AprilReviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
Edited by Aida Bardales -- Library Journal, 04/15/2010
FICTION | NONFICTION | ALSO IN TRANSLATION
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Traiciones de la memoria.
(Treasons of Memory)
Abad Faciolince, Héctor.
Colombia/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 272p. ISBN 978-958-704-923-7. pap. $29.99. FICTION
The latest work by this renowned journalist and Casa de las Américas Award recipient is a thrilling hybrid. Part autobiography, part fiction, and part essay, this audacious tour de force begins with the discovery of a handwritten poem inside a dead man’s pocket. The dead man is the author’s father, an activist and journalist who lost his life at the hands of Colombia’s paramilitary. Abad Faciolince’s father credits Jorge Luis Borges with being the author of the handwritten poem, but that is put into question when—in a Borgesian twist—a Colombian poet claims to have written the poem six years later, declaring that Abad’s father carried the poem in his pocket before the poem’s conception. A fervent search for the poem’s true author ensues, illustrated by beautiful, color-printed images of the evidence: magazine articles, journal pages, rare books, photographs, letters, and government papers, all laid out and labeled. The book closes with a story and an essay that ruminate sensitively on time, exploring the moment when fictions and truths draw close together and our hypothetical futures feel as real as our assumed one. An intriguing if demanding story; recommended for libraries and bookstores with a contemporary Latin American literature collection.—Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Palo Alto, CA
Julio Cortázar: Cuentos competos I.
(Julio Cortazar: The Complete Stories I)
Cortazar, Julio.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 639p. ISBN 978-84-204-0538-4. pap. $29.99. STORIES
[REVIEWED WITH]
Julio Cortázar: Cuentos competos II.
(Julio Cortazar: The Complete Stories II)
Cortazar, Julio.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 546p. ISBN 978-84-204-0539-1. pap. $29.99. STORIES
This new edition of the complete stories of Argentinean author Cortázar (1914–84) comes in two heavy paperback volumes. The cover design is gorgeous (the two covers
together form a portrait of the author), but the edition itself adds nothing new. As with Alfaguara’s previous edition of this work, the first volume includes Vargas Llosa’s famous essay “La trompeta de Deyá” (“Deya’s Trumpet”) and short stories from collections published between 1945 and 1966, from “La otra orilla” (“The Other Edge”) to “Todos los fuegos el fuego” (“All of the Fires the Fire”). The second volume includes stories from collections published between 1969 and 1982, from “Último round” (“Final Round”) to “Deshoras” (“Off Hours”). As Vargas Llosa explains, no one else has been able to turn literature into a game to be played by the reader, and even after more than 40 years since the publication of his masterpiece Rayuela (Hopscotch), Cortázar’s stories feel amazingly contemporary. These volumes are essential for any bookstore or library with a comprehensive collection of Spanish-language literature; libraries with the original Alfaguara edition may want to consider to refresh the collection.—María Elena Cruz, Boston, MA
Lazos de sangre.
(Blood Bonds)
Ferré, Rosario.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 368p. ISBN 978-1-60396-944-4. pap. $19.99. FICTION
This collection of six short novellas by celebrated Puerto Rican author Ferré revolves around the 
extended family of Rose Monroig Arizmendi and reveals much about gender, race, and class in Puerto Rican culture, Boricua identity, and the island’s singular relationship with the mainland. The first half of the novellas deals with the Arizmendi family: “Irene’s Betrayal” acquaints the reader with the clan and the island setting and foreshadows much of what is to come; “Angela’s Flight” relates the story of a beauty married to an unfaithful mama’s boy; and in “Julia’s Glooms,” Rose’s family becomes embroiled in the island’s political struggles. In the second half, treating the Monroigs, Marta, “La patagona,” studies in New York and discovers the advantages of being an athlete with large feet, and Cata comes to terms with her lover’s marriage after overindulging in “Champagne in the Chicken Coop.” The final story, “Tiger by the Tail,” which occupies the final 100 pages, is an unexpected tale of intrigue. The casual reader will delight in the loves and losses, and the more analytical reader will be engrossed by the broader themes. Ferré’s stature in letters mandates this as an essential purchase for academic and public libraries and bookstores serving Puerto Rican populations or with strong women’s literature collections.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
El hombre inquieto.
