Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, July 22, 2011
Jul 21, 2011Week ending July 22, 2011
FICTION
Clancy, Tom with Peter Telep. Against All Enemies. Putnam. 2011. 756p. ISBN 9780399157301. $28.95. F
Clancy has written another blockbuster, and it is a timely and significant departure from his Jack Ryan series. Former SEAL and CIA operative Maxwell Moore is the only survivor when his unit is wiped out by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He discovers a direct link between the Taliban and the Mexican drug cartels, which are becoming increasingly bold and violent. Returning to the States, Moore leads a task force that combats the cartels' malevolent influence and seeks to stop the efforts of the Taliban to wreak brutal terror on America. Aided by his new team, Moore's job is to infiltrate and destroy the particular cartel that has joined with the Taliban.
Verdict Max Moore is no Jack Ryan. Where Ryan was an honest and cerebral Everyman, Moore is a ruthless, lethal, and sometimes amoral hero. Clancy's Clear and Present Danger also dealt with the drug trade and was the better book. Still, most of Clancy's fans should enjoy this sometimes overly complex but fast-paced novel about America's incredibly savage enemies.—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
Gross, Andrew. Eyes Wide Open. Morrow. Jul. 2011. c.338p. ISBN 9780061655968. $25.99. F
In his fifth solo outing (after Reckless and five number one best sellers coauthored with James Patterson), Gross employs two events from his own life—the suicide of a nephew and a chance encounter with a notorious mass killer—to craft a gripping psychological thriller in which past family secrets return to haunt those least able to bear the horror. Jay Erlich, a vascular surgeon from New York, is celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary when he receives a call from his sister-in-law in California. She and her husband, both wards of the state because of mental illness and dependent on Jay for emotional and financial support, have lost their 21-year-old son to suicide. The boy had shown great promise as a kid, only to fall victim to a perfect storm of mental instability. But did he really commit suicide? Or is this tragedy somehow connected to the distant past and his father's ties to a Charles Manson–like cult leader and a California commune?
Verdict If there are tricks of the trade, Gross has learned them all. He writes with seeming ease, offering no fancy stylistic tics, no overwrought prose, no melodrama, just a menacing tale with effective twists, perfect pacing, intriguing characters, and heart-gripping suspense. A fun summer read for thriller fans. [See Prepub Alert, 1/3/11.]—Ron Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
Loehfelm, Bill. The Devil She Knows. Sarah Crichton: Farrar. 2011. 336p. ISBN 9780374136529. $26. F
Maureen Coughlin is ready for a change. After almost a decade of cocktail waitressing in Staten Island, she acknowledges that her life has stalled. What happened to her plans for college? A career? Determined to change her trajectory, she sets off for her night shift with a new future in mind. Unfortunately, fate has other plans. After a night of heavy drinking and a few lines of coke, Maureen stumbles upon a scene that puts her in danger. After years of a misanthropic lifestyle, she realizes that she must reach out to others for aid.
Verdict Loehfelm (Fresh Kills; Bloodroot) weaves a high-action tale of suspense and intrigue. A gutsy heroine who rings true, a corrupt politician, and the seedy underbelly of New York nightlife all combine for a pleasurable read. This character-driven novel with a strong sense of place will find mass appeal with fans of the suspense genre. [See Prepub Alert, 12/6/10.]—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI.
Rayne, Sarah. A Dark Dividing. Felony & Mayhem, dist. by National Bk. Network. 2011. c.480p. ISBN 9781934609804. pap. $14.95. F
Journalist Harry Fitzglen is not thrilled about covering the opening of a new art gallery, but when he meets Simone Anderson, a photographer with a missing twin and a mysterious past, he finds himself delving into the grim history of a ruined mansion on the Welsh border, where he uncovers mysteries related to another set of twins born nearly 100 years before. His investigation will put his sanity, and Simone's safety, at risk.
