Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, September 23, 2011
Sep 22, 2011Week ending September 23, 2011
E-Originals | Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
E-ORIGINALS
Entangled: A Paranormal Anthology. Authors4theCure. Sept. 2011. c.286p. ed. by Edie Ramer & Misty Evans. EPUB $2.99. PARANORMAL/ROMANCE
Nothing scares a woman more than breast cancer, though vampires, demons, ghosts, and ghouls come pretty close in this collection. Granted, most of those creative are the protagonists here, but there are a few of the bad sort thrown in as well. Each of these tales offers goose bumps-some caused by the creatures that go bump in the night, others by the magnetic heat between the main characters. Along with the vampire trying to save her human lover from the rest of her kind and the Chaos demon defending the world from a vampire king, there are mediums bringing peace to those who refuse to cross over, a witch with a black cat only she can communicate with, and gypsies who fight evil with Valkyries, Spartans, and Amazons. These magnificent stories will keep readers turning the page. Following each piece, the author—Ramer, Evans, Michelle Miles, Lori Brighton, Dale Mayer, Nancy Haddock, Michelle Diener, Cynthia Eden, Liz Kreger, Jennifer Estep, and Allison Brennan—shares how breast cancer touched her life, reminding us all that there are monsters in this world, too.
Verdict Filled with suspense and a hint of romance, these stories give the reader a powerful taste of these authors' works; recommended for anyone who enjoys a good paranormal. [Proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.—Ed.]—Sonnet Ireland, Univ. of New Orleans Lib.
Hewitt, Gabriella. Out of the Shadows. Samhain. (Shadow Warriors, Bk. 1). 2011. 176p. eISBN 9781609285128. EPUB $3.50. PARANORMAL ROMANCE
After Carolina's parents are murdered by Billy, the handsome, trusted farmhand with demon powers, she is left alone to run her family's ranch near the Sonoran Desert. Since birth, Carolina carries the gift of the elemental power of water and the glowing warrior mark of a hummingbird, signifying that she is a guardian of her land. When Billy returns to the ranch five years later, Tomás—a wolf spirit, shapeshifter, and shadow warrior—arrives to protect her from Billy's vicious attack. Even though Carolina repeatedly asserts she is capable of living on her own and vows never to let another man into her heart, Tomás's spirit calls to her. The result is one sizzling sex scene.
Verdict Does one hot sex scene make a romance? Is this case, it does so quite well. This is a quick, suspenseful read filled with details on Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec sun god, presenting readers with necessary background for the series. Recommended for fans of books with wild wolves that shift into brawny lovers and find their soul mates. Hewitt is the pen name of Sasha Tomaszycki and Patrizia M.J. Hayashi (Dark Waters).—Joyce Sparrow, Kenneth City, FL
Rai, Alisha. Hot as Hades. Samhain. Oct. 2011. 84p. eISBN 9781609286286. EPUB $3.50. FANTASY ROMANCE
The Greek myth about Hades and Persephone forms the basis for Rai's latest steamy endeavor. Brooding Hades sits on his throne contemplating the injustice of being considered the worst of the gods simply for ruling the Underworld when his solitude is interrupted by a naked woman dropping out of nowhere to land on his lap. And she's not just any woman, but a goddess who is unknown to Hades and who is rather surprised at her sudden trip to the land of the dead. As expected, the chemistry between Hades and Persephone, aka Sephie, is explosive, and Rai provides a few twists on the myth both to modernize it and remove the incestuous aspect of Hades being Persephone's uncle in the original version. This Sephie is no one's victim, and bad boy Hades is one goddess's dream.
