Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, April 22, 2011
Apr 21, 2011Week ending April 22, 2011
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
Barcelona Noir.Akashic. May 2011. c.300p. ed. by Adriana V. Lopez & Carmen Ospina. ISBN 9781936070954. pap. $15.95. M
The 14 stories collected here encompass the anarchist nexus that was Barcelona of the 1920s, the anti-Semitic milieu in Spain during World War II, immigration and modern slavery, and straightforward tales of horror, murder, and revenge. Echoing Ireland's Black and Tan era of the 1920s when civilians were terrorized by a British auxiliary force, Andreu Martín's "The Law of Escape" outlines the cool offhand efficiency of extrajudicial executions and evokes a visceral feeling in the reader with its understated last line. "Sweet Croquette" by David Barba is vile, brilliant, and makes this reviewer glad he is a vegan. Twisted and noir to its core, Teresa Solana's superb "The Offering" subverts the lexicon about inner and outer beauty in a startling and unique way that leaves a deep impression on the reader.
VerdictWith 50 titles in its noir series and counting, Akashic adds another fine anthology to the lineup, this time evoking the cultural, social, and physical precincts of Barcelona from the early 20th century to the present. Fans of Spanish literature and crime fiction will enjoy. [Editors Lopez and Ospina were former editors of Criticas, LJ's Spanish-language review publication.—Ed.]—Seamus Scanlon, City Coll. Ctr. for Worker Education, New York
Gardner, Nina-Marie. Sherry & Narcotics.Future Fiction London: Creation Bks., dist. by Consortium. May 2011. c.239p. ISBN 9780982792827. pap. $14.95. F
This debut novel is a gritty examination of a young woman's enthrallment to her addiction. Mary is a former graduate student eking out an existence in London writing college application essays for foreign students and struggling to stay sober. After being contacted online by Jake, a charming poet and actor, she soon begins an intense correspondence. Captivated by Jake, Mary moves north to Manchester and embarks on a dissolute affair. Addiction quickly returns to her life as her dishonest relationship with Jake becomes entwined with her alcoholism. Told through a combination of emails, text messages, and emotionally intimate scenes, the book is a stylistically daring character study.
VerdictGardner does an excellent job of taking readers into the mind of an addict; the isolation and paranoia Mary's alcoholism creates are expertly captured. Readers who enjoy dark contemporary fiction will find much to savor in this novel.—Carly Thompson, Chicago Ridge P.L.
Wallace, David Foster. The Pale King.Little, Brown. Apr. 2011. 560p. ISBN 9780316074230. $27.99. F
Partway through this compendium of materials discovered after Wallace's tragic 2008 suicide, a character conflated with the author by name and false protestations of memoir writing recalls a youthful moment of drug taking. He could, he explains, "not only hear the music and each note and bar and key change and resolution of each track, but know, with the same kind of awareness and discrimination, that I was doing this, meaning really listening...but also being aware of the exact feelings and sensations the music produced in me." That sentence replicates exactly the experience of reading this book, which seems less to describe than to embody, in a carefully calculated overflow of language, the events presented. Ostensibly, this is about a man who ends up working for the IRS in the 1980s, a time of major administrative shift from gray-flannel servitude to aggressive number cracking, while also giving the backstories of not only our protagonist but other characters who end up encapsulating the IRS's defining ennui.
Verdict This book delivers the powerful sensation that we're awash in data that only certain people know how to control, and they control it to their advantage. It's unfortunate that we can't see how the brilliant Wallace might finally have exerted control here, but at least we're invited into his final thoughts on the limits of our culture. Read this not as a novel (not even as an unfinished one) but as fragments of profound meditation, and you'll be fine. [See Prepub Alert, 10/25/10.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Armendariz, Matt. On a Stick! 80 Party-Perfect Recipes.Quirk. May 2011. 184p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781594744891. pap. $16.95. COOKING
Even more daunting than the question, "What shall we fix for dinner?" is the dilemma of what to contribute to a party. Party food should be flavorful, fun, and distinctive. Armendariz has compiled a collection of 80 recipes that have one common attribute—everything is served on a stick. There are the usual corn dogs, chicken satay, and shrimp skewers, but have you tasted potato chips, spaghetti and meatballs, or deep-fried candy bars on a stick? Recipes call for a variety of cooking methods, from grilling and deep-frying to baking and freezing. Some of them border on outrageous, and none seems boring. Armendariz includes many dips and sauces to accompany the sweet and savory party foods. Each recipe is complemented by a full-page color photo of the dish.
