March Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation

Edited by Aida Bardales -- Library Journal, 03/11/2010

FICTION | NONFICTION | ALSO IN TRANSLATION

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FICTION

Arrebatos carnales. Las pasiones que consumieron a los protagonistas de la historia de México.
(Carnal Desires: The Passions that Consumed the Protagonists of Mexico’s History)
Moreno, Francisco Martín.
Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 447p. ISBN 978-607-07-0273-0. pap. $18.95. HISTORICAL FICTION

In contrast to the pious academics who de-sex historical figures and focus on their altruistic or megalomaniacal goals, best-selling author Moreno irreverently turns his attention to their romantic passions. He embellishes archival information with imaginative and plausible first-person narrative to create a gripping work of historical, and occasionally erotic, fiction. This is revisionist history at its most titillating. The narrators of each chapter are either the protagonists themselves or wry confidants who interweave emblematic events with the relationships in the lives of individuals central to Mexican history, perhaps from least to most revered: emperor Maximiliano and Carlota, dictator Porfirio Díaz, liberator priest José María Morelos, revolutionary Pancho Villa, politician José Vasconcelos, and, finally (courageously), writer and nun Sor Juana. Serious readers seeking to discern the effects of personal relationships on the historical trajectory of a nation will likely be disappointed, but fans of historical fiction will be tickled. The sympathetic and intimate presentations of Maximilian’s bisexual affairs, Díaz’s machinations to marry his niece, Father Morelos’s concubine, etc., lead us to view the foibles and the passion as an indispensably delicious part of the human drama. Likely to delight anyone with interest in Mexican history or historical fiction, this is recommended for bookstores and public libraries.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson School Lib., Pebble Beach, CA

Pájaros en la boca.
(Birds in the Mouth)
Schweblin, Samanta.
Mexico: Almadía. 2010. 157p. ISBN 978-607-411-035-7. pap. $17.95. STORIES

The voices in this collection bridge the mundane and the unusual, each presenting a sliver of reality surrounded by silence and mystery and delivered by a vibrant imagination. The voices belong to an ill-tempered painter who draws heads hitting the pavement, a dad telling the story of the daughter who only eats birds, and a driver whose stop on the road becomes a narration of disappeared children. The language is clean, elegant, and eloquent. At the beginning of the stories, Argentinean Schweblin provides us with a narrator and a setting that stay within the rules of realism, but they unfold with tints of surrealism, irony, and a curious sense of the macabre; the tension is built upon secrets dying to be revealed and information that, paragraph by paragraph, offers an odd panorama of choices for the characters. This book, which won the 2008 Casa de las Américas Award, is an excellent read for fans of Edgar Allan Poe, Raymond Carver, or Julio Cortázar. The author’s short stories have been part of numerous anthologies and translated into several languages. Recommended for public libraries with a contemporary Latin American literature collection.—Angela Lang, New York, NY

NONFICTION

El narco: La guerra fallida.
(Narco: The Failed War)
Aguilar, Rubén & Jorge Castañeda.
Mexico/U.S.: Punto de lectura: Santillana. 2009. 143p. ISBN 978-607-11-0315-4. pap. $9.99. CURRENT AFFAIRS

Setting out to show that the ambitious, expensive, and hideously bloody drug war being waged by President Enrique Calderón’s government is based on false premises, Aguilar and Castañeda use decades of surveys and government statistics to topple fallacious popular misconceptions, thus building a rock-solid case for a thesis that has sent shock waves through Mexican society. They show that drug use in Mexico is relatively insignificant by world standards and—contrary to claims—has not grown in recent years; that arms traffic across the U.S. border is much less than it is often made out to be; that Mexico’s general crime rate has not suddenly spiked; and that the violent practices of contemporary drug lords are by no means historically exceptional. Calderón’s drug war is the signature initiative of his presidency, and here the authors suggest that its real motive was to lend legitimacy to an administration that started on dubious footing after an unconvincing win in the 2006 election. Six chapters dissect the very foundations of the administration’s oft-repeated rationale for militarizing the country’s borders and engaging in open warfare with drug gangs nationwide. The collateral damage of the war has amounted to the loss of thousands of lives, say the authors, who cannot be accused of harboring leftist sympathies: both served under Vicente Fox, who preceded the current president and belongs to the same conservative political party. Looking toward other Latin American states for sensible alternatives, they conclude with suggestions that include a more tolerant semitruce with traffickers and a revision of the nation’s policing structure. A bracing read recommended for readers interested in border issues and Mexican governance.—Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA

Arte-Terapia. Cómo poner magia, colores y creatividad a cada día.
(Art Therapy: How To Put Color, Magic, and Creativity into Every Day)
Batlle, Sylvie.
tr. by Pilar Guerrero. Spain: Obelisco (Colección Salud y Vida), dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 105p. illus. ISBN 978-84-9777-587-8. pap. $13.95. ART THERAPY

Art therapy is a way to increase self-knowledge and creativity and a tool for dealing with trauma and other life difficulties. French art therapist Batlle offers an introduction to art therapy and methods for using it to enhance life. She explains the difference between art and art therapy: the former is self-expression and creativity shared with the world, while the latter is personal and used for self-improvement and coping with problems. She also explains how art therapists work with clients to interpret their work and use it for personal growth. The last part of the book covers various art forms and how they may be used therapeutically. Those interested in experimenting may choose an art form that suits them: painting, sculpture, dance, theater, music, and writing are all tools for art therapy. Batlle notes that people interested in trying art therapy on their own may do so if they are not dealing with personal trauma or mental illness. A list of web sites for European art therapy associations offers further information, which are not very useful to Hispanics in the United States. This book will interest those who want to incorporate art therapy into their self-help regime.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA

Madrid y el Prado. Arte y Arquitectura.
(Madrid and the Prado: Art and Architecture)
Borngasser, Barbara & others.
Germany: h.f. ullman. 2010. 383p. photogs. ISBN 978-3-8331-5406-5. $59.99. ART/ARCHITECTURE

When navigating a city, most people naturally gravitate toward certain landmarks and places. Using the famous museum, El Prado, the authors guide the reader through the streets and artworks of Madrid with the museum in clear line of sight. Beginning with full-color photographs of the city, we learn about the historical background of key architectural additions to both the museum and its surrounding area. (Included are architectural blueprints and illustrations that chart the progress of the ever-expanding museum.) The second half of the text is devoted to some of the spectacular and famous artworks in the museum’s permanent collection, from all historical time periods, including contemporary acquisitions. Special attention is given to Spanish artists, and the text illuminates many of histories regarding the provenance of works by Diego Velásquez and Francisco Goya. In addition to information on the artworks themselves, the authors expound on the museum acquisitions process. Stiff but serviceable English translations are provided next to the Spanish-language text. On the whole, this is not an academic book and would be most suited to bookstores or school libraries, with an exception for schools with a museum studies program.—Laura Torres, Somerville, MA

La revolución negra. La rebelión de los esclavos en Haití 1791–1804.
(The Black Revolution: The Rebellion of Haiti’s Slaves, 1791–1804)
Grau, María Isabel.
Mexico: Ocean Sur: Ocean Books. 2009. 147p. ISBN 978-1-921438-34-9. pap. $12.95. HISTORY

At the end of the Haitian Revolution of 1804, this Caribbean island was not only the first country in the Americas to be independent but also the first “black” country in the New World The culmination of these events is the focus of this abridged book, which draws mainly from various historical sources. The book effectively summarizes important events, beginning with the revolts of 1791. At the heart of those rebellions were highly structured racial divisions within Haiti, the wealthiest of the New World colonies at the time of the revolution. Within a relatively short period of time, revolutionary black factions faced the Napoleonic forces in 1801. Their defeat of Napoleon’s army led to the rise to power of black military groups and to the creation of a special political arena that even today affects Haitian politics. Lightly treated here are the importance of voodoo as an expression of social discontent and its handling by some rebels as a political weapon. Of particular interest is the reproduction of important historical texts pertaining to slavery in Haiti, such as the Código negro (Code Noir, i.e., “Black Code”), drafted in 1685. Recommended as an introduction to complex Haitian sociopolitical components.—Rafael Ocasio, Agnes Scott Coll., Decatur, GA

