Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, August 12, 2011
Aug 11, 2011Week ending August 12, 2011
E-Originals | Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
E-ORIGINALS
Johnson, Cat. Hooked. Samhain. (Studs in Spurs, Bk. 4). Sept. 2011. 334 KB. eISBN 9781609285272. EPUB $4.50. CONTEMPORARY WESTERN ROMANCE
Stud Luke Carpenter, veteran bull rider, has been riding the professional circuit for several years, maintaining a top ten standing. What's different about this season is that he has broken up with longtime girlfriend Lilly and is for the first time "available" to all the buckle bunnies and fans who follow bull-riding. Last season, Luke had also caught the eye of rodeo commentator and on-air personality Annie Grant. Annie and Luke had been acquaintances through the rodeo, but when did they start looking at each other in a more than friendly manner? Now with Luke unencumbered, who will make the first move? Just as things start to come together for Annie and Luke, tragedy strikes, and Luke has to leave the rodeo. Will Annie and Luke be reunited, or did they miss their opportunity to turn friendship into a relationship?
Verdict While the bones of a good story are here, owing to the short length of this fourth installment in Johnson's series (after Ride), much is glossed over, and readers don't really get a good feel for who Luke and Annie are, what their relationship was before, and whether they are really comfortable enough together to be a couple. A few steamy nights do not a relationship make. Still, lovers of contemporary Western romance should enjoy this title especially if they have read the previous books in the series.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., Overland Park, KS
Reus, Katie. Deadly Obsession. Carina: Harlequin. Aug. 2011. c.219p. eISBN 9781426892042. EPUB $5.99. ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
With the death of her aunt, Lilly Carmichael returns to the small town of Hudson Bay that she once called home. She thought she had left everything from this life behind her, until Sheriff Braden Donnelly reenters her life. Once childhood sweethearts, Braden now has a good reason to keep an eye on Lily. What she doesn't know is that there is a serial killer at large, targeting women on the periphery of Braden's life. As the flame they once had starts to flare again, Lilly and Braden face many twists and turns in the hunt for the killer, climaxing in a surprise ending that no one foresees.
Verdict The plot in this latest from Reus (Killer Secrets) is well written, keeping readers on their toes. The scenes with the killer offer just enough description to build suspense without overpowering the story. The sexual tension between our protagonists only adds to the thrill. A teasing dance of will they/won't they leaves readers wanting more. When they finally do succumb, the love scenes are steamy yet tender. Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and anyone who enjoys a good romantic thriller.—Sonnet Ireland, Univ. of New Orleans Lib.
Wildes, Renee. Riever's Heart. Samhain. (Guardians of Light, Bk. 5). 2011. c.214p. eISBN 9781609285890. EPUB $5.50. FANTASY ROMANCE
After a bloody battle with his fellow Isadorikjans, Daq Aryk decides to travel to the south to get help in uniting the tribes of the frozen north. Aid comes in the form of Verdeen, a feisty Elven champion who is struggling with balancing the warrior of her personality with the awakening woman. As they journey toward Aryk's home, they must contend with Verdeen's skepticism, the elements, and enemies, to say nothing of the growing heat between them. This historical fantasy romance steams its way through a traditional hero's journey home. Readers will enjoy the layers of lovemaking that are balanced with an exciting story line. Between the bloodsport and the intense relationships, there is really something for every romance or fantasy enthusiast here.
Verdict If you like your icy landscapes with some hot love scenes, this is the book for you! Well-drawn characters with lots of facets placed in exciting situations; a fun page-turner.—Emily Thompson, MSI, Ann Arbor, MI
FICTION
Drew, Julie. Daughter of Providence. Overlook, dist. by Penguin. Aug. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781590204627. $25.95. F
Although Drew's haunting, mesmerizing debut focuses on a Rhode Island fishing town, in the summer of 1934, make no mistake: this is no "beach book." Anne Dodge, who is in her mid-20s, awaits the arrival of her orphaned half-sister, Maria Cristina, about whose existence she has only recently learned. Delighted to meet her teenage sibling, the two begin to forge a bond, intrigued by their similarities and differences. However, Anne's father remains aloof and distant with the wary newcomer. The old-moneyed Dodge family has long lived in these parts, but secrets and lies bubble beneath the surface, and Anne learns more truths about her own life. Social and personal turmoil cloud the story, as class and race conflict, the Great Depression, and labor strikes combine with intrigue and murder.
