Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, February 4, 2011
Feb 3, 2011Week ending February 4, 2011
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
FICTION
Sassone, Ralph. The Intimates. Farrar. Feb. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9780374176976. $24. F
Maize and Robbie become friends in high school, reconnect in college, and share a tiny Manhattan apartment as underemployed young adults. Though intelligent and attractive, they both have difficulty sustaining relationships with anyone but each other. The novel's three parts give us three snapshots of their coming of age: Maize's flirtation with her high school guidance counselor and the surprising ending to a college interview, Robbie's visit with his long-absent father in Rome, and, finally, Maize and Robbie, along with Robbie's first long-term boyfriend, helping Robbie's mother pack up her belongings for an impending move.
Verdict Despite their being inept at personal intimacy, Maize and Robbie are immensely likable and engaging, and the novel, Sassone's first, is full of dry, subtle humor, particularly from Robbie's deliciously passive-aggressive mother. The sex is vivid and erotic without being trashy and revealing of the characters' emotional remoteness even when physically intimate. Recommended for all fiction readers.—Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, Univ. of Minnesota Lib.
NONFICTION
McLeod, Kembrew & Peter DiCola. Creative License: The Law and Culture of Digital Sampling. Duke Univ. Mar. 2011. c.312p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780822348641. $84.95; pap. ISBN 9780822348757. $23.95. MUSIC
The current debate over intellectual property rights has resulted in a broad but often superficial understanding of the issue among the general public. With the goal of replacing anecdotal with empirical evidence, McLeod (communication studies, Univ. of Iowa; Freedom of Expression: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property) and DiCola (law, Northwestern Univ.) questioned dozens of artists, music executives, lawyers, and copyright experts about their experiences with and opinions about the complicated and expensive system of licensing music samples. Beginning with a short history of sampling and the evolution of its legal standing, the authors examine the challenges faced by samplers, the sampled, and the recording industry as a whole. Interviews, economic data, and examples from case law clearly identify trouble spots in the current system and their harmful effects on all parties. Several proposals for reform and their possible results are also explored.
Verdict A methodical yet accessible exploration that addresses concerns from several perspectives and invites spirited discussion. Essential for students of intellectual property law, aspiring recording artists or producers, and hip-hop history buffs.—Neil Derksen, Gwinnett Cty. P.L., Lawrenceville, GA
Pells, Richard. Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies, and the Globalization of American Culture. Yale Univ. Mar. 2011. c.512p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300115048. $35. FINE ARTS
In this original look at modernism, Pells (history, Univ. of Texas, Austin; Not Like Us: How Europeans Have Loved, Hated, and Transformed American Culture Since World War II) packs a wealth of informative detail into individual chapters on art, film, music, and architecture—touching upon styles from jazz and art deco to abstract expressionism and film noir while placing their development into historical context. Along the way, he takes a fresh look at the negative presumption that the American cultural stamp in these areas has overshadowed that of other traditions. Pells underscores the ways in which artistic visionaries ranging from George Gershwin to Jackson Pollock drew serious inspiration from a vast wealth of other cultural sources—as eclectic as the melting pot of America's heritage—in order to explore and create new artistic horizons.
Verdict An education in American modernism, this is also well-researched, thought-provoking, and uplifting analytical commentary on its cultural sources and universal influence. It will engage both scholars and lay readers and is essential reading for those interested in the myriad factors that have shaped contemporary modern culture.—Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
Rapley, Gill & Tracey Murkett. The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook: 130 Easy, Nutritious Recipes That Will Help Your Baby Learn To Eat (and Love!) a Variety of Solid Foods-and That the Whole Family Will Enjoy. The Experiment, dist. by Workman. Mar. 2011. c.192p. illus. index. ISBN 9781615190300. $18.95. COOKING
Nurse Rapley and Murkett (coauthors, Baby-Led Weaning) continue their weaning philosophy with a cookbook. They write, "there is no need for 'baby food,' purees or spoon feeding." From around six months, the baby is encouraged to explore food and make choices, with supervision, of course! There is a handy developing skills chart that helps parents understand when the baby is ready to grasp food with a fist or pick it up with a refined pincer grip. The authors also discuss the types of food a baby can eat and how to offer them. There are many surprising recipes, including mild Thai Green Fish Curry, the British dish Bubble and Squeak (cabbage and potatoes), and Quick Oatmeal Fingers. The advice on meal planning with the baby in mind is especially helpful and allows the whole family to have dinner together.
