist Samar Arora for a newspaper story, he is drawn into a world of money and celebrity, power and privilege—the new India. Karan forms an unlikely friendship with gay Samar, who had walked away from his career at its peak, and the beautiful Bollywood actress Zaira, Samar's closest friend. Karan also embarks on a passionate affair with Rhea, a once-promising potter who gave up her artistic ambitions for the security of marriage. A shocking murder trial (based on an actual 1999 case) in which the killer goes free thanks to political connections throws the lives of the surviving friends into a tailspin. Shanghvi's second novel (after the award-winning The Last Song of Dusk) is a bit of a mishmash, an awkward mix of Thackerian social satire (think an Indian Vanity Fair without Becky Sharp) and Fitzgeraldian melancholy (the lonely protagonists hang out at a club called Gatsby). But it's also a passionate love letter to a teeming megacity in all its gritty beauty and ugliness. The sometimes purple prose is flavored with colorful Hindu dialect (a glossary for non-Indian readers would have been helpful).
Verdict For readers interested in contemporary Indian fiction.—Wilda Williams, Library Journal
Nonfiction
Armstrong, Jennifer. Why? Because We Still Like You: An Oral History of the Mickey Mouse Club. Grand Central. Oct. 2010. c.256p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780446545952. $25.99. TV
Like a lovely snow globe whose pastoral setting becomes a blur of white when shaken, this beautiful pastiche of anecdotes, remembrances, and stories incites a nostalgic blizzard for the three-year, mid-Fifties run of the original Mickey Mouse Club. Entertainment Weekly feature writer Armstrong displays a light and deft touch in balancing a strong but unobtrusive narrative of the Mouseketeers' stories. Divided among three sections—the events leading up to the show's ABC debut on October 3, 1955, the hysterical popularity of the show's three seasons, and the postshow history of the Mouseketeers and repeated incarnations of the Mickey Mouse Club—Armstrong's assemblage of tales provides insight into the hard work, daily regimen, behind-the-scenes hijinks, life with the mercurial "Uncle" Walt, and conflicts of the Disney vehicle originally developed to help finance Disneyland.
Verdict Armstrong's book joins memoirs from former Mouseketeers Lonnie Burr (Confessions of an Accidental Mouseketeer) and Paul Petersen (Walt, Mickey, and Me: Confessions of the First Ex-Mousketeer) and should find a broad audience independent of its obvious boomer emphasis.—Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX
Brown, Alton. Good Eats 2: The Middle Years. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. Oct. 2010. 432p. illus. index. ISBN 9781584798576. $37.50 with DVD. COOKING
Chef and all-around food guru Brown returns with his second Good Eats retrospective. Fans of his quirky television series will love this detailed, behind-the-scenes recap of each episode from seasons six through ten. Packed with food science tidbits, anecdotes, and easy recipes, this is more than the average cookbook. Almost all of the recipes deal with familiar foods and are best suited for novice to intermediate cooks. Expert foodies and those seeking a wider selection of intricate, vegetarian, or specialty dishes may want to look elsewhere. As a bonus, the book comes with a DVD of 15 short films of a few minutes or less, containing recipes and fun facts.
Verdict This comprehensive and entertaining cookbook is highly recommended for public libraries of any size and is viable as a stand-alone or a complement to Brown's best-selling Good Eats: The Early Years.—Carolyn M. Schwartz, Westfield State Univ. Lib., MA
Hammerstein, Oscar Andrew. The Hammersteins: A Musical Theatre Family. Black Dog & Leventhal. Oct. 2010. c.232p. illus. ISBN 9781579128463. $35. MUSIC
The famous Broadway lyricist's grandson chronicles his family's musical legacy beginning with Oscar I, a German immigrant whose American dream was realized building and promoting opera, vaudeville, and other theatrical outlets. Billed as a family story, this book focuses on Oscar II's career, with his grandfather and namesake providing a supporting role and other family members making cameo appearances. Family background, anecdotes, and lively quotations from the Hammersteins and their contemporaries provide some of the book's more engrossing passages. The inclusion of numerous family photographs as well as programs and music covers add interest. Of special appeal are chapters detailing the history and development of popular productions such as Show Boat, Oklahoma, and South Pacific.
Verdict Reading this book is like sitting down for a chatty conversation with a family friend who possesses a storehouse of memories and photos. The approach offers readers entertainment rather than scholarly study. Recommended where The Complete Lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II is popular.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY
Hildebrand, Caz & Jacob Kenedy. The Geometry of Pasta: The Perfect Shape + the Perfect Sauce. Quirk. 2010. 288p. illus. index. ISBN 9781594744952. $24.95. COOKING
With style and a sense of fun, this book explores over 100 different pasta recipes. Kenedy, owner of the award-winning restaurant Bocca di Lupo in London, selected the recipes. Graphic designer Hildebrand came up with the concept and the vibrant black-and-white illustrations. Organized alphabetically by type of pasta, most of the recipes have ingredients that are easily found; only a couple would require planning ahead and shipping (e.g., tuna belly in oil, ricotta salata, langoustines, borlotti beans). No source list is provided for the less common pasta shapes or ingredients. The theme is similar to Oretta Zanini De Vita's Encyclopedia of Pasta and The Silver Spoon: Pasta, although Geometry of Pasta is neither historical nor exhaustive; rather, it is approachable, and the recipe directions are simple to follow. There are typically only a couple of recipes per type of pasta. The directions for making pasta by hand or with a machine are vague and offer no assistance if problems arise.
Verdict Recommended for cooks with some experience looking for an entertaining treatment for Italian cuisine; optional for beginners.—Kimberly Bartosz, Univ. of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha
Sondheim, Stephen. Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes. Knopf. Oct. 2010. c.480p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780679439073. $39.95. MUSIC
Musical theater lyricist and composer Sondheim (West Side Story; Sweeney Todd) has produced a delightful book melding lyrics, anecdotes, opinions, and whimsy that complements Mark Eden Horowitz's Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions. This volume is vintage Sondheim, in terms of lyrics (sometimes slightly altered from previous published versions), descriptions (Sondheim includes "The Notion" and a "General Comment" about each show), and assorted essays on musical theater luminaries. Sondheim is always entertaining when writing about both his own work and that of others. He pulls no punches: his statement, "Lorenz Hart is the laziest of the preeminent lyricists," is followed by a closely argued examination of Hart's lyrics. The book begins with several general sections ("Introduction" and "Rhyme and Its Reasons") and includes numerous photographs and an index of songs.
Verdict Highly recommended. [Ebook; four-city tour; 75,000-copy first printing.]—Bruce R. Schueneman, Texas A&M Univ. Lib., Kingsville
Trigiani, Adriana. Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers. Nov. 2010. Harper: HarperCollins. c.202p. illus. ISBN 9780061958946. $22.99; eISBN 9780062020758. MEMOIR
Best-selling author Trigiani (Very Valentine) presents a loving paean to her Italian grandmothers, Viola and Lucy. Both hardworking career women, Viola owned and operated a Pennsylvania clothing factory, and Lucy also ran her own business as a seamstress. Viola is a cantankerous and stern taskmaster who lives by a strict set of rules, has a penchant for Manhattans, snipes groundhogs in her garden with her trusty rifle, and doles out her opinion as she pleases. Immigrant Lucy is more simple and conservative, not enamored of glitz. Trigiani uses their examples to navigate the course of her life and work. The book is at its best when discussing a way of life long gone where privately owned businesses employed local workers to produce quality clothing at affordable prices. Trigiani is pushing the envelope when discussing religion, always a social faux pas, and child rearing, where she completely discounts the father's role.
Verdict Minor quibbles aside, there is much warmth in these remembrances, which will resonate with readers who enjoyed strong relationships with their own grandparents and know the value they can bring to our lives.—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Wilson, Brandon (text) & Ken Plumb (illus). Over the Top and Back Again: Hiking X the Alps. Pilgrim's Tales. Oct. 2010. c.236p. illus. maps. ISBN 9780977053636. $26.95; pap. ISBN 9780977053629. $14.95. TRAV
Long-distance hikers are always on the lookout for new trails to tackle. One of the newest combinations of trails is the Via Alpina, which crosses eight European countries with a variety of routes that avoid steep alpine cols. Experienced hikers Wilson (Along the Templar Trail) and his wife thru-hike the trail, a route the designers of the trail system didn't have in mind. Cramming their trip into one season, they start early, with snow still on the ground, and end when hostels are closed for the season. In between, they cover 1800 kilometers, attempting the toughest route they can find, in primarily rainy weather. This lighthearted hiking narrative reflects the positives of such an experience: overcoming hardship, laughing at their inability to find trail blazes, Europe's apparent fear of switchbacks on trails ascending 1000-plus meters per col, and the bond and struggle with your trail partner.
Verdict Another celebration of simply putting one foot in front of the other with everything you need on your back and faith in the trail ahead. Lovers of hard-core trail narratives will be disappointed by the lack of life-threatening drama. Despite this, the book is recommended for armchair travelers and anyone interested in hiking the Alps.—Sheila Kasperek, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.