Verdict Rai's (Cabin Fever) revamped myth is a short, sexy romp through the Underworld with a powerful goddess and a misunderstood god. It will appeal to fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dark-Hunter" and "Dream-Hunter" series, which also reimagine deities of various pantheons.—Melanie C. Duncan, Shurling Lib., Macon, GA
FICTION
Crime Factory: The First Shift. New Pulp Pr., dist. by Ingram. Sept. 2011. c.260p. ed. by Keith Rawson & others. ISBN 9780982843642. pap. $14.95. F
Resurrected in 2009 by Melbourne-based writers Cameron Ashley and Jimmy Calloway and Arizona-based author Rawson, Crime Factory magazine delivers hard jabs of compact noir into the soft tissue of mystery's staid body. This anthology of 28 hard-boiled stories demonstrates a sprawling criminal world viewpoint that would put Australia's original penal colonizers to shame. Ken Bruen's "Bedlam" does nothing to curry favor with the Galway tourism board (his home town and this reviewer's). Adrian McKinty's laconic style in "The Ladder" transforms a mundane squash tournament into a compelling psychological bear trap. Dave White uses the prosaic backdrop of school finances in "Budget Cuts," a tale of madness, obsession, and budget balances. Editors Rawson, Ashley, and Callaway serve their own lethally fine noir cocktails with ingredients of psychological torture, kung fu, and masking tape, respectively. Dave Zeltserman continues to show his versatility and lateral thinking in "The Mind Prison."
Verdict This beast of noir unleashed by the toiling writers of the Crime Factory will please fans of hard-boiled master Edward Bunker (The Animal Factory).—Seamus Scanlon, Ctr. for Worker Education, City Coll. of New York
Enger, Thomas. Burned. Atria: S. & S. Oct. 2011. c.368p. tr. from Norwegian by Charlotte Barslund. ISBN 9781451616453. pap. $15. F
Henning Juul has eight smoke alarms in his Oslo apartment, along with scars on his face and psyche following a fire that killed his six-year-old son. Two years later, he tentatively returns to work as an investigative reporter for an Internet newspaper, assigned to an apparent sharia killing. A beautiful Norwegian student who had been working on a film about honor killing is found ritually stoned to death, and her Pakistani boyfriend is arrested. When the boyfriend's brother is assassinated, the killer comes after Juul as a witness. Enger himself worked for a Norwegian online newspaper for nine years and also is a composer and filmmaker. This is the first of a projected six books featuring Juul (two more have been published in Norwegian).
Verdict Although the writing (or the translation?) is a bit stiff, the plot twists are compelling. Racial and social elements of contemporary Norway figure prominently, but it is close character observation that finally leads Juul to the manipulative person responsible for complex and tragic violence. This promises to be a crime fiction series worth watching.—Roland C. Person, formerly with Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale
Ghosh, Amitav. River of Smoke. Farrar. 2011. c.528p. ISBN 9780374174231. $28. F
In this second novel of a planned trilogy, Ghosh (Sea of Poppies) takes up the threads of some of his previous novel's characters and weaves them into the hodgepodge, heterogeneous mix that is Canton before the Opium Wars. The novel ostensibly follows Bahram Muddie, a prominent Zoroastrian opium trader from Bombay, who has borrowed heavily to make his first trip to Canton as an independent merchant and who finds his life and livelihood put on hold as the Chinese government cracks down on the drug's import. It is Fanqui town, the city's international trade district, that is the book's real center and, indeed, main character. Ghosh writes like a man who wandered into the library and never made it out again: readers hear more about the city's fabulous dishes than his character's inner lives (though only a writer of his caliber could make caterpillers sound so appetizing). Many of his characters are pulled straight from the history books, and, overburdened by research, the novel becomes an unusually eloquent, animate Wikipedia article.
Verdict Despite the lackluster plot, Ghosh's Canton really does come alive; the book's 500-plus pages go fast.—Molly McArdle, Library Journal
Laurens, Stephanie. In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster. Avon. Oct. 424p. ISBN 9780062068613. pap. $7.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Having failed to kidnap and marry Heather Cynster (Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue), a mysterious Scottish laird tries for Cynster sister number two. Considered by most in her acquaintance to be "meek, mild, and helpless," 24-year-old Eliza may be a better wife for the laird, who enlists the inexorable Scrope to bring her to Edinburgh. In an effort to save herself, Eliza attracts the attention of the man in the passing curricle, none other than absent-minded scholar Jeremy Carling. But Jeremy is more than the sum of his parts and has learned something about subterfuge from his brother-in-law's Bastion Club cronies. He will rescue Eliza Cynster, but at what cost to them both?