Verdict Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, Rayne's (Tower of Silence) lackluster novel is too fond of last-minute solutions, contrived connections, and the deus ex machina to satisfy fully discerning readers.—Colleen S. Harris, Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga Lib.
Unger, Lisa. Darkness, My Old Friend. Crown. Aug. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9780307464996. $24. F
Michael Holt's mother disappeared when he was a child, and he has always known that she would never have abandoned him willingly. He returns as an adult to his hometown of The Hollows, hiring a private detective and a local psychic to uncover the truth, however unpleasant it might prove to be. Jones Cooper, an ex-cop struggling with the events of his past, is soon drawn into the disturbing investigation, in Unger's latest offering. The lives of the residents in this small town (also the setting in Fragile) have been intertwined for years, even generations, and no one is as ordinary or uncomplicated as they seem. Effective use of psychology (more subtle than that found in the author's previous novels) draws readers into the lives of the characters, in particular the teenaged Willow Graves, who acts out her pain and confusion with chronic lying, angry outbursts, and sneaking out at nighttime.
Verdict Excellent characterization makes this one of Unger's best thrillers yet. [See Prepub Alert, 2/7/11.]—Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs
Warner, Kaki. Heartbreak Creek. Berkley Sensation. (Runaway Brides). Jul. 2011. 362p. ISBN 9780425241226. pap. $15. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Civil War is over, and the future for young Louisiana widow Edwina Ladoux lies in the Colorado Territory, where she is going to meet her new husband after answering his advertisement for a "sturdy woman" to help with his ranch and four children. Edwina and her mulatto half-sister, Prudence Lincoln, aren't alone on their journey, as they encounter traveling companions Lucinda Hathaway and Madeline Wallace, who will play prominent roles in their lives in Heartbreak Creek. Having endured racially motivated violence and hardship in the South, Ed still is overwhelmed by the quartet of undisciplined children, threats of marauding Indians, and Declan Brodie himself, her big lump of a husband. Did she make the wrong choice for herself and Pru?
Verdict The Romance Writers of America (RWA) 2011 RITA Award winner for Best First Book (Pieces of Sky), Warner begins her new series with this honest tale of a Southern belle at odds with her relocation to the American West. Out of her element, Ed seems doomed at every turn, until she finally learns to appreciate her new surroundings and the man who will change her world. Recommended for fans of Jo Goodman's U.S. historicals and Jodi Thomas's Western novels.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
NONFICTION
Berlinski, David. One, Two, Three: Absolutely Elementary Mathematics. Pantheon. 2011. c.210p. index. ISBN 9780375423338. $24.95. SCI
Berlinski (Infinite Ascent: A Short History of Mathematics; A Tour of the Calculus; The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions) here discusses the "commons" of mathematics: natural numbers, zero, negative numbers, and fractions. As with any text covering simple concepts, the success of the approach depends on the author's ability to keep explanations concise and accessible to nonexperts while making broader contextual statements. Berlinski, who has considerable experience integrating mathematical, historical, cultural, and philosophical ideas, here has mixed success incorporating the mathematical concepts.
Verdict The seamless integration of broader contextual ideas brings his writing to life, but some proofs may be difficult for nonmathematicians save dedicated readers with knowledge of mathematics, philosophy, and/or history.—Elizabeth Brown, Binghamton Univ. Libs., NY
DiCarlo, Christopher W. How To Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Asking the Right Questions. Prometheus. Jul. 2011. c.340p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781616143978. pap. $19. PSYCH
Concerned by the inability of far too many people to think carefully and responsibly about why they believe what they do, DiCarlo (advisory fellow, Ctr. for Inquiry, Canada) provides tools to help readers question the assumptions of those who claim to know what they are talking about. He aims to empower readers to spot faulty reasoning and with the right questions hold others accountable. He specifies five essential questions—What can I know? Why am I here? What am I? How should I behave? and What is to become of me?—and outlines critical thinking tools for analysis of beliefs and behavior. Wisely, he reminds readers that becoming a good "pain in the ass" can result in loneliness.
