August Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
Aug 16, 2010FICTION
Zumbido.
(Buzz)
Cárdenas, Juan Sebastián.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2010. 133p. ISBN 978-84-96822-93-1. pap. $20.95. FICTION
Anticipating grief or emotional upheaval after learning of his sister's death, the anonymous narrator (and main character) of this experimental novel runs away with the same strange woman who consoled him in the waiting room-and in whose car his sister died. Together they dwell on the streets of a nameless city and commune with birds, eggs, dogs, and humans with sharp animal instincts, among others. Long, detailed descriptions of the landscape and the city's spaces play a main role in the narrative and create an atmosphere in which things like hotel bathrooms, parks, and abandoned houses become mysterious. In the tradition of experimental writers, such as William Burroughs, there's no plot, but Colombian author Cárdenas uses a sober tone and hyper-real language within a dreamlike logic to organize what at first seems to be a story of capricious encounters and random characters with nothing in common. Recommended for public libraries with a large or popular contemporary literature collection.-Angela Lang, New York
El ladrón de morfina.
(The Morphine Thief)
Cuenca Sandoval, Mario.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2010. 244p. ISBN 978-84-92891-00-9. pap. $22.95. FICTION
A study of a crude world constructed of drugs, conflict, and human weakness, this novel takes place during the Korean War, a time when the world powers (specifically, the United States and China, with the Soviet Union playing a shadowy role) took sides, with violent results. In this surreal environment, where characters are identified by their vice of choice, we are given a distinct look into the male animus. What impels a man to do the impossible? Flaco Bentley, a soldier from the 187th regimen, is our guide as we descend farther down the steps of fantasy while coming face to face with the fear and anxiety generated by war. Yes, war is hard to fathom, especially for someone far away from home, and as we traverse the battlefields with Bentley, we become a fellow soldier, ready to ask the questions he is asking, too. Like other great novels, El ladrón de morfina implies that our destiny is shaped not by the tragedies we are dealt but by how we meet tragedy head on. A fascinating read for anyone enthralled with a good narrative, this book is recommended for all bookstores and both public and academic libraries. .-Rick Villalobos, Villa Park P.L., IL
Lo verdadero es un momento de lo falso.
(Truth Is Naught but an Instant of Falsehood)
Etxebarria, Lucía.
Mexico/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2010. 416p. ISBN 978-607-11-0453-3. pap. $19.99. SUSPENSE
Etxebarria delivers everything a reader could possibly want from a work of fiction: indelible characters, an engrossing plot, and strong ideas. Pumuky, the novel's antihero, is the skirt-chasing, charismatic, but not terribly talented lead singer of a popular band. When his body turns up in the outskirts of Madrid, everyone in his life believes that he or she knows what really happened, and everyone in his life has a motive. Only the readers see all the pieces to this puzzle and get a sense of what really happened, and even then they won't know for sure. What they do know from the raw picture provided by Etxebarria is how cruel life often is. Evident in this thriller from the first few pages-and even in its title-is the idea of hyper-reality, as discussed by minds like Guy Debord and Jean Baudrillard. Throughout, Etxebarria asks what truth really is and expects the same of her readers. For Pumuky, truth equals smoke and mirrors; he was not even a good singer but believed he was because his showboating persuaded enough people; once he got rich and famous, it no longer mattered. Strongly recommended for adult audiences and literature and philosophy students.-Vivian Gómez, Woodside, NY
Apocalipsis Z. Los días oscuros.
(Apocalypse Z: The Dark Days)
Loureiro, Manel.