Cipango.
Harris, Tomás.
tr. by Daniel Shapiro.U.S.: Bucknell Univ. Pr. 2010.321p. ISBN 978-0-8387-5734-5. $44.50. POETRY

The work of Harris, lauded in his native Chile and South America with the prestigious Pablo Neruda, Casa de las Américas, and Altazor awards, is stark and lugubrious. The verses are instilled with images of death and fear; they are nautical, buoyant on the imagined sea of the explorers who lusted for gold. The title gathers its meaning from Christopher Columbus’s mistaking the island of Hispaniola for Cipango, Marco Polo’s Japan. Harris wrote the five books that make up this volume during Pinochet’s dictatorship (1973–90), and together with the horrors of the Spanish vessels and the riches of Kublai Khan, the acts of terror unleashed during the dictatorship attain a climactic poignancy (“I’m a beggar woman, a whore,/ the only pearls my teeth,/ my teeth, brothers, that I hoard for the Divine/ in the little silk purse/ of Death smoke/ from the 80’s”). What emerges is an epic odyssey in time, seen through the eyes of the perpetrators, as well as the eyes of the pillaged. Time is strung together by images that resurface—a sun wrapped in cellophane, will-o’-the-wisps, nocturnal butterflies, red fish devouring each other, blue rats—and the tragic citizens of Concepción, who dwell, sometimes lustful and happy, amid the violence and neon of the red-light district. Shapiro’s faithful translations, produced here alongside the Spanish text, do well to mirror Harris’s language acrobatics—from Old Spanish to contemporary to vernacular—and choral cadence. A fine collection; recommended for libraries and bookstores with a contemporary South American poetry collection and wherever current events titles are popular.—Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Palo Alto, CA

Quiúbole con…
(What’s Up With…)
Vargas, Gaby & Yordi Rosado.
Mexico/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2009. 397p. ISBN 978-607-11-0038-2. pap. $20.99. SELF-HELP/YOUNG ADULT

Two of Mexico’s most popular, dynamic, and well-known personalities have collaborated once again to help young adult Latinas face the physical, mental, and social challenges of adolescence. Vargas is Mexico’s expert on etiquette and good manners and has written several best sellers. Rosado is a TV producer, director, and currently host of the funny and madcap talk show, Está Cañón. First published in 2005, this book quickly became one of Mexico’s best-selling books of all time. Vargas and Rosado take a frank, straightforward, yet comforting approach to the embarrassing and puzzling changes happening in a young Latina’s world—her body, mind, sexuality, and relationships. This second edition includes colorful design, quirky illustrations, an interesting layout, and colloquial expressions and is filled with interactive exercises and questions. Part manual, part diary, and part intimate friend, this book will undoubtedly be another best seller; highly recommended for all public libraries and general bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA

¿Quién mató a Rosendo?
(Who Killed Rosendo?)
Walsh, Rodolfo.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2010. 196p. ISBN 978-84-96822-83-2. pap. $23.95. JOURNALISM

Considered a pioneer of investigative journalism, Argentine author, activist, and “Dirty War” casualty (he was murdered in 1977), Walsh analyzes the 1967 shootout that killed political hopeful Rosendo García and two prominent trade unionists in a Buenos Aires café. Originally published in 1968 as a series of articles in a weekly labor union periodical, this uneven account attempts to reassess the evidence surrounding a criminal case tainted by political intrigue and warring labor factions. Walsh’s meticulous scrutiny of the corruption that prevailed during the investigation and subsequent trial is at times fascinating. However, the constant shifts between the author’s voice, court testimonials, and eyewitness accounts create a disjointed narrative. The book’s final section, which describes the labor movement named after García’s alleged murderer, could have provided useful context had it appeared near the beginning. Walsh’s 1957 work, Operación Masacre (“Operation Massacre”; 451 Editores, 2008), recounting the 1956 shooting of a group of political dissidents, better showcases Walsh’s literary talent. Recommended for only academic libraries, scholars of Argentina’s labor movement, and those with an interest in investigative journalism —Pamela Corante, Los Angeles, CA

