Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, May 6, 2011
May 5, 2011Week ending May 6, 2011
E-Originals | Fiction | Nonfiction
E-ORIGINALS
Laurens, Stephanie & others. Royal Weddings.Avon Impulse. 2011. c. 77p. eISBN 9780062100016. $1.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Despite our own official lack of royal traditions (or maybe because of it), nothing fascinates Americans like a royal wedding, particularly a British one, so it's no surprise that the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton captured our collective attention. In honor of that event, three acclaimed historical romance writers have teamed up for a sparkling anthology of short stories, each revolving around a different royal wedding. In Laurens's "The Wedding Planner," Lady Margaret Dawlish, independent, outspoken, and noted for arranging flawless weddings for her family and friends, is caught off guard when an attractive, intensely memorable French nobleman from her past turns up in the latest wedding party as the royal groom's best man but with a secret agenda of his own. In Gaelen Foley's insightful "Ever After," a jealous explosion at the 1816 wedding of the Prince Regent's daughter, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Leopold sparks change in the perfectly proper marriage of a countess who is secretly—and most unfashionably—in love with her dashing husband. A well-connected but penniless nobleman struggles to understand why his wealthy and beloved fiancée jilted him just as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert prepare to wed in Loretta Chase's gently humorous, emotionally satisfying "The Jilting of Lord Rothwick."
VerdictClever, charming, and immensely entertaining, this well-timed trio of short stories perfectly capture the magical, fairy-tale flavor of happily-ever-after moments. From Avon's new exclusive ebook imprint, this title is brief and inexpensive enough to tempt print-only readers into dipping a tentative toe into the expanding ebook pond.—Kristin Ramsdell, Librarian Emerita, California State Univ., East Bay
FICTION
Berry, Steve. The Jefferson Key.Ballantine. May 2011. c.480p. ISBN 9780345505514. $26. F
In this seventh series installment (after The Emperor's Tomb), Cotton Malone finds himself at the center of a plot to assassinate the President of the United States. Malone, a bookseller who often puts his Navy and Justice Department skills to use as a private intelligence agent, and his girlfriend, the equally talented Cassiopeia Vitt, race to uncover who is targeting the President and who is framing Malone. They find themselves in a confusing tangle of competing intelligence contractors and a 200-year-old conspiracy connected to the U.S. Constitution and a secret organization of privateers.
VerdictThough Berry is well loved for featuring international locales in his best-selling historical conspiracy thrillers, this novel, the first set in the United States, will not fail to win over readers looking for a quick-paced read loaded with historical anecdotes and sites. A perfect summer escape. [See Prepub Alert, 4/1/11.]—Catherine Lantz, Morton Coll. Lib., Cicero, IL
Corona, Laurel. Finding Emilie.Gallery: S. & S. 2011. c.448p. ISBN 9781439197660. pap. $15. F
Corona's second historical novel (after Penelope's Daughter) offers an excellent introduction to Émilie du Châtelet (1706-49), whose wealth could still not overcome the discrimination she faced as a female intellectual in 18th-century France. A talented mathematician, she glimpsed the relationship between energy and matter two centuries before Einstein, and her translation of Newton's Principia Mathematica remains the standard French version. Emilie died at age 42 after bearing a daughter, who died 18 months later. Drawing from these historical facts, Corona has the daughter, Lili, survive and taken in by a kindly and thoughtful family that encourages her to use her mind. As Lily tries to find her place in the glittering and decadent prerevolutionary France, she gradually learns about her brilliant and notorious mother and eventually meets her mother's former lover, Voltaire, now a very old man tending his garden. Although readers are aware times are darkening, the depictions of intellectual salons and the passionate pursuit of the sciences lighten the book.
VerdictCorona's marvelous scenes of the French Enlightenment in progress will appeal to readers who long for times when anyone of any intellectual claim could dabble in new ideas. Fans of Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures will also enjoy.—Mary Kay Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS
Hunter, Madeline. Dangerous in Diamonds.Jove: Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). May 2011. 359p. ISBN 9780515149340. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Duke of Castleford considers the responsibilities of rank onerous and boring, which is why he restricts his attention to them to Tuesdays. The rest of the week he indulges in other ducal privileges, like drinking and cavorting with women. He therefore isn't totally sober when he visits one of four parcels of land he's inherited from the late Duke of Becksbridge. The tenant, Mrs. Daphne Joyes, a widow and proprietor of the Rarest Blooms enterprise, had had an arrangement with Becksbridge and had expected to receive ownership of the property upon his death. There is more at stake here than this incorrigible duke needs to know. Yet Castleford's legendary curiosity gets the better of him, as he considers Mrs. Joyes a conundrum he might risk sobriety to unravel. She just wants him gone.
