Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, August 5, 2011 (Now with Ebook Original Reviews)
Aug 4, 2011Week ending August 5, 2011
E-Originals | Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
Editor's Note:
An exciting batch of Xpress Reviews this week—see the top section below (and last week) for some of LJ's first reviews of e-original titles. (For background: In May, LJ began soliciting ebook originals from publishers; we're starting with romance and expanding to other genres from there.)
Check Xpress Reviews each week for more ebook coverage, and see LJ's review guidelines for additional details on how we're covering e-original content. If you want in on the action: email Heather McCormack (hmccormack@mediasourceinc.com) to become an ebook reviewer.
E-enjoy!
Bette-Lee Fox (blfox@mediasourceinc.com)
Managing Editor, LJ
E-ORIGINALS
Jakes, SE. Bound by Law. Samhain. (Men of Honor, Bk. 2). Aug. 2011. 157p. eISBN 9781609285081. EPUB $5.50. ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/GLBT
Following Bound by Honor, Jakes focuses on former club owner and ex–Delta Forces soldier Law Connor and his on-again, more off-again relationship with his first love, Styx. Just as Law finds a new interest in Det. Paulo McMannus, Styx returns to claim the man he's always loved. Styx left Law in order to protect him from a past Styx can't remember and joined the CIA to find answers. Now Styx's past is determined to resurface in the form of his internationally wanted criminal father, who plans to kill Styx and everyone close to him. Meanwhile, Paulo realizes Law will never be able to let Styx go, and in learning more about the man, Paulo is drawn to him as well. As the trio survive assassination attempts and draw closer to capturing Styx's father, their interconnected relationships tangle and deepen. Some heated BDSM exploration provides a way for the characters to express their inner emotions without words.
Verdict There is more focus on the emotional and sexual relationship among the three men than an equal balance with the action and suspense, but Jakes meshes the whole into a solid ménage romance that should appeal to fans of Carol Lynne's "Bodyguards in Love" series.—Melanie C. Duncan, Shurling Lib., Macon, GA
Rogers, Moira. Cipher. Samhain. (Southern Arcana, Bk. 4). Sept. 2011. 199p. eISBN 9781609285234. EPUB $5.50. PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Kat Gabriel is an extremely powerful psychic, with abilities that she does not want to explore. One night while out on a simple errand with friend/love interest Andrew Callaghan, a surprise attack incapacitates Andrew and unleashes a force of psychic ability from Kat so powerful that it leaves death in its wake. The incident also causes Andrew to turn into an Alpha wolf. With this special ability comes special problems, like bad guys who want to use Kat and others like her as weapons. Werewolf and shifter novels are nothing new, but when they are written exceptionally well, as is Cipher, they are something to take note of. It doesn't matter that this is number four in a series (following Deadlock); readers are sucked in from the beginning. Occasionally, the detail is a little spotty, like about the Conclave, but to the overall story it is of little consequence. The only complaint is technical: the print size of the PDF review copy is really small and, depending on your device, increasing the font size of each page can be time-consuming.
Verdict A worthwhile title to add to any collection; the attractive cover will generate attention and keep the book from gathering dust.—Ryan Franklin, Mattoon Lib., IL
St. Giles, Jennifer. Darkest Dreams. Samhain. (Killdaren, Bk. 2). Aug. 2011. 212p. eISBN 9781609283766. EPUB $5.50. HISTORICAL ROMANCE/PARANORMAL
This second in the Killdaren series (after Midnight Secret) continues the story of sisters Andromeda (Andrie), Cassiopeia (Cassie), and Gemini and their involvement with mysterious quasidruidical goings-on on the Cornish coast in the late 1800s. After the unexplained death of their cousin Mary, Cassie has wed Sean Killdaren. The focus now is on Andrie, who soon falls for Sean's twin brother, Alexander. The estranged brothers remain at odds; the Dragon's Curse says that one twin Killdaren brother will always kill the other. In addition, Mary's killer is still on the loose and has killed again. The sisters' paranormal powers sweeten the mix: Cassie has prophetic dreams and Andrie can read thoughts, while Gemini's gift is soon revealed.