(The Troubled Man).
Mankell, Henning.
tr. by Carmen Montes. Spain: Tusquets, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2009. 453p. ISBN 978-84-8383-180-9. pap. $24.99. FICTION
Swedish author Mankell is the author of nine titles with protagonist detective Kurt Wallander. This time, 
Mankell looks back at a period when the Cold War impinged on Sweden’s sovereignty, through the illegal presence of submarines in the Stockholm archipelago and the entry of right-wing extremists and thugs from Eastern Europe. Here, a highly decorated Swedish navy officer, Håkan von Enke, disappears during his daily walk. This sets in motion a series of events that challenge Wallander, whose own memory is failing, to seek the perpetrators of these crimes and try to understand what happened at the highest levels of his government during the early 1980s. Mankell’s latest book in Spanish-language translation is full of insights into the shifting Swedish way of life and offers readers elements of a good thriller. Montes’s translation is excellent and reads flawlessly. Given the recent renaissance of Scandinavian mystery writers, Mankell’s crime fiction deserves to be better known among Spanish-language readers, as it is thoroughly satisfying. Sure to please casual and serious readers alike, this book is highly recommended for all libraries and bookstores.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Perdona pero quiero casarme contigo.
(Excuse Me, But I’d Like To Marry You)
Moccia, Federico.
tr. by Patricia Orts. Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 702p. ISBN 978-607-07-0330-0. pap. $27.95. FICTION
Forty-year-old Alex and his 20 year-old fiancée, Niki, face the challenges of modern love with an age gap in this sequel to Federico Moccia’s Perdona si te llamo amor (“Excuse Me if I Call You Love”). Film versions 
of both titles and two previous novels by Moccia, an Italian author and screenwriter, have been distributed in Europe over the past six years. Set almost entirely in modern-day Rome, this predictable romance novel could hold some appeal for young adults, given the abundant pop culture references to social media, text messaging, music hits, and Hollywood blockbuster films. However, the characters lack depth and come off as cartoonish clichés: the smoldering Lothario on a motorcycle, the party-loving single girl, the unapologetic but charming adulterer, the hip, understanding parents. Moccia has a tendency to spell out what each character is feeling rather than let the reader infer it from the context, which lends the novel an air of over-simplicity. Told in the present tense, the narrative is stilted and reads like stage directions. As vivid as Moccia’s descriptions of food, clothing, and Italian cityscapes can be, the novel lacks the tension and conflict that make similar romance titles appealing and entertaining to read. Recommended only as a secondary purchase.—Pamela Corante, Los Angeles, CA
Palomos.
(Street Kids)
Valdez, Pedro Antonio.
U.S./Dominican Republic: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 201p. ISBN 978-9945-429-10-7. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Fueled by a pulsing soundtrack of rap, reggaeton, and rough & ready pop, this work is a bracing blast of Dominican youth culture—yet its witty adolescent angst owes more to J.D. Salinger than to Junot Díaz. The story follows the misadventures of a ragtag gang of aspiring street punks from the perspective of hyperliterate first-person narrator Antonio, known as his richly elaborated fantasy persona, the mad rhyming “MC Yo” of the hip-hop posse Fox Billy Games. Antonio and the other neighborhood kids operate in the towering shadow of the young misanthrope Lacacho, a classic tough guy whose power is rooted in intimidation that Antonio's intelligence gradually learns to recognize and ultimately overcome in a life-affirming climactic scene. Palomos takes a solid place in the long line of youth fiction that updates Catcher in the Rye and translates its themes to new times and new cultural identities. For instance, when Antonio is forced to see a psychologist, he quickly confirms her inability to understand English by throwing quotes from Green Day and Marilyn Manson into the counseling sessions. The ever-present backdrop of Valdez's storytelling is a panoply of lyrics by Daddy Yankee, 50 Cent, Calle 13, Eminem, and many more; the novel includes a detailed musicography with some three dozen entries. During his 2006 residency at the University of California at Berkeley's Townsend Center, the author spoke on hip-hop and reggaeton, styles that he weaves naturally into Palomos. Highly recommended for young adult and adult readers alike.—Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib.., PA
Las mil noches y una noche.
