Fiction Reviews, October 15, 2010
Oct 15, 2010
Aboulela, Leila. Lyrics Alley. Grove. Mar. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780802119513. $24. F
This breakthrough novel by the author of Minaret and The Translator recounts the story of the Abuzeid family of Sudan—and a country on the brink of change in the 1950s as British rule nears its end. The Abuzeids are a wealthy, powerful clan, but they are not immune to the conflict between the traditions of the past and the pull of modernization. This struggle is most evident in the animosity between the two wives of patriarch Mahmoud—the Sudanese Waheeba, who values the old ways, and the Egyptian-born Nabilah, who feels suffocated by village life—and in the desires of Mahmoud’s niece, Soraya, for both marriage and career. These conflicts erupt when Mahmoud’s son, Nur, suffers a catastrophic injury. Somehow, despite great pain, these characters learn to make personal sacrifices and find a way to compromise. Their stories, revealed through the novel’s multiple points of view, are real, compelling, and ultimately moving. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers who enjoy family sagas set against a political backdrop, such as Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun. [See “Prepub Exploded,” BookSmack!, 9/16/10.]—Evelyn Beck, Piedmont Technical Coll., Greenwood, SC
Baldacci, David. Hell’s Corner. Grand Central. Nov. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 9780446195522. $27.99. F
Hell hath no fury like a retired CIA assassin in pursuit of a terrorist. Baldacci’s fifth book in the “Camel Club” series (after Divine Justice) opens with Oliver Stone as a wounded victim of a bombing. The terrorist attack takes place in Lafayette Park in front of what should be the most secure of all American buildings, the White House. The British prime minister was supposed to have visited the park that night, so a debate sparks about who the intended target was. Stone, already pulled back into service by the President, is assigned to work with a British agent, Mary Chapman, to find the terrorist. But as that pair and the rest of the Camel Club delve deeper into the mystery, they find this attack may be only the beginning of a much more insidious and deadly plot. The mastermind behind the attack always seems one step ahead, and it’ll take all of Stone’s cunning to ferret out the truth from the lies. VERDICT Camel Club fans and thriller aficionados will rejoice at having a new action-packed, conspiracy-laden, politically intriguing mystery to solve. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/10.]—Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s., MD
Brooks, Peter. The Emperor’s Body. Norton. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 9780393079586. $23.95. F
Napoléon Bonaparte’s body, interred for two decades on the island of Saint Helena, has been ordered returned home to France. Ambitious young diplomat Philippe de Rohan-Chabot is promised a promotion once he successfully completes this politically volatile mission. At the same time, he’s hopeful of winning the hand of Amelia Curial, an indecisive Parisienne with decidedly modern ideas on marriage and independence. Diplomat and author Beyle, known to us by the pen name Stendahl and a former lover of Amelia’s mother, enters the scene when he becomes infatuated with Amelia. As the mission to retrieve the body unfolds, so do Amelia’s efforts to situate her future in a society of shifting mores. Brooks (comparative literature, Princeton; Henry James Goes to Paris) presents a meticulously researched and detailed snapshot of a turbulent time in Europe. But Amelia, the most interesting of the characters (except, perhaps, for Napoléon himself), deserves more exposition, especially as the narrative begins and ends with her first-person accounts. VERDICT This book veers between romance and political intrigue, but there is simply not enough here to interest readers in either camp. This work may find a limited audience among Francophiles and fans of historical fiction.—Jenn B. Stidham, Houston Community Coll. Northeast, TX
Carroll, Jim. The Petting Zoo. Viking. Nov. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 9780670022182. $25.95. F
Author of the cult classic The Basketball Diaries, poet and punk musician Carroll was just wrapping up this novel when he died at age 60 in September 2009. But it’s still a young man’s work. An unassailably hot artist on the late-1980s New York scene, protagonist Billy Wolfram is nevertheless gently naive, unaware, and sexually repressed. While attending a Velázquez exhibition, he suffers a spiritual crisis and ends up in the Central Park petting zoo (closed for renovations), where he frantically begins questioning his art—and hearing voices. From there, it’s a quick step to observation at a psychiatric hospital. After his release, Billy fires all his assistants save the long-suffering Marta, who manages his life; he then holes up, watching old TV shows and reflecting on his past while asking the big questions about art and life, often guided by an ancient black crow that drops in to assure us that Billy is either crazy or spiritually blessed or both. VERDICT Sometimes talky and self-conscious, this novel also has the heart-plunging freshness and conviction of, yes, a young writer—as told by an older soul who’s been through the mill. For anyone who wants a novel of ideas without the world-weariness. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/10.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Coupland, Douglas. Player One: What Is To Become of Us. House of Anansi. Oct. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 9780887849688. pap. $15.95. F
In Generation X author Coupland’s latest, Karen, a thirtysomething divorced housewife, arrives at a hotel bar near the Toronto airport to rendezvous with a man she met on the Internet. Also at the bar are Rick, the bartender; Luke, a pastor who has just stolen $20,000 from his church; and Rachel, a striking but weirdly clueless young blonde. These four characters eventually pair off, but not until a global crisis has erupted around the oil market and unexplained chemical explosions seem to herald an apocalypse. Along with other players who enter and leave, the main characters engage in involved discussions on the meaning of life, as might be expected under such circumstances. These discussions range from the confessional and personal to larger issues both sacred and profane. VERDICT Eminently readable, humorous, and philosophical if at times slightly lightweight, this is a worthwhile novel that may also appeal to younger readers. It grew out of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Massey Lecture series, which Coupland headlines this October in Canada.—Jim Coan, SUNY Coll. at Oneonta Lib.