Verdict This atmospheric and compelling historical tale will surely sweep the reader into the past as Drew's word artistry paints a perfect poignant portrait of a bygone era.—Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA
From Macho to Mariposa: New Gay Latino Fiction. Tincture: Lethe Pr. Aug. 2011. c.290p. ed. by Charles Rice-González & others. ISBN 9781590212417. pap. $25. F
Surprisingly, it's been more than ten years since there was an anthology of gay Latino literature in English; Bésame Mucho: New Gay Latino Fiction (Painted Leaf) and Virgins, Guerillas and Locas: Gay Latinos Writing About Love (Cleis Pr.) appeared in 1999. This collection of 29 stories and excerpts from novels pulls from a wide range of Latino experience and includes many new writers. While the pieces vary in style and tone, the dominating theme is struggle—the struggle to come out, the struggle against violence, the struggle of living in two cultures, and the struggle for self-acceptance. Some works are stronger than others, but all offer intriguing insight into Latino and gay culture. This is not a queer anthology, so no works about lesbians, but one or two touch on transgendered lives. Most of the stories are quite short at two to four pages, which is good for reading in quick bouts, but sustained reading would be easier with some variety in the pacing.
Verdict While perhaps not the most upbeat reading experience, this is a solid collection in an underrepresented genre.—Devon Thomas, DevIndexing, Chelsea, MI
Knipfel, Jim. The Blow-Off. S. & S. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781439154137. pap. $15. F
Hank Kalabander is hard man to like. His speech is a fire hose of foul language, ethnic slurs, sexist comments, and words that would make GLAAD very unhappy. His track record with women isn't so great, and even he doesn't respect his job as a writer of the crime blotter for The Hornet, Brooklyn's finest shopper newspaper. However, when rumors of a "Gowanus Beast" (like Bigfoot, but local) induce mass hysteria in the borough (and then metropolitan New York), suddenly you feel for Hank as the only sane man left in the city. "Colorful" characters abound, with unlikely names such as Rocky Roccoco and Sherwood Nutskin.
Verdict Memoirist and novelist Knipfel's (Slackjaw; Noogie's Time To Shine) latest book is recommended for those readers with the darkest sense of humor and a high tolerance for carnie slang.—Amy Watts, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens
Lauren, Jillian. Pretty. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Aug. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9780452297340. pap. $15. F
Former stripper Bebe tries to put her life back together after surviving the car crash that kills her musician boyfriend. She's scarred, sober, living in a halfway house, and struggling to finish beauty school. Moments of joy joking with her fellow cosmetologists or sneaking away with the schizophrenic Jake are few and far between. Bebe's general indifference to her own life is nearly impenetrable. When Jake suffers another breakdown, Bebe's self-destructive instincts resurface. Debut novelist Lauren's protagonist is an unexceptional heroine—we've seen broken-down young women before. Flashbacks offer no real insight into who Bebe was before the accident, so it's hard to be moved by the malaise that envelops her now.
Verdict Lauren's memoir, Some Girls, recalls the author's time spent as part of the harem of the Sultan of Brunei's youngest brother. Her new book reads like an indie film treatment of a gritty YA problem novel. Not an essential purchase.—Karen Kleckner Keefe, Hinsdale P.L., IL
McCall Smith, Alexander. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold. Pantheon. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780307379733. $24.95. F
This is the second entry in McCall Smitth's "Corduroy Mansions" series. It features most of the same beloved characters, but the title derives from William French's Pimlico terrier, Freddie de la Hay, becoming a spy for M16. This is not the only component of the work: there is a budding romance; a young man who is questioning his sexuality; a naïve and gullible brother; and the author of an autobiography of a yeti. There is something about this series that is highly reminiscent of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. It is more about the people than the plot. It focuses on how some eccentrics and some regular folks deal with life in general, and it does so with gentle humor.