Verdict This is a handy introduction to philosophy, logic, and reasoning and with the 2012 U.S. presidential campaigns heating up should be required reading for all voters. It will appeal to readers of Brooke Noel Moore and Richard Parker's Critical Thinking, Michael Shermer and Stephen Jay Gould's Why People Believe Weird Things, the many works of Mortimer Adler (How To Read a Book), Skeptic magazine, and anyone interested in philosophy.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
The Dog Next Door: And Other Stories of the Dogs We Love. Revell. 2011. 224p. ed. by Callie Smith Grant. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 9780800734190. pap. $12.99. SCI
Grant, who has contributed animal-themed stories to Guideposts, has collected true stories featuring dogs who are "angels in fur" in this compilation written by Christian authors. These dogs saved people's lives, kept children safe, helped the aged and infirm enjoy their lives, and lifted their owner's spirits. Among the dogs are several pure-breds—an Afghan hound (Raspberry) and a German Shepherd (Mounty)—mixed-breed runts (Dixie), those adopted from animal shelters (Ladybug), and those rescued from inhumane circumstances (Max). In these reflective stories, many of the authors contemplate whether they chose their dog or whether their angel-dog chose them. Some photographs along with occasional canine quotations and factoids are included.
Verdict While some of the stories are more well written than others, public library patrons who enjoy inspirational and heartwarming stories, especially older readers, will welcome this work.—Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston
Edwards, Douglas. I'm Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59. Houghton Harcourt. Jul. 2011. c.432p. index. ISBN 9780547416991. $27. ECON
Business books about Google are proliferating as fast as the company's famed rate of innovation, but few have approached the subject from its employees' point of view. As the (approximately) 59th employee hired by Google, Edwards provides an inside look at the company's start-up days. He began in 1999 as Google's "online brand manager" and eventually became its first director of marketing and brand management (he left in 2005), yet much of his tale focuses on his confusion about his role and responsibilities. During his time there, he learned the Google way and the way of its founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin: "don't talk, do"; rely on data for all decision-making; focus on search quality while spending as little money as possible on everything from hardware to marketing; and don't be evil. Edwards credibly describes both the technical (function over form) and the organizational (nonhierarchical) aspects of his unique workplace, but his story could have profited from tighter editing and an emphasis on reflection over repetition.
Verdict Although sure to get word-of-mouth publicity owing to its "inside scoop" nature, this is not a particularly satisfying or fast-paced tell-all on either the technical or interpersonal aspects of Google. Buy for demand only. [See Prepub Alert, 12/10/10.]—Sarah Statz Cords, The Reader's Advisor Online
Ehrmann, Joe & others. InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives. S. & S. Aug. 2011. c.256p. index. ISBN 9781439182987. $24. SPORTS
Ehrmann was a defensive tackle who was drafted in the first round in 1973 and played ten years in pro football, mostly with the then Baltimore Colts. In 2004, he was one of the subjects of Jeffrey Marx's Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood, which profiled Ehrmann as a minister who coached high school football while running a program called "Building Men for Others." Ehrmann's book here is not really a football book. In it, he describes how he was filled with rage from being raised by an unloving father, being abused by a priest, and playing under psychologically brutal football coaches like Ben Schwartzwalder at Syracuse. Ehrmann contrasts all this with his lacrosse coach at Syracuse who stressed the search for life's meaning within sports. Ehrmann uses that as a jumping-off point to discuss his program of "InSideOut" coaching, which emphasizes love and relationships. The book unfortunately does employ what many may call psychobabble.