Verdict Laurens keeps her long-running series fresh by focusing on the younger members of the clan. Both Eliza and Jeremy here discover hidden depths that alter them in ways they could not have imagined. The chase goes on a bit long, with every conceivable Scottish landscape traversed, but our protagonists' resourcefulness, especially their facility with maps, is something to admire. Does the laird meet his final reward on the craggy cliffs of his homeland, or could he be Laurens's next hero? Cynsters rule and readers triumph.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Marks, Erika. Little Gale Gumbo. NAL: Penguin Group (USA). Oct. 2011. c.448p. ISBN 9780451234650. pap. $14. F
To escape an abusive relationship, Camille Bergeron fled her beloved New Orleans in 1977 with her two teenage daughters, Dahlia and Josie, winding up on Little Gale Island off the coast of Maine—a place as geographically and culturally distant from their home as possible. Opening a Creole restaurant, the Bergerons soon win over the locals, becoming as much a part of the island's culture as lobster fishing. Most important for Camille, she wins the heart of Ben Haskell, their landlord, who becomes a stable fixture in their lives. Yet Camille's daughters remain scarred by the chaos of their early childhood. Dahlia vows she will never let a man hurt her as her father hurt her mother, and Josie maintains her idealism and romanticism despite the challenges of adulthood. When their father arrives on the island, bringing trouble with him, Dahlia and Josie, along with Ben's son, Matthew, must come to terms with their pasts.
Verdict A debut like this doesn't come along often—this is women's fiction to be savored, just like a bowl of Camille's delicious gumbo. And like gumbo, it's the blend of ingredients that makes the difference. Marks's combination of strong female characters, New Orleans culture, and light suspense is a winner.—Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., IL
Nesbø, Jo. Headhunters. Vintage Crime/Black Lizard: Random. Sept. 2011. c.272p. tr. from Norwegian by Dan Bartlett. ISBN 9780307948687. pap. $14.95. F
Arriving hard on the heels of Nesbø's Inspector Harry Hole thriller The Snowman, this stand-alone gives us a brilliant array of variously flawed human beings involved in a tale of intricate plotting, excellent characterization, made-for-the-movies effects and images, and a multifaceted surprise ending. Corporate headhunter Roger Brown, bedeviled by guilt over false steps in his relationship with his art dealer wife, plots to recommend one of her gallery's clients for a high-profile executive position. The question soon becomes who is plotting against whom and exactly how far will he go to achieve his ends?
Verdict Combining the gripping worlds of international corporate intrigue, questionable state-supported covert actions, art theft, and a full expression of the various meanings of "head hunter," this is a true thriller from start to finish. Sure to be enjoyed by devotees of Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell, and even the post–Cold War oeuvre of John le Carré.—David Clendinning, West Virginia State Univ., Institute
Niven, Jennifer. Velva Jean Learns To Fly. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). 2011. c.416p. ISBN 9780452297401. pap. $15. F
Fans of Velva Jean Learns To Drive, Niven's fictional debut, will welcome back the high-octane Velva Jean as she flees from her husband and North Carolina mountain home for Nashville. Hell-bent on recording her mountain ballads, Velva Jean gradually becomes disheartened as she struggles to break into the music business. Soon Pearl Harbor is attacked, and her brother Johnny Clay informs Velva Jean that he is joining the army. Before Johnny Clay leaves, he persuades Velva Jean to take flying lessons. The apprehensive Velva Jean is elated as she learns to pilot a plane. With the war interrupting her musical ambitions, she enlists as a female pilot trainee in Texas and launches a new career. On base, her tattered musical soul is revived when she reconnects with blues singer Butch Dawkins. Never believing in failure, Velva Jean surmounts dangerous obstacles facing female pilots in that male-dominated era, with her moxie eventually ruling the day.
