Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, September 16, 2011
Sep 15, 2011| |
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Week ending September 16, 2011
E-Originals | Fiction | Nonfiction
E-ORIGINALS
Britton, Pamela. Burning Rubber. Samhain. (Extreme Racing, Bk. 2.). Oct. 2011. c.186p. eISBN 9781609283711. EPUB $5.50. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Callie Monroe wants to bring back the excitement of stock car racing, so she has created a new racing league and designed updated cars with reinforced chassis and a faster engine. The problem? In order to get money for her dream, she has allowed a billionaire brat to run the organization as well as take credit for her efforts. And they still don't have a top-tier racer. Enter Derrick Derringer, one of NASCAR's most successful drivers. After meeting with Callie, he's ready to join the X-TREME team—for a price. Switching between a will-they-or-won't-they story line and a hunt for a saboteur at the track, Burning Rubber reads like the best romances but with an adrenaline kick.
Verdict Between the tease of Callie and Derrick's flirtations and the fast-paced plot charged with intrigue, this book has perfect pacing. Britton (This Time Forever; Slow Burn) has written another race-circuit romance filled with the wit and sweetness that readers have come to expect.—John Rodzvilla, Emerson Coll., Boston
Rylon, Jayne. Mistress's Master. Samhaim. (Men in Blue, Bk. 3). Sept. 2011. 219p. eISBN 9781609285227. EPUB $5.50. EROTIC ROMANCE
This third installment of Rylon's "Men in Blue" series (following Night Is Darkest and Razor's Edge) finds Jeremy Radisson trying to balance his instincts as a cop with his personal desires while undercover in the BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism) community. A former member and legend among these people, Jeremy fled after a tragic accident left his college lover dead. Jeremy now tries to stifle his desire for Mistress Lily while partnering with her to find the Scientist-the embodiment of pure evil who has unleashed a highly addictive drug that enhances sexual desire to the point of torture. In the end, can Jeremy achieve both objectives: bringing the Scientist to justice and becoming the Mistress's master?
Verdict Although a genuine plot and engaging characters provide a good read, the highly controversial content matter will be a deterrent in most collections.—Heather Lisa Maneiro, Minnesota State Univ. Lib.–Moorhead
Stone, Eleri. Redemption. Carina: Harlequin. (Lost City Shifters, Bk. 2). Sept. 2011. 145p. eISBN 9781426892332. EPUB $4.99. PARANORMAL ROMANCE
The second book in the "Lost City Shifters" series (after Mercy) continues the story of the Yaguara shapeshifters: human-looking creatures who can take the form of jaguars. Outcast Yaguara Adriano is undercover at an archaeological site seeking stealthily to obtain a sacred stone to parlay his way back into the good graces of King Gabriel. Adriano, however, can't help his animal attraction to studious archaeologist Sophie. She in turn can't believe such a hunk would be interested in her. Searching for the same secret, Sophie and Adriano are thrust together in steamy jungle conditions. Much hot sex ensues as both Sophie and Adriano are caught up in a struggle with mercenary shapeshifters trying to steal the artifact. Meanwhile, Adriano wrestles with another problem: to save Sophie or keep the secret of the Yaguara.
Verdict Great graphic sex combined with an interesting plot makes this novella a winner. With a nod and a wink to Indiana Jones, this story touches all the right pleasure spots; highly recommended for those who like their romance served hot.—Henry Bankhead, Los Gatos P.L., CA
FICTION
Bloor, Edward. A Plague Year. Knopf. Sept. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780375856815. $15.99. F
It's 2001, and ninth grader Tom Coleman is a good kid. He works at the local grocery store, studies for the PSAT, and dreams of fleeing his small Pennsylvania coal town for a college in sunny Florida. Blackwater is not bad, just dull-at least until the town starts changing. The first harbinger of darkness is the attempted robbery of an ATM at the Food Giant, a crime that Tom helps foil. But thefts, especially of cleaning products and cold medicine, are escalating, and it gradually becomes clear that a methamphetamine epidemic has taken hold. By the end of the year, which is set against the backdrop of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Blackwater will be overrun with meth zombies.