The Whole Island: Six Decades of Cuban Poetry.
ed. & tr. by Mark Weiss. U.S.: Univ. of California Pr. 2009. 624p. ISBN 978-0-520-25894-5. pap. $29.95. POETRY

Cuba’s poets have always found their place within the constructs of history, yet we remain naïve about these brilliant writers and the works that they have beautifully created, until now. From the depths of the Cuban psyche, editor and translator Weiss delicately gathers six decades of Cuban poetry in this bilingual anthology. This literary feat, an act of opposition to censorship, inevitably presents the works of poets who have had to fight for their independence. While many Cuban writers were forced into exile, their literature somehow flourished on the island and across the sea, becoming a force in the midst of war and communism. Despite ill-timed acts of bigotry and the crude editing imposed by the Cuban government, they prevailed, candidly sharing their messages at a time when homosexuality was outlawed and antirevolutionary opinions were suppressed. Represented within this book are poets from the mid-1900s to the present, such as Nicolás Guillén, Cintio Vitier, Nancy Morejón, and many others. This is a prized collection of Cuban poetry. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores.—Rick Villalobos, Villa Park P.L., IL

ALSO IN TRANSLATION

FICTION

A la deriva.
(Dead Reckoning)
Sholevar, Bahman.
tr. by author. U.S.: Concourse Pr. Corp. 2009. 328p. ISBN 978-0-911323-22-1. $20. FICTION

Sholevar’s postmodern novel tells the story of a family, already dysfunctional, that is further torn apart by the disappearance and probable murder of the eldest son, a known leftist revolutionary. The protagonist is the murdered man’s little brother, who is just a teenager in Tehran when this happens. The novel chronicles his journey to America and back home 15 years later, as he is left without any solid ground upon which to stand. This novel has all the ingredients to hook readers—a political drama that becomes a quest to discover the Self. However, as compelling as the story itself is, the poorly translated Spanish proved far too much of a distraction. From grammatical errors (e.g., “delator y informador” should read “delator e informador”) to awkward syntax (e.g., “Llama a mamá cada día a ver si está bien” should be “Llama a mamá todos los días para asegurarte que está bien”) and tense shifts, the writing feels weighed down, clunky (in part owing to icky literal translations), transforming the reading into a task rather than pleasure, especially given the heavy subject matter. Therefore, though the story is intriguing and readers should by all means look into the author’s work, this translation is not recommended—at least not until a revised version is available.—Vivian Gómez, Brooklyn, NY

País de espías.
(Spook Country)
Gibson, William.
tr. by Rafael Marín Trechera. Spain: Plata negra: Urano, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 380p. ISBN 978-84-936960-4-7. pap. $22.95. FICTION

The characters in Gibson’s novel live in the present, but the future is catching up to them faster than to the rest of us. Hollis Henry, the former lead singer of a cult rock band who has turned to journalism to make a living, gets an assignment from a mysterious magazine so new that it doesn’t even exist yet. The story, about an underground art movement, leads her to investigate a mysterious shipping container whose unknown contents have attracted a Belgian billionaire, a family of Cuban spies, and the U.S. government. Thrown into the mix are such surreal details as Santería coexisting with sophisticated computer codes and instant messaging in a makeshift Cyrillic, not to mention a virtual giant squid. Part thriller, part spy novel, part speculative fiction, Gibson’s provocative work is like nothing you have ever read before. Highly recommended for public libraries. [LJ 7/1/07]

Los magos.
(The Magicians)
Grossman, Lev.
tr. by Francisco Pérez Navarro. Spain: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 490p. ISBN 978-84-666-3972-9. $26.95. FICTION