(The One Thousand and One Nights; or, The Arabian Nights)
Vargas Llosa, Mario.
Mexico: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 139p. photogs. ISBN 978-607-11-0382-6. pap. $19.99. DRAMA
One of the granddaddies of the Latin American Boom, the great Peruvian novelist, essayist, politician, and journalist Vargas Llosa also writes plays. Like his award-winning fiction, his dramas are inspired by the act of 
storytelling and the integral part it has played from time immemorial in the human condition. Here he takes the classic Arabian Nights, whose origins are “remote, intricate and mysterious,” itself a story within a story within a story, and writes a play for two actors. It begins with Mario—portrayed by Vargas Llosa himself—discussing the Arabian Nights with Aitana—portrayed by the actress Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. Mario and Aitana morph into the king and Sherezada and then into the characters from Sherezada’s stories. The intertwined stories are full of passion, romance, magic, and murder. Each scene ends with a teaser that delays Sherezada’s execution one more night. The play is a quick and easy read, and Vargas Llosa’s introductory essay places it firmly within his oeuvre and the canon while debating the nature of stories, novels, and poetry. Photos taken during one of the stage productions illustrate the book. Recommended for bookstores and libraries with strong literary collections or where plays are popular.—Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Ctr., Tulsa City–Cty. Lib. Syst. OK
La luz del deseo.
(The Light of Desire)
Agosín, Marjorie.
tr. by Lori Marie Carlson. U.S.: Swan Isle Pr. 2009. 85p. ISBN 978-0-9748881-7-0. $28. POETRY
Recipient of the Letras de Oro Prize and the Gabriela Mistral Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement, Agosín is a human rights activist, author, and professor at Wellesley College. While writing this long poem over 
a period of four years, she sat in a room overlooking the wall of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The result, resonant with the Song of Songs, chronicles the speaker’s rhapsodic falling in love from youth to middle age. The first two of six parts fulfill the narrative but are stagnant and repetitive, with a nuanced, striated perception arising only with aging: “The body allowed itself to be loved for a night/.../ Masked by an even more ancient night/ Like the nights of Jerusalem/ Stone and quartz nights/ Open, bright,/ Clairvoyant bodies.” Agosín’s chronicle of love is as languorous as it is abstract, and the bodies of the lovers thin into the landscape of Jerusalem: “You have inhabited my steadfast back/ You have made prints, roads, cracks/...// And I go by way of your waist as if I were balanced on an orange tree/ Here in Galilee, love is flowering in the season of the almond trees.” What finally emerges is an archetypical cartography of sacred and erotic love that gathers meaning from impermanence and memory. Carslon’s translation is perceptive and sound, although at times when Agosín creates a variegated meaning with the language, Carslon flattens it, favoring a lyrical translation. Recommended for libraries and bookstores with a strong Judaic or poetry collection.—Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Palo Alto, CA
Salud intestinal. La clave para estar en forma.
(Intestinal Health: The Key to Well-Being).
Fiszbein, Varda.
Argentina: Obelisco, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 189p. ISBN 978-84-9777-578-6. pap. $15.95. HEALTH
The author of this book feels that intestinal cleanliness is the key to wellness. She describes the function of the 
digestive tract, notes the importance of drinking sufficient water and eating a high-fiber diet, and talks about common disorders of the gastrointestinal system. She then explains that toxins can build up within the intestines and says that detoxification with enemas or colonic irrigation is necessary to maintain health. Since the author lists no information about her training or qualifications, and the bibliography lists only books and web sites on alternative therapies, there is little information here that could be considered reliable. A search of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health provided no evidence-based studies on intestinal cleansing. MedlinePlus, the consumer health web site of the National Library of Medicine, had articles stating that it was not necessary and could be dangerous. Since the intestines are self-cleaning via normal elimination, the overuse of enemas or colonic irrigation could lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Also, colonic irrigation can cause injury if improperly administered. This book should be considered only for large and/or popular alternative health collections.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
Missing (Una investigación).
[Missing (An Investigation)]
Fuguet, Alberto.