Verdict Bloor puts his background as an English teacher to good use as he draws parallels between Daniel Defoe's A Journal of the Plague Year and the Blackwater drug epidemic. At times the story verges on didactic, but teens will relate to Tom, and there are enough parallels between meth addicts and the living dead to attract fans of the current zombie craze.—Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY
Henry, Patti Callahan. Coming Up for Air. St. Martin's. 2011. 272p. ISBN 9780312610395. $24.99. F
Once again, Henry (The Art of Keeping Secrets) digs into the past to uncover events that have repercussions for a generation. Ellie Calvin is 48 when her mother dies. It's only then that she begins to understand the rigid woman who told her how to live her life, right down to the man she should marry. When Ellie's old boyfriend, Hutch, now a historian, asks about her mother's work in the Civil Rights Movement in 1962, Ellie realizes she knew nothing of that year in her mother's life. Her mother's journal from that period reveals a secret love, so Ellie takes her future in her hands and heads to Alabama, looking for the romantic woman she never knew. It's a trip that forces Ellie to analyze her own life choices and reconsider her future.
Verdict This one is for readers who enjoy women's fiction set in the South. The ending is predictable, but give it to everyone who hated the conclusion of Anne Rivers Siddons's Burnt Mountain. This novel—with a little history of the Civil Rights Movement, a little romance, and a taste of Southern life—will leave them satisfied. [Library marketing.]—Lesa Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ
McDonald, Abby. The Popularity Rules. Sourcebooks Landmark. Oct. 2011. c.480p. ISBN 9781402256684. pap. $14.99. F
In McDonald's (The Liberation of Alice Love) latest chick lit title, protagonist Kat is rocker Bridget Jones, though she prefers to take journalistic vengeance on sleazy players than hem and haw over her boss's affections. A hard-core feminist with indie leanings, she strives to be genuine in a world that doesn't value truth. When an old friend shows up with the answer to all of Kat's problems (like getting fired for printing inflammatory remarks about a beloved singer), she decides to try out the "popularity rules." Said rules suggest that no one ever really "recovers" from high school, a premise that seems more fitting for a YA novel. Kat does change, while questioning if she's really being true to herself.
Verdict Having missed the British chick lit craze that started with Helen Fielding, McDonald's novel feels a little dated; mentions of a crew of white-boy rappers as 'the next big thing" doesn't add freshness. While not bad by any stretch, the stale feel and British slang might be obstacles for this fun romp. Purchase if chick lit circulates well; otherwise, skip it.—Stacey Comfort, Dexter Dist. Lib., MI
Reed, Deborah. Carry Yourself Back to Me. AmazonEncore. Sept. 2011. c.316p. ISBN 9781935597674. pap. $13.95. F
The lovely, lyrical prose of Reed's novel is as rare as snowfall in Florida. And when snow, indeed, does fall in the rural Florida community depicted in the narrative, this melancholy mystery, featuring a cast of very appealing characters, evolves into an introspective study on the power of memory. Reclusive alt-country singer-musician Annie Walsh lives nearly nestled in the tangelo groves on her land in a secluded country area. Suffering from a broken heart, her once promising career now at a standstill, Annie spends her lonely days with only Detour, her dog. But just as her estranged brother, Calder, resurfaces and the two begin to make amends, Calder is arrested for murder. This crime and the inevitable family secrets revealed make for a compelling, poignant, and tender tale about love and loyalty that is a pleasure to read.