Most of us secretly believed as children that we were somehow destined for greatness. Someday there would be a letter delivered by owl or a magical wardrobe, and it would turn out we were the long-lost ruler of a land in eternal winter! Time magazine book critic Grossman (The Codex) explores what it might be like if this really happened. High school senior Quentin is on his way to a college interview when he wanders off the street and ends up transported to another place where it’s still summer. At first he thinks he must be in the land of Fillory, where his favorite childhood books took place, but no, he is actually at a magical college in upstate New York. He passes the entrance exam and decides to skip the rest of senior year and become a wizard instead. In the course of his adventures, he finds out that studying magic is actually insanely difficult and that fighting a war for the royal succession of an alternate world is much less glamorous than it sounds. But this is not quite a “be careful what you wish for” story. Ultimately, being a magician is, in fact, awesome. This is a book for grown-up fans of children’s fantasy. Highly recommended. [LJ 5/1/09]

Si los muertos no resucitan.
(If the Dead Rise Not)
Kerr, Philip.
tr. by Concha Cardeñoso Sáenz. Spain: RBA, dist. by Santillana USA. 2009. 512p. ISBN 978-84-9867-635-8. pap. $23.99. FICTION

British author Kerr sets the action of his sixth Bernie Gunther series in two distinct epochs: prewar Berlin (1934) and Havana 20 years later. Forced off the Berlin police force because of his allegiance to the old Weimar Republic, Bernie is now the Adlon Hotel’s house detective. As the Nazis consolidate power, the survival of the city’s Jews grows more precarious. Bernie gets embroiled in a conflict between corrupt businessmen who aim to profit from the 1936 Olympiad and a beautiful American, Noreen Charalambides, who hopes to derail U.S. participation. By the time the dust settles, Bernie is locked in a stalemate with American mobster Max Reles. Soon, Bernie will have one more murder to solve if he hopes to survive and save those dear to him. This outstanding roman noir will delight readers of detective fiction and historical thrillers alike. [LJ 2/1/10]

El libro del amor.
(The Book of Love)
McGowan, Kathleen.
tr. by Eduardo G. Murillo. Spain: Umbriel, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 540p. ISBN 978-84-89367-72-2. pap. $24.95. FICTION

This second entry in McGowan’s “Magdalene Line” series is sure to please fans and entice new readers enthralled with conspiracy theories. Following her discovery of the Mary Magdalene gospel and the subsequent publication of her fictional account of that discovery, journalist Maureen Paschal and Madgalene scholar Berenger Sinclair receive a mysterious package holding an ancient document written in Latin and in code. Research determines that the diary belonged to a little-known woman from history, Matilda of Tuscany. Her diary reveals Matilda’s participation in a secret Cather society, her marriage to a pope, and her mission to protect what may just be the most important book in history: the teachings of Jesus, written in his own hand. From Rome to France, from the Inquisition to the present, Maureen and Berenger search for clues that will lead them to the brink of danger while they fulfill their own destiny. McGowan is a master storyteller, and her latest will appeal to Da Vinci Code fans. [Recommended for public libraries where Da Vinci Code–like books in Spanish are popular.—Ed.] [LJ 3/1/09]

Cómo ser el señor Lehmann.
(Berlin Blues)
Regener, Sven.
tr. by Valentín Ugarte. Spain: 451 Editores. 2010. 277p. ISBN 978-84-96822-92-4. pap. $26.95. FICTION

More like a lovely dirge than the blues, this novel, set in 1989 just as Berlin’s East-West divide is fading, features Frank Lehmann, nearly 30, examining his slowly dissipating track. He lives in a studio apartment on the West side, works at a bohemian Kreutzberg district bar, has moderate drinking habits and various romances: he judges himself content. However, a tension between Frank’s self-assessment and what we see of his actual encounters drives this gentle book forward. Episodic chapters like “The Dog,” “Mother,” and “A Late Snack” cover precisely what their titles name, in a manner that mirrors Frank’s what-you-see-is-what-you-get nature. By the time the Wall actually falls, “Herr Lehmann” (as friends jokingly call him with mock formality) has made no decisions of any sort, despite very involved internal negotiations. In most books, Frank’s Warholian flatness would come off as pretentious or thin; here it is sweet, if a little cold, and the incidentals of old West Berlin make for a nice backdrop. [PW 5/30/05]