Verdict Recommended where character-driven gentle reads (for example, those of Clyde Edgerton, Nick Hornby, or even Helen Fielding) are popular. [See Prepub Alert, 12/20/10.]—Susan Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA
The Road to Pemberley: An Anthology of New Pride and Prejudice Stories. Ulysses. 2011. c.400p. ed. by Marsha Altman. ISBN 9781569759349. pap. $14.95. F
The 13 pieces selected for this anthology have been written by fan fiction authors, meaning that they are extremely dedicated to Jane Austen and, in this case, particularly entranced by Pride and Prejudice. Each contributor has focused on a major or minor character, provided an alternate vision for some portion of the existing novel, or imagined a new scenario to occur during or after Austen's text, for the enjoyment of other fans. Story topics range from the sweet (the courtship of Caroline Bingley by Colonel Fitzwilliam) to the unexpected (a misunderstood and victimized Wickham) and the outlandish (a Netherfield dinner party scene after the guests had consumed hallucinogenic mushrooms).
Verdict There is a level of unevenness in writing skill and style here that prevents an overall, cohesive impression. Familiarity with the less rule-oriented fan fiction writing style would be helpful. This collection is best suited for diehard Austenites and readers of fan fiction.—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH
NONFICTION
Brill, Steven. Class Warfare: Inside the Fight To Fix America's Schools. S. & S. Aug. 2011. c.496p. index. ISBN 9781451611991. $28. ED
Good teaching really does matter. Success doesn't depend on a school's location or budget; it comes down to the person standing in front of the classroom. CourtTV and The American Lawyer magazine founder Brill (After: How America Confronted the September 12 Era) has concluded that teachers willing to extend their efforts beyond the classroom, to spend extra time with their students and their students' families, and to do all they can to connect with their charges are key to turning around the American education system. However, there are obstacles to overcome, including unions' destructive demands, the problems that arise when teachers' longevity trumps talent, the stigma charter schools sometimes face, and political agendas that fail to put children first. Horror stories about good teachers who are disparaged and bad teachers who are coddled might make you cringe, but Brill's multilayered account of the education dilemma also brings hope that change for the better could be on the horizon.
Verdict Many parents, even those who are educators, may not be aware of the battles that occur daily in the education world. This is a fascinating look at those struggles and at the people who determine how America's children will be educated.—Terry Christner, Hutchinson P.L., KS
Christopher, Emma. A Merciless Place: The Fate of Britain's Convicts After the American Revolution. Oxford Univ. 2011. c.368p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780199782550. $27.95. HIST
Christopher (Australian Research Council Fellow, Univ. of Sydney; Slave Trade Sailors and Their Captive Cargoes, 1730–1807) here meticulously researches the largely forgotten story of Britain's doomed policy of sending convicts to West Africa after the American Revolution and before the colonization of Australia. She details how, rather than establish a penal colony in West Africa, Britain decided to turn jailbirds into soldiers, expecting them to defend the nation's poorly equipped coastal forts, ward off Dutch enemies, and work in the slave trade. This plan predictably failed, with ill-treatment, negligence, and mismanagement as much to blame as disease, malnutrition, untenable terrain, and hazardous weather. Christopher adds compelling human interest to her saga by focusing on individual stories, weaving together a series of sad but fascinating tales, including cunning recidivist William Murray's unlikely rise through the military ranks until a tragic end and Capt. Kenneth Mackenzie's cruel treatment of his convict-soldiers.
Verdict This is an important contribution to the study of the links between Britain's convict transportation policy and the transatlantic slave trade as well as the factors contributing to Britain's decision to establish a New South Wales penal colony in 1788. Illuminating for all students of British, African, and Australian history; highly recommended.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Dyer, Geoff. The Missing of the Somme. Vintage: Random. Aug. 2011. c.176p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307742971. pap. $14.95. HIST
This is not a military history of World War I. At far fewer pages, it accomplishes something altogether different. In this 1994 book only now being published stateside, Dyer (Ways of Telling: The Work of John Berger) looks at the ways in which those who endured the Great War, whether civilians, soldiers, or officers, went on to reckon with its brutal impact. He explores (literally through travels and figuratively) "not simply the way the war generates memory, but the way memory has determined—and continues to determine—the meaning of the war." He points out how we anticipated the war's call to memory, e.g., Laurence Binyon's September 1914 "We will remember them," and how survivors' remembrances became the Remembrances, officially sanctioned, of succeeding generations. From London's Imperial War Museum to soldier's statues in so many English towns, to samplings of the poetry the war produced (more powerful than statues), Dyer susses out the processes by which we sought to understand a catastrophe. Ultimately, he stands in meditation at the massive memorial at Thiepval, in France, with its lettering to "The Missing of the Somme": over 73,000 inscribed names of those never found for burial. Although we may not find the peace that Dyer finds there, we certainly find enlightenment.