Verdict Reed, who also writes suspense fiction as Audrey Braun (A Small Fortune), is a writer to watch.—Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA
Rock, Judith. The Eloquence of Blood. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Sept. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780425242971. pap. $15. F
Rock's second entry in her historical series set in 17th-century France (after the acclaimed The Rhetoric of Death) starts slowly, but when it picks up speed, it's hard to put down. Charles du Luc, a soldier–turned–rhetoric teacher, and the other Jesuits from the college of Louis Le Grand are celebrating the Christmas season when they come under suspicion in the murder of a young woman, Martine Mynette. She was trying to establish her right to a legacy that had been left to the college. While Paris grows restive with demonstrations against the Jesuits, Charles investigates the death in an attempt to find the killer before even more damage is done to the school's reputation.
Verdict Rock's historical accuracy resonates here, transporting you to 1686 Paris. Her intriguing plot and protagonists with whom readers are becoming good friends make this a necessary read for all who enjoy historical mysteries, especially those by Ariana Franklin.—Susan Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA
Watson, Sterling. Fighting in the Shade. Akashic. 2011. 330p. ISBN 9781936070985. pap. $15.95. F
In his latest novel, Watson (The Calling; Sweet Dream Baby) writes about the emotional conflicts of high school football players on Florida's Gulf Coast. It's 1964, and Billy Dyer arrives at Oleander's Carr High School with a chip on his shoulder. The rough-and-tumble junior lives on the other side of the tracks with his depressed father who smokes cigarettes at breakfast and drinks scotch for lunch. Billy is determined to beat out a rich kid for a starting receiver spot, but a night of drunken hazing ends with Billy ostracized from the team. Players are expected to fall in line and win, but the angry youth learns about Oleander's ugly underside as townies keep social corruption under wraps. Several unrealistic moments spring up when Billy handles problems like an adult rather than a teenager, yet just as the plot sags, Watson inserts scenes of stunning violence.
Verdict This is a sleeper that sneaks up on you. Pitch it to old school readers who appreciate intelligent and hard-hitting novels that are more than sports books.—Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L.
NONFICTION
Chwast, Debra. An Unexpected Life: A Mother and Son's Story of Love, Determination, Autism, and Art. Sterling. Oct. 2011. 224p. illus. index. ISBN 9781402774034. $27.95. PSYCH
When her son, Seth, was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, Chwast, a social worker and therapist, threw herself into any therapy that might help her son overcome his condition and lead a happy, fulfilling life. While many of the therapies were effective, Seth, at age 20, was still unable to cross the street alone, stay at home by himself, or have a conversation with another person. That year he enrolled in an art class, and, in painting, Seth found his "voice," communicating his thoughts and feelings through his colorful and dramatic images, which have now been shown all over the world. Seth has found his calling, and Chwast, finally, has made peace with her son's autism. The book is filled with Seth's art, which tells its own vivid story.
Verdict So many autism books are about finding a magic cure, diet, or therapy. Chwast instead writes about her path from denial, to guarded cure-focused acknowledgement, to acceptance of her son's autism; for her, ultimately, Seth is Seth, and that's ok. A wonderful family journey to witness; a great addition to large public libraries with developmental disability collections.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS
Dowbiggin, Ian. The Quest for Mental Health: A Tale of Science, Medicine, Scandal, Sorrow, and Mass Society. Cambridge Univ. Sept. 2011. c.264p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780521688680. pap. $24.99. PSYCH
The history of mental health has rarely been pretty, and Dowbiggin (history, Univ. of Prince Edward Island) does not shy away from its uglier aspects, such as lobotomy, eugenics, or institutionalization. He also does not avoid touting his own thesis: that today's trend of overmedication and therapy is not adequately helping people with mental illnesses. This academic overview covers much ground, marking the advent of mental health care in the 18th century through today. This straightforward account chronologically follows the rise of institutions (and later the trend towards deinstitutionalization), the role of pharmaceuticals in mental health, and changing public sentiment toward mental illness. Some names may ring familiar, but while readers may know of Dorothea Dix or Timothy Leary, they may not realize how they influenced medical history.