Verdict The romantic tension between Andrie and Alexander starts slowly but builds to a fever pitch; the exquisitely rendered romantic interludes deftly convey all the details with a sexiness level just short of extreme. The complex plot meanders a bit, but the romance remains irresistible, and the paranormal aspects keep readers engaged with the mystery.—Henry Bankhead, Los Gatos P.L., CA
FICTION
Collins, Max Allan. Bye Bye, Baby. Forge: Tor. Aug. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780765321794. $24.99. F
Oft-told tales are usually that for a reason. They have legs. This one also has Marilyn Monroe's gams, as well as (spoiler alert!) the details surrounding her death of almost 50 years ago, along with nefarious movie studio executives, political skullduggery, mob connections, and the hectic interplay among them. In short, it has everything. And who better to retell the story than fast-talking, straight-shooting Nathan Heller, after skulking Zelig-like round such earlier cases as the assassination of Huey Long (Blood and Thunder) and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart (Flying Blind). Chock-full of early 1960s lore, fashion, and gossip (Collins appends 14 pages of notes about his sources), the telling details seem integral to the plot. If this oft-told story works, and it does, it's on the strength of its narrative drive and its insightful character studies, such as the acid portrait of actor Peter Lawford as an indelible stain on the coattails of whoever brought him.
Verdict A whirlwind tour of the story surrounding Monroe's untimely demise as it might have been covered in the garish pages of Confidential magazine, or by TMZ for that matter, with more grit than George Baxt's Hollywood mysteries and fewer amphetamine-fueled highs than James Elroy might have brought to it.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO
Gross, Gwendolen. The Orphan Sister. Gallery: S. & S. Jul. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9781451623680. pap. $15. F
Talk about sibling rivalry! Narrator Clementine Lord, one of a set of triplets, is the odd girl out. Odette and Olivia, aka the Os, came from the same egg dividing, but Clementine was the extra egg in the womb. As a child, she never got the same treatment from their father as did her sisters, and Clementine still feels like she doesn't match with her siblings. She rebels by attending a non–Ivy League college and deciding to attend veterinary school instead of medical school. Her sisters now are both married, doctors in practice together as well as pregnant simultaneously. When their father, a brain surgeon, disappears, Clementine reexamines her life through her memories of her first love and her family's interactions. Her father's eventual return reveals a dark secret that will change Clementine and all the Lords.
Verdict Readers who enjoy a well-written novel about complex family relationships will want to read Gross's (The Other Mother) latest.—Kristen Stewart, Brazoria Cty. Lib. Syst., Pearland, TX
Land, Jon. Strong at the Break: A Caitlin Strong Novel. Forge: Tor. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780765323378. $25.99. F
Caitlin Strong, a fifth-generation Texas Ranger, learned at an early age that she possessed the strength, courage, and resourcefulness of her father and grandfather. In the 1990s, her father, Jim Strong, was confronted by Rev. Maxwell Arno of the separatist Church of the Redeemer. The ensuing gun battle resulted in both Caitlin and Arno's son, Malcolm, witnessing Maxwell's death. Two decades later, her path again crosses that of Malcolm's, now the leader of the right-wing militia group Patriot Sun.