Verdict This engaging resource features lots of recipes to encourage baby independence during weaning and should match the popularity of the previous guide.—Barb Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO
Seddiqui, Daniel. 50 Jobs in 50 States: One Man's Journey of Discovery Across America. Berrett-Koehler, dist. by Ingram. Mar. 2011. c.288p. illus. ISBN 9781605098258. pap. $15.95. CAREERS
Seddiqui here chronicles his 2009 journey across the United States as he worked representative jobs in each state's major industry for one week. A 2005 graduate from the University of Southern California, he conceived of this project after encountering repeated rejections for employment in his field of economics because of his lack of experience. His goal, therefore, was to add experience to his résumé, learn firsthand about different careers, and support himself. In each of the 50 chapters, Seddiqui recounts his job experience for the week, including locating the job, adapting to the work, and his perceptions of the industry's culture. From guarding the border in Arizona to coping with seasickness while catching lobsters in Maine, the memorable anecdotes contribute to an authentic sense of each job and provide an original perspective on the nation's careers.
Verdict Although not the usual career guide, Seddiqui's look at America through 50 quintessential jobs is both informative and inspiring. Recommended for undergraduate students doing career research and for college career resource centers.—Jane Scott, George Fox Univ. Lib., Newberg, OR
Wierzbicki, James. Elliott Carter. Univ. of Illinois. (American Composers). Mar. 2011. c.136p. index. ISBN 9780252036095. $60; pap. ISBN 9780252078002. $20. MUSIC
The "American Composers" series—short, readable biographies of such notable composers as Lou Harrison, John Cage, William Grant Still, and Dudley Buck—is now in its fifth year. In this entry, Wierzbicki (musicology, Univ. of Sydney, Australia; Film Music: A History) focuses on the life and works of one of the most distinguished living American composers, Elliot Carter, who celebrated his 102nd birthday last year and has produced a flood of new works in the past two decades. Carter's music, notoriously complex and challenging for performers and listeners alike, has garnered high praise as well as scathing criticism. Wierzbicki provides an objective assessment of his oeuvre and frequently quotes other writers and critics to provide balance. In contrast to David Schiff's definitive The Music of Elliot Carter, Wierzbicki's book avoids technical analysis in favor of a broad examination of Carter's life and works.
Verdict Thoroughly researched and accessible to the lay reader, the book will intrigue readers who wish to deepen their appreciation of this legendary composer. Recommended for all public and music collections.—Larry A. Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, PA
GRAPHIC NOVELS
AX: Alternative Manga; A Collection of Alternative Manga. Vol. 1. Top Shelf. 2010. 400p. ed. by Sean Michael Wilson. ISBN 9781603090421. pap. $29.95. ANTHOL
Since 1998, Japan's AX magazine has published an impressive range of underground and sometimes disquieting manga. For the uninitiated, this fantastic collection features eye-opening work by 33 representative artists. As author Paul Gravett notes in his introduction, the ubiquity of comics in Japan—and some might now say the United States—presents a challenge. How "alternative" can comics possibly be if the medium permeates pop culture so completely? The diversity of art, themes, and realities compiled by Wilson (The Story of Lee) responds with a resounding, very. Standouts include Katsuo Kawai's spare breakup story, "Push Pin Woman"; Toranosuke Shimada's fictionalized account of imperialism, motorcycles, and Nazis in Brazil, "Enrique Kobayashi's Eldorado"; Shigeyuki Fukumitsu's "The Song of Mr. H." concerning a salaryman's self-redemption; and many, many more.