VerdictWith these recipes, there is no need to balance a knife and fork on a plate while mingling in a crowd. This book will be in demand for casual summer gatherings.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine Coll. Preparatory, San José, CA
Boice, Judith. The Green Medicine ChestTM: Healthy Treasures for the Whole Family.Seven Winds Inst. 2011. c.330p. index. ISBN 9780967045306. pap. $19.97. HEALTH
This all-encompassing compendium about natural medicines is drawn from nonconventional disciplines as diverse as Chinese medicine and American Indian healing beliefs. Boice (Menopause with Science and Soul), a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist, has strong views on her specialty and writes to support readers looking to avoid pharmaceutical drugs and generally "rebuild health." There are sections on what it means to green your medicine; unless there is an obvious disease emergency and/or surgery is required, Boice believes that through a learned process of "deep listening" one will intuitively feel what natural remedies are required. Each therapy is explained and explored, including homeopathic options, flower essences, herbs, and Qigong. Sections cover which therapies would help specific conditions, e.g., burns, fatigue, hypoglycemia, and inflammatory bowel disease; chapters focus on particular areas of health for adults and children.
VerdictAt times it is difficult to tell the difference between well-established information and opinion, as objective and subjective content blend seamlessly throughout the text. It should also be noted that there is an absence of citations and references. Overall, this will be a useful and invaluable book for natural medicine proponents and supporters.—Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. Lib. Syst., NM
Bradley, John & others. South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.Modern Overland, dist. by Small Press United. May 2011. c.668p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9781609870676. pap. $25.99. TRAV
This cutting-edge travel book is loaded with information on the historic and rapidly changing cultures in the three countries that form the southern tip of Africa. John Bradley, Liz Bradley, Victoria Fine, and Jon Vidar have enthusiastically put together a tremendous amount of information about the history, geography, sights, activities, and customs of this vibrant and culturally diverse region of the world, along with an understanding of its ethnic differences. With artistic photographs, detailed maps, comprehensive overviews of the regions and peoples, selected itineraries, and travel highlights, this book is thoroughly researched and broad; it features everything from country farms to beaches to cage diving with sharks to participating in ancient ceremonies with Swazis.
VerdictWith a lengthy index, compelling photographs, accommodation and restaurant information, maps, and GPS coordinator for every sight, this guide also denotes destinations that are socially and environmentally beneficial. An excellent guide to Southern Africa with invaluable information for all readers.—Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Boulder, CO
The Bureau Chiefs. Write More Good: An Absolutely Phony Guide.Three Rivers: Crown. 2011. c.224p. illus. ISBN 9780307719584. pap. $13. HUMOR
The Twitter feed @fakeapstylebook has spawned this book—not a collection of those tweets or even tweet-sized advice but presented as an actual style guide (not!). Touted as the "definitive guide on how (not) to write...[in] the Internet age," it succeeds both as one funny book and also as a crash course in how to get fired from any job requiring you to submit writing for publication. Chapters are divided by subject, such as law, science, religion, and punctuation, covering all usage about which a writer might need to be (mis)informed. There's even a chapter on archaic rules of usage. Readers who enjoy humor in the vein of The Onion will love this book, a kind of unholy love child of William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White's The Elements of Style and The Daily Show.
VerdictReaders who enjoy the various editions of Lawrence Dorfman's Snark Handbook will be all over this. Deadpan, and, yes, smart-alecky to the nth degree, it's for those who like their humor with a little bite. Public libraries and sticklers for detail can't go wrong. With a foreword by Roger Ebert.—Audrey Snowden, formerly with Cleveland P.L., Cedar Key, FL
Doran, Jamie & Piers Bizony. Starman: The Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin.Walker. May 2011. c.256p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780802779502. pap. $16. BIOG
This engrossing study, published in 1998 in the UK after Doran's BBC documentary of the same name, finally comes to the States, with an afterword to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight, the USSR's launch of Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. Documentary film producer Doran (Atlantic Celtic Films) and Bizony (2001: Filming the Future) use their trove of first-hand Soviet accounts to chronicle Gagarin (1934–68) from his humble origins, his family's harsh life during World War II, to his rise in the Soviet Air Force and his acceptance into the space program. The details of that first harrowing orbit are here, from dramatic liftoff to the remote encounter by a farmer and his daughter of Gagarin parachuted back to Earth. Readers see the significance of Gagarin's triumph and how it rebalanced America's power relationship with the Soviets; Gagarin's decline under the Brezhnev government following his meteoric rise under Khrushchev; the feuds and rivalries along the way; Gagarin's pressurized life as cosmonaut and family man; his excessive drinking and rumored trysts; and the mystery surrounding his death in a training flight (mere accident or political elimination?).