Verdict Readers who enjoy Fannie Flagg and other down-home Southern writers will be entertained by this saucy adventure sprinkled with a gamut of human emotions.—Mary Ellen Elsbernd, Ft. Mitchell, KY
NONFICTION
Atkins, Susy. How To Make Your Own Drinks: Create Your Own Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Drinks from Fruit Cordials to After-Dinner Liqueurs. Mitchell Beazley, dist. by Hachette. Sept. 2011. 160p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781845336011. $16.99. BEVERAGES
Atkins, a popular wine expert in the UK, writes a weekly column for the Sunday Telegraph and edits the magazine Delicious. Her latest book contains an assortment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks that can (and should) be prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the garden or local sources. Recipes cover wild flower and summer fruit drinks, teas, wines, cordials, and more. The infusions (e.g., Star Anise Vodka, Cucumber Gin) are particularly quick and easy and yield fantastic results with minimal effort. In addition to showing readers how to make the drinks, Atkins provides tips for entertaining and packaging drinks as gifts. Recipes are complemented by gorgeous photography.
Verdict Atkins's assertion that drinks should be prepared with the same care and attention to quality ingredients as food will be welcomed by real food supporters. While some preparations would be difficult to complete without prior experience in home brewing (or, at least, fermentation), there are enough recipes requiring basic cooking competence to give this title broader appeal for readers into spirits and sustainable living.—Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach, VA
Belafonte, Harry with Michael Shnayerson. My Song: A Memoir. Knopf. Oct. 2011. c.480p. photogs. ISBN 9780307272263. $30.50. MUSIC
Well-known singer and actor Belafonte begins his memoir in 1964, when he and Sidney Poitier brought $70,000 in cash to Mississippi to help the struggling Civil Rights Movement. Belafonte has been politically active throughout his life (he does not back away from his public statement that George W. Bush is a "terrorist"), and one strand of his memoir deals with the causes he has supported. He also discusses his private life—born in poverty in New York City and of Jamaican heritage, Belafonte saw service in the U.S. Navy and has had several failed marriages. He covers his public career as an American entertainment icon (which solidified with his 1956 album, Calypso) and his interactions with many politicians and celebrities, e.g., Paul Robeson, Poitier, Marlon Brando, and Robert Kennedy, among many others. How these different strands interweave—the anger generated by the poverty and racial discrimination of his early years, the socially conscious reformer, and the well-respected entertainer—make for a potent memoir of our times.
Verdict Beyond the usual interest generated by celebrity biographies, Belafonte's civil rights activism and involvement in other social causes give his memoir broader relevance. Recommended. [See Prepub Alert, 5/2/11.]—Bruce R. Schueneman, Texas A&M Univ.–Kingsville
Brazier, Brendan. Thrive Foods: 200 Plant-Based Recipes for Peak Health. Da Capo Lifelong. Sept. 2011. c.376p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780738215112. pap. $20. COOKING
Brazier (Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life) is a champion triathlon athlete whose books have grown out of a desire to achieve top competitive performance with a diet of maximum micronutrients. The primary audience for his latest title is athletes, as he emphasizes how "thrive foods" will alleviate both physical and mental stress. The first third is an in-depth discussion, focusing on vitamins and minerals, of exactly what type of nutritional values we obtain from our foods. Brazier reviews our food sources (including meat, though this book promotes vegetarianism) and the cost of food production to our planet in terms of land, water, air, and fuel. The rest of the book features recipes for full meals, drinks, energy bars, and sauces and condiments, all collected from nationally acclaimed chefs and restaurants.
Verdict This book will appeal to not only athletes and vegetarians but anyone who is concerned with eating to reduce personal and environmental stress. It is like a cup of Fast Food Nation in a bowl of Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health—i.e., a fascinating read featuring excellent vegetarian recipes based on highly palatable nutritional science.—Meredith Toumayan, Langley-Adams Lib., Groveland, MA
Chast, Roz. What I Hate: From A to Z. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. Oct. 2011. c.64p. ISBN 9781608196890. $15. GRAPHIC ARTS
In this neurotic spin on the classic alphabet book, longtime New Yorker staff cartoonist Chast (Theories of Everything: Selected, Collected, Health-Inspected Cartoons, 1978–2006) shares a few of her least favorite things, with each letter suggesting a horror that you may never have even considered worrying about before: G for general anesthesia, K for kites, S for spontaneous human combustion, V for vision loss. As Chast writes in her introduction, this book "certainly won't take away any of your anxieties. If anything, it might add to them."