Verdict Football fans should understand this may not be for them, unless they enjoy pop psychology.—John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib, Camden, NJ
Foege, William H. House on Fire: The Fight To Eradicate Smallpox. Univ. of California. 2011. c.240p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9780520268364. $29.95. HEALTH
A Center for Disease Control (CDC) epidemiologist assigned to the World Health Organization (WHO) smallpox eradication team in India in the 1970s, Foege (Global Health Leadership and Management) had a front-row seat for the global fight to eliminate smallpox. Now a Senior Fellow at the Gates Foundation, he recounts his experiences in Africa and India while generously sharing credit with his CDC and WHO colleagues and the almost 250,000 Indian government public health workers directed by doctor M.I.D. Sharma. With human-to-human transmission interruptible by an effective vaccine, smallpox became the 1958 World Health Assembly's target after millennia of killing, scarring, and sometimes blinding its victims. Foege was instrumental in developing a plan to identify and contain emerging outbreaks, rather than pursuing the nearly impossible goal of 100 percent vaccination rates. Though controversial, this "surveillance/containment" approach eliminated smallpox in India within only 20 months of its implementation.
Verdict There are several recent books on the conquest of smallpox (e.g., D.A. Henderson's Smallpox: The Death of a Disease), but this is a readable and thorough account by a key player in this outstanding victory for public health.—Kathy Arsenault, St. Petersburg, FL
Kuron, Frank E. "Thus Fell Tecumseh." Kuron Pub. 2011. c.335p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9780615415222. pap. $21.95. HIST
First-time author Kuron, an independent historian, tackles the mystery surrounding the death of Shawnee chief Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames in 1813. But what mystery? Kentuckian Richard Johnson claimed that he had killed the great chief, a declaration that helped him further his political career and, ultimately, gain the vice presidency in Martin Van Buren's first term. Kuron examines the differing accounts of what really happened by using the primary and secondary testimonies of over 150 people found in British, Indian, American, and Canadian sources. Using these statements, he reconstructs the battle in which Tecumseh died, but he also interweaves the story of the lives of the participants, their adversities, and the political milieu that created the conflict. The reader is challenged to decide the truth, but through Kuron's excellent analytical skills, historical evidence points to one man.
Verdict This work serves as an excellent introduction to the life and bravery of Tecumseh and to the blow that his death dealt to the settlement struggles of the Northwest Territory. A highly readable book suitable for any student of history.—Nancy Richey, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green
Lindsay-Hogg, Michael. Luck and Circumstance: A Coming of Age in Hollywood, New York, and Points Beyond. Knopf. Sept. 2011. c.304p. illus. ISBN 9780307594686. $26. FILM
A good celebrity memoir depends on one of three things—a rags-to-riches story, some kind of elemental tragedy, or a life filled with interesting anecdotes. Being the son of actress Geraldine Fitzgerald and a widely respected theater and film director (Waiting for Godot) in his own right, Lindsay-Hogg packs his memoir with behind-the-scenes episodes featuring a startling array of famous figures, ranging from Laurence Olivier and William Randolph Hearst to Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney. His has been a successful though somewhat unheralded career, so there seems to be a greater discovery factor in this book, especially concerning the fascinating dynamic among Lindsay-Hogg's mother, father, and Orson Welles and the questions of his paternity. This, then, is much more than a collection of anecdotes. It is, as the subtitle states, a coming-of-age told in the author's unique voice, with his language and style seemingly reflective of his British heritage and American experience.
Verdict A wonderfully told story, presented in vignettes, that should please any reader. [Three-city tour; see Prepub Alert, 2/28/11.]—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA
Lowther, Kevin G. The African American Odyssey of John Kizell: A South Carolina Slave Returns To Fight the Slave Trade in His African Homeland. Univ. of South Carolina. 2011. 336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781570039607. $39.95. HIST
Lowther (cofounder, Africare) focuses on antislavery leader John Kizell as part of the wider story of African American slaves who escaped bondage and established a British colony for free ex-slaves in Sierra Leone. Lowther explains how a young Kizell was kidnapped in his African homeland and shipped to Charleston, SC, to serve as a slave before escaping, briefly joining the British army, and fleeing with fellow former slaves to Nova Scotia. They soon left for a commercially sponsored mission to Africa to build a colony whose economic success would depend upon agriculture rather than slave trading. Lowther explains how Kizell, a Baptist preacher and successful businessman who earned the white British commissioners' trust, tried to stamp out the slave trade in surrounding areas by convincing tribal leaders that selling humans into slavery was both immoral and economically harmful. He analyzes Kizell's successes and failures amid the cultural and economic forces working against him, relying heavily on Kizell's own words to tell the story, yet balancing the ex-slave's version of events with many other sources.
