Xpress Reviews—The First Look at New Books, October 29, 2010
Oct 28, 2010Week ending October 29, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
Fiction
MacIntyre, Linden. The Bishop's Man. Counterpoint. Oct. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 9781582436210. $25. F
Father Duncan MacAskill is the last person you want showing up on your doorstep if you are a priest. His job as the "Exorcist" is to clean up delicate situations (a pregnant housekeeper; allegations of child abuse) involving wayward priests. When his bishop sends him to a little town on Cape Breton Island to get him out of the way of an impending abuse scandal, Duncan discovers that he himself may be part of the reason a young man commits suicide. Of course, the attractive priest does garner much attention from the lonely village women. He grapples with his own past and his alcoholism while trying to decide whether to remain a man of the cloth. Winner of the 2009 Giller Prize, a prestigious Canadian literary award, this debut novel by a Canadian broadcast journalist is slow to start but picks up as the story moves along. It accurately describes the pastoral setting of the Canadian Maritimes and the sense of place and history the residents there possess. This story, however, is not geographically dependent and could have been placed anywhere and still be relevant.
Verdict Although the author's too obvious attempt to humanize the clergy is a bit overdone, this drama about the priestly betrayal of Catholic faith in Canada is of good literary quality and will appeal to fans of literary fiction.—Jennifer Draper, Pickering P.L., Ont.
Pasternak, Boris. Doctor Zhivago. Knopf. Oct. 2010. c.544p. tr. from Russian by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky. ISBN 9780307377693. $30. F
How many readers outside Russia realize that Pasternak is not known inside his native country as a novelist but as one of Russia's four great poets of the 20th century? Pasternak wrote this, his only novel, at the end of his life. Appearing at the height of the Cold War (the manuscript was secreted out of Russia and first published in Italy), the novel electrified readers worldwide with its critique of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. In this new translation, Pevear and Volokhonsky appear to have striven for accuracy, and their text is somewhat longer than the original translation by Max Hayward and Manya Harair. Unfortunately, it lacks the flow and sweep of the original and relies considerably on the passive voice. Yet Yuri Zhivago's poems, which the translators take pains to explain are not an addendum but inseparable from the novel, are more pointedly rendered. Compare the original translation, "The murk of night still prevails/ It is yet so early in this world" with the new one, "Still the gloom of night around/ Still so early in the world."
Verdict This new translation works best for readers who want a crisp, concise, up-to-date read; those looking to sink into a good tale would likely prefer the original but should check out the newly translated poems.—Edward B. Cone, New York
The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction. Wesleyan Univ. 2010. 788p. ed. by Arthur B. Evans & others. ISBN 9780819569547. $85; pap. ISBN 9780819569554. $39.95. SF
Starting with Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter," published in 1844, and ending with Ted Chiang's 2008 tale, "Exhalation," the editors have put together a wide-ranging collection of the best modern sf stories. Authors represented include such greats as H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, and Ursula K. Le Guin, but there are some surprises as well (E.M. Forster). A particular standout is Arthur C. Clarke's 1951 "The Sentinel," which served as the basis for Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey. For the reader new to the genre, an introduction explains sf's historical context and literary background. Accompanying each story is a brief essay about the author. Did you know that Robert Heinlein dabbled in silver mining and Democratic Party politics before settling down to write sf in 1939?
Verdict Although intended to be used as a textbook for an sf literature course, this anthology is a great read for anyone who loves science fiction.—Wilfred Drew, Tompkins Cortland Community Coll. Lib., Dryden, NY
Nonfiction
Blaine, Gerald with Lisa McCubbin. The Kennedy Detail: JFK's Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence. Gallery: S. & S. Nov. 2010. c.464p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781439192962. $28. HIST
Almost a half-century after the JFK assassination, Blaine, a member of Kennedy's Secret Service detail, describes how he and his colleagues tried to protect Kennedy that day under impossible circumstances. Blaine describes how JFK did not want agents near his car in the Dallas motorcade so he could be close to the crowd, which made him an easy target for lone gunman Lee Harvey Oswald. With journalist McCubbin, Blaine, who resigned from the Secret Service in 1964, has written this compelling book in the third person because it is the story of the 34-member detail; however, much of the book focuses on the author and Clint Hill, the agent assigned to protect First Lady Jackie Kennedy. This book is Blaine's rebuttal to what he says is the outrageous maligning of the Secret Service, especially in Abraham Bolden's The Echo from Dealey Plaza, which charges the agents with drinking and carousing.