U.S.: Vintage Español: Random House. 2010. 377p. ISBN 978-0-307-74174-5. pap. $15. FICTION
A Spanish lawyer and a band of other survivors attempt to stave off a swarm of zombies that have ravaged Spain and other parts of the world-the result of a nasty virus turned loose during a botched terrorist heist at a top-secret Russian installation. The lawyer, a Ukrainian pilot, a nun, and a young woman are all making their way across the Atlantic via helicopter toTenerife, in the Canary Islands, rumored to be one of the few safe zones inhabited by survivors. There, they hope to find succor, but what they find instead is a society organized according to a highly militarized and bureaucratized system. Their initiation into that society will leave them scrambling for their lives. The lawyer (arguably lawyer-turned-writer Loureiro himself) is the novel's emotional centerpiece, narrating the events with enough intrigue and suspense to keep the reader interested. As far as the story goes, the reader can appreciate the pastiche of images, platitudes, and apocalyptic lore Loureiro serves up, taken as they are from such reliable pop-culture fodder as zombie flicks, post-apocalyptic fiction, and graphic comics. Recommended for libraries with a fantasy and/or horror section.-Michael Sosa, Brooklyn, NY
El arte de la resurrección.
(The Art of the Resurrection)
Rivera Letelier, Hernán.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 264p. ISBN 978-607-11-0539-4. pap. $19.99. FICTION
As in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, Rivera Letelier's latest novel features a Christlike figure and an amorous Mary Magdalene character. Unlike The Da Vinci Code, however, this novel, winner of the prestigious Premio Alfaguara this year, is a comical magical realist tale set in the salt flats of Chile. The novel chronicles the life of Domingo Zarate Vega, a hermit in the Elqui Valley who learns through a vision that he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. In 1942, after ten years of preaching as the Christ of Elqui, he becomes aware of a devout prostitute named Magalena. The story charts the consequences of his attempts to make her into his disciple and lover as they spread the news of an impending day of judgment. Surreal yet full of life, the characters display a touching mix of determination and optimism. The subtle but incisive humor means they can't be taken too seriously, but both they and the supporting characters are extremely engaging. Furthermore, the social narrative that underlies much of the novel's action is both insightful and humbling, giving us a bird's-eye view of life in a remote and rural Chile of the time. Heralded as part of a new wave of magical realism, Rivera Letelier has written a fresh and captivating novel; recommended for public and academic libraries.-Alison Hicks, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder
Cualquier miércoles soy tuya.
(I Am Yours Any Given Wednesday)
Santos-Febres, Mayra.
U.S.: Punto de lectura: Santillana. 2010. 255p. ISBN 978-1-60396-858-4. pap. $14.99. FICTION
Julián Castrodad is a journalist and aspiring writer who suddenly finds himself unemployed. His friend, Tadeo, offers him a job at a shady hotel, which Julián's girlfriend finds beneath their middle-class status. Reluctant at first, Julián becomes a hotel employee. Later, he will discover that the hotel is a gold mine for his writing, as various characters from all walks of life-a lonely rich woman, lovers, prostitutes, politicians, drug dealers-will provide him with myriad stories that allow him to complete his first work. Furthermore, the writings of "M," a regular customer of the hotel, are collected by Julián, who, like a voyeur, reads them avidly to find out about the life of mysterious "M," and also to learn how to write. Of special interest is a chapter titled "Oró Moyugba," which details the ceremony of a tambor, where Caribbean gods inherited from the yorubá pantheon in Africa are called upon in a kind of séance and expose a connection between drug traffickers and santería. The novel is divided into 26 short chapters with quaint titles-e.g., "Wednesday, a.m.." "Breakfast for Daphne." "Alpha Male," and "The Coin"-that show the popular tone and agile writing present throughout the novel. Puerto Rican Santos-Febres, whose novels, short stories, poetry, , and essays have been frequently translated, offers a very entertaining read with colorful characters, a political plot, and deftly detailed violence. Recommended for academic and public libraries.-Liliana Wendorff, Queens Univ. of Charlotte, NC
La boca llena de tierra.
(Mouth Full of Earth).