Verdict This is a well-rounded account of the post-Revolutionary War colonization movement. Recommended to scholars of the period as an alternative to Mary Louise Clifford's equally rewarding From Slavery to Freetown: Black Loyalists After the American Revolution.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Miles, Jay. Conquering YouTube: 101 Pro Video Tips To Take You to the Top. Michael Wiese. 2011. 236p. photogs. ISBN 9781932907940. pap. $26.95. FILM
While YouTube is mentioned at the book's end, nary a name-drop occurs in the primary content. A bit misleading, but perhaps beside the point; video is video, regardless of the channel. These 101 page-long "tips" (which are actually technique instruction and exercises) are filtered into eight major sections offering amazingly efficient and effective advice on preshooting to-dos, basics (shots, framing, camera movement), lighting, special effects, advanced techniques (complex applications/methodologies, video composition, and shot setups), and postproduction (editing and audio). Like the best teachers, industry professional and educator Miles scraps the textbook-style sidebar blurbs and boldfaced keywords for a practical presentation that often gets technical though is never unclear.
Verdict In this how-to not limited to YouTube, Miles provides context and application for each lesson. Valuable as a circumstantial reference and as a course to be absorbed in full, this guide covers aspects that can be applied to all levels and genres of video production (not just filmmaking). Highly recommended. [See also Steve Stockman's How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck, reviewed below.]—Ben Malczewski, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI
Otal, Liliane (text) & Pierre Bordet (photogs). Plancha: 150 Great Recipes for Spanish-Style Grilling. Surrey: Agate. 2011. 176p. tr. from French by Danielle McCumber. photogs. index. ISBN 9781572841185. pap. $21. COOKING
Otal, who has written several French cookbooks that focus on European cooking, celebrates Spanish plancha, or flat-slab grilling. Versions of the metal plate used (also called plancha) are now being sold in the United States by Williams-Sonoma. This technique has been used by chefs such as Mario Batali, Mark Bittman, and grill master Steven Raichlen. Otal includes a basic introduction and history of plancha grilling, but this is primarily a book of recipes. The recipes are easy to follow, and although this cookbook features foods that will seem unusual to Americans (e.g., snails and Basque sausage), it has an easygoing style that showcases the technique without fancy or complicated instructions. The recipes range from marinades and sauces (curry, basil, pesto) to grilled vegetables to a variety of entrées (meat, poultry, fish) to a small dessert section (grilled fruit, butter cake).
Verdict Plancha may still be perceived as an exotic technique in some areas of the United States, but larger public and special collections will find a ready audience for this book.—Ginny Wolter, Toledo-Lucas Cty. P.L.
Riley, Tim. Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music—the Definitive Life. Hyperion. Sept. 2011. c.784p. discog. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781401324520. $35. MUSIC
Forty years after the Beatles broke up and 30 years after John Lennon's death, interest in the band and their music remains undiminished. Author and journalist Riley (Tell Me Why: The Beatles; Hard Rain: A Dylan Commentary) presents an exhaustive and thorough look at Lennon's life, psyche, and music from his boyhood in Liverpool to his murder in 1980. Moving from dockside clubs in Hamburg, Germany, to increasingly intricate recording sessions, and, ultimately, to the rancor during the group's dissolution and Lennon's subsequent solo years, Riley profiles Lennon's musical growth, increased political activism, and complex relationships with Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. Especially illuminating are sections on Lennon's pre-Beatle life and discussions of Lennon and Ono's place at the intersection of performance pop art and social engagement.