Verdict Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory remains a crucial read, but this should stand beside it. Highly recommended.—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal
Enright, Kelly. Osa and Martin: For the Love of Adventure. Lyons: Globe Pequot. Aug. 2011. c.240p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780762763603. $24.95. SCI
Part love story, part travel adventure, historian Enright's (Rhinoceros; America's Natural Places: Rocky Mountains and Great Plains) account tells the story of early conservationists Osa and Martin Johnson and their endeavors from the 1910s to the 1940s to bring American audiences pictures, films, and stories of African jungles and plains and South Sea islands and people. It was surprising enough at the time that a wife accompanied her husband to dangerous, remote locales—that she was beautiful, brave, and able to camp in a tent while still looking stylish was nearly unfathomable. While the Johnsons' films were perceived during the 1960s through the 1980s as racially stereotypical, today they are appreciated by anthropologists, wildlife biologists, and those interested in places that have undergone drastic changes. The Johnsons' images and writings provide invaluable information about indigenous customs and rituals as well as the animals and landscapes that have since disappeared. Here, Enright introduces the two adventurers to an audience that may never have heard of them and provides an important appraisal of their work. The book includes many vintage photographs of the pair taken during their various travels.
Verdict Highly recommended for amateur anthropologists, wildlife aficionados, and armchair travelers.—Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll.–Penn Valley, Kansas City, MO
Hagen, Carrie. We Is Got Him: The Kidnapping That Changed America. Overlook, dist. by Penguin. Aug. 2011. c.336p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781590200865. $27.95. CRIME
A true crime tale of the first documented child abduction case in America, We Is Got Him is a riveting tale of the comprehensive search for a missing four-year-old boy from Germantown, PA, in 1874. Lured on several occasions by the promise of candy from strangers, he and his older brother are snatched from their home in broad daylight. One child returns, but the search for the other reaches epic proportions. Set against the backdrop of the Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia and the political climate of the times, the case takes on many twists and turns. A sighting near Trenton, NJ, of the hat worn by the missing child, which was verified by the nurse caring for the two boys on the day of their disappearance, appears to be the only tangible clue to a mystery that has never been solved. Ransom notes, 23 in all and spanning six months, detail the grim determination of the kidnappers hoping to profit from their criminal act.
Verdict A must-read for those interested in true crime and law enforcement history.—Claire Franek, MSLS, Brockport, NY
Haney, Robert Earl & Lee Courtnage. Mission to Mach 2: A Fighter Pilot's Memoir of Supersonic Flight. McFarland. 2011. c.224p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780786463169. pap. $29.95. SCI
Few professions are more dangerous than that of fighter pilot, and to be a test pilot in the infancy of a new age of airplanes is even more so. Haney's career in the air force (1952-82) covered an interesting period in military history, from the beginning of supersonic flight through the development of smart bombs. He and Courtnage first met when Haney was giving an oral history as part of a veterans' history project. It soon became apparent that the retired colonel and former test pilot had more stories than could be included in that project.
Verdict A fascinating glimpse into the life of a lesser-known hero. The work has the rough feel of an oral history, which adds to its appeal as a memoir. Recommended for anyone who enjoys military history and biographies.—William Baer, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta
Hendershot, Heather. What's Fair on the Air? Cold War Right-Wing Broadcasting and the Public Interest. Univ. of Chicago. Aug. 2011. c.272p. illus. index. ISBN 9780226326771. $85; pap. ISBN 9780226326788. $27.50. COMM
The Cold War era fostered a group of right-wing extremists who railed against communism, the Civil Rights Movement, the United Nations, fluoride, taxes, and social security. Hendershot (media studies, Queens Coll.; Shaking the World for Jesus) here presents an engaging overview of the messages and tactics of four broadcasters—H.L. Hunt, Dan Smoot, Carl McIntire, and Billy James Hargis—who pioneered the use of radio and television to promote their political agendas. Billionaire Hunt was so frugal he only dry-cleaned the top half of his suit, yet he poured millions into his radio and television shows. The broadcasters portrayed themselves as conservatives, but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) argued their broadcasts were biased and unfair. The FCC actively enforced the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to offer balanced coverage of controversial topics. This was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1969, and the right-wing broadcasters were removed from the air until the doctrine was suspended by President Reagan. While not directly linking the early broadcasters to the current crop of right-wing news hounds, Hendershot does draw some connections.
Verdict Media historians and Cold War scholars will appreciate this lively and detailed history. The impressive use of archival sources and the illustrations enhance the text.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.
Lehman, Katherine J. Those Girls: Single Women in Sixties and Seventies Popular Culture. Univ. Pr. of Kansas. Sept. 2011. c.280p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780700618088. $29.95. TV
The single girl emerged as a model of independence and a reflection of societal change in the 1960s and 1970s, a striking contrast to her 1950s counterpart. Lehman (communications, Albright Coll.) studies this phenomenon as depicted on television and in film. Although the unmarried woman of the time was career oriented, living apart from protective family, and sexually liberated, Lehman argues that this status as portrayed on-screen often sent underlying traditional messages-e.g., the career/single state is a temporary one, with marriage still the ultimate goal; chastity is preferable to a sexual freedom rife with dangerous consequences. Drawing from scores of examples, including such popular series as That Girl, Charlie's Angels, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show and films ranging from Where the Boys Are and Thoroughly Modern Millie to Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Lehman's incisive analytical commentary forces the reader to reexamine women's roles and how they have both evolved and remained constant.
Verdict This book is well researched, with thoughtful examinations of significant issues. It will be a welcome addition in media and women's studies. The extensive TV and film examples also widen its appeal to general audiences interested in popular cultural history.—Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
Lowen, James. Antarctic Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide. Princeton Univ. 2011. 240p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9780691150338. pap. $22.95. SCI
This volume by wildlife photographer and Polar Star Expeditions naturalist guide Lowen (Pantanal Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide to Brazil's Great Wetland) is intended primarily for visitors arriving in the Antarctic by ship and identifies birds, mammals, and plants seen along the route from South America and around the Antarctic Peninsula. Nearly two-thirds of the book consists of two-page spreads, with multiple photographs accompanying each species description. The rest of the book gives background information on the area, tourism, how to choose a cruise, and how and where to look for wildlife. Lowen also offers "Talking Points"—facts about each species that will make the reader seem very knowledgeable.
Verdict Recommended for either the real-world or armchair traveler interested in the natural history of the Antarctic. Lowen's book is more portable and approachable than Hadoram Shirihai's The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife, although that volume might be better for the more experienced birder.—Jean E. Crampon, Univ. of Southern California Science & Engineering Lib., Los Angeles
Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam Twenty. S. & S. Sept. 2011. c.336p. illus. index. ISBN 9781439169216. $35. MUSIC
Pearl Jam tells their story for the first time, with the help of music writers Jonathan Cohen and Mark Wilkerson. Interviews with Soundgarden's Chris Cornell and Nirvana's Dave Grohl provide a lens into the Seattle rock explosion from the early 1990s, when Pearl Jam hit mainstream popularity. The book begins with a minibiography of each band member and chronicles each year of their time together. All chapters contain significant dates, lyric sheets, scrapbook artifacts, photos, and detailed accounts of every album from Ten to Backspacer. Each band member weighs in on significant events, from the loss of Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament's former bandmate Andy Wood to the Roskilde Festival tragedy during their 2000 world tour. Pearl Jam's staying power over the past 20 years attests to their unwavering connection to their music and their ability to prevent fame from overshadowing art.
Verdict Pearl Jam's autobiographical account is one of few that focus on music rather than substance abuse. Essential. [See Prepub Alert, 2/28/11.]—Karen McCoy, Northern Arizona Univ. Lib., Flagstaff
Renne, Elizaveta. Sixteenth- to Nineteenth-Century British Painting: State Hermitage Museum Catalogue. Yale Univ. (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art). 2011. 464p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300170467. $150. FINE ARTS
Renne, Keeper of British Painting at the State Hermitage Museum, provides a straightforward catalog of their collection of British paintings. It seems that British works were haphazardly collected (primarily by Catherine the Great) and peculiarly treated through the years. After Catherine passed on, Nicholas I sold off many of what he called her "superfluous" works. After the 1917 Communist revolution, many works were boxed up and sent to Moscow for the "State Museums Fund," which soon closed and again began a sale of the paintings. Despite the unorthodox history of these works, many lovely pieces remain, including a few from Gainsborough and other notables. The second portion of the catalog discusses the Military Gallery of 1812, designed to honor the army for its victories against Napoleon. The more than 300 paintings of military men lined the walls, mimicking their shoulder-to-shoulder unity against the enemy.
