Xpress Reviews—The First Look at New Books, October 22, 2010
Oct 21, 2010Week ending October 22, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
Fiction
Hancock, Graham. Entangled. Disinformation Co. Oct. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 9781934708569. pap. $16.95. F
Two teenage girls living thousands of years apart find themselves at the center of an interdimensional struggle for power. Through out-of-body experiences, Leoni in 21st-century Los Angeles and Ria in Stone Age Spain encounter and are guided by a virtuous being to prevent the ruin of the modern world. In the Stone Age, the evil entity Sulpa amasses an army to eradicate the innocent and good by destroying all the tribes they encounter, especially the Neanderthals. As the lines between the dimensions cross, the opportunity arises for Sulpa to traverse into the 21st century to wreak havoc. Leoni and Ria must battle together across time to vanquish Sulpa.
Verdict This first book in trilogy by the author of multiple best-selling nonfiction books (e.g., Fingerprints of the Gods) is a solid, fast-moving, metaphysical time-travel tale. The novel is a bit disjointed at first because the two story lines appear to be disconnected. Those who are a bit squeamish should be cautioned as there is quite a bit of violence and torture. For fans of New Age and visionary fiction.—Joy Gunn, Henderson Libs., NV
Jerkins, Grant. A Very Simple Crime. Berkley Prime Crime: Penguin Group (USA). Nov. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 9780425238301. pap. $14. F
Brothers Adam and Monty Lee have overcome a troubled past to become successful adults—or so it seems. Monty is a criminal attorney and the town's most eligible bachelor. Adam is unhappily married to a mentally unstable heiress. Their son, Albert, has never developed past the emotional age of a five-year-old. When Albert viciously attacks his mother, he is placed in an expensive, private institution where he ends up killing his roommate. Meanwhile, Adam and Rachel are barely getting along, and she has become agoraphobic. After Rachel begs Adam to bring Albert home for a visit, Adam goes off for the weekend with his mistress. Rachel is murdered, and Albert is assumed to be her killer. But a rogue attorney in the D.A.'s office isn't so sure. Soon, Adam is arrested, and Monty defends him, with startling results.
Verdict No one in this novel is as they appear to be, and the twists and turns never let up until the very last page. This dark, chilling debut, which has been optioned for film by screenwriter Nicholas Kazan (Reversal of Fortune) is a real page-turner and should especially appeal to legal thriller fans.—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL
Kittle, Katrina. The Blessings of the Animals. Perennial: HarperCollins. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 9780061906077. pap. $14.99. F
Love and relationships are at the heart of Kittle's (The Kindness of Strangers) fourth novel. Veterinarian Cami Anderson feels she'll fall apart when husband Bobby, miserably dissatisfied with the limited amount of time Cami spends with him owing to her active participation in animal rescue, walks out on her and their teenaged daughter. In trying to recover her emotional equilibrium, stumbling Cami faces numerous changes and challenges. As the novel unfolds, it is clear that it is her inimitable relationship with her foster animals, including an abused horse, as well as her friendships and family bonds, that help her awaken to an improved-Bobby-free life. Kittle serves a lovely buffet here, offering something for everyone. A surprise folded in now and then keeps us on our toes; characters, both human and animal, are believable, compassionate, and realistic.
Verdict With Muriel, the goat, adding much-needed whimsy and spirit to all our lives, this lovely novel is a blessing.—Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future. Vol. 26. Galaxy. Oct. 2010. c.464p. ed. by K.D. Wentworth. ISBN 9781592128471. pap. $7.99. SF
This 26th installment of the long-running sf anthology series showcases a dozen winners of Galaxy Press's Writers of the Future contest judged by such well-known professionals as Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Eric Flint, Mike Resnick, and Dean Wesley Smith. Some past winners of the contest, such as Jay Lake and The Jane Austen Book Club's Karen Joy Fowler, have gone on to fame. These new stories by talented as-yet-unknowns are uniformly good; some show impressive talent, such as Adam Colston's "Not in the Flesh," an interesting take on the sentient android story, and Jason Fischer's clever "The House of Nameless," which opens with a girl and a minotaur on a date. The stories are accompanied by Illustrators of the Year contest winner drawings, many of which are similarly impressive.