NONFICTION

La mujer que lo tiene todo. Crea tu mejor vida.
(Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most successful Women Do Differently)
Buckingham, Marcus.
tr. by Raquel Monsalve. U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2009. 282p. ISBN 978-1-6025-5241-8. pap. $14.99. SELF-HELP

Buckingham’s appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the more than 100,000 online messages that women posted after the show provided the impetus for writing this book (originally published in English). Women’s reaction to the show vividly illustrated the results of recent studies: women are less happy than they were 40 years ago, they are less happy than men, and they grow more unhappy as they get older. A senior researcher with the Gallup Organization and as head of TMBC, his own management consulting firm, Buckingham has investigated the factors that characterize successful and high-achieving managers and leaders. Here, he responds to the current statistics on women by helping them identify and capitalize on their personal strengths to build a more fulfilling, joyful, and accomplished life. Rather than learn how to better multitask and balance all the competing demands for their time and attention, Buckingham urges women to select a few things that excite them, focus on these, and let go of the rest. He uses the Strong Life Test, available in Spanish at unamejorvidatest.com, to help women identify which of nine roles give them the greatest joy: adviser, caretaker, creator, equalizer, influencer, motivator, pioneer, teacher, or weaver. He briefly describes each role and how to maximize its benefits, offering lessons and summaries at the end of each chapter. This book is filled with personal stories and situations with which women of all ages and backgrounds will identify. Recommended for all public libraries with strong self-help collections and all general bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA

Ignora a todos, y 39 consejos para desarrollar tu potencial creativo.
(Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity)
MacLeod, Hugh.
tr. by María Isabel Merino Sánchez. Spain: Empresa Activa: Urano, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 209. 157p. ISBN 978-84-92452-38-5. pap. $15.95. SELF-HELP

MacLeod has worked in advertising and is a blogger, author, and cartoonist with a twist: his creations start on the backs of business cards. From this, and his many astute observations on modern life and work, was born this book, a compilation of 40 pieces of advice for people who wish to be creative and live a more than ordinary life. He backs up the advice with examples from his own life, people he knows, and examples from famous creative greats throughout history. This advice, down to earth and yet humorous, is a reality check with a dose of inspiration. Those working in creative professions as well as those wanting to pursue a dream on their own time will benefit from MacLeod’s insight. This book can also be read as autobiography of the author’s own life and experiences. Well recommended for a bookstore with a Spanish-language section of personal growth/inspiration.—Marie St. Pierre, Thornton, Colorado

Feliz por dentro, bella por fuera. El revolucionario programa para conseguir una piel perfecta en 9 días.
(The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Whole New You)
Wechsler, Amy.
tr. by Alicia Sánchez Millet. Spain: Urano. 2009. 320p. appendix. ISBN 978-84-7953-725-8. pap. $17.95. BEAUTY

Wechsler, a physician board-certified in both psychiatry and dermatology, here offers a program that combines stress reduction, exercise, good nutrition, and the use of appropriate products for skin care and cosmetic purposes. Her advice is sound: get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, find time to relax, meditate, and enjoy life. She explains the skin’s anatomy and the various types of products and medical procedures available to treat skin problems, such as acne and skin cancers. She notes that the most expensive products are not necessarily the best, advising readers to get a good moisturizer rather than a high-priced night cream. Wechsler highlights common factors, such as stress and lack of sleep, which affect the skin’s condition. She provides information on treatments, listing pros and cons, so that readers can choose what is best for them. The appendixes list factors that contribute to aging and foods that combat depression. A very good self-help book for women who want to take charge and age gracefully, this is likely to be a popular, and public and consumer health libraries will want this for their collections.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA

Amar sin condiciones.
(The AIDS Book)
Hay, Louise L.
tr. by Juan Bastanzo. Spain/U.S.: books4pocket: Urano. 2009. 219p. ISBN 978-84-92801-00-8. pap. $10.95. SELF-HELP

This follow-up to Hay’s best-selling You Can Heal Your Life repeats and further elaborates on her philosophy that self-love can create salutary changes in physical health by applying the theme specifically to AIDS. Hay’s discussion of reincarnation and other issues, however, will comfort sufferers of all varieties of disease, especially those labeled “terminally” ill by the medical establishment. The author believes that AIDS is “a message from the body, the final attempt of one’s own consciousness to communicate”; at the same time, she maintains that worldwide famine and poverty as well as the universal threat of nuclear holocaust are forms of AIDS that affect the whole planet and that will force us to “look at what we are doing on an individual and collective level.” Hay’s methods of safe sex, nutrition, exercise, and of dealing with parents, doctors and hospitals, living wills, and the like are highlighted throughout by case histories of People with Aids (PWAs) “in the process of healing themselves,” who explain what combinations of diet and spiritual exploration they employ. [H]er dual message that the mind is a powerful healer and that we must all take responsibility for our own lives and health has broad appeal. [A classic title with a message still relevant today; recommended for public libraries with large Spanish-language self-help collections.—Ed.] [PW 7/29/88]

Historia de la Biblia.
(Whose Bible Is It?)
Pelikan, Jaroslav.
tr. by Elsa Gómez. Spain: Kairós. 2008. 339p. ISBN 978-84-7245-668-6. pap. $27.95. REFERENCE/RELIGION

Pelikan, Sterling professor emeritus of history at Yale University and author of a number of respected books in the area of Christian belief and tradition (e.g., Jesus Through the Centuries), presents an outstanding introduction to the development, use, and acceptance of the biblical canon over the centuries. As the title suggests, different groups have claimed ownership to the canonization process. Even today, Bibles vary in their content and in their philosophy of translation. Beginning with the long heritage of the oral tradition, then exploring the writing and editing of the biblical texts, Pelikan takes the reader through the process of scripture building with a fluency and ease that is both accessible and understandable to the nonscholar. His treatment of modern critical methods is particularly well done. Pelikan has a sure sense of history and context, surrounding the story with a wealth of detail, including some well-chosen anecdotes that add to the reader’s enjoyment. He appreciates the ways in which tradition and commentary have influenced both the text itself and our understanding of the text, all the while expressing a love for the Bible and a perceptive grasp of the processes that brought it to its current state. This excellent work merits wide circulation and study. [Recommended for academic and large public libraries, as well Christian bookstores.—Ed.] [PW 1/17/05]

¡Vive en armonía! El secreto para atraer la vida que deseas.
(Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want)
Ray, James Arthur.
tr. by Daniel Menezo. Spain: Urano, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 444p. ISBN 978-84-7953-723-4. pap. $23.95. SELF-HELP

Ray’s meteoric rise in the self-improvement field came after two appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2009, Inc. Magazine included his company, James Ray International, on their list of 500 fastest-growing companies, with a 547 percent growth over three years. His presentations, workshops, and retreats became sell-out events that imparted his combination of the mystical/spiritual with the practical/scientific to help people achieve peak performance. This all came crashing down in October 2009, when three people died and 18 people became ill at a Spiritual Warrior Weekend that Ray was leading in Sedona, AZ. In February 2010, he was charged with three counts of manslaughter and is in jail unable to post a $5 million bond. Ray faces up to 37 years in prison if convicted. A best seller when it was published in English in 2008, Harmonic Wealth offers Ray’s take on many of basic self-improvement principles—knowing yourself, setting goals and taking action, taking control of your thoughts, nourishing and exercising your body. While it is, arguably, a good book, and ¡Vive en armonía! is a good translation, the controversy surrounding the author and the methods he uses in his retreats and workshops, make this a low-priority buy for most libraries and bookstores. Recommended only for where there is demand.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA

La práctica de la ley de la atracción.
(The Law of Attraction, Plain and Simple: Create the Extraordinary Life That You Deserve)
Ricotti, Sonia.
tr. by Antonio Cutanda. Spain: Obelisco, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 109p. ISBN 978-84-9777-598-4. $17.95. SELF-HELP

As might be presumed from the titles, [Ricotti uses] Rhonda Byrne’s phenomenally successful The Secret as a springboard to suggest applications to its theory. Ricotti, CEO of a global leadership organization, suggests 11 steps to enjoy freedom and inner peace in every area of life. In a simple, step-a-day format, she helps readers keep goals in mind, let go of the past, and choose friends carefully. Tips include writing a gratitude manifesto, forgiving others, and chasing away inner saboteurs. The beauty of this book is that it’s short, simple, and easy to digest. [A] welcome additions to public libraries. [LJ 8/08]