Spain/Chile: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 386p. ISBN 978-9956-239-684-4. pap. $24.99. MEMOIRS
Chilean author and filmmaker Fuguet first wrote about his obsession with the disappearance of his Uncle Carlos in a short story published in 2003. Following a fight with his parents in 1986, Carlos Fuguet fled his California 
home, and nobody in the family knew of his whereabouts since then. It turns out that only months after he wrote the short story, Fuguet tracked down his uncle in a Denver motel. He immediately began working on this book: a biography that is also the story of the book itself, as well as an autobiography. Fuguet readers will find themselves in familiar territory, since he also revisited his childhood, spent between Chile and California, in his semiautobiographical novel Las películas de mi vida. Interestingly, this work allows for even more literary experimentation than the novel: some chapters are told in the first person, there are emails and interview transcriptions, and Carlos’s biography is written in free verse. This last part, which takes up half of the book, is probably the only slip in an otherwise absorbing narrative: Carlos’s character is appealing and well layered, but reading his story line by line could get tiresome and feel a bit gratuitous. Despite these formalist excesses, Fuguet’s chaotic yet grandiose meditation on family, self-searching, immigration, and the meaning of the American Dream is both thought-provoking and highly enjoyable. Recommended for general collections, as well as bookstores.—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY
September Elegies.
Pastoriza Iyodo, Benito.
tr. by Bradley Warren Davis. U.S.: Xlibros Corp. 2010. 177p. ISBN 978-1-4500-3947-5. pap. $19.99. POETRY
This collection of elegiac poems reflects the timeless and organic structure of the Greek elegy. Once thought to be a lamentation for the dead, the elegy, in its truest form, is a personal sentiment written as a love poem, a narrative description, or a conjecture. The author quickly initiates a clear understanding of the original meaning of this genre, forming an eclectic array of personal narratives. Written in free verse and skillfully translated into English, this collection keeps with the Spanish lyrical traditions established by Federico García Lorca’s Llanto por Ignacio Sánchez Mejía and Francisco de Quevedo’s Mire los muros de la patria mía. Pastoriza Iyodo’s observations are unrestrained, brooding over themes like poverty, war, nature, and the unpredictable design of humanity. The poem “What Was All That About” exemplifies his open temperament, as when he writes “because the poverty of the spirit/ because the poverty of the penny/ did not arrive gratuitously/ so easily someone must have invented it.” He continues with a resplendent verse: “I cannot avoid the terrible temptation/ of sitting beside the blue-glazed river/ and seeing all the royal splendor of the water.” Intimate in its creation, this book will complement any collection. Recommended for bookstores, libraries, and all aficionados of both English and Spanish poetry.—Rick Villalobos, Villa Park P.L., IL
Historia de la filosofía. Sin temor ni temblor.
(The History of Philosophy)
Savater, Fernando.
Mexico: Planeta. 2009. 302p. ISBN 978-607-07-0314-0. pap. $27.95. REFERENCE/PHILOSOPHY
None of us thinks that the questions we ask ourselves during the course of the day (about where to vacation, what to eat, and what to do over the weekend) have anything to do with philosophy—that high-brow, highly diffuse area of academic inquiry on which the likes of Socrates, Voltaire, and Locke have staked their reputations. But according to Spanish philosopher Savater, they are the beginnings of a long journey toward self-reflection. Questions, Savater tells us, give way to ideas and, in some instances, answers to some of the most pressing issues we face. Such is the basic thrust of this most recent work by the Spanish writer and essayist turned politician that covers, with great brio, the contributions of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and John Stuart Mill, among others, to the different strands of thought that today constitute philosophy. Centered on a series of exchanges between two adolescents, Nemo and Alba, it not only reads like a conversation but also captures, with clever anecdotes, colorful illustrations, and spirited prose, the same feeling that its author first experienced when he read Bertrand Russell’s History of Western Philosophy. (He considers this work to be an homage to Russell’s classic.) Much like David Denby’s adventures with Homer and Rousseau in Great Books, Savater’s adventures of the mind seek to convey to the reader just how life-changing contemporary engagement with philosophical matters can be, especially for youth. While it is intended for a YA audience, its readability and wide appeal will no doubt make it a valuable resource/reference for college students and general readers. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Michael Sosa, Brooklyn, NY
La crisis: tu dinero y tú.