Verdict An intriguing survey of unpublished and talented sf writers, worth a look by fans—and perhaps sf editors—looking for the next big thing in the genre.—David Rapp, Library Journal
Nonfiction
Brody, Leslie. Irrepressible: The Life and Times of Jessica Mitford. Counterpoint. Oct. 2010. c.416p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781582434537. $28. BIOG
Jessica Mitford's many lives have until now been related largely in the context of her famous—and infamous—sisters, or through the lens of Mitford memoirs (including her own). Brody's is the first full-length biography specifically of Jessica: expatriate, investigative journalist, one-time Communist, union organizer. Jessica "Decca" Mitford (1917–96) was the fifth of six Mitford sisters, raised by their parents, Lord and Lady Redesdale, without a formal education. Two of Jessica's sisters became pro-Hitler Fascists, another became a famous novelist, while Jessica, fed up at 19, eloped with her second cousin by marriage, Esmond Romilly, to fight in the Spanish Civil War. It was only later, with Decca's second husband, Robert Treuhaft, and settled in California, that her journalism and book writing took flight. The funeral business, the American penal system—no subject was safe from this "queen of the muckrakers." Brody (English, Univ. of Redlands; Red Star Sister: Between Madness and Utopia) finally gives readers full access to Decca the individual from a keen outsider's perspective.
Verdict Brody's book will appeal to biography buffs and fans of Jessica Mitford's work from both sides of the pond as well as lovers of all things Mitford.—Carol Gladstein, Portland, OR
Chelf, Vicki. Vicki's Vegan Kitchen: Eating with Sanity, Compassion & Taste. Square One. Oct. 2010. c.320p. illus. index. ISBN 9780757002519. pap. $17.95. COOKING
Chelf (The Arrowhead Mills Cookbook) brings her 30 years of experience as a vegan to her latest cookbook. The more proficient cook can skip the seemingly obligatory section on vegan pantry staples and dive into Tofu Bourguignon and Chestnut Porcini Bisque. If these sound intimidating, not to worry—Chelf has written her book assuming you've previously used your kitchen only to heat up leftovers. On the other hand, more advanced cooks can learn how to grow microgreens in the winter and make whole-wheat pasta. Chelf encourages readers to use their imaginations with sections like "Creating a Complete Meal Salad" and "Simple Ideas for Filling Your Lunchbox." The recipes are easy to follow and contain ingredients found in most supermarkets (and if they're not, the resources in the back will help).
Verdict These recipes call for little or no sodium, avoiding a trap that snares most vegan cookbooks. Chelf makes being vegan as simple as Creamy Peach Pie. Her comprehensive approach makes this book the "Joy of Vegan Cooking" in all but name.—Mary Schons, Hammond P.L., IN
Deleyto, Celestino & María del Mar Azcona. Alejandro González Iñárritu. Univ. of Illinois. (Contemporary Film Directors). Oct. 2010. c.176p. photogs. filmog. index. ISBN 9780252035692. $65; pap. ISBN 9780252077616. $19.95. FILM
Young (b. 1963) Mexican filmmaker Iñárritu, who has only directed three feature films—his fourth, Biutiful, opens later this year—is rapidly acquiring an international following. 21 Grams and Babel have given the director a reputation as a transnational artist, a figure who represents a Mexican viewpoint but funds his films internationally and deals with global themes. Deleyto (film & English literature, Univ. of Zaragoza, Spain; The Secret Life of Romantic Comedy) and Azcona (film, Univ. of Zaragoza) describe the director's early days making TV commercials, his characteristic use of multiprotagonists and "scrambled narratives," and his universal themes of loneliness and alienation. Drawing on comparisons with other areas of Latin American culture and literature and featuring a wide-ranging interview with the director, the authors attempt to discern this artist's future direction.
Verdict: Although it may seem early for a book on Iñárritu, the writers do an excellent job explaining why his films matter. Some readers may be put off by the scholarly approach and language, but this book should prove valuable to serious students of the current Latin American film scene.—Stephen Rees, formerly with Levittown Lib., PA
Glatt, John. Lost and Found: The True Story of Jaycee Lee Dugard and the Abduction That Shocked the World. St. Martin's. 2010. c.352p. illus. ISBN 9780312388276. pap. $7.99. CRIME
Prodigious British true-crime writer Glatt here unfurls the ugly tale of Philip Garrido, who kidnapped 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991, keeping her as his sex slave for 18 years, resulting in two daughters. Divided into two parts, the book first covers Garrido's background, interviews with family and acquaintances, and the horrors suffered by another of his victims, Katie Callaway Hall, whose testimony resulted in Garrido's 50-year prison sentence. More horrifying, he was released after serving fewer than 11 years. The book's second section details Jaycee's disappearance, her family's efforts to find her, and the events leading to her 2009 recovery.