Verdict The Strong books (Strong Justice) may be Land's best series yet, and his latest entry will undoubtedly be considered the "best of the best." Filled with riveting action and suspense, vivid characters, and a fast-moving plot, this will attract fans of mystery and suspense with Western themes.—Melody Ballard, Pima Cty. P.L. Tucson, AZ
Larsson, Åsa. Until Thy Wrath Be Past. Silver Oak, dist. by Sterling. Aug. 2011. c.288p. tr. from Swedish by Laurie Thompson. ISBN 9781402787164. $24.95. MYSTERY
Adventurous Wilma and Simon make a terrible mistake: diving in the icy waters of Vittangijarvi in search of a plane that crashed during World War II. Neither makes it back to the surface alive. But while Wilma may be dead, she is not really gone. So begins Larsson's fourth entry in the Swedish crime series featuring Inspector Anna-Maria Mella and prosecutor Rebecka Martinsson. Like the author's previous book (The Black Path), this layered thriller is at once sad and violent. There isn't much mystery regarding the identities of the villains; the mystery comes from when and where they will finally unravel and the secret that compelled them to trap two young people beneath the ice.
Verdict The clunky title may deter some, but dedicated fans of atmospheric Swedish thrillers will be absorbed in a haunting work with multiple points of view, where the investigators don't automatically have the last word.—Sally Harrison, Ocean Cty. Lib., Waretown, N.J.
Mandery, Evan. Q: A (Timeless) Love Story. Harper: HarperCollins. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9780062015839. pap. $13.99. F
The protagonist of this second novel by Mandery (after Dreaming of Gwen Stefani) is in love with a girl named Q. As they are planning their wedding, he meets an older version of himself who has traveled back from the future to warn him not to marry her. Convinced, he calls off the wedding. Then a second self from his now-changed future appears and tells him to marry someone else. When he's on the brink of this marriage, a third self from his yet-again-changed future appears and tells him not to marry. As he continues to take advice from his future selves, he loses track of what he really wants from life until he goes back to the day he first met himself. Mandery, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and the author of nonfiction as well, poses a philosophical question about life and how we decide what to do with it.
Verdict Mandery's characters are amusing and quirky, and the book will appeal especially to general readers who enjoy posing philosophical questions.—Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence
Millhauser, Steven. We Others: New and Selected Stories. Knopf. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780307595904. $27.95. SHORT STORIES
The surreal, magical, and vaguely threatening universe of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Millhauser is grandly portrayed in this story collection. Among the new tales, book lovers will not want to miss "The People of the Book," a story in the form of a graduation speech to young people who learn of their strange heritage from a distant past. The title piece is an enthralling ghost story, detailing the journey of a departed "soul" and his relationship to a lonely woman whose house he comes to inhabit. Others entries are drawn from previous collections that have been largely praised for their vivid imagination and seductive prose. Millhauser is fascinated by human inventions, using them as a starting point and then stepping into the realm of unreality, as when an invention Edison is working on in "The Wizard of West Orange" seems to open up an entire alternate universe of feeling and perception.
Verdict Entertaining and disturbing, these brilliant creations are recommended for most fiction readers; an especially good choice for libraries that don't currently have at least some of Millhauser's collections.—Jim Coan, SUNY Coll. at Oneonta
Ryder, Brandi Lynn. In Malice, Quite Close. Viking. Aug. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780670022793. $26.95. F
Wealthy French art collector Tristan Mourault finds himself obsessed with Karen Miller, a teenager looking to escape her abusive home life. Despite being more than twice her age, Tristan insinuates himself into Karen's world and eventually convinces her to run away to New York City with him—faking her death. Once there, he renames her Gisèle and passes her off in public as his long-estranged daughter. Only a select few know their true relationship, including Robin, an eccentric art professor, who may be more dangerous than he seems. Fast-forward 15 years later, and Karen's younger sister, Amanda, begins to suspect that Karen was not murdered but kidnapped and is determined to find the truth. Many twists and turns finally end at a shocking conclusion.