(The Crisis: Your Money and You)
Serrano-Alda, Félix.
Spain: Obelisco, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2009. 236p. ISBN 978-84-9777-579-3. pap. $24.95. FINANCE
Written from the European/Spanish perspective, this book imparts knowledge that can be useful and applicable
to those living here—as long as they understand how the examples correlate to their situation. The author starts off with background of the current international economic crisis, the main persons/institutions involved, and how it has affected people and their lives. Economic information is coupled with realistic examples to bring a well-rounded understanding to readers. The author also discusses how the crisis has affected different segments of the population in particular, focusing on young singles, married, and retired people. The book is geared to this more traditional social stratification, leaving out those who stay single and generally not addressing the economic experiences of the divorced, though much of the book can be applicable to them. Recommended for bookstores with current events/economics offerings.—Marie St. Pierre, Thornton, Colorado
FICTION
Fuerza de la naturaleza.
(Force of Nature)
Brockmann, Suzanne.
tr. by Armando Puertas Solano. Spain: Titania: Urano, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 507p. ISBN 978-84-96711-75-4. pap. $21.95. SUSPENSE
After receiving word that Florida mobster Gordon Burns may be working with international terrorists, ex-cop Ric Alvarado manages to gain access to Burns’s inner circle in prolific best seller Brockmann’s enjoyable 11th Troubleshooters thriller. Alvarado’s feat brings him to the attention of Jules Cassidy, a maverick FBI agent and counterterrorism expert derided by fellow agents for being gay. The message of tolerance and the personal issues—Cassidy’s relationship with closeted Hollywood leading man Robin Chadwick; Alvarado’s crush on his attractive assistant, Annie Dugan; Cassidy’s determined struggle for acceptance and recognition—at times interfere with the terrorist plot in the mix of undercover police work and romance, but romantic suspense fans should be well satisfied. [PW 6/25/07]
Cauces de maldad.
(The Narrows)
Connelly, Michael.
tr. by Javier Guerrero. Spain: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 437p. ISBN 978-84-666-4297-2. pap. $20.95. THRILLER
There’s a gravitas to the mystery/thrillers of Connelly that sets his work apart and above that of many of his contemporaries. That gravitas is in full force in Connelly’s newest, [which] supports a dynamite plot, fully flowered characters, and a meticulous attention to the details of investigative procedure. The first-person sections are narrated by [retired L.A. homicide cop Harry] Bosch, who agrees as a favor to the widow to investigate the death of Bosch’s erstwhile colleague and friend Terry McCaleb. Bosch’s digging brings him into contact with Rachel Walling, the FBI agent heroine, and the third-person narrative concerns mostly her. Though generally presumed dead, the Poet, the serial killer who was a highly placed Fed and Walling’s mentor, is alive and killing anew, with McCaleb among his victims and his sights now set on Walling. Connelly is a master and this novel is yet another of his masterpieces. [PW 4/12/04; starred]
Más muerto que nunca.
(Dead as a Doornail)
Harris, Charlaine.
tr. by Isabel Murillo Fort. Spain/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2010. 347p. ISBN 978-161605073-3. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Harris’s rousing fifth Sookie Stackhouse fantasy-mystery pits vampires, were-creatures, shifters, and one fairy godmother against a sniper with an apparent aversion to nonhumans. If trying to discover who’s behind the shootings isn’t enough, the telepathic cocktail waitress from Bon Temps, LA, has to cope with a few other distractions: her sexy “Were” friend, Alcide Herveaux, needs her help in his father’s bid to become the next leader of the local werewolf pack; her boss, Sam Merlotte (a collie in his spare time), gets shot; her house partly burns down; and what’s she to do about the handsome vampire bartender who dresses as a pirate at Sam’s place? Between one mishap and another, Sookie is one busy gal. Harris does an admirable job of creating a heroine who’s not only interesting but completely believable in a world of the strange and the different. Natural and humorous dialog and a nicely paced plot that doesn’t dwell so much on Sookie’s old boyfriends help make this entry the best yet in the series. [The HBO series, True Blood, based on Harris’s books, is also available in Spanish on HBO Latino. Recommended for general collections and bookstores.—Ed.] [PW 4/4/05]
La chica que soñaba con un cerillo y un galón de gasolina.