Šćepanović, Branimir.
tr. by Dubravka Sužnjević. Mexico: Sexto Piso. 2010. 75p. ISBN 978-84-96867-59-8. pap. $18.95. FICTION
Originally published in 1974 in French, this novel by one of Serbia's best-known authors takes readers on a taut existential chase. Out in the countryside, an ailing man facing a biological death sentence is confronted by the animosity of two hunters. They become obsessed by this silent figure, who does nothing to provoke them, but their curiosity turns to malice and soon they are joined by others, including a forest guard, in pursuing him. The text alternates between the collective state of mind of the group pursuing the man and the man himself as he reflects on their pent-up animosity toward him as he tries to survive. His final journey also takes him back to a forest and some mountains he knew as a young man, which gives him some sustenance and hope. Although not obviously political, this work could be interpreted as a metaphor for intolerance and the consequences of misunderstandings between human beings. Recommended for general libraries.-Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
La mujer infinita. Una mirada desde el presente a la intensa vida de Tina Modotti.
(The Infinite Woman: A Look from the Present at the Intense Life of Tina Modotti)
Valenzuela, José Ignacio.
Mexico/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2010. 243p. ISBN 978-607-11-0473-1. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Novelist and screenwriter Valenzuela creates a novel about one of the most fascinating and charismatic figures of the 20th century: Tina Modotti, actress, photographer, and member of Diego Rivera's Communist coterie in 1920s Mexico. Initially indifferent to the task of writing a screenplay about Modotti, Pablo Cárdenas is visited by her ghost, who narrates the events surrounding her brief, tragic affair with Cuban dissident Julio Mella (most of which seems to have occurred in bed). Modotti's ghost is less muse than possessive spirit whose intensity completely overwhelms Pablo and forces him into madness. Each chapter of this novel features a dizzying maelstrom of scenes that toggle between the present and 1929. A segment of the screenplay cuts to Eva, the actress playing Modotti in Pablo's film, then to Modotti's life, then to Pablo and/or his boyfriend Tom. The result is a plot-driven page-turner that holds the reader rapt, which fortunately encourages glossing over the superfluous digressions (the entire plotline involving Eva), parallels (Gay Pride and Community rally), and numerous repetitions. This novel may provoke interest in Modotti for a new generation and even prompt circulation of Poniatowka's classic, Tinísima. Recommended for bookstores and public libraries.-Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
El don de la vida.
(The Gift of Life)
Vallejo, Fernando.
Mexico: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 162p. ISBN 978-607-11-0439-7. pap. $19.99. FICTION
In an entertaining set of tales, replete with reminiscences, male eroticism, iconoclastic opinions, and cascading torrents of semen, one of the deans of queer Latin American letters scores with a novel that reads a bit like a memoir and a bit like a theater piece. Structured as a park-bench dialog between a graying gay Colombian man (Vallejo himself turns 68 this year) and a curious interlocutor whose identity is revealed on the final page, this work essentially a catalog of the memorable experiences and personalities that populate a lifetime. An irony of the book's title lies in the storyteller's assumption that the characters described have passed on to the embrace of sweet Death. Vallejo has never been one to withhold his opinions of other writers and, most notoriously, of the Catholic Church; in this novel, too, he takes some swings at familiar targets. The author is consciously far outside anyone's notion of the conventional mainstream; this book is not for everyone and will likely shock many more staid readers on almost every page. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended for the open-minded and adventurous, as well as for fans of GLBT literature and for readers of all stripes who enjoy challenges to the conventional.-Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
NONFICTION
Una vida de novela.
(A Fairytale Life)
Bryce Echenique, Alfredo & others.