Verdict At first glance, the subject matter seems rather disturbing—a creepy middle-aged man kidnapping a 15-year-old girl is rather distasteful. Yet as the relationship unfolds, the mystery takes over the story, and it's not hard to imagine what drew Karen and Tristan to each other. Ryder's debut novel immerses the reader in the art world and will appeal to fans of literary suspense.—Rebecca Vnuk, Forest Park, IL
Whorton, James, Jr. Angela Sloan. Free Pr: S. & S. 2011. 224p. ISBN 9781451624403. pap. $14. F
A sly, zippy page-turner, Whorton's (Frankland) latest novel begins with a complaint letter to the CIA from 14-year-old Angela Sloan. The polygraph examiner they sent to her house left a rubber mole on the sink in the bathroom. He also failed to learn the truth about the summer she was on the lam. Orphaned in 1964 during a rebellion in the Congo, Angela was rescued by a broken CIA agent, Ray Sloan. Angela grows up on the "Farm," convinced that she is under deep cover as Ray's daughter. In 1972, while living in DC, the Watergate operation Ray is involved in goes sour, and he and Angela go underground and are forced to separate. Angela ends up with the car and a Chinese woman fleeing indentured servitude at the Golden Monkey restaurant.
Verdict Despite the over-the-top setup, Whorton does a good job of maintaining the pace as Angela tries to reunite with Ray. The 1970s setting and the deadpan voice of Angela will appeal to readers who enjoy dark humor and satire.—Pamela Mann, St. Mary's Coll. of Maryland, St. Mary's City
Young, Karen. Lie for Me. Howard: S. & S. Aug. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781416587644. pap. $14.99. F
With no alibi, Tucker Kane is a prime suspect in the murder of his ex-wife. Their rocky marriage, rockier divorce, and bitter custody battle add to the police's suspicions. Tucker claims innocence, but there's incriminating evidence against him. When his fiancée, Lauren Halloway, refuses to lie about his whereabouts, Tucker vanishes and leaves Lauren to question just how well she knew him. Months later, he reappears and asks for her help. Shaken to her very foundation, she looks to God for answers. But faith may not be enough to keep Lauren safe as she decides whether or not to help clear his name.
Verdict RITA Award winner Young (Missing Max) brings us a faith-based romantic suspense/thriller, with a great plot full of peril, explosive action, and the nastiest of villains. Readers who like their suspense fiction clean will love the characters' chasteness and refreshing lack of profanity. Fans of Karen Harper (Fall from Pride) or RaeAnne Thayne (Blackberry Summer) will also love this novel.—Debbie Haupt, St. Charles City/Cty. P.L., MO
NONFICTION
Appleton, Nancy & G.N. Jacobs. Killer Colas: The Hard Truth About Soft Drinks. Square One. 2011. c.144p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780757003417. pap. $15.95. HEALTH
As obesity becomes more and more of a problem, researchers are discovering factors that contribute, and soft drinks are high on the list. This new title by the authors of Suicide by Sugar looks at the ingredients in soft drinks, including sports drinks, energy drinks, and bottled iced teas, and how they may affect the body's metabolism. In short, Appleton, a nutritional consultant, and Jacobs, a reporter and filmmaker, contend that the components of these drinks are artificial, addictive, and harmful. (And, no, artificially sweetened drinks won't help; some studies indicate that artificial sweeteners actually make people eat more.) As with other foods, soft drinks have been supersized beyond all reason; one container may consist of two or more "servings." Much better to pour yourself a glass of skim milk or get some cold water out of the tap. The authors' conclusions are bolstered by extensive notes, although the studies they reference are not always conclusive.
Verdict Readers who are concerned for their health will want to look at this examination of a common but too-often-overlooked problem.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH
Biology of the Sauropod Dinosaurs: Understanding the Life of Giants. Indiana Univ. (Life of the Past). 2011. c.344p. permanent pap. ed. by Nicole Klein & others. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780253355089. $59.95. SCI
In an effort to explain why and how the largest of the sauropod dinosaurs achieved their gargantuan size, a group of German and Swiss researchers worked together to explore dinosaur gigantism. The 38 authors included here are not just paleontologists but also specialists in zoology, animal nutrition, bone histology, computer modeling, and geochemistry, to list only some of the areas of expertise involved. Approaching the biology of the sauropods from four different perspectives-those of physiology, nutrition, growth, and construction-the researchers offer readers an integrated view representing the highlights of their seven years of multidisciplinary examination. Filled with 183 illustrations, including detailed diagrams, graphs, and schematics, this is a unique reference work.