Verdict Less concerned with Jaycee's kidnapping, this title concentrates on Garrido's life and the legal system's failure. Many missed opportunities potentially could have resulted in either Dugard's never being taken or, at least, being saved much sooner. True-crime readers and those interested in the legal system's shortcomings will be hooked.—Krista Bush, West Haven, CT
Keneally, Thomas. Australians: Origins to Eureka. Allen & Unwin, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Oct. 2010. c.628p. illus. index. ISBN 9781741750690. $39.95. HIST
This is the first of what will be a three-volume history by Keneally, 1982 Booker Prize winner for Schindler's List. Unlike in his Commonwealth of Thieves: The Improbable Birth of Australia, which focuses on the beginning of British settlement in the late 18th century, here Keneally starts his tale with brief studies of prehistoric times before focusing on the era that began with Captain Cook's first visit to Australia in 1770. As the title indicates, the emphasis is on the people, from members of the Eora people such as Bennelong and Barangaroo to numerous British colonials, convicts, and settlers. In covering the more famous historical figures, Keneally brings out humbler details of their stories, for example, the "Father of Federation," Henry Parkes's early days as a poor ivory turner in England. Keneally gives attention to what many define as the invasion of Australia and decimation of the Aboriginal population, as well as to the more traditional focus on white settlement and advancement.
Verdict This is a very readable yet thorough work, with nonspecific notes that are more like a bibliography. The lack of full citations and the sweeping breadth will make this work of greatest value to general readers and students new to Australia's history.—Rebecca Bollen Manalac, Sydney, Australia
Koutalianos, Helen & Anastasia Koutalianos. From the Olive Grove: Mediterranean Cooking with Olive Oil. Arsenal Pulp, dist. by Consortium. Oct. 2010. c.176p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781551523675. pap. $21.95. COOKING
Helen Koutalianos, who runs Canada's Basil Olive Oil Products with her husband, joins her daughter, Anastasia, to offer a wide variety of recipes in the Mediterranean style. The title understates the ingredients of the dishes: although all recipes include olive oil, this is far from an olive oil cookbook. There are recipes for pesto, hummus, and frittatas, as well as the more authentic tzatziki, lamb souvlaki, and psarosoupa (fish soup). The introduction includes useful information about olive oil, including how to evaluate the many types of olive oils found in most stores. Prospective cooks shouldn't feel intimidated by the recipes—the ingredients are basic and easy to find. Preparation and cooking instructions are clear and not difficult to follow.
Verdict This useful, straightforward, and informative cookbook is a valuable addition, especially considering the popularity of and emphasis on healthy cooking. It will appeal to seasoned cooks as well as novices.-Elizabeth Rogers, CEF Lib. Syst., Plattsburgh, NY
Lendon, J.E. Song of Wrath: The Peloponnesian War Begins. Basic Bks: Perseus. Nov. 2010. c.608p. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780465015061. $35. HIST
Weaving together cultural and military history, Lendon (history, Univ. of Virginia; Soldiers and Ghosts) details the events of the Peloponnesian War's first decade (431-421 B.C.E.) with language that is (as was his intention) more evocative of Herodotus's epic-poetical style than the dryer intellectual approach of Thucydides. Lendon posits that the Greeks had such fundamentally distinct views of honor, revenge, and the causes for war that their seemingly baffling actions are best understood when viewed in light of the cultural context of the time, without attempting to find parallels in modern war. The mechanics of ancient warfare receive careful consideration here, which gives depth to the descriptions of battle. In the end, Lendon's approach makes ancient Athenians and Spartans and their shifting allies seem more alien to modern times than other histories of the period, but for readers who treasure the mythic qualities of ancient history this will not be a problem.
Verdict This book will be most accessible to those well versed in ancient history, yet its entertaining style has a potential to draw in general readers as well.—Margaret Heller, Dominican Univ. Lib., River Forest, IL
Levi, Erik. Mozart and the Nazis: How the Third Reich Abused a Cultural Icon. Yale Univ. Oct. 2010. c.336p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300123067. $40. MUSIC
The propagandistic use of music and the appropriation of composers whose works were said to exemplify or uphold German ideals were hallmarks of the Third Reich. Wagner's name is probably the most frequently invoked as an example, but Nazi Germany made a similar attempt with Mozart, particularly following the Anschluss. Levi (Music in the Third Reich) carefully traces this attempt, documenting performances and festivals (particularly those held in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the composer's death), scholarly and critical writings, and editions and scores of Mozart's works "purified" of Jewish or Masonic influence. That little fallout from these attempts endures today is as attributable to the efforts outside of Germany—many of them by Jewish musicians, composers, and scholars displaced by the Nazis—and the humanistic, cosmopolitan nature of both Mozart's works and of Mozart himself.