Peru/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2010. 221p. photogs. ISBN 978-9972-848-36-0. pap. $21.99. BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
This handsome tribute to Peruvian novelist Bryce Echenique on his 70th birthday consists of a variety of photographs taken throughout his life, as well as essays by critics and fellow writers, letters they have written, and letters from readers as well. In addition, a rich selection of drafts, reviews, and scenes from Bryce Echenique's life dot the pages. Although Bryce Echenique was born in Peru, he left his native country at an early age to pursue his studies, traveling to France, Italy, and the United States, among other places. His writing, considered to be on the tail end of the famous "boom" of Latin American writers that exploded in the late 1960s and early 1970s, is cosmopolitan, witty, and widely followed. Well designed and attractive, this book is sure to delight his fans and will encourage those less familiar with Bryce Echenique to dip into his many novels and learn what makes him so popular. Recommended for all libraries.-Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
El camino de la paz. Una visión cristiana.
(The Way of Peace: A Christian Vision)
Pikaza, Xabier.
Spain: Ediciones Khaf. 2010. 336p. ISBN 978-84-937615-2-3. pap. $17.95. SPIRITUALITY
Influential Spanish theologian and writer Pikaza was born in the northern Basque city of Vizcaya and in 1965 received a doctoral degree in theology from the Universidad Pontífica de Salamaca. He retired from teaching in 2003 and dedicated himself to writing and research. His ideas, particularly his early writings about the Trinity, are significantly influenced by Liberation Theology. This volume is an interesting look at the issue of violence, particularly as it relates to what the author considers the universalization of war in the 21st century. Pikaza describes these developments and then suggests a means for achieving peace that he extracts from his understanding of Christ's teachings. He suggests that emphasizing the basic element of Christian love would change the economic and political structure of society and have the effect of overcoming the tendency toward war and violence. This book is a philosophical treatise written in theological terminology and is recommended for theological libraries and university libraries with strong religious programs.-Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
Fronteras. Dibujando las vidas fronterizas.
(Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives)
Schneider, Steven (text) & Reefka Schneider.(illus).
U.S.: Wings. 2010. 64p. illus. ISBN 970-0-916727-65-9. $19.95. POETRY/ART
Borders represent an attempt at division, but at their periphery the lines begin to muddy. While divisions may work in theory, in practice they prove problematic with actual and complicated human lives. This husband-and-wife team create a portrait of lives along the U.S./Mexican border in Texas's Rio Grande Valley by joining images (drawings) and text (poems). The poetry is presented in both English and Spanish. The duality is fitting, as border culture tends to absorb and negotiate the languages and traditions around it. The poems are simple and direct lyrical descriptions of people about their daily lives and struggles. Using simple charcoal and conte crayons, Reefka creates startling lifelike drawings. Most obvious in these works is the fragile nature of the children who have no choice but to bear out the politics that they were born into. Given recent developments in immigration laws and issues, this book is recommended for interested readers and would make an excellent addition to middle-school classrooms.-Laura Torres, Somerville, MA
D.F. Confidencial.
(F.D. Confidential)
Servín J.M.
México: Almadía. 2010. 263p. ISBN 978-607-411-043-2. pap. $21.95. JOURNALISM/ESSAYS
This collection chronicles what happens in Mexico City's guts when the tourists are not looking: dog fights, robberies, murders, and more. Such is the city that more that 20 million people experience every day. The book starts with an interesting essay that explains the importance of the narrative in both journalism and literature. Servín argues that the narrative is especially useful for shedding light on the complexities of everyday life-journalists and authors must immerse themselves, almost like undercover agents, in a specific situation in order to be able to witness it and recount it. The stories in this book are the result of years of observation by Servín: he's been drunk in the cantinas, he's spoken to robbers, he's been in every single place he talks about in his chronicles. Each account reveals a deep knowledge of the situation he is describing and is full of the coloquial words chilangos (Mexico City natives) use. For instance, in "Los herederos del Diablo" he describes the underground world of dog fighting, how well organized these events are, how the dogs are trained, and even how much money is involved. In "Bienvenidos a la ciudad Plantón," he narrates the peculiar sit-in that paralyzed Mexico City's most important streets for months after the presidential elections of 2006. The left-wing candidate and his followers claimed to have won the elections and took over the streets, where they would spend the entire day "defending democracy," while millions of people and businesses had to find a way around their sit-in in order to continue with their daily activities. An essential read for everyone interested in learning more about Mexico; highly recommended for bookstores and libraries.-María Elena Cruz, Boston
ALSO IN TRANSLATION
Fiction
El faro de los libros.