Cussler, Clive & Dirk Cussler. Crescent Dawn: A Dirk Pitt Novel. Putnam. Nov. 2010. c.560p. ISBN 9780399157141. $27.95. F
The Cussler family’s latest Dirk Pitt adventure (after Arctic Drift) finds the head of the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA) with his wife on vacation in Turkey. While visiting a friend at a museum, they stumble onto a major theft of priceless Roman artifacts connected to a sunken ship in the Mediterranean. Things turn personal for Pitt when his wife is kidnapped. His children also get caught in the sinister plot to restore the Ottoman Empire when artifacts they uncover in Israel and Turkey lead to a mysterious “manifest.” Many people over the centuries have died to protect the sacred items listed in this document, and the Pitts will have to use their skills to stop the fundamentalist threat and survive. VERDICT The adventure thrillers featuring Dirk Pitt have been hit-and-miss since Clive’s son took over the franchise, but this new entry defies expectations and is arguably the best of the Dirk Cussler novels. Cussler fans will be thrilled to see their favorite hero back in his prime. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/10.—Ed.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
Deaver, Jeffery. Edge. S. & S. Nov. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 9781439156353. $26.99. F
In his new psychological thriller, Deaver devises a compelling contest between two cunning opponents: Henry Loving, the contracted “lifter” who extracts information from his targeted prey to satisfy an employer, and Corte, the federal protection agent who “shepherds” informants from torturous actions (kidnapping, murder, etc.) that might provide the lifter an advantage (i.e., edge). Their tension-filled struggle revolves around a Washington, DC, police officer whose knowledge threatens the intentions of a high-ranking government official. As in his other novels (The Burning Wire; Roadside Crosses), Deaver has his ingenious protagonists use science-based logic to engineer suspenseful plot twists transpiring over a condensed period of time. Corte, serving as the narrator, consistently applies intricate game-theory analysis to anticipate the devious and evasive tactics Loving might implement within a mere four days. According to the publisher, Edge might serve as the basis for a future series. VERDICT This tightly written tale will have Deaver fans sitting on the “edge” of their seats. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/10.]—Jerry Miller, Cambridge, MA
Dew, Robb Forman. Being Polite to Hitler. Little, Brown. Jan. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780316889506. $24.99. F
In her third book centered on Agnes Scofield of Washburn, OH, following 2001’s The Evidence Against Her and 2005’s The Truth of the Matter, Dew brings her readers into post–World War II small-town America via the lives of Agnes and the friends and family who look to her to anchor their own unsettled lives. It is now 1953, and Agnes, widowed and in her early fifties, has had it with teaching third graders. Her offspring (including a much younger brother raised as her son) and their children are trying to find their way in a country on the verge of unprecedented change. The need to hide their troubled marriages, alcoholism, and plain old crankiness under a veneer of civilized behavior is at odds with the nation’s increasing political upheaval. As the Fifties turn into the Sixties and push through to the Seventies, Agnes and Sam, her much younger, lovely second husband, scout the way forward. VERDICT National Book Award winner Dew (for Dale Loves Sophie to Death) uses her signature elegant and often delightfully funny style to move seamlessly back and forth between the macro- and microcosm of the new America. Her latest should generate demand for the first two series titles as well. [See “Prepub Exploded,” BookSmack!, 7/10.]—Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI
Edwards, Kim. The Lake of Dreams. Viking. Jan. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780670022175. $26.95. F
Lucy Jarrett returns to Lake of Dreams in upstate New York a decade after her father’s mysterious death. She was only a teenager then, but she still has not absolved herself of her guilt over not going fishing with him the night he died. Her mother lives alone in a few rooms of their large family home, where Lucy discovers some old letters in a window seat. She grows determined to solve the mysteries surrounding her great-grandfather’s suffragette sister, Rose, who was forced to give away an illegitimate daughter and who may have been the muse for a famous stained-glass artist. Lucy’s high school boyfriend, Keegan Fall, a glass artist himself, also enters the picture. Lucy’s domestic partner, Yoshi, is headed to Lake of Dreams from Japan, and Lucy’s not sure if they have a future together. Many unresolved issues come to a head for Lucy in a few short weeks, and this somewhat strains credibility. VERDICT Edwards’s runaway best seller, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter , which so engaged the hearts of many readers, is indisputably a hard act to follow. Lacking the melodramatic sizzle of its predecessor, this sophomore effort is a colorful but middling multilayered novel about family history, love, and redemption. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10.] —Keddy Ann Outlaw, formerly with Harris Cty. P.L., Houston, TX
Elton, Charles. Mr. Toppit. Other. Nov. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 9781590513903. pap. $15.95. F
A chance encounter on a London street between a California tourist and an English children’s author in the moments before his death is all it takes to propel The Hayseed Chronicles from obscurity into an international literary sensation. In the days following Arthur Hayman’s fatal walk into traffic, Laurie Clow, the host of a radio show for seniors, attaches herself to his family and, in so doing, discovers the books based on his son’s explorations into the woods beyond their Dorset home. Back in California, Laurie begins to read the books on the air. The resulting firestorm catapults Laurie to Oprah-like fame and creates a cult following and spin-off industry for the books. Three mysteries lie at the heart of this story—the disappearance of Laurie’s father, the death in infancy of the Haymans’ first son, and the enigma of Mr. Toppit himself, who appears only in the last sentence of the last book. VERDICT This accomplished first novel chronicles the damaging effect of stratospheric fame on the lives of those who inherit it. Harry Potter enthusiasts will especially be drawn to it.—Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ont.