Verdict General readers interested in the history of medicine and mental health will find many a fascinating story in this dense volume; those interested in the role of pharmaceuticals in the future of health care will be left with much to think about. Given the large number of people affected by mental illness, Dowbiggin's analysis is worth considering.—Mindy Rhiger, St. Paul
Lewin, Yaël Tamar. Night's Dancer: The Life of Janet Collins. Wesleyan Univ. Sept. 2011. c.390p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780819571144. $37. DANCE
Janet Collins (1917–2003) made dance history as the Metropolitan Opera's first full-time African American dancer. During the late 1940s and 1950s, the world of classical dance was a monochromatic one, and a dancer of Collins's considerable talent could audition, as she did, for the fabled Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and be told by no less than Léonide Massine that she would be hired only if she agreed to appear onstage in whiteface. Trained primarily in classical ballet, she also pursued studies in art and not only choreographed a number of dance solos but also designed the costumes she wore in them. Collins performed in vaudeville, in musical films, on Broadway, and with modern dance companies like those of Katherine Dunham and Lester Horton, all before her debut at the Met. Lewin, a dancer and dance scholar, includes with this biography Collins's own unfinished memoirs as well as reproductions of some of her paintings and drawings.
Verdict An absorbing account of a singular artist that will be of great interest to balletomanes and fans of biography alike.—Carolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L.
McGaugh, Scott. Battlefield Angels: Saving Lives Under Enemy Fire from Valley Forge to Afghanistan. Osprey. 2011. c.288p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781849085151. $24.95. MILITARY HISTORY
Marketing and communications professional McGaugh (marketing director, USS Midway Museum; Midway Magic) presents a historical survey of American military medicine providing medical and U.S. military history buffs with a look at the personnel who have tended the wounded during and after battle over the last 235 years. Each of the 14 chapters starts with a brief vignette of the experiences of a medic at a certain conflict. The battle of Trenton in the Revolutionary War is followed by Civil War advances, then World War I, six chapters on World War II, then the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Verdict Although there are many more-focused books on military medicine available, this popular history will provide a layperson's introduction to the field. Its breadth requires somewhat superficial coverage, yet the book will appeal to general readers as a useful summary of battlefield medicine, highlighting particular personalities and the evolving role of military doctors and women in service. Suitable for both adult and YA collections. [Look for LJ's military history roundups in both of its October issues.—Ed.]—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS
Mass, Leslie Noyes. Back to Pakistan: A Fifty-Year Journey. Rowman & Littlefield. Sept. 2011. c.224p. index. ISBN 9781442213197. $32.95. ED
In 1962, young, naïve, and hopeful 21-year-old Peace Crop volunteer Mass went off to change the lives of women in Pakistan. What she found was an undefined job and a village totally unprepared for a young American woman. Fast-forward almost 50 years, and Mass is back in Pakistan, this time as a 68-year-old volunteer in the summer of 2009 with the Citizens Foundation (an amazing Pakistani organization that is creating schools to teach poor children). Moving back and forth between 1962 and 2009, Mass shows readers how things have changed for the better and sometimes for the worse. Through Mass's interactions with the people at the Citizens Foundation, we come to see a side of modern Pakistan that is not often shown on the nightly news—that of caring and hardworking Pakistanis taking responsibility (and without any foreign help) to create schools that will make a difference in the lives of their children, society, and country.
Verdict A moving glimpse into the life of an American who wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Recommended for those who read in education, travel, and South Asian studies.—Melissa Aho, Univ. of Minnesota Lib., Minneapolis
Moorhouse, Paul with David Cannadine. The Queen: Art & Image. Hudson Hills, dist. by National Bk. Network. 2011. 176p. photogs. ISBN 9781555953683. $50. PHOTOG
Moorhouse (20th-century curator, National Portrait Gallery, London) authors this catalog of the British National Portrait Gallery's exhibition of images of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1950s to 2010. It opens with two excellent essays that set the stage for the portraiture, photography, and contemporary art featured in the book and exhibit. The first, by British historian Cannadine, provides a review of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and significant historical, political, and social changes that have occurred during her reign. The second, by Moorhouse, asks bigger artistic questions of and addresses broader concepts about these images of Queen Elizabeth II—though his analysis could be applied to any number of iconic public figures, be they presidents, actors, or celebrities. Together, both essays lend significant scholarly context to the visual elements of the book. This collection of formal portraits, informal images, and artwork that includes the Queen's image draws from disparate sources ranging from press photos to artists like Annie Leibovitz, Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud, and Gerhard Richter.