Verdict While not all of the entries will resonate with everyone (who's afraid of Jell-O 1-2-3?), Chast's funny, fuzzy-lined drawings make even the most mundane object send chills of unease down your spine. Avoiding any truly scary subject matter, this spoof is suitable for readers of all ages, though hypochondriacs and fans of Chast's twisted sense of humor will especially rejoice.—Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Portland P.L., ME
Chemeche, George. The Horse Rider in African Art. Antique Collectors' Club. 2011. 384p. photogs. ISBN 9781851496341. $90. FINE ARTS
The equestrian figure has been an important image throughout art history; among the most famous ancient Roman sculptures, for example, is the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius on his horse. The horse and rider is as significant an image in African art as anywhere else, despite the difficulty of keeping a horse alive in sub-Saharan Africa owing to the climate, environment, and prevalence of diseases, especially those carried by the tsetse fly. African artists don't depict horses on their own but always show them with a rider. These images are not portraits; they are symbols of power, strength, and spiritual force. In this volume, Chemeche, an Israeli-born American artist, provides hundreds of examples of horse-and-rider images in a range of media, almost all from an area of West Africa between the southern edge of the Sahara and the coastal region. Four detailed essays by experts on African art explain the iconography and use of the horse-and-rider theme in specific West African cultures. Most of the volume consists of full-color photos of equestrian artworks from dozens of private collections.
Verdict Highly recommended for anyone interested in African art.—Eugene C. Burt, Seattle
Collins, Judy. Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music. Crown Archetype. Oct. 2011. c.368p. photogs. discog. ISBN 9780307717344. $26. MUSIC
Collins, with hits like "Both Sides Now" and "Someday Soon," has recorded more than 40 albums. She has published several books, mostly memoirs (1987's Trust Your Heart and 1998's Singing Lessons). Again and again, Collins comes back to the themes of addiction and suicide. But who can blame her? She and her son were both addicts, and her son committed suicide at the age of 33. In her latest memoir, Collins concentrates on the 1960s, when she and her fellow "folkies" (Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and others) were embarking on their careers and believed that their music could change the world. Collins rubbed elbows with everyone from Pete Seeger to Jimi Hendrix, all the while struggling with an addiction to alcohol and a custody battle for her young son, Clark. She is candid about her addiction and recovery and her lovers—most notably, Stephen Stills, who wrote "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" for her. Currently, Collins is happily married and still performing, and she continues to believe "that music can change the world."
Verdict An honest assessment of the life of an acclaimed performer amid the turbulence of the 1960s. Baby boomers will especially enjoy this. [See Prepub Alert, 4/25/11.]—Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
Estrada, Nicolas. New Rings: 500+ Designs from Around the World. Thames & Hudson, dist. by Norton. 2011. 269p. illus. index. ISBN 9780500289334. pap. $29.95. DEC ARTS
"Eclectic, whimsical, edgy, and unique" best describe the vast array of rings displayed in this stunning photographic compilation by notable Latin American artist and jeweler Estrada. What follows the preface and brief introductory essays entitled "What Is a Ring?" "Elements of Identity and Individuality," and "Elements of Alliance" is a wonderland of finger adornments created by nearly 300 international designers. These personal artistic creations, many of which incorporate unusual materials such as felt, leather, plastic, Japanese paper, resin, and bone in addition to more traditional precious metals, gems, and minerals, are categorized into five thematic sections: "Individuality," "Expression," "Rebellion," "Commitment," and "Connection." Each ring is identified by title, artist, materials used, and dimensions. The book concludes with an index of artists arranged alphabetically by first name; the entries include short biographies, websites, email addresses, and the page numbers on which each artist's rings appear.
Verdict Thumbing through the pages, readers will find the technique and execution of these delightful treats remarkable. Recommended for libraries of all types and anyone interested in art and creative jewelry design.—Stephen Allan Patrick, Jonesborough, TN
Fighting the Future War: An Anthology of Science Fiction War Stories, 1914–1945. Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group. 2011. 428p. ed. by Frederic Krome. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780415879507. $125; pap. ISBN 9780415879514. $64.95. LIT
Krome (history, Univ. of Cincinnati, Clermont Coll.), a longtime LJ reviewer, has collected stories and nonfiction texts published between 1914 and 1945 that offer ideas for ending the stalemate of the First World War (which haunts the collection), or that speculate about how advancing weapons technology might be deployed in an inevitable second world conflict. The pulp sf tales that favor technology, often directed at the adolescent readership of the time, generally involve a heroic industrialist-scientist inventing an ingenious weapon or a fabulously wealthy individual who, sensing a technological threat, finances innovative military technology to deploy against an equally technologically savvy, often racialized enemy (in particular, Asians allied with Mexico). The antitechnology texts fear how improved military technology might increase the possibilities, especially with air power, of a civilization-destroying impasse or total war.
Verdict Overall, this intriguing, specialized text features some hard-to-access stories and provides helpful introductions to them. It would be of interest to readers and students of sf, military and weapons history, and cultural studies.—Roger Berger, Everett Community Coll., WA
McKagan, Duff. It's So Easy: And Other Lies. Touchstone: S. & S. Oct. 2011. c.304p. photogs. ISBN 9781451606638. $26. MUSIC
McKagan was a founding member of the bands Guns N' Roses (GNR) and Velvet Revolver, and he has penned what seems on the surface a standard tale of rags to rock'n'roll riches to rehab; however, McKagan's smarts (he writes a column for Seattle Weekly and ESPN.com), his insider's look at the punk scenes in both his native Seattle and Los Angeles, and his honest self-analysis propel his book above the standard crop of celebrity memoirs. Fans will love the descriptions of the struggles and early triumphs of GNR, but McKagan's descriptions of his equally driven efforts at self-transformation are just as compelling (particularly his meditation on the redemptive power of reading and the satisfaction he receives in his intellectual as well as physical revitalization).
Verdict Rock fans—and would-be rockers—will find much to savor here. McKagan has packed a lot into his life and a lot of his life into this book. Readers will enjoy the ride.—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
Marcus, Gary. Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning. Penguin. Jan. 2012. c.288p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781594203176. $25.95. PSYCH
"Music is a perfect storm for the mind: beautiful in form, intricate, and eternally new." Marcus (psychology, New York Univ.; director, NYU Infant Language Learning Center) expands upon the research presented in his previous book, Kluge, by using music as an example of the modern brain as a haphazard, cobbled-together construction that has evolved to do more. No one part of the brain is solely responsible for creating or processing music; rather all parts, even the most primitive, reconfigure to make and respond to constructed sound. Tying in his experiences with language, development, and adult learning, he is encouraging in his belief that adults can learn music in all of its complexity. Marcus debunks dated ideas—that there are critical periods for learning or that there's no such thing as inherent talent—and introduces new research on human reward systems and personality theory. Ultimately, he believes the creation and appreciation of music helps everyone realize their full potential.
Verdict A pleasant and informative read for curious general readers and armed with a boatload of references for scholars.—Nadine Dalton Speidel, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH
Michael Simon: Evolution. Univ. of North Carolina. 2011. c.129p. ed. by Susan Stokes Roberts. photogs. ISBN 9780807872147. $45. FINE ARTS
This is the first complete retrospective of potter Michael Simon's career from the 1970s to the present. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Simon was one of a very dynamic group of ceramic artists who studied at the University of Minnesota with Warren MacKenzie. MacKenzie influenced a whole generation of Midwestern potters by transmitting a philosophy of clay work that derived from the English potter Bernard Leach and his Japanese friends Hamada Shoji and Yanagi Soetsu. Indeed, there is an obvious Japanese tinge to the simple salt-glazed stoneware that Simon produces, but there is also a very American freedom to combine shapes from many cultural spheres with decoration. There are 112 glorious color photographs of the range of cups, teapots, bowls, plates, pitchers, and lidded boxes that Simon has made over the last 35 years. Following the photos is a short essay by Simon on the ethos of making pots; there are specific comments on each of the pots, as well as brief articles by MacKenzie, Emily Galusha, Mark Pharis, and Glen Brown before the book ends with a long biographical interview conducted by potter/writer Mark Shapiro.
Verdict This is the best summing up of a talented potter who exemplifies that 1960s inspired revitalization of the American craft scene. For readers who are interested in making or collecting ceramics, this is essential.—David McClelland, Andover, NY
Pask, Colin. Math for the Frightened: Facing Scary Symbols and Everything Else That Freaks You Out About Mathematics. Prometheus. 2011. c.350p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9781616144210. pap. $19. MATH
Widely published on the topics of optics and vision, Pask (mathematics, emeritus, Univ. New South Wales) has turned his focus to developing mathematics education. In this book, which might better be titled "Math for the Budding Scientist," he introduces the reader to paradigm-shifting mathematic equations throughout history (e.g., the Pythagorean Theorem, Fibonacci sequences) and also presents the work-a-day application of mathematical language to modern technological tools and exploration. In his brief survey of the history of mathematics, Pask seeks to engage the reader in the narrative behind the symbolic representation of mathematical ideas. Writing in an engaging voice, he shares his joy in the scientific language that makes scientific thinking possible. Several science writers have successfully shepherded readers into the arcane world of mathematics (Ian Stewart, Simon Singh, Jan Gullberg, Keith Devlin), and Pask joins their ranks with this volume, in which he conveys both an aerial view of the field and a feet-on-the-ground perspective of a participant.
Verdict Those curious about mathematics and those who want to understand better mathematics as a tool in scientific thought will find this book worthy of their time.—Sara Rutter, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu
Vlasic, Bill. Once Upon a Car: The Fall and Resurrection of America's Big Three Auto Makers—GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Morrow. Oct. 2011. c.400p. index. ISBN 9780061845628. $26.99. ECON
Vlasic (Detroit Bureau Chief, New York Times; Taken for a Ride) distills dozens of interviews, corporate documents, and government reports into the stirring inside story of the recent near-death experience of America's Big Three automakers. In the mid 2000s, the Big Three were led by complacent executives, overly reliant on gas-guzzling models, mired in bureaucracy, and losing market share daily. On top of that, they were beset by the Great Recession, fuel efficient imports, and enormous health-care and pension costs. Vlasic details the self-propelled turnaround at Ford and the government-bailout-driven restructuring of GM and Chrysler in a way that overcomes readers' preliminary disdain for these bumbling bosses and encourages them to root for the embattled underdogs in their race to save the American car industry.
Verdict A lively and emotive look at how America very nearly lost its auto industry and the miraculous recovery engineered by determined businessmen, corporate employees, and the U.S. government.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Libs., Iowa City
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Dorison, Xavier (text) & Mathieu Lauffray (illus.). Neptune: Long John Silver. Vol. 2. Cinebook. 2011. 56p. ISBN 9781849180726. pap. $13.95. F
This second volume in a series detailing the notorious pirate's adventures on the high seas finds Long John Silver and his crew under the dubious orders of Lady Vivian Hastings, who plans to take control of the ship before it reaches land and her waiting husband-bound to be suspicious when he sees her with child. Short on loyal men, Silver must keep his head down and strike against the captain at precisely the right moment to help Lady Hastings, even if it means sacrificing the life of an innocent friend. Whether he's depicting stormy, boiling seas, a mortally wounded man writhing in pain, or a young maid running to her death, illustrator Lauffray (known for Dark Horse's "Star Wars" cover art) is at his best with action—which is to say on nearly every page. Readers will find blood, guts, and ample bosoms galore.
Verdict Readers don't necessarily have to have read the first volume (reviewed by Martha Cornog in LJ 3/15/11) to pick up on the backstory and character alliances here, although it's so much fun they'll probably want to. Suitable for teens and adults.—Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Portland P.L., ME
Morrison, Christopher & Paolo Parente (text) & Davide Fabbri (illus.). DUST Wars. Vol. 1. Image Comics. 2011. 156p. ISBN 9781607063476. pap. $16.99. F/SF
Based on Parente's DUST universe of miniature games, toys, and models, this volume collects the five issues in Parente's "DUST" miniseries and imagines an alternative reality in which the Axis powers have discovered an advanced alien technology that threatens to give them a crucial edge in World War II. Readers follow the U.S. Special Forces Ranger Team #1 and their leader, Sergeant Brown, as they attempt to stop the Axis from building a walking robot army. The characters are what make this story stand out; each has enough personality to keep the reader intrigued. The concept—history melded with a bit of robot sf-draws you in as well.
Verdict While those already immersed in the "DUST" universe will love this collection, it may be a hard sell to other patrons. Buy where there is a strong gaming culture to do cross-media RA.—Justin Hoenke, Portland P.L., ME
Morrison, Grant (text) & Chris Sprouse & others (illus.). Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne. DC. 2011. c.232p. ISBN 9781401229689. $29.99. F
Morrison adds to his body of Batman lore by resurrecting the Dark Knight from an apparent demise at the conclusion of Final Crisis, when he was shot back through time. This set opens in a prehistoric era, in which amnesia-stricken Bruce finds himself battling hordes of cavemen and struggling to remember his identity. Tracking clues he himself has left through the eras, he emerges into a different period in every issue and adopts a batlike persona each time. He fights pirates in one issue, confronts Puritan witch hunters in another, blazes his way through the Old West, and catapults into the period immediately following his parents' death in an arc inspired by the noir tradition. He ultimately emerges in the present to rejoin his comrades in the Justice League.
Verdict The capable art by a variety of illustrators including Ryan Sook, Frazer Irving, and Yanick Paquette lends variety to the stories but can also be off-putting. Ditto on the melding of futuristic sf concepts with narrative arcs set in other historical eras. Overall, not Morrison's most compelling work but entertaining enough for DC superhero fans.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
Redfern, Christine & Caro Caron. Who Is Ana Mendieta? Feminist Pr., dist. by Consortium. 2011. 84p. ISBN 9781558617032. $18.95. BIOG/WOMEN'S STUDIES
Having fled revolutionary Cuba in her teens, artist Ana Mendieta was inspired by America's own revolution in the arts. Tragically, she was just gaining professional recognition when, on September 8, 1985, she died in a fall from her apartment window. Her husband was tried for her murder but was acquitted. Instead of exploring Mendieta's character, Montreal-based artist Redfern uses this short biography to illustrate two ongoing women's issues: exclusion and violence. Unfortunately, the approach robs the story of its narrative impact, not to mention the repetition of material. However, the visuals are another animal: the intense, strong-lined black-and-white art imbues the characters with presence, and representations of art pieces are powerful. The absence of panels provides energy and suggests the idea of artists breaking through traditional boundaries.
Verdict Although highlighting an underrecognized artist and raising the issue of violence against women are worthy goals, the execution doesn't quite measure up to the author's ambitions. Readers may want to skip the introduction—and should expect more art than story. The mature content makes this one just for adults.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., BC
Suzuki, Oji. A Single Match. Drawn & Quarterly. 2011. c.240p. ISBN 9781770460096. $24.95. F
The rain leads a young boy to have an intense encounter with a brother he never had; a woman shares an evening stroll with a friend who is only a disembodied head; a zeppelin piloted by a bird arrives to rescue a young boy from disappointment with his father. Mysterious, poignant, and occasionally surreal, the stories in Japanese author and artist Suzuki's first collection in English explore love and loneliness, betrayal and loss. Central characters are often children, alive both to the wonder and the pain of the world. But Suzuki's children are not idealized—their desires and self-absorption can be ruthless, even cruel. Isolated figures are expressive, grounded in emotional reality even when they travel landscapes of memory and dreams. The black-and-white art is rich with texture and shadow; the writing is spare and poetic, and sounds are a powerful part of every story, providing an unusually deep sensory experience.
Verdict Though not for everyone, this odd and unsettling story collection offers an intense visual and emotional journey. With mature themes; recommended for adults who like a challenging read.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., BC