Enard, Mathias. Zone. Open Letter. Dec. 2010. c.517p. ISBN 9781934824269. pap. $16.95. F
Emulating the rhythm of a locomotive as well as the train of human thought, this modern epic by Enard (Arabic, Univ. of Barcelona) is written as a single sentence, transcribing the mental wanderings of one man as he travels by train from Milan to Rome. Francis, a French Croatian intelligence agent specializing in war crimes, is carrying a list of names in a briefcase that he intends to sell to certain individuals at his destination, an event he refers to as “the end of the world.” Through his thoughts and memories, “so many images linked by an uninterrupted thread,” the nature of the list is slowly revealed, along with the details of his own involvement in the wars and violence of the region he calls the Zone: the Balkans, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Algeria, and other areas of the Mediterranean. Literary references abound, from The Iliad to Dalton Trumbo and Ezra Pound. VERDICT Enard’s novel is a stylistic triumph and an artistic achievement, comparable in ambition and scope to Roberto Bolaño’s 2666. Accessibility is a different matter; only the most intrepid readers are advised to embark on this journey.—Forest Turner, Suffolk Cty. House of Correction Lib., Boston
Erickson, Carolly. Rival to the Queen. St. Martin’s. Oct. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780312379742. $25.99. F
In her sixth historical novel, Erickson (The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots; The Last Wife of Henry VIII) again displays her remarkable ability to paint an exquisitely realistic portrait of Tudor England. Opening during the reign of Queen Mary Tudor, the book follows Lettie Knollys (1543–1634), the future Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, from her exile in Frankfurt to her daring—and successful—outmaneuvering of Elizabeth for Robert Dudley’s heart. While her boldness enables Lettie to find true love, it also subjects her to disastrous consequences. This is much more than a historical romance; Erickson’s attention to historical detail and the depiction of Elizabeth’s struggle to maintain her control over her kingdom make for compelling reading. Fans might also be interested in one or more of Erickson’s four Tudor biographies. VERDICT Historical fiction fans can’t get enough of the Tudors; this engaging story is a worthy addition to the genre. [Library marketing.]—Audrey Johnson, Arlington, VA
Greenwood, T. This Glittering World. Kensington. Jan. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9780758250919. pap. $15. F
“So hope slowly turned into desperation and desperation into sad resignation.” This line from Greenwood’s (Two Rivers; The Hungry Season) disturbing suspense novel paints an accurate picture of her characters’ troubled lives. Ben, an adjunct history professor and part-time bartender, and his nurse fiancée, Sara, have been living a somewhat peaceful existence in Flagstaff, AZ, until an early snow falls on Halloween night and the couple discover a badly beaten Native American young man on their doorstep. Unable to forget Ricky’s death, Ben forges a secret bond with Ricky’s grieving sister, Shadi. Haunted by a tragedy from his own childhood, Ben becomes increasingly aware of the deep fissures in his supposedly settled life. VERDICTStark, taut, and superbly written, this dark tale brims with glimpses of the Southwest and scenes of violence, gruesome but not gratuitous. This haunting look at a fractured family is certain to please readers of literary suspense.—Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA
Hattemer-Higgins, Ida. The History of History: A Novel of Berlin. Knopf. Jan. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780307272775. $24.95. F
Margaret, a young American living in Germany, wakes up one morning in the Grunewald Forest, disheveled, disoriented, and with no memory of what happened. Then she slowly descends into madness. While giving walking tours of Berlin, she sees the buildings as pulsating flesh. She obsessively researches the life of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels’s wife, Magda, and begins seeing her on windowsills as a monstrous bird woman who taunts her. She talks to mirrors and ponds, where she sees a dead Jewish woman who killed herself and her family during the Holocaust. As Margaret’s frenzied search for her identity intensifies, the narrator unveils stories within stories that eventually lead to the horrifying truth of that day in the forest. VERDICT Hattemer-Higgins’s debut novel is a heavyweight exploration of evil set in a delusional world that’s at times oppressive in its relentlessness. That said, the author offers an impressive creative exploration of the history of Berlin and the Third Reich. Recommended for adventurous readers of historically themed novels. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10.]—Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Univ. Law Lib., Malibu, CA
Hedaya, Yael. Eden. Metropolitan: Holt. Nov. 2010. c.496p. tr. from Hebrew by Jessica Cohen. ISBN 9780805092653. $30. F
Eden, a farming collective not far from modern Tel Aviv, is the setting of this third novel from Hedaya, whose Accidents was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Originally settled by Polish and Hungarian immigrants, this community has emerged over the years as the most desirable area to live in central Israel. But as each neighbor reveals in shifting viewpoints his or her most painful secrets, we realize that Eden is far from a tranquil haven. Dafna has been obsessed with infertility treatments for the past seven years but won’t give up to adopt. Her husband, Eli, ever sympathetic to his wife’s desire for children, finds himself addicted to Roni, a precocious 16-year-old who is also having sex with Yossi the cab driver and Uri, a self-centered writer. Roni’s father, Mark, owner of an Italian restaurant, and his second wife, Alona, live in separate houses because they can’t decide to get a divorce. Alona works for a publishing company, editing Uri’s novel. Everyone’s lives constantly intertwine, and the personal dramas at Eden overshadow any contemporary political and cultural conflicts. VERDICT The provocative sex scenes and aura of scandal throughout make for an entertaining read, but in the end this novel doesn’t work. The intense family drama and hand-wringing become tedious, and the characters (unlike the readers) never figure out what’s wrong. Fans of Hedaya’s work should consider, though. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/10.]—Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO
Karnezis, Panos. The Convent. Norton Nov. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 9780393056990. $24.95. F
Sister Maria Inés is the mother superior of only six nuns who remain in the remote convent of Our Lady of Mercy, high in the mountains of Spain in the 1920s. One morning, a nun discovers a newborn baby left on the convent doorstep. Sister Maria Inés regards this as a miracle and as God’s reward to her for spending decades atoning for a grievous sin in her youth. She intends to keep the infant and devotes herself completely to the child, though she soon comes into conflict with the bishop and some of the other nuns. The reader may readily figure out the baby’s mysterious parentage, but the mother superior persists in her belief in the miraculous, setting the stage for tragedy. Verdict Greek-born Karnezis, who now lives in London and whose The Maze was shortlisted for the Whitbread, has created a very readable and convincing tale of how years of living in near-isolation while brooding over past mistakes may lead to madness, especially in a sensitive soul in a repressed society.—Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA
Kelly, Erin. The Poison Tree. Pamela Dorman: Viking. Jan. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780670022403. $26.95. F
It should have been an idyllic summer for Karen Clarke. Having just finished university, Karen is at loose ends while she tries to figure out what she wants from life. Her gift for languages brings her into contact with free-spirited Biba, who lives in a crumbling London mansion with her brother Rex and an assortment of other bohemian characters. Karen is happy at last to be experiencing some of the craziness she thought college would bring, but as the summer progresses she realizes Biba and Rex have their own issues. First novelist Kelly intersperses the events of that long-ago summer when everything changed with Karen’s present-day life as the mother of nine-year-old Alice as she brings Rex home from a ten-year stint in prison. VERDICT The advance blurbs for Kelly’s debut describe it as brooding, atmospheric, and gothic—all accurate adjectives. Tension in this psychological thriller builds slowly, piece by ever more suspenseful piece. Fans of Sophie Hannah’s domestic suspense novels will enjoy this gracefully written effort. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/10.]—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI
Kent, Kathleen. The Wolves of Andover. Little, Brown. Nov. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780316068628. $24.99. F
In coastal Massachusetts in 1673, wolves still lurked in the shadows, and farmers toiled to keep the forest at bay. Martha Allen is sent to such a farm to help her cousin who’s in the final months of her pregnancy. Sharp-tongued and independent, Martha finds life difficult no matter where she is and considers her cousin Patience to be spoiled and soft and the hired men impudent. As Martha becomes accustomed to life in Billerica, she forms a tenuous friendship with Thomas Carrier, a hired man of enormous size and few words. As they forge ahead in their relationship, hired assassins from London are on their way to assassinate the men who executed Charles II during the English civil war. Who will succeed and who will die? VERDICT In this prequel to Kent’s best-selling The Heretic’s Daughter—a retelling of her ancestor’s execution during the Salem witch trials—the author combines harsh images of early Colonial life with a well-paced story and careful details. The result is a taut narrative that will satisfy historical fiction lovers. [Barbara Hoffert’s Fiction Pick, Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10; on Saturday, Nov. 6, the publisher and Kent are inviting descendants of the Carrier family and other families associated with the witch trials as well as history buffs to a Carrier family reunion in Salem, MA.—Ed.]—Anna Karras Nelson, Collier Cty. P.L., Naples, FL
Klavan, Andrew. The Identity Man. Houghton Harcourt. Nov. 2010. c.280p. ISBN 9780547243283. $25. F
Once upon a time (it might be tomorrow or just as feasibly 1971, when Dirty Harry with Clint Eastwood was first showing), the straight, shadowy streets of The City run with floodwaters as well as crooked politicians, cops, and gangbangers. A plague has settled over the land. In the role of the unlikely Prince Charming who just might lift the curse and set things right is three-time loser John Shannon; he’s on the lam for a crime he didn’t commit—although there are many he did—and is offered that exceedingly rare thing called a second chance. His Fairy Godfather, in the person of a mysterious foreigner, equips him with a new face, identity, and even new DNA records. As Henry Conor, he takes up his new life as a carpenter and happens on a princess ensconced in a tidy white house in the middle of a slum. The real question is, “Is any of this enough to allow Shannon to escape his fate?” VERDICT Two-time Edgar Award winner Klavan (True Crime; The Rain) delivers characters as unavoidable and implacable as Easter Island effigies and positions them in settings where they are certain to be noticed. Three out of four smoking pistols for this updated Grimm urban legend.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO
Magson, Adrian. Red Station. Severn House. Dec. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 9780727869395. $28.95. F
Magson, author of the well-received mystery series featuring Riley Gavin and Frank Palmer (No Tears for the Lost), introduces MI5 agent Harry Tate in this thriller series launch. Though loyal and able, Harry is blamed for a drug-bust fiasco and posted to the Republic of Georgia. Completely off the grid, the Red Station in Mtskheta shelters several of MI5’s erring agents and lies directly in the path of the Russian army’s stealth move into South Ossetia. Stronger and smarter than he looks, Harry susses out shockingly incriminating facts about British domestic and international espionage operations as well as about his own earlier debacle. Harry’s headlong flight from the impending war and from an agency assassin gives Magson plenty of ammo for a ramped-up spy story of unusual vigor and imagination. Verdict Most spy and suspense collections in public libraries should gladly take reserves for this new player in the thriller genre. The plotting is intricate, the black hats and white hats are hard to distinguish, and the action is intense and fast-paced. Look for more from Magson, a strong contender in a field long dominated by John le Carré and Ian Fleming.—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA
Morrow, Bradford. The Diviner’s Tale. Houghton Harcourt. Jan. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780547382630. $26. F
Like her father, Cass Brooks is a “diviner.” She communicates with the earth to reveal hidden caches of water for drought-plagued neighbors. That’s her day job. However, she also plays host to a barrage of disturbing “forevisions” that started when as a child she correctly predicted the death of her teenage brother, Chris. In the first pages of this latest from Morrow (Ariel’s Crossing), Cass is beginning to confuse fact and vision. She finds a murdered girl in the woods. Or does she? The sheriff finds nothing: no body, no footprints, no evidence. Then a different girl who reminds Cass of herself surfaces in those same woods, alive but shaken. The key to saving the girl (whoever she is and whether she needs saving), Cass thinks, might be buried in the past with Chris and their childhood secrets. VERDICT This meditation on childhood trauma is a hybrid: half suspense, half “literary” fiction. Unfortunately, the mystery is often predictable, but the prose (despite some trying descriptions of foliage and birds) supersedes the plot. It’s Katherine Howe meets John Irving and comes highly recommended by Joyce Carol Oates, so buy accordingly.—Stephen Morrow, Ohio Univ., Athens
O’Hagan, Andrew. The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe. Houghton Harcourt. Dec. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 9780151013722. $24. F
Many an esteemed novelist has tried and failed to capture the charisma of Marilyn Monroe. Drawing on actual events, O’Hagan (Be Near Me) avoids the pitfalls of his predecessors by treating the actress like a human being. This miracle comes courtesy of, yes, a canine narrator; but not just any canine—Maf, short for Mafia Honey, a Trotksy-loving, seen-it-all-but-still-dewy-eyed Maltese gifted to Monroe by the one and only Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. If this sounds wondrous, it’s because it is. With the wit and whimsy of a great European novelist, Maf treats readers to a star-studded biography of humanity and dogs, their many beautiful bonds, and the tragic distance that remains between them. Indeed, no one was likely closer to Monroe the last two years of her life than her dog, and yet Maf could not save her. Still, this is not a sad story—O’Hagan’s incredible gift for dialog will give you the giggles and goose bumps. Monroe, Sinatra, Carson McCullers, Lionel Trilling, and Lillian Hellman will materialize at your bedside to entertain and outrage you with their outsizedness. VERDICT Monroe fans should devour in one sitting this haunting cross between a summer read and a fall smolderer. Everyone else should read it, too, for its urgent lessons on empathy. Forever and always recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/10; also previewed in “BEA Beyond the Buzz,” LJ 7/10.]—Heather McCormack, Library Journal
Ramos y Sanchez, Raul. House Divided. Grand Central. Jan. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780446507769. pap. $13.99. F
Set in an undefined future, this sequel to the Cuban-born Ramos y Sanchez’s America Libre centers on a hypothetical insurgence of American Hispanics who, now that they have nonvoting representation in the UN, want to create their own autonomous nation on U.S. soil. Though the exact causes of the conflict are unclear, the segregation of the Hispanic population into several quarantine zones indicates the federal government’s degree of hostility. Against this macrocosmic conflict, the author develops a microcosmic one concerning Mano Suarez; his wife, Rosa; and their rebellious adolescent son, Pedro. This conflict gradually takes over the book, as Pedro vacillates between sides. Though the narrative is packed with bombings, kidnappings, sieges, and all the usual trappings of terrorist activity, the characters are stylized and cardboard in a “them vs. us” mold. Though symbolic, the sexual union of members from each faction rests uneasily. Ramos politicizes the events with allusions to icons and events of modern U.S. history—a President Nixon (here Richard’s great-nephew), the Chicago Seven, Deep Throat. VERDICT While the premise is inventive and highly original, it gets lost in the maze of characters and overwritten prose. One can’t help but wonder, given the open ending, whether a third installment isn’t waiting in the wings.—Lawrence Olszewski, OCLC Lib., Dublin, OH
Roy-Bhattacharya, Joydeep. The Storyteller of Marrakesh. Norton. Jan. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780393070583. $23.95. F
This tale about the disappearance of a beautiful foreigner one night in Marrakesh is told by Hassan, a traditional Moroccan storyteller. Hassan’s brother Mustafa is in prison for this crime, and once a year, the storyteller tries to reconstruct the evening of her disappearance for his listeners. As he weaves his tale, people in the audience contribute their memories of the evening, many of them conflicting. Was the woman blond or dark-haired? Was she modest, or did she behave like a clueless foreigner? Each bit of evidence is like a piece of mosaic tile, creating an even more complex design. Each person’s testimony adds to the creation of a mythic story that will be recounted for generations. And yet on a personal level, the retelling is Hassan’s method of mythologizing his brother and keeping his memory alive. VERDCIT The author’s first novel, The Gabriel Club, which was published in 16 countries, was also somewhat of an unsolved mystery, told with multiple threads. Steeped in the ambience of Marrakesh, this exotic metafictional tale marks Roy-Bhattacharya’s U.S. debut and will appeal to readers of complex narratives by unreliable narrators. Lovers of mysteries with ambiguous endings will also enjoy this novel. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS
Russell, Karen. Swamplandia! Knopf. Feb. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780307263995. $24.95. F