Verdict While the book appears to be dauntingly scientific, it is actually remarkably accessible, even for the nonscientific reader. Dinosaur lovers will find it very interesting, while scientists will be deeply impressed by the research and results of the multidisciplinary approach.-Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll.–Penn Valley, Kansas City, MO
Coan, Peter Morton. Toward a Better Life: America's New Immigrants in Their Own Words; From Ellis Island to the Present. Prometheus. Aug. 2011. c.390p. photogs. ISBN 9781616143947. $26. SOC SCI
Coan (Ellis Island Interviews: In Their Own Words) presents 120 years of the U.S. immigrant experience—told by the immigrants themselves, as well as by some descendants. Taking an accessible chronological approach (one chapter per decade), Coan first covers the Ellis Island era—1892–1954—with those oral histories from before the 1930s coming from the Ellis Island Oral History Project. His second part contains narratives from immigrants who arrived after the closing of Ellis Island itself up to today. Interviewed by Coan himself, the men and women include illegal immigrants, political refugees, and some famous names. Each narrative is about five pages long, with Coan seeking to answer three questions: Why did the person leave his/her homeland? What did he/she endure in coming here? What subsequently became of their family here?
Verdict Coan calls the work a "celebration of all immigrants." Readers will be engaged in every story. As U.S. immigration is hotly debated, he puts human faces to the contentious subject. History, genealogy, and memoir buffs will enjoy learning about those who left so much behind to seek "a better life."—Susan Montgomery, Rollins Coll. Lib., Winter Park, FL
Friedman, Bruce Jay. Lucky Bruce: A Memoir. Biblioasis, dist. by Consortium. Sept. 2011. c.290p. photogs. ISBN 9781926845319. $26.95. FILM
As a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, Friedman (Stern) has rubbed elbows with the big names of Hollywood and Manhattan. In this rousing memoir, he relates taking on Natalie Wood as a secretary, helping Barbra Streisand in from the rain, and gaining Mario Puzo as a close friend. Yet Friedman is refreshingly down to earth. He shares his journey from the Bronx to Broadway with wit, charm, and a distinctive voice in this engaging memoir.
Verdict Readers who love the juicy Hollywood insight found in Sam Wasson's Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. will appreciate this memoir for its behind-the-scenes hilarity. Showcasing classic Hollywood with a shot of the Bronx and a twist of Manhattan, it will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in film, theater, and postwar American culture. Highly recommended.—R. LeMaster, Medina Cty. Dist. Lib., OH
Henderson, Florence with Joel Brokaw. Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond. Center Street: Hachette. Sept. 2011. c.288p. photogs. ISBN 9781599953885. $25.99. TV
Who knew that the actor portraying Carol Brady, the epitome of warm, loving motherhood on The Brady Bunch, grew up dirt poor, the child of an alcoholic, abusive father and a distant, unloving mother who left her family of ten children? But Henderson believes this hardscrabble life and her natural optimism gave her the backbone to pursue her dreams as a performer. With the help of a wealthy local family, Henderson studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and quickly landed the role of Laurey in the touring company of Oklahoma! Other Broadway roles followed as well as a cabaret act and a stint as the "Today Show Girl" in the early days of the Today Show. But it was The Brady Bunch that lifted her into the national consciousness. Henderson is candid about her stage fright, bouts with depression, health problems, and affairs and how hypnotherapy and Dancing with the Stars helped her regain her confidence.