(Between the Assassinations)
Adiga, Aravind.
tr. by Santiago del Rey. Spain: Miscelánea: Roca, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 350p. ISBN 978-84-937228-6-9. pap. $22.95. STORIES
From the author of The White Tiger, which won the 2008 Man Booker Prize, comes this collection of stories set in Kittur, India, between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Rajiv Ghandi in 1991. Adiga captures the lives of the poor and powerless, doomed to hopelessness and sometimes rage. In "Market and Maidan," for example, an orphan comes to the city, where he works his way up to become a bus conductor but then loses everything when he falls off a bus and suffers a head injury. In some of the tales, the bleakness is relieved by the power of human connections. Thus, in "St. Alfonso Boys' High School and Junior College," Shankara's wealth can't compensate for the humiliations of his mixed-caste status, so he explodes a bomb in a classroom in retaliation for a teacher's mistreatment. But during the ensuing investigation, he recognizes that the teacher, who stutters, is a kindred spirit. A stunning work; highly recommended.
El juego de las horas.
(Hour Game)
Baldacci, David.
tr. by Mercè Diago & Abel Debritto. Spain: Zeta negra: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 504p. ISBN 978-84-96546-39-4. pap. $14.95. FICTION
One of the residents of a small lakeside town in central Virginia has an IQ of 165, belongs to Mensa, and completes the New York Times crossword puzzle with ease every Sunday. He also happens to be a serial killer. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell [are] former Secret Service agents trying to track down a meticulous killer who doesn't make mistakes. The killer taunts the authorities by leaving on his victims a watch set to the hour corresponding with their position on his hit list. The investigation weaves throughout the aptly named Battle family, a traditional Southern clan full of dark secrets and steamy lies. To end this killer's game, King and Maxwell must solve the riddle of intertwining motives and alibis. Strongly recommended for most popular fiction collections. [LJ]
Pasiones cruzadas.
(Hot Target)
Brockmann, Suzanne.
tr. by Mareia Terés Loriente. Spain: books4pocket: Urano, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 637p. ISBN 978-84-92801-19-0. pap. $12.95. FICTION
Navy SEAL Cosmo Richter has a reputation for being cold and heartless; Jane Mercedes Chadwick, a Hollywood producer, is better known for her appearances in the tabloids and for her first film than for her brilliance. She is producing a film on a war hero in World War II who happens to be gay and the father of the founder of the Freedom Network, a group of right-wing religious extremists. After receiving death threats, Jane gets extra security from her studio and draws the attention of the FBI. Cosmo works for the security company hired to protect Jane, and after initially clashing, they find they have more in common than they think. Strongly recommended for public libraries.
Fuego.
(Fire)
Cashore, Kristine.
tr. by Mila López Díaz-Guerra. Spain: Roca, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 412p. ISBN 978-84-9918-101-1. $24.95. FICTION
This fantasy, shot through with romance and suspense, is set on the far side of the mountain barrier in the kingdom of the Dells. Here there are monsters, enhanced and exceptionally beautiful versions of various animal species. Fire is a human monster, so beautiful that she has to hide her hair for fear of attack by both raptor monsters and human men. She is able to enter other people's minds and exert power over them. It is a tumultuous time in the kingdom, as various lords are preparing to overthrow the king, and Fire is drawn into the fray. The story begins slowly and takes its time establishing itself. Fire's path is not immediately clear, and although full of action, her quest is largely internal. Readers will fall in love with her as she struggles with her pivotal role in the war effort as well as her complex relationships with her oldest friend and lover, Archer; with Prince Brigan, whose mind is closed to her and who becomes central to her life; and with her monster father's fearsome legacy. [SLJ]
El libro de los muertos.