The Tamiami Trail, a two-lane road connecting the wealthy city of Naples with bustling, multicultural Miami, cuts through a river of grass known as the Florida Everglades. This wonderfully unique combination of wildwood hammock and cypress slough has been home to the mound-building Calusa, then the Seminoles, and now the quirkiest, most delightful group of all, the fictitious Bigtrees. A once-thriving destination for blue-haired tourists from the Midwest, Swamplandia boasted airboat rides and alligator wrestling until the death of the feature performer, matriarch Hilola Bigtree. The grieving chief fails to recognize that his kids are suffering, too. Osceola, the oldest daughter, communes with the dead. Kiwi, her brother, makes a pact with the devil, the Disney-esque attraction, World of Darkness, and precocious Ava secretly nurtures a rare red alligator, hoping to revive the family business. Like a kinder, gentler Carl Hiaasen, Russell manages to skewer all the Florida bad guys—Big Sugar, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Casino Gaming Commission—while writing a love song to paradise and innocence lost. VERDICTThis wildly imaginative debut novel, coming on the heels of the short story collection St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, delivers on Russell’s status as one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists. A phantasmagorical tale of teens left on their own to battle their demons, mixed with a brief history of the Sunshine State, Russell’s book will appeal to young adults as well as their folks. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]— Sally Bissell, Lee Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Myers, FL
Saffran, Lise. Juno’s Daughters. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780452296732. pap. $15. F
Jenny, a single mom of two teenage daughters, lives on San Juan Island off the coast of Washington State and is gearing up for the annual summer theater festival. This year, it’s a production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and Jenny finds herself getting involved with one of the professional actors brought in from New York. Trouble is, her elder daughter, Lily, likes him as well. To add to the stress of the summer, Jenny’s younger daughter, 13-year-old Frankie, decides to escape from all of the literal and figurative drama and runs away to Seattle. VERDICT Debut novelist Saffran paints a nice portrait of a close-knit, creative community and all the quirks that go along with it. Shakespearean references abound, which makes for a treat for literary fiction fans, yet it’s done with a light enough touch that those unfamiliar with The Tempest or other such works won’t feel left out. For fans of introspective women’s fiction, such as Elin Hildebrand’s family novels.—Rebecca Vnuk, Forest Park, IL
Villas, James. Hungry for Happiness. Kensington. Nov. 2010. 352p. ISBN 9780758228482. pap. $15. F
Former Town & Country magazine food and wine editor Villas’s second venture into fiction (after Dancing in the Lowcountry) is filled with Southern flare, comfort food, and character flaws. Loretta and her family love food, both eating and cooking it, but she is sickened by her size and elects to undergo banded gastroplasty to lose weight. As she works hard to change her physical appearance, Loretta must also make healthy emotional and mental changes to live a life that is truly rewarding and fulfilling. After a series of unsatisfying encounters with men, Loretta puts her energy into her catering business, where her love of food can be shared and enjoyed by others. (Recipes are included.) VERDICT The unsympathetic characters are difficult to identify with, and the plot gets mired in issues of weight, low self-esteem, and abuse. In the end, readers will wish for a more positive and empowered transformation of Loretta. Not recommended.—Anne M. Miskewitch, Chicago P.L.
Yan Lianke. Dream of Ding Village. Grove. Jan. 2011. c.352p. tr. from Chinese by Cindy Carter. ISBN 9780802119322. $24. F
Censored in China, the latest novel by Yan ( Serve the People! ) to be translated into English is a brutal morality tale of a country undergoing transition; the citizens are mere “dogs, or chickens, or ants crushed underfoot” in a larger-than-life tragedy. China’s plan to fill its blood banks reaches the poorest villages, where “bloodheads” convince desperate citizens to open their veins for quick cash. In the village named for his ancestors, Ding Hui becomes reigning bloodhead; his unsanitary practices eventually infect the villagers with “the fever”—HIV/AIDS. Because Hui is unrepentantly on to the next get-richer scheme, his 12-year-old son is murdered in retaliation; the boy omnisciently narrates from his school-side grave. Hui’s brother, Liang, also becomes infected and desperately seeks one last chance at happiness. Hui’s father, the de facto village leader—and a prescient dreamer—bears the guilt of Hui’s avarice and Liang’s disgrace. VERDICT Written after three years of clandestine research on a real-life blood-selling scandal that was widespread in China, this book shines another grim spotlight on China’s abuses. Like his literary contemporaries Mo Yan and Yu Hua, Yan’s unflinching irreverence makes this Schadenfreude tragedy essential reading . —Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
Yates, Alexander. Moondogs. Doubleday. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 9780385533782. $25.95. F
This is a gritty, ambitious, and often entertaining debut novel about a father and a son, a kidnapping, and a special task force whose members have extraordinary paranormal skills. Set in the Philippines, the story focuses on Benicio’s search for his estranged father. Benicio has traveled from America to the Philippines, where his wealthy and well-connected father lives. On the night he arrives, however, his father is kidnapped, and this sets into motion a series of events that reveal details of his father’s life—much of it unsavory, at least from Benicio’s perspective. This ordeal eventually helps Benicio accept his father for who he is—a flawed but well-intentioned man. Yates develops considerable narrative momentum, skillfully handling most of the material. VERDICTThe vibrant and convincing setting coupled with the well-drawn major characters make for a competent crime story. Genre fans will find much to enjoy here; recommended.—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT
Short stories
Baxter, Charles. Gryphon: New and Selected Stories. Pantheon. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 9780307379214. $27.95. F
This collected work reminds us that Baxter shines in the short story form. Whereas his novels (e.g., The Feast of Love) are cinematic in tone, his stories read like unfinished journal entries from a secret diary. By allowing the reader only a glimpse into the lives of each character, Baxter weaves together seemingly mundane activities into complex examples of love, fear, and anxiety. This collection is officially touted as a best of, with a few new additions, but, thematically, each of the 23 stories is a piece of a larger puzzle that cannot be put together. Whether his characters are standing on their head to relieve stress, writing fake horoscopes to instill confidence in their children, or teaching children to tell their fortune with a tarot deck, each action serves as a lens to focus Baxter’s illumination of the mystery of life. VERDICT Readers who enjoy the simple prose of John Irving and the imagination of Michael Chabon will be delighted by this collection. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10.]—Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH
Chekhov, Anton & Ben Greenman. Celebrity Chekhov: Stories by Anton Chekhov. HarperPerennial. Oct. 2010. c.240p. tr. from Russian by Constance Garnett. ISBN 9780061990496. pap. $13.99. F
When one considers the many types of media vying for the public’s attention, it’s no wonder that book enthusiasts worry about the future of reading. Within that group is a smaller contingent that frets over the prospects of a readership for canonical works of literature. In Celebrity Chekhov, New Yorker editor Greenman (e.g., Please Step Back) swaps out the characters in Anton Chekhov’s short fiction for modern celebrities. While there is a certain charm in having Paris Hilton speak as though she had a 19th-century Russian aristocrat stuck in her throat, the novelty wears thin in fairly short order. But as an idea, it seems extensible, even franchisable. One shouldn’t be surprised to see this volume followed by reworkings of Austen, Hemingway, and other authors in a way that makes us rethink our reservations about the demise of print culture. VERDICT Readable in an afternoon, this book might appeal to readers who enjoy similar satiric knockoffs, like Steve Hockensmith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Like many books that are good for a laugh, Celebrity Chekhov is worth reading once.—Chris Pusateri, Jefferson Cty. P.L., Lakewood, CO
Gordimer, Nadine. Life Times: Stories, 1952-2007. Farrar. Nov. 2010. c.560p. ISBN 9780374270537. $30. F
This volume presents a collection of previously published short stories plus four new works by Nobel Prize winner Gordimer. The themes in these pieces include political activism, race relations, love, family and relationships, remembrances of times past, the notion of home and being transplanted elsewhere, everyday life, and much more. But nearly every story is ultimately about life in apartheid and postapartheid South Africa or the experiences and feelings of South Africans. For instance, in the startling “Town and Country Lovers,” when the relationship between an Austrian scientist and a black shop girl is discovered, they are arrested and charged with violating the Immorality Act. Then, in the story’s second half, a white man is acquitted after killing the baby he has with a childhood lover of a different race. Gordimer’s characters and situations are complex and multifaceted, and it is a testament to her literary skill that she can pack so much depth of meaning into each story. VERDICTHighly recommended; these powerful and serious stories span the career to date of a critically acclaimed, prize-winning author.—Sarah Conrad Weisman, Corning Community Coll., NY
Hannah, Barry. Long, Lost, Happy: New and Selected Stories. Grove. Dec. 2010. c.464p. ISBN 9780802119681. $29.95. F
Taking the best from the four collections published in Hannah’s lifetime, along with several stories uncollected at the time of his death in March, this book will likely serve as the definitive collection of Hannah’s shorter work. Arranged chronologically, the volume charts his growth, from early stories like “Testimony of Pilot” that focuses on the difficult relationship between two youthful acquaintances, to later novella-like works such as “Hey, Have You Got a Cig, the Time, the News, My Face?” about the numerous complexities in the relationship between a writer and his adult poet son. Hannah’s is a world of intelligent, though troubled (and often alcoholic) men, the women who are too good (or at least too good-looking) for them, hell-raisers, good old boys, and whole barrels of morning-after regret and remorse, all set against the convoluted history of the South. VERDICT Though working in the Southern gothic tradition of William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor, Hannah is ultimately unlike either of them, with a wilder, more darkly comic edge, a Southern and an American original . —Lawrence Rungren, Merrimack Valley Lib. Consortium, North Andover, MA
Oates, Joyce Carol. Give Me Your Heart: Tales of Mystery and Suspense. Houghton Harcourt. Jan. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9780547385464. $25. F
Weaving characteristic gothic themes and feminist overtones, the prolific Oates presents another successful collection of macabre short stories (after The Museum of Dr. Moses and The Female of the Species ). Many of the tales have been previously published individually in literary journals, but this is the first time readers can have all ten stories in book form. Oates is well known for putting her characters in uncomfortable situations; in this volume, domestic terror, revenge, and relationships gone awry are the primary themes. The standout is the title story, which features an obsessive woman who goes to disturbing lengths in relentlessly pursuing a past love. VERDICT More psychologically grim and subtly disturbing than aggressive horror, this will please fans of serious fiction and short stories . —Carolann Lee Curry, Mercer Univ. Medical Lib., Macon, GA
Last-minute Mystery
Alexander, Tasha. Dangerous To Know: A Novel of Suspense. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (Lady Emily Mysteries). Nov. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780312383794. $24.99. M