VerdictThe last installment in Hunter's "Rarest Blooms" quartet (Ravishing in Red, Provocative in Pearls, Sinful in Satin) features characters from the earlier novels, plus a host of others to bring the series to a satisfying close. The incorporation of historical events (the Battle of Peterloo) highlights the unrest of the times and intensifies our heroine's precarious situation. And could there be a more arrogant duke—or one more irresistible? Hunter's flowery centerpiece will suit every romance table. Highly recommended.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
North, Anna. America Pacifica.Reagan Arthur: Little, Brown. May 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780316105125. $24.99. F
The island of America Pacifica was once the sanctuary of refugees escaping the new Ice Age who claimed North America. But the glorious revival of American luxury has devolved into a squalid class system in which only the very rich are comfortable, safe, and fed. Amid the poverty, hunger, and filth that marks life on her small overpopulated island, 18-year-old Darcy is remarkably isolated and innocent. However, the sudden disappearance of her mother, both her only family and dearest friend, forces Darcy to unearth the mysteries of life on America Pacifica. On her quest to find her mother, Darcy must discover her mother's past, uncover the secret history of her island's origin, and possibly become the catalyst for a revolution.
VerdictAs we watch Darcy transition from childish innocence to the beginning of adult wisdom as she seeks the truth, this debut novel by an up-and-coming author, whose fiction has appeared in The Atlantic, becomes a bit tricky to classify. With an ending reminiscent of Lois Lowry's The Giver, this dystopian mystery with a coming-of-age undercurrent offers a satisfying yet thought-provoking read for both YA and adult fans of the genre.—Jennifer Beach, Cumberland Cty. P.L., VA
Rodale, Maya. A Tale of Two Lovers.Avon. May 2011. 370p. ISBN 9780061922997. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Simon Sinclair, Viscount Roxbury, has been handed an ultimatum: marry within the month or lose his father's financial support. A much sought-after rake cannot limit himself to only one woman. But poverty has no attraction whatsoever. When The London Weekly's gossip columnist hints that Roxbury was seen in a passionate embrace with—gasp—a man, his vast array of possible brides disappears, along with society's invitations. Of course, it was most likely an actress dressed in male attire, but for Lady Julianna Somerset, aka the Lady of Distinction, it was a fabulous tidbit she couldn't resist, especially if it scooped her rival, The Man About Town. Julianna knows a bit about rakes, but now she is a 21-year-old widow, and her own reputation is above reproach. Still, when she and Simon both find themselves rebuffed by the ton, a marriage of convenience may be their only recourse.
VerdictRodale's second tale of the unconventional Writing Girls (after A Groom of One's Own) pits our once-burned, forthright heroine against an unrepentant ladies man who finds her maddening and provoking yet manages to make her laugh. Rodale has pulled off another rapturous story of enterprising women and the men who try to tame them. The battle of the sexes has never been more fun. Highly recommended.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
NONFICTION
Fuentes, Annette. Lockdown High: When the Schoolhouse Becomes a Jailhouse.Verso, dist. by Norton. May 2011. c.320p. index. ISBN 9781844676811. $26.95. ED
Media reaction to isolated instances of violence in schools has led Americans, despite a sharp decline over the past ten years of violence in schools, to call for increased surveillance, fewer freedoms, and elimination of due process for our student population. Fuentes, a journalist and former instructor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, presents a chilling report on the increasing criminalization of American secondary students. She begins with an examination of the history of school violence then explores the Columbine attack and how it greatly increased calls for high security in schools. Other topics covered include the epidemic of "zero tolerance" policies, the war on drugs and schools, and the prisonlike security implemented in increasing numbers of schools, with guards, metal detectors, and surveillance systems. Fuentes also considers the profit motive and, finally, discusses alternatives, with less emphasis on high-stakes testing and student compliance and more on developing relationships and programs to help defuse violence.
VerdictAn extremely well-written examination of the American school environment and a must-read for parents, educators, and policymakers.—Mark Bay, Univ. of the Cumberlands Lib., Williamsburg, KY
Guinn, Jeff. The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral—and How It Changed the American West.S. & S. May 2011. 374p. photogs. maps. ISBN 9781439154243. $27. TRUE CRIME/HIST
Guinn, whose 2010 Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde garnered an Edgar Award, delivers another double-barrel blast of history and true crime. As he masterfully reveals, the infamous October 26, 1881, gunfight near the O.K. Corral was the explosive culmination of two years of frustration, distrust, fear, and anger between the lawmen Earps with Doc Holliday and the "Cowboys," a ragtag gang of criminals who were a powerful force in Tombstone, AZ. Guinn provides a superbly detailed account of the major and minor players, their motivations, and their place in the story's fabric. The central figure is Wyatt Earp, a hard, proud, violent man desiring to make his fortune and be important. His numerous attempts at both continually failed because he was a political neophyte who didn't understand how to manipulate the system. Having Holliday, a known gambler and gunman with a hair-trigger temper, for a best friend is a prime example of Wyatt's naïveté.