(Book of the Dead)
Cornwell, Patricia.
tr. by Eduardo Iriarte. Spain: Zeta negra: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 440p. iSBN 978-84-9872-356-4. pap. $14.95. FICTION
This 15th book in the Kay Scarpetta series focuses more on the relationships of the familiar characters than the mystery. Nemesis Dr. Marilyn Self is back to plague Kay as her new private forensic pathology practice tries to find the links among murders in Italy and Charleston, SC. There are many other hurdles and some surprises along with some inevitabilities. The new locale and a cliffhanger ending show the series is still worth following. Recommended.
El vigía.
(The Watchman)
Crais, Robert.
tr. by Patricia Orts. Spain: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 360p. ISBN 978-84-666-4282-8. pap. $24.95. FICTION
Crais writes a number of fine detective stories featuring wisecracking P.I. Elvis Cole, who is assisted at times by partner Joe Pike, an ex-cop and ex-mercenary. In the novel, a young heiress goes joyriding in the middle of the night and rear-ends a Mercedes. When she stops to help, one passenger flees on foot, while the other takes off in the car. It turns out that one of them is a wanted man, and the heiress is the only witness to his continued presence in the United States. Attempts on her life follow, and Pike is called in to protect her. Soon, the two must flee, leaving a trail of dead bodies behind. The twists and turns in this first-rate thriller are many and fast, and the tension never slackens. Recommended. [LJ]
Eclipse.
Patterson, Richard North.
tr. by Sna Herrera. Spain: Roca, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 458p. ISBN 978-84-9918-058-8. pap. $25.95. FICTION
Successful lawyer Damon Pierce had an unrequited love affair with Marissa Brand, but she was in love with a cause in the West African nation of Luandia (think Nigeria) and its leader, Bobby Okari. The divorcing Damon receives a plea for help from Marissa, so he flies off to Africa and learns that the head of the government is tied into PetroGlobal, the American oil company making billions from West African oil. He also finds that the water supply has been repeatedly compromised by oil, there is no infrastructure, and the people are starving and disease-ridden while being brutalized by the government. Patterson once again brings a timely, controversial subject-America's dependence on foreign oil-to the forefront in this troubling yet engrossing read. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [LJ]
La mujer de Poncio Pilato.
(Pilate's Wife: A Novel of the Roman Empire)
May, Antoinette.
tr. by Mareia Terés Loriente. Spain: books4pocket: Urano, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 539p. ISBN 978-84-92516-98-8. pap. $13.95. FICTION
The only surviving historical record of the wife of Pontius Pilate is a very brief reference in the Gospel of Matthew, which states that she sent word to Pilate during Jesus's trial imploring him to have nothing to do with the Galilean, as she had been troubled by dreams of him. From this meager bit of information, May has written the story of Claudia, born to one of Rome's first families, follower of the goddess Isis, young wife of Pilate, and seer and visionary in her own right. From an early age, Claudia is blessed or cursed with the ability to see the future. Sadly, like Cassandra of Troy, this capacity does not come with the power to change the tragic events she sees unfolding for herself, her family, and her world. Depicting an extraordinary woman living in a turbulent and pivotal moment in time, May's fiction debut is a fresh and vivid retelling of a well-known story. Recommended for public libraries, particularly where there is an interest in historical fiction, Christian fiction, or early church history. [LJ]
Desnuda ante la muerte.
(Naked in Death)
Robb, J.D.
tr. by Lola Romaní. Spain: Terciopello: Roca, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 349p. ISBN 978-84-92617-32-6. pap. $12.95. FICTION
[The first in the "In Death" series,] Naked in Death features Lt. Eve Dallas of the NYPD as she searches for a serial killer of prostitutes. It hints at the isolation, neglect, and sexual abuse that Eve suffered as a child, memories that she tries to suppress. The adult Eve is slow to trust and awkward when faced with affection and kindness. Yet over the course of this series, she acquires a husband, Roark; a partner, Peabody; and a varied host of friends-hard boiled reporter Nadine, humanitarian doctor Louise, and worldly wise, bursting with life, rock star Mavis. [Recommended for general collections.-Ed.]