Verdict "There is still a need for freedom, for a platform for nonconformist, subversive, even transgressive manga," Gravett declares. AX provides just such a home for the perverse and the profound. Libraries committed to sophisticated comics collections and to adventurous (mature) readers must buy this volume and those that follow.—John Gehner, Urbana Free Lib., IL
Dini, Paul (text) & Alex Ross (illus). The World's Greatest Super-Heroes. DC. 2010. 362p. ISBN 9781401202552. pap. $29.99. F
Collected here are the six graphic novels that Ross and Dini collaborated on between 1998 and 2003. Ross, for his part, contributes another set of astounding, realistic paintings of DC heroes. Unfortunately, Dini's writing comes off as stilted and contrived throughout. The two creators initially focus on Superman, Batman, Shazam, and Wonder Woman; then present a tale of an alien virus that the Justice League battles as a whole. The premise of each story is fairly unique—Superman attempts to cure world hunger; Batman tries to revitalize a downtrodden neighborhood by usurping corporate bigwigs and corrupt politicians; Shazam confronts child abuse; and Wonder Woman struggles to preserve rain forests, provide comfort for wounded children, and rescue a group of hostages. The last team arc explores panic in times of crisis and how the media and public opinion can quickly create waves of confusion, fear, and distrust. Written as if narrated by the hero in each case, the tales afford a creative look at what it might be like to possess massive power and the ability to solve global and noteworthy problems, but the first-person perspective often backfires. All too frequently, the narrative voices sound clichéd and corny, detracting slightly from the fantastic art and cool plot ideas.
Verdict Despite the narrative shortcomings, recommended for most graphic novel collections. A great addition for fans of Ross's art and DC heroes in general. Includes many extras, such as an afterword, a Project Genesis, and several rough sketches of preliminary art.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
Hubert (text) & Kerascoet (illus.). Miss Don't Touch Me. Vol. 2. ComicsLit: NBM. 2010. 96p. ISBN 9781561635924. pap. $14.99. F
Life in a Parisian brothel is no bowl of cherries. Previously, innocent young Blanche went undercover at the Pompadour to find her sister's murderer but became the star attraction as Miss Don't Touch Me, the virgin dominatrix. The second volume of this French import opens with Blanche trying (and failing) to escape the bordello. Fortunately, Antoine, a "wealthy young man about town," swoops in to rescue her, proposing marriage and making no sexual demands. Unfortunately, his motives are suspect, and his mother is opposed, to say the least. Other complications include scheming coworkers and a grasping mother determined to ride the wave of Blanche's good fortune until it crashes on the beach. The plot fairly gallops in this naughty adult soap opera; snappy dialog keeps up the pace. Richly detailed full-color art offers both humor and pathos, creating engaging characters and a strong sense of place.
Verdict With mature content and some nudity, this is not for most teen collections. However, adults who like outrageous plot twists and offbeat characters should enjoy this romp through the Paris of the 1930s.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., BC
Roberson, Chris (text) & Shawn McManus (illus.). Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love. Vertigo. 2010. 144p. ISBN 9781401227500. pap. $14.99. F
Contrary to popular belief, Cinderella didn't attend Prince Charming's ball to find true love but, rather, to extract sensitive state secrets from the royal family. In this spin-off of Bill Willingham's popular Fables series, Cinderella is no dainty damsel tottering on glass heels-she's a modern, trash-talking superspy with a killer right hook and a penchant for getting out of impossible situations. When dangerous magical contraband starts popping up in the nonmagical Mundy world, Fabletown's sheriff sends Cinderella to investigate. She crosses paths with the dashing playboy Aladdin, and the two reluctantly join forces, uncovering secrets that, ultimately, force Cinderella to reexamine her own past. McManus's slick art fleshes out the magical world and its inhabitants, but Roberson's snappy, smart dialog is the main attraction: Cinderella and Aladdin's love/hate relationship isn't happily ever after, but it sure is funny.
Verdict Fables fans will enjoy insight into Cinderella's character, but this book is not essential to the series' overall story arc. Stick to more traditional Cinderella stories for children and young teens; this version is better suited for mature readers.—Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Portland P.L., ME