Verdict This account will create controversy as it denies all conspiracy theories about who shot President Kennedy. It is an important contribution to Kennedy assassination literature for its presentation in riveting detail from the agents' perspective and descriptions of the lifelong emotional burden the agents endured when their best efforts were not enough.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA
Castella, Krystina. A World of Cake. Storey. 2010. c.352p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9781603425766. pap. $24.95. COOKING
Castella (Booze Cakes) has scoured the globe to create a cookbook of "the greatest cakes on earth"—cakes that have cultural significance in a particular country, including treats not always considered cake by American standards (e.g., tamales, fritters, and buns). Arranged by geographical region, the chapters contain brief overviews and "world tours" of various types of cakes, showing, for example, how cheesecakes or wedding cakes vary throughout the world. She also includes a calendar of cake-appropriate holidays, interesting sidebars, and beautiful color photographs—most of the cakes are shown in their finished state, and many of the other images are stock photography. Novice bakers may need more instructional guidance, and there are a few troubling omissions: variations on recipes don't account for different baking times for different pan sizes, numerous recipes call for nonstandard pan sizes with no substitutions listed, and there is no bibliography.
Verdict Despite several flaws, this book is a distinctive contribution to the world of baking, and armchair bakers will delight in flipping through the pages of this colorful and engaging volume.—Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR
Chattman, Lauren. Cookie Swap! Workman. 2010. c.240p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780761156772. pap. $14.95. COOKING
Former professional pastry chef Chattman has gathered recipes for drop cookies, bar cookies, sandwich cookies, ice box cookies, biscotti, and even savory cookies-all of which will delight the pallets of any age group. In the first two chapters, Chattman extols the advantages of hosting and attending cookie swaps and provides invitation ideas, party timetables, and lists of pantry and kitchen tool essentials. The recipes that follow are complete with specific instructions for each step in the baking process. Included are old standards such as Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and Fudgy Brownies as well as original recipes like Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate-Pistachio Spiral Cookies, and Fig and Fennel Biscotti. The last chapter includes recipes for cookie-swap-party beverages.
Verdict Chattman's book includes 63 recipes, while Robin Olson's The Cookie Party Cookbook (see review, below) features 170; however, the baking instructions in Cookie Swap! are more complete and accommodating to beginning bakers. Conversely, The Cookie Party Cookbook provides more extensive and specific advice on preparing for a cookie exchange party.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine Coll. Preparatory Lib., San José, CA
Eisenhower, David with Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Going Home to Glory: A Memoir of Life with Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961-1969. S. & S. 2010. c.352p. bibliog. ISBN 9781439190906. $28. AUTOBIOG
President Eisenhower's grandson (Annenberg Sch. of Communication, Univ. of Pennsylvania; Eisenhower at War), with his wife, President Nixon's younger daughter, provides an enlightening and intriguing view of Ike's life after he left the presidency, giving us unprecedented access to Eisenhower's postpresidential activities, from meetings with powerful Republicans about strategies for opposing John F. Kennedy and supporting Richard Nixon, to the golf games for which the former President was famous. The book is meticulously researched and offers astute observations of America's political climate during these years. It is the personal anecdotes, however, that bring the book to life and provide a more comprehensive view of the man—you'll find both Ike's opinions on the Cuban Missile Crisis and his recipe for barbecue sauce—than any other historian could offer. Yet despite its strengths, the book suffers from being somewhat disjointed.
Verdict The author's tendency to alternate between referring to his subject as "Eisenhower" and "Granddad" reflects a certain lack of focus. However, what does emerge is a portrait of a complex personality, fiercely devoted to both his family and his country. Recommended for readers of 20th-century American or presidential history.—Michele Martin, Sonoma Acad. Lib., Santa Rosa, CA
Jorgensen, Jay. Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer. Running Pr. 2010. c.400p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780762438051. $75. FILM
The golden age of Hollywood sparkled with glamorous stars and extravagant cinematic productions. Costume designer Edith Head won five Oscars and epitomized—along with actors she clothed such as Barbara Stanwyck, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn—the star quality of these heady days. Jorgensen (editor, Peterson's Photographic magazine) captures a behind-the-scenes look at the world and work of this dedicated, prolific artist. He includes background information and gorgeous color photographs and illustrations of the costumes she meticulously designed. While incorporating biographical information about Head, Jorgensen focuses primarily on the clothes, which perfectly personified the characters in films like All About Eve, Roman Holiday, and Sunset Boulevard.
Verdict For fans of classic Hollywood movies and students of fashion, photography, and film. Those who want a more in-depth look at the personal life of this iconic Hollywood figure should read David Chierichetti's Edith Head: The Life and Times of Hollywood's Celebrated Costume Designer.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL
Lewis, Matt & Renato Poliafito (text) & Tina Rupp (photogs.). Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. 2010. 208p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781584798507. $29.95. COOKING
Those who liked Lewis and Poliafito's first cookbook, Baked: New Frontiers in Baking, are going to love this one. The owners of Baked, with locations in Brooklyn, NY, and Charleston, SC, have received national media attention and were recently featured on Oprah and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. This highly anticipated new compilation of favorite desserts with spins is sure to inspire both novice and old pros. Included are some of the authors' most requested recipes, which are superbly photographed with a nostalgic feel of grandma's kitchen. The authors share the social aspects of the recipes as well as geographical variations and baking notes to make this collection truly original. There's plenty of chocolate—e.g., their most requested recipe, Sweet and Salty Brownies—as well as nonchocolate creations like Orange Creamsicle Tarts, New York Style Crumb Cake, Baked French Toast, and Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie.
Verdict As enjoyable to read as it is to bake from, this will be a welcome addition to any baking section.—Jane Hebert, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL
Malgieri, Nick (text) & Quentin Bacon (photogs.). Bake! Essential Techniques for Perfect Baking. Kyle: Kyle Cathie, dist. by National Bk. Network. 2010. 224p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781906868239. $29.95. COOKING
Malgieri (director, baking program, Inst. of Culinary Education; The Modern Baker) first suggests equipment and ingredients to have on hand in the pantry. In 20 chapters, he covers the main techniques of baking, starting with pastry dough and moving on to puff pastry, Danish pastry, breads, quick breads, cakes, and cookies. Malgieri writes that baking doesn't have to be any more difficult than making a phone call—it's just a matter of knowing the steps to take. With that in mind, he begins each chapter with step-by-step instructions for making a basic dough recipe and follows with a section of "Essential Tips" and photographs showing how the dough should look each step of the way. There are then several recipes with variations on that dough.
Verdict Novice and experienced bakers will find a wealth of information in Malgieri's new cookbook. This well-organized volume features easy-to-follow directions as well as some tasty alternatives on the basic recipe. The photographs are a big plus.—Phyllis Goodman, West Chester P.L., OH
Olson, Robin L. The Cookie Party Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Cookie Exchange. Griffin: St. Martin's. 2010. c.352p. illus. ISBN 9780312607272. pap. $18.99. COOKING
Expanding on her website, cookie-exchange.com, Olson has gathered cookie recipes and sage advice into one complete book. She has made the daunting task of hosting and baking for a cookie exchange as simple as following a set of suggestions. Olson is firm on guidelines, for example, all guests must bring homemade cookies or, in a pinch, bakery cookies. She doesn't want any guests to be disappointed or feel shortchanged. In addition to a timetable for save-the-date notifications and invitations, home preparation, and refreshments, Olson has included a fascinating history of cookie exchanges with facsimiles of old news articles about these gatherings. Replete with troubleshooting tips, conversion charts for measuring ingredients, and theme recommendations, the book includes more than 170 recipes for cookies, bars, and candies from around the world.
Verdict Though this book will be in particular demand for the holidays, the cookie recipes should keep it popular year-round. Highly recommended. [See also Lauren Chattman's Cookie Swap!, reviewed above, which is a better choice for beginning bakers.—Ed.]—Ann Weber, Bellarmine Coll. Preparatory Lib., San José, CA
Tignor, Robert L. Egypt: A Short History. Princeton Univ. 2010. c.376p. photogs. maps. bibliog. ISBN 9780691147635. $29.95. HIST
Tignor (modern & contemporary history, emeritus, Princeton Univ.) has long studied Egypt, concentrating on the periods from the Arab-Muslim conquest in the seventh century C.E. to the present. He modestly presents his book as a brief history for travelers and other interested readers. In fact, it is a gem: thorough, engaging, and accessible, with an excellent bibliography so readers may delve more deeply into any aspect of Egypt. Especially welcome is Tignor's treatment of the period following the Arab conquest, as many histories taper off after the Roman conquest or the rise of Christianity. Here, the author writes on "Egypt within Islamic Empires, 639–969"; "Fatimids, Ayyubids, and Mamluks, 969–1517"; and "Ottoman Egypt, 1517–1798" before launching into the arrival of Napoleon and modern history. Tignor's affection as well as admiration for Egypt is clear, and he gives readers the sensation of looking out of a jet's window before landing in Egypt, walking down a crowded Cairo street, and other touches of familiarity that draw the reader into the experience.
Verdict Concise and yet engagingly vivid, this outstanding little book should be enjoyed by any reader interested in Egypt or Middle Eastern history.—Joan W. Gartland, Macomb Community Coll. Libs., Warren. MI
Graphic Novels
Azzarello, Brian (text) & Victor Santos (illus.). Filthy Rich. Vertigo: DC. 2010. c.200p. illus. ISBN 9781401211851. pap. $12.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Richard Junkin is a disgraced football player, sidelined by a gambling scandal and a career-ending injury before playing his first regular season pro game. After proving he's worthless as a car salesman, "Junk" takes on a job as a bodyguard for his boss's fast-living daughter, Victoria. When Victoria's lifestyle leads to his involvement in a front-page scandal, Junk finds himself in a dark world of sex, violence, and drugs—and the only way out is straight through. The middle of the narrative is muddy, with seemingly forgotten plot points and unclear motivations, but Azzarello (The Joker) manages to pull things together with a series of satisfying twists and turns that ends on an appropriately defeatist note. Expressive black-and-white art by Santos brings the space between the panels to life.
Verdict Fans of crime novels who wish to move outside of the world of private detectives and gangsters will find good stuff here, as long as they're not shy about nudity, sex, and lots of blood.—M. Brandon Robbins, Wayne Cty. P.L., Goldsboro, NC
Gabaldon, Diana (text) & Hoang Nguyen (illus.). The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel. Del Rey: Ballantine. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 9780345505385. $25. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Extending the popular seven-book "Outlander" saga where a World War II nurse unexpectedly finds herself caught in 18th-century Scottish turf struggles, Gabaldon draws on earlier experience as a Disney comics writer by retelling the beginning of the story from the Scotsmen's perspective instead of the heroine's. For fans, the change provides new subplots and fresh insights about characters while offering readers unfamiliar with this time-travel historical romance a chance to enter through a different format. A plus for everyone: dramatic visuals of the misty Scottish highlands, hunky Scots, and feisty and rather voluptuous Claire, who ends up falling for young Jamie MacKenzie Fraser despite still loving her 20th-century husband.
Verdict With beautifully painted and well-conceived full-color art, this will appeal to Outlander regulars whose mind-pictures run similar to Nguyen's images. Newbies to the series, however, could easily get lost trying to figure out relationships among a welter of Scotsmen, all good-looking, longish haired, and wearing tartans. Back matter with character cameos would have been helpful. For adult collections owing to ample boobage, tasteful erotic activity, and other sex-related plot elements.-Martha Cornog, Philadelphia
metaphrog. Louis: Night Salad. metaphrog. 2010. c.96p. illus. ISBN 9780954598419. $14.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
The newest installment in the award-winning Louis series (by metaphrog team Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers) finds the main character and his bird FC made ill by a spilled bottle of poison. Anxious about his pet and plagued by dizzy spells, Louis plunges into dreaming. A surreal journey ensues, beginning with an escape from a carnivorous caterpillar. He soon encounters new friends in a desert outpost, who advise him to find the fruit of "the raining tree" to heal his beloved bird. As his pursuit leads him into ever-deeper and more dangerous territory, Louis is closely followed by two bothersome neighbors, certain that Louis is leading them to treasure. As in other tales of reluctant travelers, bravery and friendship find their rewards...chicanery and deceit their due punishment.
Verdict A dream-quest theme persists throughout this colorful book, which brings to mind many classic, if somewhat less unsettling, adventures: Harold and the Purple Crayon and Where the Wild Things Are. Established fans will delight in this volume; like Louis, new readers will enter the story perplexed but exit with joy.—John Gehner, Urbana Free Lib., IL
Straczynski, J. Michael (text) & Shane Davis (illus.). Superman: Earth One. DC. 2010. c.136p. ed. by Eddie Berganza & Adam Schlagman. illus. ISBN 9781401224684. $19.99. GRAPHIC NOVELS
For decades, Superman, the most iconic character in comic books, has felt like a dull link to the past, a boring carryover of the "Greatest Generation" living with a code of morals ensuring he'll be a hero with a conscience. That ends with Superman: Earth One. Straczynski (the creator of Babylon 5) reboots Superman the same way music producer Rick Rubin reinvigorated Johnny Cash's legacy in the 1990s, reshaping a living legend into an icon of the moment. Inside this stand-alone graphic novel, Straczynski gives us a Superman for today-a fatherless teen raised by a strong woman, a young man tempted to use his powers for fame and fortune before realizing a hero's journey is the more rewarding path, a hero who doesn't discover his mettle until the fate of the world falls on him. A story with no clear faults, this take on the world's greatest hero also introduces us to a new villain and offers a fresh take on Superman's home world.
Verdict The best development of Superman in decades; director Zach Snyder has just been given the reins to revamp the film franchise, and every Superman fan in the world should be pleading with him to use this book as the script. For lovers of great stories exceptionally told, comic book fans or not.—Robert Morast, Fargo, ND