Verdict Of interest to portrait artists, photographers, historians, and enthusiasts of the British royal family.—Val Nye, Coll. of Santa Fe, NM
Nayak, Hari (text) & Jack Turkel (photogs.). My Indian Kitchen: Preparing Delicious Indian Meals Without Fear or Fuss. Tuttle. 2011. 160p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780804840897. $27.95. COOKING
Indian is fast becoming one of the most popular ethnic foods in the United States, and while most of us can find a suitable samosa around the corner, many Americans have yet to try frying one up at home. Here Nayak (coauthor, Modern Indian Cooking) integrates Indian spices into common dishes like Shrimp Bruschetta and Spicy Lamb Burgers. There is a lovely little chutney and condiment section that includes tasty and simple mint chutney and the rarer coconut chutney. The book includes an excellent introduction to the tools and ingredients that are commonly used in making Indian meals. The vegetarian section is relatively small for a cuisine that is rich with vegetarian recipes, while there are plenty of fish and meat dishes. One other major drawback is the focus on "fusion" desserts, leaving out the delicate, wonderful Punjabi dish carrot halwa and the fried perfection of jalebi.
Verdict Overall, this is an ideal Indian cookbook for beginners; those with experience cooking Indian dishes should look elsewhere to expand their repertoire.—Claire Moitra, Providence
O'Keeffe, Georgia & Alfred Stieglitz. My Faraway One: Selected Letters of Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. Yale Univ. 2011. 832p. ed. by Sarah Greenough. illus. index. ISBN 9780300166309. $39.95. FINE ARTS
An epistolary colossus, the first of two volumes of letters selected by Greenough (senior curator, photographs, National Gallery of Art; Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set), this doorstop of a book is the result of arduous scholarship and editorial reduction. These 650 letters between photographer Stieglitz and painter O'Keeffe represent, amazingly, only ten percent of the complete correspondence now housed in Yale's Beinecke Library. And what vastness herein: readers can traverse the verbose contours of the passionate and emotionally tumultuous relationship of these artists, each of whom was driven by a creative hunger that threatened to consume any and all bystanders-including themselves. The sheer scale is gargantuan, and, after all of Greenough's work, this collection comes across as both well edited yet oddly unabridged. Necessarily, quotidian details of weather and the social column at times dominate. Greenough's mildly hagiographic introductions to each chapter form an excellent dual biography. Illustrations of wildly embellished manuscripts reveal the difficulty of conveying in plain type the ideas and emotions actually communicated.
Verdict Containing more than most readers will want, this is still a definitive, scholarly landmark best suited for true aficionados.—Douglas F. Smith, Berkeley P.L., CA
Ruiz, Teofilo F. The Terror of History: On the Uncertainties of Life in Western Civilization. Princeton Univ. Sept. 2011. 178p. illus. index. ISBN 9780691124131. $24.95. HIST
This is an attempt by the erudite Ruiz (history, Spanish & Portuguese, UCLA; Spain's Centuries of Crisis: 1300–1474) to use his knowledge and experience to make sense of our messy lives and our desires to bury a future we cannot control. His references come largely from Western sources, ancient through the 17th century (although he comments on the Heaven's Gate cultists in Los Angeles and the 19th-century Canudos rebellion in Brazil, both millenarian movements). In separate chapters, he discusses three forms of escape from history: religion, materialism, and estheticism. The results are thematic rather than chronological—and at times distressingly general: assertions are made, examples dropped in place with little elaboration. But the book isn't meant to be history as much as an intensely personal meditation on how we deal with our worries about the world, stuffing inside ourselves our fear of impending extinction. Ruiz uses his own experiences to illustrate points, even including a piece of fiction he wrote when young.
Verdict More personal than Annaliste history, with which it's best compared, this book has no readymade audience, but serious readers will find it worthwhile for its author's attempt to embrace elusive questions about our personal lives.—David Keymer. Modesto, CA
Suszko, Marilou K. The Locavore's Kitchen: A Cook's Guide to Seasonal Eating and Preserving. Ohio Univ. 2011. 284p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780821419380. pap. $32.95. COOKING
As foodie culture goes mainstream, more and more of the American public will be talking about eating seasonal, locally sourced produce and meat. In this entry in a cookbook genre that is quickly becoming crowded, Suszko (Farms & Foods of Ohio) gives a contemporary nod to the old ways with simple, traditional recipes and a chapter on preserving. This is not a glossy, flashy book; it has few photos and illustrations (the tutorial on canning, however, is fully illustrated with photos). But it is stuffed with classic dishes (arranged by season) like roast chicken, peach pie, and beef stew as well as more contemporary recipes, including Roasted Sweet Potato Mash with Cider and Ginger, Sweet Pumpkin with Yogurt Sauce, and Pesto-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin. Sidebars expertly explain things like the difference between free-range and pastured chicken or the storage recommendations for various produce.
Verdict Although its understated aesthetics may cause some to overlook this cookbook, it is chock-full of recipes people will want to cook. Highly recommended.—Ann Wilberton, Pace Univ. Lib., New York
van Perlo, Ber (text & illus.). Birds of Hawaii, New Zealand, and the Central and West Pacific. Princeton Univ. 2011. 256p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780691151885. pap. $29.95. NAT HIST
This is the latest of the now ten Princeton "Illustrated Checklists"-handy bird guides that encompass breathtakingly immense areas (e.g., a two-title set deals with all of Europe, Russia, China, and Japan). While these titles are modest in scope, they are in fact much more than just illustrated checklists-containing concise descriptions and range maps. Van Perlo's excellent paintings illustrate 750 species, and the helpful text features 19 maps of the various Pacific archipelagos, plus websites, lists of pertinent organizations and birds restricted to each of these areas (endemics), and a glossary. Because such a marvel of information is concentrated in so small a book, it relies heavily on abbreviations and symbols. These are worth the effort it takes to master them. The authors of these "checklists" are the first to say their books should be used in conjunction with meatier, more exhaustive, and local reference books, but as a first resort they are without comparison. Van Perlo is also author and artist of one Middle American and three African guides.
Verdict Attractive, broad in scope, and delightfully compact; an inviting title highly recommended for bird watchers.—Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Wallace, Keith. Corked & Forked: Four Seasons of Eats & Drinks. Running Pr. Sept. 2011. 200p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780762439829. pap. $23. COOKING
As executive director of the Wine School of Philadelphia and a professor of restaurant management at Drexel University, Wallace is well qualified in both food and beverages. Organizing his book by season and occasion (e.g., Twenties-Era Summer Picnic and Springtime Brunch Party), he presents simple meals paired with ideal wines, beers, ciders, and cocktails and shares twists on old favorites, such as burgers with homemade ketchup and Roasted Shallot Relish, Grilled Caesar Salad, and Cilantro-Mint Mojito. Most of the recipes are supplemented with a full-page color photo. The menus vary from serving a large wintertime house party for 20 to an intimate party under the stars for four to six guests.
Verdict A variety of basic recipes are presented in a colorful and easy-to-navigate format. The beverage pairings and the presentation by menu will give confidence to novices and release seasoned hosts to spend more time enjoying their guests.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine Coll. Preparatory, San José, CA