Verdict An inspiring story of faith and survival by one of television's beloved performers. Recommended.—Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
Ibn Said, Omar. A Muslim American Slave: The Life of Omar Ibn Said. Univ. of Wisconsin. 2011. c.240p. ed. & tr. from Arabic by Ala Alryyes. illus. ISBN 9780299249540. pap. $19.95. AUTOBIOG
Alryyes (comparative literature & English; Yale; Original Subjects: The Child, the Novel, and the Nation) has translated the very brief autobiography of Muslim American slave Omar Ibn Said, whose 15-page work provides a rare glimpse into a relatively little-known aspect of the history of American slavery. Ibn Said (c.1770–1864), from a wealthy Muslim West African family, was captured c.1807 and transported to slavery in the Carolinas. Alryyes here presents not only a bilingual rendering, on facing pages, of the autobiography Ibn Said was asked to write, c.1831, but also a rich exploration into the history of Islam and slavery in America. In addition to Alryyes's new translation and facsimile pages of the original document in Arabic, there is a reprint of a 1925 translation, as well as several 19th-century manuscripts, letters, reports, and recent articles that help place the autobiography in context. The supporting essays by others scholars examine the literary and historical background of Muslim slaves in America, slave narratives, and the slave trade. Particularly good is Michael A. Gomez's reprinted 1994 piece, "Muslims in Early America."
Verdict A rich gathering, this book assumes some background in the subject and is not for casual readers. Recommended for students of American, African American, or Islamic history and literature.—Julie Biando Edwards, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula
Joseph, Charles M. Stravinsky's Ballets. Yale Univ. (Music Masterworks). Sept. 2011. c.320p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300118728. $40. MUSIC
Joseph (music, emeritus, Skidmore Coll.) presents an outstanding, inclusive account of Stravinsky's ballets, beginning with the three groundbreaking Russian ballets, The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, and continuing through Stravinsky's long compositional career. He also includes detailed descriptions of the many "terpsichorean hybrids," such as L'Histoire du Soldat and Persephone, which incorporate ballet or modern dance into essentially theatrical works. With each piece, Joseph provides a nontechnical analysis of the music and a thorough discussion of the notable collaborators/entrepreneurs, such as Sergei Diaghilev, Vaslav Nijinsky, and George Balanchine. Stravinsky is revealed as an intense, hands-on, and demanding artistic partner, often actively engaged in teaching dancers the steps to his challenging rhythms.
Verdict The book, though carefully researched and extensively documented, is written in an approachable, engaging style. Narrower in scope than Joseph's Stravinsky Inside Out and broader than his Stravinsky and Balanchine, the current volume takes its place beside its predecessors as a major study of one of the greatest contemporary composers. Essential.—Larry Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, PA
Lewin, Walter. For the Love of Physics: From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge of Time—a Journey Through the Wonders of Physics. Free Pr: S. & S. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781439108277. $26. SCI
Lewin—physics professor at MIT for more than three decades, public lecturer, and expert featured on 60 Minutes and in national newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post—now comes to us in this delightful book, an autobiography combined with an introduction to physics. It is rare to see physics communicated to a general audience in such an agreeable way, but Lewin pulls it off with a twinkle in his voice from the first page to the last. He tells of his teaching (via classroom stories) and his research (in the field of X-ray astronomy) with a marvelous, light touch. He sprinkles references to relevant websites throughout the text, adding a secondary, electronic component. This book makes you want to take physics all over again!
Verdict An excellent recruiting lure for physics majors and a real joy to read. Recommended for anyone with the slightest interest in science.—Margaret Dominy, Drexel Univ. Lib., Philadelphia
Nolan, Kathleen. Police in the Hallways: Discipline in an Urban High School. Univ. of Minnesota. Sept. 2011. c.232p. index. ISBN 9780816675531. pap. $22.95. ED
Increasingly, police officers are being called into public schools all over the country to enforce behavior codes and to provide order, but there is a troubling focus on urban, underperforming, racially segregated schools. Nolan, a lecturer at Princeton University, examines this trend through an ethnographic study of a typical urban high school in the Bronx, NY. She highlights the growing convergence of the educational system and the juvenile justice system and how crowd control and inmate management are becoming more important than education in too many American schools. Nolan also provides suggestions for improvements based on her observations and on current research. Annette Fuentes's recent Lockdown High is similar but broader, as Nolan focuses on discipline and police control of behavior at one typical school.