Ángeles en la nieve.
(Snow Angels)
Thompson, James.
tr. by Jorge Rizzo. Spain: Roca, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 252p. ISBN 978-84-9918-062-5. pap. $21.95. FICTION
Lapland: the name conjures up cheery stereotypes of reindeer and Santa Claus, but in reality December in northern Finland means kaamos, a time of extreme cold and unrelenting darkness that takes its toll on the residents of Levi, a small ski-resort town near the Arctic Circle. Called to investigate the mutilation murder of a beautiful Somali actress, [police inspector Kari] Vaara finds his probe turning personal when clues point to the rich man for whom his ex-wife left him for years ago as the prime suspect. The case also threatens his new marriage as his young, pregnant American wife struggles to cope with the depressive effects of the long polar night. The stark Nordic setting will appeal to fans of Scandinavian crime fiction, but Thompson, a ten-year resident of Finland, adds an American noir sensibility.
Caballos salvajes. Una biografía novelada.
(Half-Broke Horses: A True-Life Story)
Walls, Jeannette.
tr. by Pablo Usabiaga. Spain/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2010. 467p. ISBN 978-1-61605-077-1. pap. $18.99. FICTION
No one familiar with Walls's affecting memoir, The Glass Castle, will be surprised by her subtitle here: Walls is a careful observer who can give true-life stories the rush and immediacy of the best fiction. Here she novelizes the life of her grandmother, giving herself just the latitude she needs to create a great story. Lily Casey Smith is one astonishing woman, tough enough to trot her pony across several hundred miles of desert to her first job when she's only a teenager. After a brief stint in Chicago and marriage to a flim-flam man, she's back in the West, teaching again and eventually remarrying, helping her fine new husband at the gas station, raising her children, and running hootch if she must to make ends meet during the Depression. Her story is at once simple and utterly remarkable, for this is one remarkable woman-a half-broke horse herself who's clearly passed on her best traits to her granddaughter. Essential reading for anyone who loves good fiction.
Nonfiction
365 días para ser mas culto.
(Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured Class)
Kidder, David & Noah D. Oppenheim.
tr. by Bruno García Gallo. Spain: mr: Planeta. 2010. 766p. ISBN 978-84-270-3489-1. pap. $29.95. REFERENCE
The 365 daily lessons in this work span the seven fields of knowledge: history, literature, philosophy, mathematics and science, religion, fine arts, and music. [...] [Recommended for general reference collections, as well as large bookstores.-Ed.]
NEW TO THE MARKET
Nonfiction
Para que te amen.
(So They Love You)
Pérez, Lidia.
Mexico: Pax, dist. by IPG. 2008. 165p. ISBN 978-968-860-808-1. pap. $12.95. SELF-HELP
Pérez is a noted psychologist and humanist who has lectured at universities throughout the world, including Harvard University and the University of Massachusetts. Here, she explores the subject of love-what it is, where and how it starts, how and why we struggle to obtain it, and how we can achieve it. In a simple and straightforward manner, the author helps the reader see how society's focus on material possessions, getting ahead at all costs, the emphasis on self, and the need for immediate gratification have diminished our ability to love and be loved. To be able to love someone else, we must first know and love ourselves, so Pérez reiterates the typical self-help principles of self-exploration, self-knowledge, and self-direction. The chapter on communication makes a distinction between sharing information and true communication and gives helpful advice for receiving and sending effective messages. Chapters on choosing an ideal partner and maintaining fidelity complete the exploration. Each chapter includes a summary page of bulleted points. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores with large self-help collections.-Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