(The Girl Who Played with Fire)
Larsson, Stieg.
tr. by Martin Lexell & Juan José Ortega Román. Spain: Destino: Planeta. 2009. 749p. ISBN 978-84-233-4100-9. pap. $25.95. FICTION
Fans of intelligent page-turners will be more than satisfied by Larsson’s second thriller, even though it falls short of the high standard set by its predecessor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Los hombres que no amaban a las mujeres; reviewed 10/15/09), which introduced crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist and punk hacker savant Lisbeth Salander. A few weeks before Dag Svensson, a freelance journalist, plans to publish a story that exposes important people involved in Sweden’s sex trafficking business based on research conducted by his girlfriend, Mia Johansson, a criminologist and gender studies scholar, the couple are shot to death in their Stockholm apartment. Salander, who has a history of violent tendencies, becomes the prime suspect after the police find her fingerprints on the murder weapon. While Blomkvist strives to clear Salander of the crime, some far-fetched twists help ensure her survival. Powerful prose and intriguing lead characters will carry most readers along. [See review below of La reina en el palacio de las corrientes de aire.—Ed.] [PW 6/8/09]
La reina en el palacio de las corrientes de aire.
(The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest)
Larsson, Stieg.
tr. by Martin Lexell & Juan José Ortega Román. Spain: Destino: Planeta. 2009. 854p. ISBN 978-84-233-4161-0. pap. $25.95. FICTION
The exhilarating conclusion to best seller Larsson’s Millennium trilogy finds Lisbeth Salander, the brilliant computer hacker who was shot in the head in the final pages of Fire, alive, though still the prime suspect in thr
ee murders in Stockholm. While she convalesces under armed guard, journalist Mikael Blomkvist works to unravel the decades-old coverup surrounding the man who shot Salander: her father, Alexander Zalachenko, a Soviet intelligence defector and longtime secret asset to Säpo, Sweden’s security police. Estranged throughout Fire, Blomkvist and Salander communicate primarily online, but their lack of physical interaction in no way diminishes the intensity of their unconventional relationship. Though Larsson tends toward narrative excess, his was an undeniably powerful voice in crime fiction that will be sorely missed. [See review above of La chica que soñaba con un cerillo y un galón de gasolina.—Ed.] [PW 3/2/10]
Cross.
Patterson, James.
tr. by Daniel Laks Adler. Spain: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 389p. ISBN 978-84-666-4296-5. pap. $20.95. FICTION
Forensic psychologist Alex Cross’s storied career in private practice, with the FBI and as a Washington, D.C., 
cop, has brought him into contact with all kinds of seriously disturbed killers, but his 12th outing from best seller Patterson may be the ultimate in lunatic deadliness. Beginning with a flashback to the murder of Cross’s wife, Maria, Patterson quickly introduces Michael Sullivan (aka the Butcher of Sligo). What follows is a frenetically paced series of brutal rapes and killings by Sullivan, once employed by the mob as a freelancer and now at war with them. Cross juggles being a single parent and being involved in the dangerous game of tracking serial killers until he finally decides to give it up for his family. Needless to say, he’s drawn back into the game when it promises a chance of finding Maria’s killer. [PW 9/25/06]
NONFICTION
Tatuajes en el corazón. El poder de la compasión sin límite.
(Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion)
Boyle, Gregory.
Tr. By Santiago Ochoa. U.S.: Free Press: S&S. 2010. 236p. ISBN 978-1-4391-6098-5. pap. $16. MEMOIR
In this artful, disquieting, yet surprisingly jubilant memoir, Jesuit priest Boyle recounts his two decades of working with “homies” in Los Angeles County, which contains 1,100 gangs with nearly 86,000 members. 
Boyles Homeboy Industries is the largest gang intervention program in the country, offering job training, tattoo removal, and employment to members of enemy gangs. Effectively straddling the debate regarding where the responsibility for urban violence lies, Boyle both recounts the despair of watching the kids you love cooperate in their own demise and levels the challenge to readers to stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it. From moving vignettes about gangsters breaking into tears or finding themselves worthy of love and affirmation, to moments of spiritual reflection and sidesplittingly funny banter between him and the homies, Boyle creates a convincing and even joyful treatise on the sacredness of every life. Considering that he has buried more than 150 young people from gang-related violence, the joyful tenor of the book remains an astounding literary and spiritual feat. [Recommended for public libraries and large bookstores.] [PW 2/8/10; starred]
Qué puedes esperar cuando estás esperando. Cuarta edición.
(What To Expect When You’re Expecting, 4th ed.)
Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.
U.S.: Workman. 2010. 676p. illus. ISBN 978-0-7611-5738-0. pap. $15.95. HEALTH/PARENTING
Unlike previous editions, the latest translation of What To Expect When You’re Expecting, a perennial 
best seller in English, has a more informal tone, which the title clearly depicts (addressing Spanish-language readers in the informal tú). (Even the mother on the cover is in style with her skinny jeans and boots!) The book covers all aspects of pregnancy with a week-by-week chronicle of fetal growth and development and information on nutrition, exercise, sexuality, prenatal testing, and labor and delivery. It also has practical information for women who work during pregnancy; tips for dealing with pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and heartburn; and advice about which foods to avoid. There is a chapter for fathers who may also have some pregnancy symptoms, and chapters dealing with multiple births, pregnancy complications, and pregnancy loss. This comprehensive guide covers everything from preconception planning to breast feeding and newborn care. It is easy to read, reasonably priced, and an outstanding addition to consumer health and public library collections. Expectant parents and health professionals serving Spanish speakers will want copies for their personal collections as well; also recommended for bookstores.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
El fuego secreto de la Madre Teresa. El encuentro que cambió su vida.
(Mother Teresa’s Secret Fire: The Encounter That Changed Her Life and How It Can Transform Your Own)
Langford, Joseph.
tr. by Carmen Martinez Gimeno. 2009. 360p. ISBN 978-84-08-08850-9. pap. $19.95. BIOGRAPHY/RELIGION
Few have had a greater positive impact on humanity than the Catholic nun Mother Teresa. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic women’s religious order whose objective was to help the most victimized segments of society, such as abandoned children, the mentally ill, refugees, and ex-prostitutes. Although the order began in Calcutta, India, it presently includes over 4500 nuns working in more than 132 countries. Langford worked with Mother Teresa beginning in the 1980s, when she asked him to cofound the priest equivalent order, Missionaries of Charity Fathers. (She later suggested he write a book that combines the story of her and the order’s activities in support of the outcasts of society.) Mother Teresa’s worldwide fame is based on not only her acts of charity but also her ability to persuade others to espouse a philosophy of life that encourages humanity, goodness, and unselfish charity. She believed God has an incomprehensible love for all humankind that is intensified during challenges and struggles with sin and poverty. Langford suggests that the way to understand Mother Teresa is to see her life as an application of those values. This book is not a traditional biography but a religious one meant both to explain and to persuade the reader of the spiritual and religious motivation of Mother Teresa. As such, it will be mostly appreciated and understood by believers. Recommended for public library and Catholic bookstores.—Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Utah
Escuela de belleza de Kabul.
(Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil)
Rodriguez, Deborah.
tr. by Isabel Murillo Fort. U.S.: Punto de lectura: Alfaguara. 2009. 356p. ISBN 978-84-663-2349-9. pap. $12.99. MEMOIR
A wedding is about to take place, arranged, of course, but there is a potentially dire secret: the bride is not technically a virgin. How Rodriguez, an admirably resourceful and dynamic woman, set to marry a nice Afghan man, solves this problem makes a great story, embellished as it is with all the traditional wedding preparations. Rodriguez went to Afghanistan in 2002, just after the fall of the Taliban, volunteering as a nurse’s aide, but soon found that her skills as a trained hairdresser were far more in demand, both for the Western workers and, as word got out, Afghans. On a trip back to the United States, she persuaded companies in the beauty industry to donate 10,000 boxes of products and supplies to ship to Kabul, and instantly she started a training school. Political problems ensued (“too much laughing within the school”), [as did] financial problems [and] cultural misunderstandings, and finally the government closed the school and salon, though the reader will suspect that the endlessly ingenious Rodriguez, using her book as a wedge against authority, will triumph in the end. This [is] witty and insightful memoir. [PW 12/18/06]
10-10-10: 10 Minutos, 10 Meses, 10 Años. Un método para tomar decisions que transformará su vida.