Verdict Along with Lockdown High, this book points out deep flaws in the education system and what needs to be addressed to make it fairer and more effective for all. Anyone interested in education in America should definitely take this sobering journey into life in an urban high school.—Mark Bay, Univ. of the Cumberlands Lib., Williamsburg, KY
Ray, Meg with Leslie Jonath (text) & Frankie Frankeny (photogs.). Miette: Recipes from San Francisco's Most Charming Pastry Shop. Chronicle. 2011. 224p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780811875042. $27.50. COOKING
Upscale San Francisco bakery Miette enjoys a loyal following and critical acclaim. In this gorgeous cookbook, Miette's self-taught chef/owner Ray shares recipes for her distinctive (and diminutive) cakes and other goodies. Most of the recipes require specialized equipment and complicated techniques and are geared toward experienced home bakers. The book design derives from Miette's distinctive feminine aesthetic, and its scalloped pages, sweet pastel graphics, and charmingly retro photography add up to one of the most visually appealing cookbooks in recent memory. This book's first printing contains a number of significant errors, mostly in the weight measurements for ingredients such as flour and sugar (often wrong by as much as an ounce). Experienced home bakers—the book's intended audience—typically use weight measurements rather than volume, rendering the recipes virtually useless without the errata sheet made available online by Chronicle.
Verdict Because errata sheets are difficult to incorporate into library collections, this beautiful cookbook cannot be recommended in its current form. [The errors will be corrected in the next printing, expected in late September.—Ed.]—Kelsy Peterson, Prairie Village, KS
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Beechen, Adam (text) & Ryan Benjamin (illus.). Batman Beyond: Hush Beyond. DC. 2011. c.144p. ISBN 9781401229887. pap. $14.99. F
In the future world of the Batman Beyond animated TV series that aired from 1999 to 2002, an elderly Bruce Wayne has retired from fighting crime as Batman, a role now filled by his teenage protégé, Terry McGinnis. In this episode, the two must stop a killer who resembles the presumed-dead villain Hush. Beechen (Robin: Wanted) and Benjamin (Star Wars: Empire, Vol. 1) also introduce readers to a new Catwoman and to the middle-aged Dick Grayson (formerly Batman's sidekick, Robin). Catwoman is mysterious, but the story of why Grayson gave up crime-fighting is the most interesting part of this episode. The main focus, though, is McGinnis and Wayne, and their relationship doesn't go any deeper than the familiar pattern of cranky-old-teacher-with-his-cocky-young-student. Benjamin is skilled at drawing action, but in the book's calmer moments, the characters are stiff and uninteresting.
Verdict Despite some strengths, the book as a whole is only average. Additionally, it isn't tied to any current story line, so Batman fans won't be lost without it. Not recommended.—Robert Mixner, Bartholomew Cty. P.L., Columbus, IN
Frazetta, Frank. Johnny Comet. Vol. 1. Vanguard Prods. (Frazetta Classics). 2011. c.224p. ISBN 9781934331385. $49.95. F
This reprint of Frazetta's daily strip (1952-53) challenges its readers to eschew more modern, more politically correct social conventions. The eponymous protagonist, a strapping young man who races cars, woos damsels, and knocks out bad guys, makes his living the way he lives his life: in the fast lane. Johnny embodies triumph over tragedy—he rises above countless obstacles to achieve fortune and fame on the paved circuit. And what he lacks in eloquence or perspicacity he more than makes up for with tenacity and sheer force of will. While the writing is episodic and somewhat dull, the reader's prize, clearly, is Frazetta's breathtaking visual style. That the characters evince passion and purpose not through words but through body language is a grave testament to Frazetta's artistic ability.