Verdict This detailed and illuminating study of one dimension of the Reich's propaganda machine will appeal primarily to academics in music and history.-Genevieve Williams, Pacific Lutheran Univ. Lib., Tacoma
Mowat, Farley. Eastern Passage. McClelland & Stewart. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780771064913. $27.95. LIT
Irrepressible Canadian author Mowat (Never Cry Wolf) presents a sequel to his previous memoir, Otherwise, which covered 1937–48. Now he describes his early attempts to make a living as a writer, the challenges of building a house northwest of Toronto, the controversy over his book People of the Deer, a sailboat voyage down the St. Lawrence River, and other life events. Drawing on letters and journals, Mowat uses his prodigious storytelling skill and an engaging tone to depict ably his own adventures, the many fascinating characters he meets, and the wonders and terrors of Canada's natural world.
Verdict Tinged with an activist's indignation and a conservationist's reverence for the environment, this autobiographical work features many compelling sections. However, the inclusion of so many letters in the first section does become tedious. The narrative sometimes feels cobbled together from too many disparate parts; also, a few anecdotes and re-created conversations strain credulity. This is best suited for Mowat's many fans and readers interested in Canada's environment and natural history.—Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI
Santtini, Laura (text) & Simon Wheeler (photogs.). Easy Tasty Italian: Add Some Magic to Your Everyday Food. Sterling Epicure. Oct. 2010. c.190p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781402780554. $24.95. COOKING
Santtini, who relaunched her parents' London restaurant, Santini, in 2002, deliberately deviates from traditional Italian recipe anthologies, choosing instead to organize recipes by element (air, water, fire, and earth) than by course. Recipes are followed by as many as ten variations, many of which incorporate atypical ingredients like edible precious metals or dried flowers. The book is rife with verbal and visual humor-it is perhaps the only Italian cookbook in which you'll find a mayonnaise recipe alongside an illustration of a scantily clad, pink-haired, whisk-wielding woman. Readers can expect a flavor-packed variety of recipes for marinades, condiments, rubs, flavor pastes, sauces, and dishes. Santtini's friendly, encouraging comments and anecdotes appear throughout.
Verdict This book offers an original spin on Italian cooking, but its unusual layout is ill suited to quick reference in the kitchen. Recommended for readers looking for something out of the ordinary rather than a minimalist how-to.—Lisa Campbell, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Tuscaloosa
Shea, Ammon. The Phone Book: The Curious History of the Book That Everyone Uses but No One Reads. Perigee: Putnam. Oct. 2010. c.216p. index. ISBN 9780399535932. pap. $14.95. HIST
Having taken readers through the Oxford English Dictionary, Shea (Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages) now turns to the phone book, beginning with its first incarnation in 1878 when it contained no phone numbers and existed mainly to alert the handful of telephone owners to each others' existence. Among many topics covered by Shea in a somewhat rambling fashion are the development of the telephone, the relationship between the phone book and the city directory, and the nature of people who read phone books. He concludes with a chapter on the phone book's future, which covers environmental concerns about printed phone books and groups working to "ban the phone book." Shea weaves his information in with his own personal anecdotes and opinions.
Verdict This is an entertaining book, written in a style that's more like that of a magazine writer than a historian, as the flow is idiosyncratic and the personal reflections are many. This is not for those seeking systematic history. Best for general readers who enjoy this kind of dip into a specific and potentially fun subject.-Madeline Mundt, Univ. of Nevada Lib., Reno
Tapper, Joan (text) & Nik Wheeler (photogs.). The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Pacific Northwest. Thames & Hudson, dist. by Norton. Oct. 2010. 208p. photogs. maps. bibliog. ISBN 9780500515341. $40. TRAV
This gorgeous volume features 240 full-color photographs and insightful text about the small towns and villages of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, from quaint Pacific seaport towns to contemporary ski resorts. Special chapters highlight the area's historic lighthouses, vineyards that date back 200 years, and gardens and arboretums. The book is the fifth in the series, after editions on California, New England, the South, and the Southwest (two of which are by Tapper and Wheeler). In her lively, well-researched narrative, Tapper (founding editor, National Geographic Traveler) provides historical, geographic, architectural, and sightseeing information. She also shares anecdotes and brings attention to seasonal festivals. Wheeler has compiled breathtaking images of the area and its landscape, architecture, small-town life, animals, and human inhabitants. The volume includes a helpful regional map, a suggested reading list that includes fiction, and a list of places to stay and eat.
Verdict This coffee-table book is too cumbersome to carry on a trip, but it is an excellent—and beautiful—resource for preparing for a trip to the northwest United States.—Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Boulder, CO
Graphic Novels
Arcudi, John (text) & Peter Snejbjerg (illus.). A God Somewhere. WildStorm: DC. 2010. 200p. ed. by Scott Peterson & Peter Tomasi. illus. ISBN 9781401226831. pap. $24.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
After a mysterious explosion hits his apartment building, Eric Forester emerges from the rubble unharmed and gifted with superpowers. At first, Eric uses these abilities for good, but as pressures from the media and modern society start to wear down him and his brother, wife, and best friend, Eric starts to change into a confused mass murderer. Many readers will see the rise and fall of Eric Forester as the book's focus when the real story lies in how his transformation changes the lives of his inner circle.
Verdict Best known for his work on The Mask and B.P.R.D., Arcudi employs a somewhat commonplace premise of a superhuman in the "real world." Luckily, Snejbjerg's artwork (seen also in Starman) captures the effects of superstardom in the character's expressions. These fine details help elevate God above competing titles.—Justin Hoenke, Portland P.L., ME
Immonen, Kathryn (text) & Stuart Immonen (illus.). Moving Pictures. Top Shelf Prods. 2010. 144p. illus. ISBN 9781603090490. pap. $14.95. GRAPHIC NOVELS
World War II: occupied France. It's a dangerous place to be, but Ila Gardner won't leave. Instead, she continues with her work at the art gallery, helping to decide which pieces deserve to be hidden, saved from German hands. Still, if she is so dedicated to the art, why does she pursue a relationship with the German officer charged with finding and collecting them? The Immonens create an isolated and enigmatic heroine in an elusive story that raises questions about the value of art and the basis of human relationships. What is loyalty? What is betrayal? What makes risk worthwhile? Crisp black-and-white art reinforces loneliness and alienation with empty land and cityscapes, deep shadows, and figures that turn away, seldom touching. Cryptic dialog also contributes to the ambiguity of characters and story line as jumps in time reveal events. It is left to readers to decide both Ila's motives and her ultimate fate.
Verdict The historical setting and abstract themes make this a good choice for mature teens and adults seeking a thought-provoking read.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., BC
Johns, Geoff & others (text) & Scott Kolins & others (illus.). Blackest Night. Vol. 2. 240p. ed. by Sean Mackiewicz. ISBN 9781401227852.
Tomasi, Peter J. & others (text) & Eddy Barrows & others (illus.). Blackest Night. Vol. 1. c.256p. ed. by Bob Joy. ISBN 9781401227845.ea. vol: DC. (Black Lantern Corps). 2010. pap. $24.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
DC's "Blackest Night" event is the quintessential superhero zombie story. When a mystical force from a distant planet called the Black Lantern rises from the ashes of a terrible genocide and begins sending out mysterious black rings that resurrect the dead, the heroes of the DC Universe must face off with friends, family, and enemies alike; however, unlike most back-from-the-dead comics stories, where a deceased character reenters the land of the living at full health, these resurrected heroes and villains are vile monsters who use deception and manipulation to lure their former loved ones into a false sense of security before ripping out and feeding on their still-beating hearts. As in all good zombie stories, it's not about the living dead or the havoc they wreak but how the normal people are affected. It's a startling experience, indeed, to watch the strong-willed superheroes struggle with emotional turmoil as they combat the living dead even as they want to believe that their loved ones are alive and ready to love again. With more than their fair share of intense violence and unsettling moments, these volumes are not for the younger set but instead are intended as gripping, mature reads for adults.
Verdict Dedicated comics readers have already read these volumes when they were originally published in single-issue form, but casual comics readers or horror fans looking for something different will find something to like here.—M. Brandon Robbins, Wayne Cty. P.L., Goldsboro, NC
Nelson, Michael Alan (text) & Declan Shalvey (illus.). 28 Days Later. Vol. 1: London Calling. Boom! Studios. 2010. c.112p. ISBN 9781608865055. $19.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Bridging the gap between 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, this graphic novel version zeroes in on Selena, a survivor from the first film, as she makes her way back into infected Great Britain with a team of American journalists. Selena leads this pack of slightly delusional yet gung-ho characters into one mistake after another. Naturally, the zombie-like infected citizens of Great Britain rain on their parade as soon as their helicopter lands. From then on, it's hack and slash, as the dead bodies start to pile up. Awash in various shades of red, the artwork stands out and showcases the two main characters in the story: blood and gore.
Verdict Moving along at a blistering pace and packed to the brim with action, this does a great job of linking the two films. Fans of the movies will get a big kick out of this title, but those unfamiliar with the saga will be disappointed. The characters are never fully developed enough for you to care about them.—Justin Hoenke, Portland P.L., ME