After losing their unborn child and nearly losing her life as well in Tears of Pearl, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are visiting his mother in Normandy. It’s meant to provide Emily time to regain her mental and physical strength, but a somewhat unfriendly mother-in-law and a ghost story she can’t dismiss as untrue leave Emily feeling tense. Finding the horribly mutilated body of a young woman and working to discover how the victim made it so far from anyone or anyplace familiar bring new dangers and return old friends to Emily’s life. Will this investigation offer a fresh start or a tragic end for the Hargreaveses? The novel begins slowly, effectively mimicking Emily’s mind-set with its slower pace and meandering progression. As Emily begins to reengage with the world around her, the story also flows better, and the ending provides great satisfaction for the protagonists and readers. VERDICT This is still a strong series for fans of historical mysteries featuring independent young ladies. However, Alexander’s latest entry doesn’t stand as well on its own; newbies should start with the earlier books (And Only To Deceive; A Fatal Waltz).—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH
Arjouni, Jakob. Kismet: A Kayankaya Mystery. Melville International Crime: Melville House. Oct. 2010. c.255p. tr. from German by Anthea Bell. ISBN 9781935554233. pap. $15. M
Established racketeering in Frankfurt—fairly peacefully divided among German, Albanian, and Turkish crime bosses—is upset when the mysterious Army of Reason suddenly starts asking business owners for exorbitant sums and lopping off their thumbs when demands aren’t met. After restaurateur Romario becomes a victim, he turns to PI Kemal Kayankaya for help. His plan to scare off the Army of Reason, carried out with friend Silbulsky, turns into a shoot-out that leaves two extortionists dead, Kayankaya scratching to trace the new crime organization, more people killed and buildings blown up in retribution, and another country vying for a piece of the Frankfurt crime action. Winner of the German Thriller Prize and best sellers in Europe, Arjouni’s four-book series featuring the wisecracking PI of Turkish descent who’s not above using bribery and lies and calling on sources inside and outside the law to get what he needs is now being released in the United States for the first time. VERDICT Germany is a roiling melting pot in Arjouni’s noir fiction with a light touch. A good bet for readers of the genre. [This title launches the publisher’s new Melville International Crime imprint, previewed in Wilda Williams’s “Passport to Mystery,” LJ 4/15/10.—Ed.]—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA
Clark, Mary Jane. To Have and To Kill: A Wedding Cake Mystery. Morrow. Jan. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780061995545. $24.99. M
Piper Donovan is newly single and struggling to find acting jobs after her soap opera character was killed off. She moves back in with her parents and helps out in her mom’s bakery, which is renowned for its beautifully decorated cakes. When one of Piper’s famous former costars asks if the bakery can make her wedding cake, Piper gets involved in a real-life soap opera replete with murder, romance, family issues, and a varied cast of characters including an FBI agent, a director, a photographer, a costumer, a jeweler, a drama teacher, and more. VERDICT The first book in best-selling suspense author Clark’s ( Dying for Mercy ; Lights Out Tonight ) new series is an old-fashioned whodunit set in a modern world that’s high on suspense and low on gore. The number of characters with motive for murder keeps you guessing, and the action-packed short chapters keep the story moving. You’ll also learn a little about cake decorating, and there’s a sweet surprise at the end. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10.] —Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY
Gage, Leighton. Every Bitter Thing. Soho Crime. Dec. 2010. c.388p. ISBN 9781569478455. $25. M
The death of the son of a foreign dignitary in the Brazilian capital of Brasília results in the involvement of the Federal Police, led by Chief Inspector Mario Silva, in this fourth series volume (after Dying Gasp). Under pressure from above, Silva and his team quickly identify a likely suspect but then discover that this death is merely the latest in a series of murders. The only connection among the victims: a month earlier they were all passengers on a flight from Miami. The investigation takes Silva across Brazil and across the social spectrum as well. His team and the story move quickly along various paths to reach a surprising and violent resolution. VERDICT Well plotted and briskly paced, this novel should appeal to both series fans and newcomers.—Dan Forrest, Access Svcs., Western Kentucky Univ., Bowling Green
Tapply, William G. Outwitting Trolls: A Brady Coyne Novel. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Nov. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 9780312531270. $24.99. M
Tapply, a prolific writer of over 40 works of fiction and nonfiction, built his reputation on his Brady Coyne mystery series. Coyne, a Boston lawyer keen on fly-fishing and the Red Sox, with an ex-wife, disaffected grown children, a trusty dog, and a string of girlfriends, now makes his final appearance. (Beginning with Death at Charity’s Point, Tapply wrote over two dozen titles in this winning series before his death in 2009.) Ken Nichols, an old acquaintance in town for a convention, meets Brady for drinks and to talk over old times. Brady had provided legal services for Ken’s veterinary practice, but he hadn’t seen him in ten years. Their small talk is interrupted when Ken speaks with a mysterious man named Clem. Brady realizes too late that Ken’s conversation might have been significant when he gets a frantic call later from Ken’s ex-wife Sharon. She found Ken stabbed to death in his hotel room. Along with a crusty but dedicated homicide detective, Brady investigates false leads and shady suspects to arrive at a satisfying conclusion that hinges on the presence of a cat. VERDICT Loyal readers will find all the familiar elements Tapply has brought to the series. Essential and highly recommended.—Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO
