Xpress Reviews-The First Look at New Books
Jul 8, 2010Week ending July 9, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Ferraris, Zoë. City of Veils. Little, Brown. Aug. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-316-07427-8. $24.99. F
The brutalized body of a young woman washes up on a Jeddah beach, and an American security guard disappears just after welcoming his wife back to Saudi Arabia. When the victim is identified as Leila Nawar, who flouted religious custom while making provocative films exposing the seamy side of Jeddah and questioning the purity of the Quran, the list of possible suspects grows, eventually turning up a connection to the missing Eric Walker. Working forensics on the murder, Katya Hijazi asks her friend, devout Muslim Nayir Sharqi, for help, and he struggles with his feelings for Katya while becoming involved with Eric's wife.
Verdict A vividly depicted horrific desert sandstorm lifts this sequel to the acclaimed Finding Nouf above the pedestrian. But what is particularly notable here is the description by Ferraris, who once lived in the area with her then-Saudi Palestinian husband, of not only the stifling subjugation of women but also of the difficulties facing religious Muslim men in forging loving relationships. This shines as a revealing portrayal of Saudi culture. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/10.]—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA
Gilmore, Susan Gregg. The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Shaye Areheart: Harmony. Aug. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-307-39503-0. $23. F
Born in 1951 into one of Nashville's oldest families, Bezellia Grove lacks for nothing in the way of pet ponies, fine dolls, and pretty dresses. But her parents are often absent, her mother too fond of the gin bottle and her father practicing medicine and adultery. Her true caretakers are Maizelle, the housekeeper, and Nathaniel, the handyman, both African Americans. When Bezellia meets Nathaniel's son, Samuel, she feels the first stirrings of romantic love. Their interracial association largely draws disapproval. When Samuel enlists and goes off to Vietnam, though Bezellia dates other fellows, she thinks of herself as promised to Samuel. Caring for her sister Adelaide and searching for clues that would explain the lives of her parents, Bezellia grows up grasping for direction.
Verdict Despite certain melodramatic plot premises, Bezellia and the strong African American characters portrayed here will appeal to readers who enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees and other Southern coming-of-age novels. Gilmore's first novel, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, was a winner of the SIBA Book Award.—Keddy Ann Outlaw, retired, Harris Cty. P.L., Houston, TX
Lebenthal, Alexandra. The Recessionistas. Grand Central. Aug. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-446-56367-3. $24.99. F
In her debut novel, Lebenthal makes superb use of her extensive experience as a wealth management analyst and socialite to provide an insider's view of the financial collapse of 2008. In layperson's language she deftly clarifies hedge fund strategies, mortgage-backed securities, and the real-estate bubble and depicts how this house of cards tumbles to threaten the extraordinary lives of Upper East Side fashionistas, some of whom are more aware and resourceful than others. As her husband's wealth plummets from $55 million to $4 million, the clueless and pampered Grigsby Somerset insists that her world of private schools for her children, a house in Southampton, and Christmas in Palm Beach cannot change. The bright and beautiful Harlem-raised Renee Parker, who made her way as a scholarship student through the best schools to Wall Street, discovers her boss, a despicable hedge fund owner in the midst of divorce proceedings, is busily hiding assets as his fortune unravels. Sasha Silver, a savvy entrepreneur with a heart, tries to navigate the sale of her company without hurting her employees.
Verdict This fun and sassy novel delivers satisfying poetic justice in its depiction of the hubris and sense of entitlement that led to the economic downfall of many wealthy New Yorkers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/10.]—Sheila Riley, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, DC
*Long, Julie Anne. I Kissed an Earl. Avon. Jul. 2010. 370p. ISBN 978-0-06-188566-2. pap. $7.99. F
Violet Redmond had been humored for so long by her family, especially by her brothers, that she considers her bored yet intemperate behavior to be acceptable. Her elder brother Lyon had disappeared from their midst a year ago, something to do with that awful Olivia Eversea. Violet overhears sea captain Asher Flint, the newly minted Earl of Ardmay, discussing his search for a pirate called Le Chat and decides the miscreant is her missing sibling (Lyon = lion = big cat). She impetuously stows away on Flint's ship, and when he discovers his surprise "guest," Flint thinks the unbridled Lady Violet needs disciplining. Or does he find her determination and constancy regarding her brother's innocence more appealing than annoying?
Verdict The talented Long (Like No Other Lover) adds to her Redmond/Eversea series with this lushly written story of two strong, steadfast individuals in opposition as they navigate rough waters to finding the truth yet hesitant to acknowledge its repercussions. Long's sumptuous language reveals her protagonists as flawed yet resolute and finally more than open to passion and love. Exquisite for romance fans. One caveat: the quality of the proofreading in this finished edition is well below par; Long and her readers deserve better. [Ebook ISBN 978-0-06-200018-7.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Upson, Nicola. Angel with Two Faces: A Mystery Featuring Josephine Tey. Harper: HarperCollins. Jul. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-06-145157-7. pap. $13.99. M
In Upson's second installment (after An Expert in Murder) featuring real-life mystery novelist Josephine Tey, it is 1935, and a tragic drowning in Cornwall brings Detective Inspector Archie Penrose back to his family's estate. Intending to escape London for a short holiday, Tey joins him there planning to work on her next novel. Rest and relaxation are soon forgotten as the two become entangled in a murder investigation and the disappearance of a local youth. Family secrets abound in this Cornish community, and the duo learn that the truth, so long buried, can be a very dangerous thing. Unexpected plot twists will keep readers thoroughly engaged until the tale's sobering, yet satisfying, conclusion. Upson does a fine job of incorporating snippets of Tey's actual works, but it is not necessary for the reader to be familiar with them to enjoy this mystery. There are deeper themes running through this novel such as the effect of war on an entire generation and how religious faith can help or hinder an individual.
Verdict Fans of classic Golden Age mysteries and detective fiction will find much to like in this engaging and inventive read.—Amy Nolan, MSIS, St. Joseph, MI
Nonfiction
Baker, Lucy. The Boozy Baker: 75 Recipes for Spirited Sweets. Running Pr. Jul. 2010. c.192p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-7624-3802-0. pap. $18.95. COOKING
In her first cookbook, appropriately named food writer and contributing columnist for SeriousEats.com Baker gives lovers of desserts and spirits a book that is one part mixology and three parts baking. She includes 25 recipes for drinks alongside 75 recipes for cakes, pies, cookies, and spoon desserts; each is a classic or original dessert that is infused with an alcohol-spirits, liqueurs, wine, or beer. Desserts run the spectrum from rustic (Fig Galette) to sophisticated (Vin Santo-Vanilla Panna Cotta with Apricot Compote) to a combination of the two (Beer Profiteroles with Chocolate-Beer Sauce), and while some will pack a punch, the alcohol content in others is somewhat negligible. In case your bar isn't well stocked, most recipes include alcohol substitutions. The index contains entries for alcohols by type-useful for using up that bottle of crème de menthe.
Verdict Featuring drinks and a broad variety of desserts, this grown-up baker's delight is a good choice for libraries with limited budgets. Krystina Castella and Terry Lee Stone's Booze Cakes (reviewed below) is a good complement.—Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR
Bellesiles, Michael A. 1877: America's Year of Living Violently. New Pr., dist. by Perseus. Aug. 2010. c.400p. index. ISBN 978-1-59558-441-0. $26.95. HIST
Emphasizing that America, despite its professed ideals, has an enduring legacy of antagonism toward "the other," the controversial Bellesiles (Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture) turns to a time of intense social, cultural, and intellectual turmoil in America. This was the year of the Great Railroad Strike, but Bellesiles also considers the impact of the disputed 1876 presidential election, the end of Reconstruction, economic depression, battles between the army and Plains Indians, and entrepreneurial events such as the forming of the Bell Telephone Association. Thus, he faces the challenge of making the case for one year being historically pivotal, even transformative. He sketches villains and heroes, famous and obscure, from Crazy Horse, Susan B. Anthony, and E.L. Godkin to the surprisingly radical Rutherford B. Hayes, women's health pioneer Mary Putnam Jacobi, and Louisiana black political activist Henry Adams, with the goal of letting them speak for themselves. He contends that class replaced race as the main area of American social conflict.