Verdict A specialized catalog sure to delight art historians and scholars in the field. Thorough, it includes provenance of works and helpful appendixes, one of which even enumerates the decorations and orders worn by people depicted in the paintings.—Nadine Dalton Speidel, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., OH
Schneider, Diane L., M.D. The Complete Book of Bone Health. Prometheus. Aug. 2011. c.375p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781616144357. pap. $21. HEALTH
We may think of osteoporosis as a disease of old age, but this volume challenges that notion. Instead, medical researcher Schneider tells readers that osteoporosis is a childhood disease that manifests later in life. With this in mind, she gives medical advice related to bone health for the whole family. Readers who are intimidated by the length of this comprehensive book may appreciate the "Bare Bones" summaries that conclude each chapter, a final chapter that recaps fitness and nutrition tips by age range, and appendixes that define medical terms and other information. Schneider is open to complementary and alternative medicine, but she acknowledges a dearth of scientific evidence about the efficacy of these remedies. Nonetheless, she provides what information is available about the results of several natural remedies and techniques, including vibration therapy, tai chi, and yoga. She focuses on the latest research and encourages readers to stay current with the website for her nonprofit organization (4BoneHealth.org).
Verdict This is a solid choice for consumers looking for an overview of osteoporosis, or for public libraries looking to update their collections.—Mindy Rhiger, Mackin Educational Resources, Minneapolis
Starr, Michael Seth. Black and Blue: The Redd Foxx Story. Applause: Hal Leonard. Sept. 2011. c.304p. photogs. ISBN 9781557837547. $27.99. TV
Biographical information on John Sanford (1922–91)—better known as Redd Foxx—is scarce, and this book returns life to a well-deserving comedic legend. Journalist and biographer Starr (Hiding in Plain Sight: The Secret Life of Raymond Burr) covers Foxx's early days in St. Louis and Chicago, his struggles after his mother abandoned him, his jazz band, and his time in New York's Harlem, where he took the nickname "Foxy" and became best buddies with the future Malcolm X. Foxx perfected his natural comedic skills when he joined the Chitlin' Circuit along the East Coast. According to Starr, Foxx's dependence on cocaine, alcohol, and women kept him from continued success. Generous to a fault, he also trusted the wrong people and spent money as quickly as he made it. Still, Foxx became a Vegas superstar and after the creation of the TV show Sanford and Son, a household name.
Verdict Starr reconstructs Foxx's life in a raw, honest manner, interspersing fascinating historical facts along the way. This well-presented biography will be especially valuable to those who were not around when Foxx was at the top of his game. Recommended for anyone interested in TV and African American history.—Richard A. Dickey, Washington, DC
Wilson, Mary K. I Can't Be Sick: Business Contingency Planning for Really Small Businesses. Jupiter Gardens. Aug. 2011. c.163p. ISBN 9780983589211. pap. $12.95. ECON
Small-business owner Wilson presents a straightforward guide for business continuity planning. This basic approach is aimed at very small businesses, which she defines as those run by a WAHM (work-at-home mom) or other single person. These business owners may not feel they have the time to create a plan, but Wilson discusses the necessity for having, and testing, a backup plan before something goes wrong. The following chapters detail questions each business owner should be able to answer about what the business does and how that work is completed. These simple steps lead to the creation of a plan to help the business recover and thrive in case of a disruption.