VerdictAn extraordinary and accessible examination of this enormous contribution to space exploration, supported by riveting first-hand anecdotes. Essential to any air and space collection.—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland
Hamlet: The 30-Minute Shakespeare.ISBN 9781935550242.
Two Gentlemen of Verona: The 30-Minute Shakespeare.ISBN 9781935550259.
ea. vol: Nicolo Whimsey, dist. by Consortium. 2011. c.72p. ed. by Nick Newlin. bibliog. pap. $7.95. DRAMA
There are two kinds of English students—those for whom their initial introduction to Shakespeare sucks. Then, there are the lucky who have a truly fun, emotional, and sometimes magical first experience, usually guided by a sagacious, knowledgeable, and intuitive educator, director, or actor. Folger Shakespeare Library teaching artist Newlin is a staunch advocate for students learning Shakespeare through performance. With these latest series additions, he has now adapted 14 plays. Newlin's gentle "No Experience Necessary" remarks introduce each play, followed by a cast list of characters and a short sequence of scenes. The second half of each book is devoted to Newlin's helpful narrative on performing Shakespeare with young and inexperienced students for the neophyte teacher/director. Each title concludes with useful scene-by-scene performance notes, a list of set pieces, a program from an actual performance, and supplementary resources.
VerdictCutting a three-plus-hour seminal classic down to 30 minutes requires substituting a chainsaw for a paring knife. Even so, Newlin does a good job within the parameters he has established. Especially recommended for educators daunted by the prospect of having to work simultaneously with Shakespeare and junior high school students.—Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX
Jacobs, Michael. Andes.Counterpoint. May 2011. c.576p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781582437378. pap. $24.95. TRAV
Following in the footsteps of "The Liberator" Simón Bolívar and explorer/naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, Jacobs meanders the entire length of the Andes, interweaving his own travels with the postcolonial history of South America. Having previously visited much of the continent before writing Ghost Train Through the Andes (2006), he skips over the tourist hot spots, favoring places with a Bolívar or Humboldt connection. Clearly well versed in South American exploration and travel literature, Jacobs liberally and aptly weaves relevant quotes into the narrative, giving the reader a broader first-person experience from the last few centuries. However, he also reports anthropological guesswork and the tales of tour guides as fact, undermining the accuracy of the book.
VerdictReaders looking for a lighter South American travelog should choose Matthew Parris's Inka Kola: A Traveller's Tale of Peru. Those wanting an authoritative or comprehensive history of the continent will appreciate the suggestions in Jacobs's "Further Reading" section. Despite its length, this book will interest general readers who like the history/travel mix and those looking for background information on South America.—Sheila Kasperek, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.
McCullough, David. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris.S. & S. May 2011. c.518p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781416571766. $37.50. HIST
This is a highly readable and entertaining travelog of a special sort, an interdisciplinary treat from a tremendously popular Pulitzer Prize–winning historian. McCullough (John Adams) tells of the many American writers, artists, political figures, etc., who traveled to Paris during the period from 1830 to 1900. Travel was a "wild novelty" to them as they sought to bask in the inspiration of Paris's culture and heritage. McCullough has unearthed the reminiscences and reflections of an amazing array of prominent Americans, including Margaret Fuller, Mary Cassatt, Henry Adams, Edith Wharton, Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Charles Sumner, with results valuable both as a record of personal experiences and, more importantly, for the revelations about the intersection of French and American history in these years, encompassing the French sympathy for the Confederacy, as well as how American ingenuity (the light bulb, telegraph, telephone, even the soda fountain) captivated the French. While McCullough has relied on the letters and journals of many superb writers and cultural figures, his most valuable find for students of political history is the detailed diary kept by diplomat Elihu Washburne during the tumultuous days of the Paris Commune.