VerdictGuinn provides a thorough, thrilling account of the crime and its influence on the history of the West. Whether shelving this as true crime or history, absolutely buy this dazzler; as Doc Holliday said, "You're a daisy, if you do."—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
James Levine: 40 Years at the Metropolitan Opera.Amadeus: Hal Leonard. May 2011. 230p. photogs. discog. index. ISBN 9781574671964. pap. $35. MUSIC
This lavishly illustrated book is a worthy companion to conductor and music director James Levine's long association with New York's Metropolitan Opera Company. From his earliest years as a piano prodigy in Cincinnati to the recent Met telecasts in HD, it provides a generous sampling of remembrances from artists with whom he has collaborated, including people on both sides of the footlights, though appropriately concentrating on vocalists. It primarily consists of clearly reproduced, captioned stills from performances and rehearsals, many with paragraph-long descriptions by the dedicatee or others. A few extended essays as well as short takes provide valuable insights into Levine's musicianship and the operatic scene from 1970 to the present. Almost everyone who is or was anyone during these decades is included, with a few notable exceptions, e.g., Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills. With supporting lists of premieres, orchestral and chamber music concerts, discs, and telecasts.
VerdictAnyone with even the slightest interest in opera will find this book illuminating, entertaining, and poignant, considering how many of the great singers are no longer with us.—Barry Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH
Stavely, Keith & Kathleen Fitzgerald. Northern Hospitality: Cooking by the Book in New England.Univ. of Massachusetts. May 2011. c.488p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781558498600. $80; pap. ISBN 9781558498617. $29.95. COOKING
In this unexpected gem in the ocean of works on food, librarians Stavely and Fitzgerald (America's Founding Food) have crafted a "richly contextualized critical anthology" of New England's food heritage. The first section is a short social history of food in America, which provides helpful context for the historical recipes. The heart of the book is the recipes, from the original cookbooks ranging from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, complete with original wording, spelling, and grammar and "commentaries to aid in historical understanding." Reading the original cook's recipe and the authors' explanation of it adds much to readers' understanding and appreciation of the topic. The authors also do an excellent job of portraying the depth and variety of New England food history, which is much richer than one would expect. With a few illustrations and a handy index, the work is well documented with endnotes and a lengthy bibliography.
VerdictWell done and highly recommended for foodies and historians.—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.
von Tunzelmann, Alex. Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder, and the Cold War in the Caribbean.Holt. 2011. c.448p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780805090673. $30. HIST
Following on the success of her Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of An Empire, British author von Tunzelmann captures like no other the volatile Caribbean island nations of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba during the Cold War. Although some may challenge her bold assertions (e.g., President Kennedy's heavy drug dependence at the 1961 Vienna summit with Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev), few will argue with her vivid depictions of the triad of Caribbean strongmen-François Duvalier, Rafael Trujillo, and Fidel Castro-and leaders of the Kennedy administration's anti-Communist brain trust. Her documenting of the Cuban Missile Crisis alone is worth the price of admission. All three nations, whose powerful leaders were the focus of obsessive assassination plotting during the Cold War, each was the subject of U.S. military interference in the early 20th century. The author accurately concludes that these Caribbean "wars" were the prolog to American interventions worldwide, from Vietnam to Iraq, machinations that would alter the course of world history.
VerdictVon Tunzelmann's lively text and engaging style make her book suitable for all readers, scholars included. Highly recommended for all.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Libs., AL
White, Betty. If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won't).Putnam. May 2011. c.272p. photogs. ISBN 9780399157530. $25.95. TV
White has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts, with her Snickers commercial during the Super Bowl, hosting Saturday Night Live, and her new cable sitcom, Hot in Cleveland. But the 89-year-old wonders what all the fuss is about. She's been here all along and has a 70-year career to show for it. With more than three books (e.g., Betty White in Person) behind her, it is only fitting that she now adds her musings on life—everything from red carpet events (doesn't like them) to coloring her hair ("I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out") to dating younger men (nope) and her passion for animals (to which she devotes six chapters). With iconic roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls as well as a long, happy marriage to game show host the late Allen Ludden, White has much on which to draw.
VerdictA lightweight, quick read penned by a beloved show business icon. [See Prepub Alert, 11/1/10.]—Rosy Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