Verdict Alas, this collection may not have the broadest appeal—readers may be turned off by the strips' ineluctable datedness or the at-times gratuitous violence or simply that much of the art is in black and white. Still, a more sophisticated readership will surely appreciate it for what it is: a time capsule of classic illustrated fiction.—Robin Searles, Environmental Data Resources, Milford, CT
Ishida, Tatsuya. Sinfest: Viva La Resistance. Dark Horse. 2011. c.216p. ISBN 9781595824240. pap. $14.99. F
The title of this collection does not lie: it is, in fact, a total sin-fest. Ishida's long-suffering God appears to his creations as a googly-eyed sock puppet in the sky, the Devil solicits wayward souls from a booth in a public park, and proselytizers of both good and evil end up looking like fools. Throw into the mix a lustful, pint-sized womanizer, a sassy poet/dissenter/self-proclaimed tramp, and a beer-guzzling, porn-loving pig, and you've got something to offend pretty much everyone. Beneath the characters' bawdy sex talk and macho posturing, however, runs a fairly thoughtful commentary on the media, politics, and the ever-churning war machine. Since the strips in this volume were originally published online in 2003–04, much of the content is in response to the Bush regime and the war in Iraq, but it still feels relevant.
Verdict The edginess of the themes and Ishida's artwork (which falls somewhere between manga and Calvin and Hobbes) will appeal to older teens and adults with a punk sensibility, but more sensitive readers are bound to find the book sexist, racist, religionist, or all of the above. Recommended for more adventurous collections.—Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Portland P.L., ME
Marz, Ron & Stjepan Sejic (illus.). Angelus. Vol. 1. Top Cow. 2011. c.160p. ISBN 9781607061984. pap. $14.99. F
From the universe of Witchblade and The Darkness comes this fantasy-action opus, in which Danielle Baptiste, a former bearer of the mystical Witchblade, wrestles with the responsibilities of managing "the embodiment of light in the universe," including battling both the powerful Darkness and treacherous underlings. Like the aforementioned series and others such as Fables and Preacher, this is the kind of semiliterate, diverting hokum that could have been conceived by a smart teenager; its ersatz grandeur and middling imagination cannot substitute for true sophistication. Still, Sejic's detailed, colorful artwork is glorious, and kudos to Marz for his handling of Baptiste's same-sex relationship; the bond raises the emotional stakes of the story's final outcome. Both sex and the trepidation of coming out to a parent are dealt with frankly.
Verdict This volume doesn't transcend or elevate its genre, but it is well executed. Profanity, violence, and graphic sex make it best suited for mature teens and up and for graphic novel collections inclusive of Witchblade, The Darkness, fantasy, action, and LGBT-related content.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
Matz (text) & Luc Jacamon (illus.). The Killer. Vol. 3: Modus Vivendi. Archaia. 2011. c.176p. ISBN 9781936393039. $24.95. F
Originally published in French, this arc by writer-and-illustrator team Matz and Jacamon (Cyclops) reintroduces the Killer, a young assassin seeking reemployment after becoming restless during a self-imposed four-year break. Following the fulfillment of several contracts, he begins to realize he has tangled himself in a political web involving Cuba, Venezuela, and possibly China, the United States, and other nations. After dispatching businessmen, politicians, military personnel, and a nun, the Killer wants to know to what end he is being used. The discovery of oil deposits off Cuban shores may be at the center of the political maze, and the book concludes with the Killer beginning to discover the identities of some of the key players.
Verdict Jacamon's line work is clean and crisp with lush, vibrant colors that bring dazzling life to a wide variety of locales. Matz's storytelling is compelling, but readers unfamiliar with the first two volumes may find this tale meandering and confusing. The translation into English seems competent but fell flat in a few places for this reader. Still, the story, which is aimed at adult audiences, features action, intrigue, graphic violence, philosophical musings, brief digressions into history, and romantic interludes. In short, readers will likely crave more.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