Verdict This no-nonsense guide is a good fit for small businesses that don't have any plan in place but won't scale well past a single-person enterprise. The worksheets that accompany each section provide a valuable resource for creating the plan but are only good for one-time use; readers are directed to order additional copies through the publisher's website.—Elizabeth Nelson, UOP Lib., Des Plaines, IL
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Deconnick, Kelly Sue & Warren Ellis (text) & Emma Rios (illus.). Osborn. Vol. 1: Evil Incarcerated. Marvel. 2011. 120p. ISBN 9780785151753. pap. $16.99. F
Deconnick proves herself an author to watch in this first volume of new a series chronicling the misadventures of Spiderman's arch-nemesis Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin. As the story begins, we find Osborn musing on the virtues of patience in a maximum-security prison, while a reporter contemplates a follow-up piece on his crimes against humanity and government leaders consider how best to dispose of him. Throughout this fast-paced story, we follow these characters as well as other villains imprisoned in the top-secret, bottom-of-the-sea bunker where Obsorn has been locked away. These villains—a few diabolical humans, one space alien, and one South American god—form a sort of makeshift team with Osborn as he tries to escape. Most notable is June Covington, whose backstory of genetic experimentation is cleverly narrated in an interlude by Ellis (Transmetropolitan). The perspective shifts frequently among the many characters, but the witty dialog creates depth and interest in each.
Verdict An action-packed ride with a philosophical edge and a smart addition to any public library's collection of superhero-related comics. Recommended for YAs and up.—Kate Gray, MLS candidate, Pratt Inst., New York
Delano, Jamie & Rick Veitch (text) & John Ridgway & others (illus). John Constantine, Hellblazer. Vol. 1: Original Sins. Vertigo: DC. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9781401230067. pap. $19.99. F
Set the clock back to 1988, when the illustrated fiction was as bad as the music. Odd color schemes, overwrought narration, and almost comically bad artwork-that's what you get from this volume, which collects the first nine issues of Hellblazer. Main character John Constantine, who presumably can be called a protagonist of sorts, finds himself wrapped up in an increasingly complex web of arcane transatlantic puzzles, the solutions to which invariably involve some sort of grave sacrifice or pyrrhic victory. Series creators Delano and Ridgway try desperately to sell this nonsense as a sophisticated mix of the supernatural and good old-fashioned hard-boiled detective fiction, but they fail.
Verdict Perhaps the only redeeming quality in this poorly conceived and executed sanctimonious mess is the oft-overlooked artwork of Tom Mandrake, whose overall aesthetic works well with Constantine's pained and hardened exterior. Only hard-core fans of the series need apply, as this book is unlikely to attract, let alone maintain, a new readership.—Robin Searles, Environmental Data Resources, Milford, CT
Lenox, Emi. Emitown. Vol. 1: A Sketch Diary. Image Comics. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9781607063186. pap. $24.99. F
Lenox joins the slew of young women writing autobiographical comics with this honest, charming, and very entertaining sketch diary. In true diary form, she shows us bits of her daily experience, month by month, chronicling life at her boring day job, nights out drinking with friends, and her diligent efforts to make a name for herself in the comics scene of Portland, OR. While all of this is based on her real life, she calls upon her superhero Ocean Girl, a variety of song lyrics, and her army of adorable cats to help her cope with the more emotionally challenging areas of life, such as love. The art is at times cute and at other times downright gorgeous, depending on what Lenox is drawing.
Verdict While some may feel that, at 400 pages, this first installment can become a bit too detailed and repetitive, others will enjoy getting to know Lenox and will applaud her accomplishments in everything from paying bills to getting published. This reviewer and others who enjoy memoir in graphic novel form will look forward to the next volume. Recommended.—Beth Nerbonne, Rochester P.L., NH
Vaughan, Brian K. (text) & Pia Guerra & Goran Sudzuka (illus.). Y: The Last Man Book Five. Vertigo: DC. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781401230517. $29.99. F
This volume concludes Vaughan's (Pride of Baghdad; Ex Machina; Runaways) and Guerra's (Doctor Who: The Forgotten) epic exploration of a post-gendercide in which Y chromosomes have self-destructed, decimating all male mammals except for the protagonist, Yorick, and Ampersand, his pet capuchin monkey. This final book delivers closure for readers who have shadowed Yorick and his endearing comrades through years of the alternate reality of a world without men. Having previously been published as a continuous series and also a ten-volume trade paperback, the hardbound, high-quality deluxe edition does great service for this series' enchanting illustrations and exceptional cover art. The last 12 issues are suitably grouped together in Book 5, and as a bonus, one of Vaughan's scripts is appended as well.
Verdict Since its original publication in 2002, this series has maintained continual resurgence among a diverse readership. With a movie adaptation pending, the series promises longevity. The deluxe books are highly recommended, with hopes their shelf life will match that of this thrilling and cerebral adventure.—Willow Fitzgibbon, Fayetteville P.L., AR