La cábala y el poder de soñar. Despertar a una vida visionaria.
(Kabbalah and the Power of Dreaming: Awakening the Visionary Life)
Shainberg, Catherine.
tr. by publisher. U.S.: Inner Traditions en español.2009. 220p. ISBN 978-1-59477-326-6. pap. $16.95. RELIGION

Shainberg, a Ph.D. in psychology and student of the renowned Kabbalist Colette Aboulker-Muscat, offers not so much a book “about” the Kabbalah as one from the very “essence” of the traditional Jewish mystical text. Through our dreams, she teaches, we strive for the oneness that lies at the heart of Kabbalah—indeed at the heart of most religions. This universal search for wholeness becomes Shainberg’s primary theme, making this a book for anyone seeking a deeper sense of self. Her personal story of spiritual quest and her references to a life that, at times, was less than ideal make up most of the fascinating introduction. Her candor quickly establishes a trust between author and reader. Her premise, though simple in theory, requires much devotion in practice but little in the way of physical equipment—merely an armchair and a handful of notebooks. Throughout, Shainberg presents a gentle guide to techniques for merging our present conscious selves with the past and future contained within our subconscious. The result: a more unified, creative, complete individual. Shainberg offers the tools to ignite a deep-seated creativity, one that feeds not only the mind, but the soul. [Recommended for public libraries and general bookstores.—Ed.] [PW 3/14/05]

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NONFICTION

El libro de Dios Amor.
(The Book of God Love)
Barrios, Enrique.
Spain: Sirio, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2008. 223p. ISBN 978-84-7808-603-0. $16.95. SPIRITUALITY

Many readers of Barrios’s Ami trilogy claim it as a life-changing read. This book shares a similar tone and message. Here, the conceit is that God speaks directly to the reader about love as the overarching principle governing interactions among all beings and with the divine: “If any path to God does not preach the unity of humanity, the union of the paths toward God, justice for the poor, and respect for nature, it does not lead to God Love.” Numbered stanzas are grouped into chapters with broad themes, such as death, peace, and oneness. The reader’s mood is likely to determine whether chapters are transcendent or insipid. The beauty of the images (“I extend my jewels in the firmament of the night”) and the lyrical prose provide well-disposed readers with an instantaneous sense of tranquility and well-being and carry them deep into another dimension. Like the Book of Psalms, this can be read in one sitting, but alternately, one might let the book fall open where it will or meditate on a single stanza for the day. Professing “love as the supreme law,” Barrios offers a mystical panentheism here will enchant the spiritually inclined. Warmly recommended for bookstores and public libraries where spiritual themes are popular.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA

Sanación personal avanzada. Logrando la salud por ti mismo.
(Advanced Personal Healing: Achieving Health for Yourself)
Schneider, Meir.
tr. by Georgina Turner. Mexico: Pax. 2008. 287p. illus. ISBN 978-968-860-845-6. pap. $18. SELF-HELP

Schneider was born blind to deaf parents in Russia. After his family moved to Israel, he learned Braille but also worked with the Bates Method vision exercises and massage, which helped him gain some eyesight so that ordinary glasses were sufficient. This experience with alternative therapies and self-healing became his life’s work. Here, Schneider shares his story, from early life followed by an account of his training in massage, Yoga, and breathing techniques. He currently runs an alternative medicine clinic in San Francisco and teaches self-healing classes. Featured are sections with specific exercises for a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, muscular dystrophy, eye problems, and shoulder disorders, as well as some to help people maintain health as they age. The author explains the importance of the mind-body connection and body consciousness in the healing process, and he shares his vision for a new type of hospital where patients use these tools to participate actively in their treatment. Stories of people who used these techniques to help heal themselves add a personal dimension. Full of useful techniques for those who wish to integrate alternative therapies into their medical treatment; recommended for public and consumer health libraries serving patrons interested in alternative medicine.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA

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