Verdict Interested, discerning readers with backgrounds in history are invited to examine this work, which combines thematic, narrative, and interpretive strains, revealed in pungent and subjective phrasing. It can be compared to older titles such as Robert V. Bruce's 1877: Year of Violence and Philip Foner's The Great Labor Uprising of 1877.—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress
Castella, Krystina & Terry Lee Stone. Booze Cakes: Confections Spiked with Spirits, Wine, and Beer. Quirk. Jul. 2010. 144p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-59474-423-5. pap. $16.95. COOKING
Castella (Crazy About Cupcakes) and graphic designer Stone have mixed the art of the cocktail with the science of baking in this charming cookbook. Filled with intoxicating color photographs and an easy-to-read layout, it contains over 40 recipes with numerous variations for cakes of all kinds. The introduction contains an overview of spirits along with a chart that delineates how much alcohol remains in a cake after baking. Each recipe features a series of icons to identify at a glance the type of cake, number of servings, baking time, occasion, and "Booze Meter." Chapters feature recipes for classic booze cakes (Golden Rum Cake), original recipes based on cocktails (Harvey Wallbanger Cake), cake shots (Blue Hawaii Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes), and classic cakes spiked with alcohol. The final chapters include easy recipes for homemade Irish cream, limoncello, and other liqueurs, as well as garnishes and frostings.
Verdict Lucy Baker's The Boozy Baker (reviewed above) is a broader choice for libraries that can only afford one book for bakers who wish to satisfy their sweet tooth and enjoy an after-dinner drink, but the recipes here are more appealing and refined.—Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR
Gentry, J. Richard. Raising Confident Readers: How To Teach Your Child To Read and Write-from Baby to Age Seven. Da Capo Lifelong. Aug. 2010. c.256p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-7382-1397-2. pap. $14.95. ED
This is the first of Gentry's activity-based books (e.g., Breaking the Code: The New Science of Beginning Reading and Writing; Breakthrough in Beginning Reading and Writing) that puts teaching tools in the hands of parents. He focuses on five developmental phases to help prekindergarten learners toward independent reading and writing. After providing data to support his assertion that literacy initiatives should be started as early as possible, Gentry offers sample activities to help parents determine which phase best fits their child. Chapters devoted to each phase cover recommended materials, lessons, activities, charts, illustrations, and checklists to help measure progress. The final chapter covers answers to frequently asked questions; parents whose children have fallen behind in their literary development will find this section most useful.
Verdict Gentry provides concrete teaching examples that are easy to implement; his user-friendly lessons offer opportunities for parents to have fun with children while they learn. Cross-references to appropriate chapters allow parents to customize activities to best fit their children's needs. Recommended for public and school libraries.—Karen McCoy, Farmington P.L., NM
His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together. Doubleday. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 978-0-385-52505-3. $25. REL
The Dalai Lama begins his latest work by recognizing that all religions share compassion as a basis for living an exemplary life. He devotes several chapters to something of a religious travelog in which he reminisces about his personal meetings with leaders and members of other faiths around the world, as well as his participation in various religious events and visitations to many holy places. Through these travels, he illustrates his assertions that compassion lies at the heart of all faiths and that each, though distinct, has value and has provided inspiration throughout history to millions of practitioners. His call to compassion, whether as a theistic injunction to provide succor to one's fellow beings or a nontheistic recognition of the basic kinship of all life, can be the basis for individuals and leaders to work together to confront the myriad ills that face our world.
Verdict While the general ideas expressed here are not new, the Dalai Lama's thoughtful arguments will prove of interest to many readers whether they be fellow Buddhists or of another faith or without religious convictions.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Kupchik, Aaron. Homeroom Security: School Discipline in an Age of Fear. New York Univ. Aug. 2010. c.288p. index. ISBN 978-0-8147-4820-6. $35. ED
In today's post-Columbine world, schools are trying to ward off such tragedies with zero-tolerance policies that can lead to questionable expulsions. According to Kupchik (sociology & criminal justice, Univ. of Delaware; Judging Juveniles), schools are imposing policies that just don't work-they're overreacting to all perceived threats, ignoring the real problems students have, and teaching the wrong lessons about actions and consequences. Kupchik, who studied four schools in two regions of the country, writes that the policies in place can actually increase student misbehavior and put at-risk students at greater risk. He provides numerous examples of real-life situations from these and other schools, reinforcing his arguments against current policies. He also notes what schools are doing right. Kupchik offers several solutions to changing school discipline and improving school safety, such as allowing students to be part of the rule-making process and helping teachers improve their classroom management skills.
Verdict Both seasoned and rookie educators will find Kupchik's suggestions simple and sound. And parents may discover some do's and don'ts for home discipline.—Terry Christner, Hutchinson P.L., KS