(10-10-10: 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years: A Life-Transforming Idea)
Welch, Suzy.
tr. by publisher. U.S.: Atria Español: S&S. 2010. 256p. ISBN 978-1-4391-0924-3. pap. $19.99. SELF-HELP
Welch (coauthor, Winning) here shares her simple yet sound strategy for making major life decisions: by first considering their impact in ten minutes, ten months, and ten years. She engagingly…[presents] examples from her own life as well as from the lives of others. Welch’s regular TV and radio appearances and her nationally syndicated columns (e.g., for BusinessWeek) make her a familiar face, voice, and name. A captivating book highly recommended for all. [LJ 11/1/09]
CLASSIC RETURNS
FICTION
Corazón tan blanco.
(A Heart So White)
Marías, Javier.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 346 p. ISBN 978-84-204-0533-9. pap. $TK. FICTION
Originally published in 1992 by Anagrama, this is arguably Marías’s breakthrough novel, the one that transformed him from a cult author to Spain’s most international writer. In vintage Marías fashion, the story is voiced by a perceptive narrator who’s attentive to every detail surrounding him. Juan Ranz is a professional translator used to weigh every word’s hidden nuances, and in this manner he tells a frightening family story involving his dominant father and the suicide of his mother’s sister. Ranz also recounts his own marriage and honeymoon in Havana, his experiences as a translator in high-diplomacy settings, and a visit to a female friend in New York, among other deceivingly random anecdotes. Marías (or his narrator) also ponders aloud about the institution of marriage, the dangers of overhearing, and other moral, political, or simply banal issues. A precise, intelligent prose, a series of intriguing plot lines, and some surprisingly funny moments show Marías at the top of his game. This novel remains a great introduction to the author, who last year published the last installment of his brilliant but frankly intimidating trilogy, “Tu rostro mañana.”—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY
El tambor de hojalata.
(The Tin Drum)
Grass, Gunther.
tr. by Carlos Gerhard, Joaquín Mortiz. Spain/U.S.: Punto de lectura: Santillana. 2009. 791p. ISBN 978-84-663-0918-9. pap. $19.99. FICTION
German Nobel laureate Grass burst onto the literary scene in 1959 with what many consider one of the best postwar novels to that date. Grass recounts here the story of Oskar Mazerath, who knew he did not want to be born while still in utero. Nevertheless, Oskar makes his first appearance in the prewar free city of Danzig (now Polish Gdansk) like an ber-enfant terrible and begins a series of (mis)adventures with his symbol, the tin drum, that lead him through the Nazi era and beyond. One more extraordinary thing about Oskar is that at age three he refuses to grow anymore. [Recommended for bookstores and libraries with literary Spanish-language collections.—Ed.] [LJ 9/1/09]
NEW TO THE MARKET
NONFICTION
Cuentos cruentos.
(Cruel Tales)
Lanti, Dino.
Spain: Thule, dist. by IPG. 2008. 140p. ISBN 978-84-96473-81-2. pap. $14.95. STORIES
Traditional and pop culture characters get together to amuse the readers in these prose poems, which use rime, metric, and a masterly grasp of the Spanish children’s tales lexicon to create a cruel and satirical portrait of contemporary living anxieties. Peter Punk is the aging rebel whose anarchist ideology gets in the way of his settled friends; Van Dog is an animal with a sensitive spirit that creates artful and miscomprehended pieces with its feces; the genie in the bottle is an alcoholic parent described by his child. The tales come to life with the help of funny illustrations and a good dose of doodling. The dark humor and colloquial uses of Iberian Spanish can be challenging, but the intrepid and entertaining questioning of the morals our society portrays in children stories makes it worth reading. Recommended for public libraries with a contemporary poetry and contemporary Spanish literature collection.—Angela Lang, New York