VerdictHighly recommended and sure to captivate general readers and generalist scholars alike.—Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., NJ
Masino, Susan. Family Tradition: Three Generations of Hank Williams.Backbeat: Hal Leonard. May 2011. c.256p. photogs. discog. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781617130069. $24.99. MUSIC
There is no greater American musical legacy than the three generations of Hank Williamses. Rock journalist Masino's (The Story of AC/DC) take on the most famous name in country music feels like a cursory read-through of a family that could inspire an entire series of books, although she does a nice job in her swift 256-page reader. Masino picks up on the striking tragedy of each Hank (from Hank Sr.'s destructive addiction to Hank Jr.'s near-fatal mountain fall to Hank III's admission of being molested by a relative), and she easily segues from Hank to Hank with fluid transitions that trace the family lineage. But we never see the full portraits of these fascinating artists; even as Masino constructs characters dynamic enough to make us feel each Hank's pain or pride for their accomplishments, her book never quite inspires tears or cheers. It feels like a cover band trying to capture the magic of these musicians; we get the music but not enough of the sincerity that makes the music great.
VerdictThis is a fine introductory read on the Hank Williams legacy, but dedicated country music fans won't find much new material here.—Robert Morast, Fargo, ND
Schwartz, Peggy & Murray Schwartz. The Dance Claimed Me: The Biography of Pearl Primus.Yale Univ. May 2011. c.352p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780300155341. $35. DANCE
Peggy and Murray Schwartz, who are married and who were both employed at University of Massachusetts Amherst, here explore the life of Pearl Primus (1919–94), with whom they worked and socialized. An important figure in dance history, she was a pioneer in communicating an understanding of African dance and culture in the United States. She also used dance as a form of social protest. Born in Trinidad, she came to America as a child. Originally aspiring to be a doctor but lacking opportunity because of her race, Primus shifted into dance and political activism. Later in life, she earned a Ph.D. from New York University in educational sociology and anthropology. She was a riveting performer, and the book is filled with eyewitness accounts of her powerful presence on stage and off. Primus says it best: "When I danced it, I wasn't male or female. I wasn't the wind. I wasn't the tree. I was a concept." The authors also include a helpful time line.
VerdictThis welcome addition to dance history illuminates Primus's life and career.—Barb Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO
Watson, Linda. Wildly Affordable Organic: Eat Fabulous Food, Get Healthy, and Save the Planet—All on $5 a Day or Less.Da Capo Lifelong. May 2011. c.256p. index. ISBN 9780738214689. pap. $17. COOKING
Affordable and organic are two words rarely heard in conjunction. While the price information will date this book quickly, Watson, who founded the Cook for Good blog, demonstrates realistic ways to cook inexpensively yet healthfully without living in the kitchen. Well written and full of useful ideas and tips, the book features 100 recipes. Although heavy on staples such as pasta, beans, and peanut butter, they also include fresh vegetables and fruit. Watson provides a month's worth of menus for each of the four seasons, a real boon for those caught in the rut of eating the same things every week. Each meal includes the total price of ingredients, for both an organic and a thriftier plan. On the downside, while the focus is on healthy eating, no calorie or nutrition information is provided.
VerdictWith the twin concerns of health and food costs very much on consumers' minds lately, this is likely to be popular.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio, Oxford
Himaruya, Hidekaz. Hetalia: Axis Powers.Vol. 2. Tokyopop. 2010. c.168p. ISBN 9781427818874. pap. $10.99. F
History made mock carries this webcomic, which personifies the world's countries as squabbling pretty boys (and a few girls). Vignettes of varying length reference events from the Middle Ages through the 21st century, played out through politically incorrect stereotypes and satire. Much of Volume 1 focuses on the two world wars, while Volume 2 turns to recent decades. Even historical microdramas become fodder for amusement, like Sealand's bid for recognition as a sovereign state and Switzerland's accidental invasion of Liechtenstein. In a particularly goofy episode, aliens are seen creating crop circles on Earth using "Photoshop Crop Circle" software. The art tends toward the slapdash, and telling the characters apart can prove difficult. Fortunately, Volume 2 starts with a full character guide. The biggest challenge can be appreciating the jokes, but then boning up on your history is part of the fun.
VerdictThe series has been wildly popular in Japan and the United States. Both volumes have hit the New York Times manga best sellers list. Moreover, cosplayers around the world have embraced these characters big time. Recommended for older teens and up, in classrooms, too. FUNimation has picked up the anime.—Martha Cornog, Philadelphia