Verdict Based on conversations with Lennon associates as well as published source material, memoirs, and interviews, Riley's book is a balanced biography as well as a fascinating critical assessment of Lennon's music and his place in the culture. For readers seeking a comprehensive look at Lennon's life, this book joins recent monumental works on the Beatles (Bob Spitz) and Lennon (Philip Norman) as essential to the biographical canon of the band.—Jim Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. Lib., NJ
Rosen, Ruthe. Never Give Up: How To Find Hope and Purpose in Adversity. Cypress House. Sept. 2011. 200p. photogs. ISBN 9781879384866. pap. $16.95. REL
Small-business owner and stay-at-home mom Rosen has experienced what all parents hope they will never have to: at age 14, her daughter Karla was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given a year to live. In their own words, Rosen and Karla tell how they found the strength and courage to help each other through this horrible ordeal. Karla's journal entries are interwoven throughout the narrative to give the reader an on-the-ground sense of the experience. After Karla died, the Rosens created the Let It Be Foundation as a memorial to her. The foundation provides support and services to the families of children diagnosed with a terminal illness. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the foundation.
Verdict The overwhelming feature of this book is the great faith, strength, and community Karla drew upon and how she used these resources to inspire many others. Recommended.—Phyllis Goodman, Clermont Cty. P.L., Amelia, OH
Short, Simine. Locomotive to Aeromotive: Octave Chanute and the Transportation Revolution. Univ. of Illinois. Aug. 2011. c.400p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780252036316. $38. HIST
In her exquisitely detailed paean to one of America's foremost civil engineers and pioneer aerodynamicists, aviation historian Short (Glider Mail: An Aerophilatlic Handbook) follows her French-born and self-trained subject's amazing career from surveyor's apprentice on the Hudson River Railroad to chief engineer for the New York, Lake Erie & Western, becoming involved along the way with such challenges as hostile squatters, rate wars, labor strikes, and financial failures, as railroad tracks moved inexorably westward. Chanute (1832–1910) bridged unbridgable rivers, oversaw the construction of the stockyards in Kansas City and Chicago, helped devise both elevated and later subway systems for New York City, replaced wooden bridges with iron structures, championed the standardization of all track gauges, and oversaw the deployment of fixed traffic signals along his several companies' rights-of-way. Of particular interest is Chanute's final role in early aviation as a problem solver through experimentation and observation, while in regular communication with such men as Otto Lilienthal, Samuel Langley, and the Wright Brothers.
Verdict Exhaustively researched and persuasively argued, Short's biography of Chanute fills a long-lamented void in civil engineering and early flight historiography and is recommended for all science, engineering, transportation, and aviation collections.—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland
Stockman, Steve. How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck. Workman. 2011. c.248p. illus. ISBN 9780761163237. pap. $13.95. FILM
Whether one is trying to capture a sporting event or bat mitzvah or making a music video, dramedy, commercial, or documentary, suckiness can be a merciless affliction. Thankfully, filmmaker Stockman's collection of 74 exercises lights a path to confident coolness. But how? He teaches readers how to think about film and reveals the why and when behind techniques; there is next to zero tech or tool talk. Whip-smart and funny minichapters become thought-provoking prompts designed to develop attentiveness to key filmmaking concepts (e.g., thinking in camera shots, dialing up dialog, identifying the hero in the story, zooming with your body, pitching how and to whom, and taking feedback). The book is interspersed with "Try This" tips and tricks and ends with a "Do-It-Yourself Great Video Grad School" syllabus with what-to-watch-for notes.
Verdict Jay Miles's Conquering YouTube (reviewed above) is a good companion for technique instruction. Stockman builds conceptual awareness to bolster beginner and intermediate filmmakers to become more conscious and deliberate. Thumbs-up.—Ben Malczewski, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI
