Starred Reviews: November 2011—Anglophilia & Holiday Cookbook Boom
By Sarah Donowitz & Heather McCormack Nov 3, 2011November 2011 brings 57 starred reviews from our two issues and recent Xpress Reviews. Perhaps because I'm headed for the shores of Albion again, I couldn't help but notice a streak of Anglophilia. Many long awaited the centennial edition of J.M. Barrie's The Annotated Peter Pan. See also the coffee-table-ready Vauxhall Gardens and Great Gardens of Britain. The late David Foster Wallace's Pale King gets a fine audio treatment, and the preholiday cookbook boom continues via Vegan Pie in the Sky and Momofuku Milk Bar.—Heather McCormack
ARTS & HUMANITIES | AUDIO | CHRISTIAN FICTION | FICTION | GRAPHIC NOVELS | MYSTERY | REFERENCE | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | SOCIAL SCIENCES
Barrie, J.M. The Annotated Peter Pan: The Centennial Edition. Norton. 2011. c.504p. ed. by Maria Tatar. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780393066005. $39.95. LIT
Bibliophiles and casual readers alike, and of course all who love Peter Pan or are fascinated by his creator, will want this gem.
Coke, David & Alan Borg. Vauxhall Gardens: A History. Yale Univ. (Studies in British Art). 2011. 400p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300173826. $95. FINE ARTS
Simply a beautiful book, well written and stylishly produced, this is a grand contribution to the social and cultural history of London, offering that rare combination of scholarly and captivating prose.
Do It Yourself Kitchens: Stunning Spaces on a Shoestring Budget. Wiley. (Better Homes and Gardens). 2011. 192p. illus. index. ISBN 9781118031629. pap. $19.99. DIY
With spending breakdowns, stunning before-and-after shots, and lots of tips that make big differences, this book has wide appeal.
Dubin, Lois Sherr (text) & Steven Jenner (photogs). Adornment: The Art of Barbara Natoli Witt. Hudson Hills, dist. by National Bk. Network. 2011. 162p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781555953348. $50. DEC ARTS
This beautiful work shows what it means to work as a talented, driven, and successful artist and should be an inspiration to artists everywhere.
Fong-Torres, Ben. Eagles: Taking It to the Limit. Running Pr. 2011. 192p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 9780762439843. $30. MUSIC
Because Fong-Torres was so close to the band, this is kind of an insider's story and a fan's appreciative notes rolled into one, accompanied by stunning photographs.
Matteson, John. The Lives of Margaret Fuller: A Biography. Norton. Jan. 2012. c.384p. illus. index. ISBN 9780393068054. $32.95. LIT
A great read for anyone interested in extraordinary women in our literary and women's history.
Naef, Weston & Christine Hult-Lewis. Carleton Watkins: The Complete Mammoth Photographs. Getty Museum. Nov. 2011. 608p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781606060056. $195. PHOTOG
A monumental achievement in the pictorial historiography of 19th-century America, loaded with new images and data, this will be an indispensable resource for students of photography and U.S. history.
Palmisano, Joanne (text) & Susan Teare (photogs.). Salvage Secrets: Transforming Reclaimed Materials into Design Concepts. Norton. 2011. 256p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780393733396. $39.95. INTERIOR DESIGN
Palmisano's purpose is design inspiration for amateurs looking for an individual, green alternative for building materials.
Peters, Eric. Road Hogs: Detroit's Big, Beautiful Luxury Performance Cars of the 1960s and 1970s. Motorbks: Quayside. 2011. 160p. illus. index. ISBN 9780760337646. $35. SPORTS
A guaranteed conversation starter among baby boomers, especially those who learned how to parallel park in one of these mile-long cruisers.
Post-Quinn, Alasdair. Extreme Double Knitting: New Adventures in Reversible Colorwork. Cooperative Pr. Nov. 2011. c.199p. illus. ISBN 9780979201776. $29.95. FIBER CRAFTS
The designs are gorgeous, and the complexity will make your head spin-until you read Post-Quinn's in-depth, easy-to-follow instructions, which make the prospect of multicolored double knitting with cables seem downright unintimidating.
Ribowsky, Mark. Howard Cosell: The Man, the Myth, and the Transformation of American Sports. Norton. Nov. 2011. c.512p. photogs. ISBN 9780393080179. $29.95. SPORTS
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in U.S. sports and broadcasting history.
Sullivan, John Jeremiah. Pulphead: Essays. Farrar. Nov. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780374532901. pap. $16. LIT
This new study is essential for academic collections and for readers wishing to seriously extend beyond Shakespeare their knowledge of this literary era.
Trillin, Calvin. Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff. Random. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9781400069828. $27. HUMOR
Tales of Trillin's childhood and his late wife, Alice Stewart Trillin, are located throughout the collection. Astute readers will appreciate this compilation of witty commentaries.
Sandford, John. Buried Prey. 9 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11 hrs. Recorded Bks. 2011. ISBN 9781456121167. $102.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 9 CDs. retail ed. Penguin Audio; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Wonderfully performed by Richard Ferrone and featuring a well-written, compelling, and quick-paced narrative, this entry in the Prey series stands on its own but will surely please series fans.
Wallace, David Foster. The Pale King. 16 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 19 hrs. Hachette Audio from AudioGO. 2011. ISBN 9781609417321. $110.99; 16 CDs. retail ed. Hachette Audio; Playaway digital; digital download. F
The Pale King is overwhelming, messy, and seriously funny.
Wasdin, Howard E. & Stephen Templin. SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9½ hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2011. ISBN 9781441786319. $90; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 8 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. MEMOIR
Fans of military memoirs will find both the book and presentation compelling.
Wodehouse, P.G. My Man Jeeves. 4 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 5 hrs. AudioGO. 2011. ISBN 9780792777038. $39.95; 4 CDs. library/retail eds. Blackstone Audio; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Highly recommended for all Anglophiles and anyone who enjoys British humor.
Coffey, Billy. Paper Angels. FaithWords: Hachette. Nov. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9780446568234. $18.99. CF
Those who enjoyed William P. Young's The Shack for its spiritual themes will also revel in Andy's story.
Wiehl, Lis with Pete Nelson. Waking Hours. Thomas Nelson. (East Salem Trilogy, Bk. 1). 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781595549402. $26.99. CF
Partnering with Nelson, Wiehl, author of the "Triple Threat" series, launches an exciting faith-based series that skillfully blends romantic tension, gripping supernatural suspense, and a brutal crime.
Bourne, Joanna. The Black Hawk. Berkley Sensation: Penguin Group (USA). Nov. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780425244531. pap. $7.99. F
Beautifully flawed, intensely human characters, a deadly puzzle, and a love that survives incredible odds combine to make this another emotionally riveting page-turner from Bourne (The Forbidden Rose), whose novels always deliver.
Delaney, Edward J. Broken Irish. Turtle Point, dist. by Consortium. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9781933527505. pap. $18.50. F
A masterpiece; highly recommended for a wide audience.
Duffy, Erin. Bond Girl. Morrow. Feb. 2012. c.304p. ISBN 9780062065896. $24.99. F
Despite financial details that may make your head spin and a workplace that will make your stomach churn, Duffy's fresh take on the single-in-the-city tale does a terrific job of reviving chick lit (not every girl works in publishing or PR, after all).
Johnson, Adam. The Orphan Master's Son. Random. Jan. 2012. c.464p. ISBN 9780812992793. $26. F
Readers who enjoy a fast-paced political thriller will welcome this wild ride through the amazingly conflicted world that exists within the heavily guarded confines of North Korea.
Keifetz, Mandy. Flea Circus: A Brief Bestiary of Grief. New Issues: Western Michigan Univ. Jan. 2012. c.202p. ISBN 9781936970049. $26. F
The experience of Keifetz's second novel (after Corrido) is less like reading a book than having a frighteningly intimate conversation over coffee.
Lee, Krys. Drifting House. Viking. Feb. 2012. c.224p. ISBN 9780670023257. $25.95. F
Readers in search of exquisite short fiction beyond their comfort zone—groupies of Jhumpa Lahiri (Unaccustomed Earth) and Yoko Tawada (Where Europe Begins)—will thrill to discover Lee's work.
MacAvoy, R.A. Death and Resurrection. Prime. Dec. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781607012863. pap. $14.95. FANTASY
A lyrical and remarkable tale of spiritual awakening.
Miller, Madeline. The Song of Achilles. Ecco: HarperCollins. Mar. 2012. c.384p. ISBN 9780062060617. $25.99. F
Miller's degrees in Latin and Greek as well as her passion for the theater and the history of the ancient world have given her the tools to create a masterly vision of the drama, valor, and tragedy of the Trojan War.
Morgan Jones, Chris. The Silent Oligarch. Penguin Pr: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. 2012. c.336p. ISBN 9781594203190. $25.95. F
With a mysterious, complex plot and terrific local color, this novel resonates to the pounding heartbeats of the boldly drawn main characters.
O'Connell, Carol. The Chalk Girl. Putnam. Jan. 2012. c.384p. ISBN 9780399157745. $25.95. F
O'Connell offers more than a suspenseful tale; she portrays a complex world of dark and light, corruption and love, in a New York City that retains its grittiness.
Palmer, Daniel. Helpless. Kensington. Feb. 2012. c.416p. ISBN 9780758246653. $25. F
Palmer scores again with a terrific thriller that has it all-murder, drugs, kidnapping, techno-mayhem, romance, manly ex-Navy SEAL exploits, and a burgeoning father-daughter relationship.
Rees, Rod. The Demi-Monde: Winter. Morrow. Jan. 2012. c.528p. ISBN 9780062070340. $26.99. SF
Strong characters, along with the clever interweaving of seemingly disparate plot threads, make this a standout selection for fans of high-tech sf and cyberfiction.
Sherman, Susan. The Little Russian. Counterpoint. Jan. 2012. c.384p. ISBN 9781582437729. $25. F
Berta is a fascinating mix of petty vanity, devoted parenting, and breathtaking courage, fleshed out with cinematic detail that's both irresistible and spectacularly illuminating.
African-American Classics: Stories and Poems from America's Earliest Black Writers. Eureka. (Graphic Classics, Vol. 22). Dec. 2011. c.144p. ed. by Tom Pomplun & Lance Tooks. ISBN 9780982563045. pap. $17.95. LIT
All the selections are compelling and evocative owing to the successful partnership between the art and the text.
The Best American Mystery Stories 2011. Mariner: Houghton Harcourt. 2011. c.432p. ed. by Harlan Coben. ISBN 9780547553962. pap. $14.95. M
This is the perfect way for mystery fans to try newer voices in the field or to stretch their comfort level for subgenre reading.
Draine, Betsy & Michael Hinden. Murder in Lascaux. Terrace: Univ. of Wisconsin. Nov. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9780299284206. $26.95. M
With the cooking school component, this multifaceted read will hold great appeal for art, food, travel, and, oh yes, mystery readers.
Nickson, Chris. Cold Cruel Winter: A Richard Nottingham Mystery. Crème de la Crime: Severn House. Nov. 2011. c.224p. ISBN 9781780290058. $28.95. M
With its accessible language and likable supporting characters, this stunning historical will just as easily appeal to contemporary thriller fans.
Fayaz, Ahmed. Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants: The Identification and Cultivation of Over 3000 Tropical Plants. Firefly. 2011. 720p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781554074891. $75. REF
This is likely to become the standard guide for tropical plants.
Lavin, Stephen J. & others. Atlas of the Great Plains. Univ. of Nebraska. 2011. 335p. illus. maps. bibliog. ISBN 9780803215368. $39.95. REF
Whether paired with Wishart's encyclopedia or not, this distinctive and handsomely produced atlas is highly recommended as an invaluable reference resource for public and academic libraries, and it will enthrall all those with a special interest in North America's heartland.
Armitage, Allan M. Armitage's Garden Perennials. 2d ed. Timber. 2011. 348p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781604690385. $49.95. GARDENING
Because of its extensive selection and candid editorial notes, this reference source is highly recommended for all levels of gardeners.
Boston Women's Health Book Collective. Our Bodies, Ourselves. 9th ed. Touchstone: S. & S. 2011. c.848p. ed. by Kiki Zeldes & others. illus. index. ISBN 9781439190661. pap. $26. HEALTH
This is still the bible for women's health; an outstanding resource that belongs in all health collections.
Clegg, Brian. How To Build a Time Machine: The Real Science of Time Travel. St. Martin's. Dec. 2011. c.320p. index. ISBN 9780312656881. $25.99. SCI
An engaging read, highly recommended for the armchair physicist of the Michio Kaku school of popular science.
Fascinating Mathematical People: Interviews and Memoirs. Princeton Univ. 2011. c.328p. ed. by Donald J. Albers & Gerald L. Alexanderson. photogs. index. ISBN 9780691148298. $35. MATH
Strongly recommended for readers interested in mathematics and anyone wanting to understand the creative process.
Moskowitz, Isa Chandra & Terry Hope Romero. Vegan Pie in the Sky: 75 Out-of-This-World Recipes for Pies, Tarts, Cobblers, and More. Da Capo Lifelong. Nov. 2011. c.224p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780738212746. pap. $17. COOKING
Expect demand for this book, which vegans will reach for as often as other bakers consult Ken Haedrich's Pie.
Multiple Sclerosis: The Questions You Have, the Answers You Need. 5th ed. Demos. Dec. 2011. c.350p. ed. by Rosalind C. Kalb. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781936303168. pap. $24.95. HEALTH
A most worthwhile resource for people with MS, their families and caregivers, and the medical and other support staff who work with them.
Shearer, Christine. Kivalina: A Climate Change Story. Haymarket. 2011. 240p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9781608461288. pap. $16. SCI
Highly recommended for high school, college, university, and public libraries.
Tosi, Christina. Momofuku Milk Bar. Clarkson Potter: Crown Pub. Group. 2011. c.256p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780307720498. $35. COOKING
A challenging but approachable book, highly recommended for ambitious home cooks.
Van der Linden, F. Robert (text) & Dane A. Penland & others (photogs.). The Nation's Hangar: Aircraft Treasures of the Smithsonian. Smithsonian Bks., dist. by Random. Nov. 2011. c.254p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781588343161. pap. $29.95. SCI
This splendidly crafted pictorial tribute to a national treasure will appeal to the full spectrum of aviation scholars, collectors, and dedicated buffs.
Zabar, Tracey (text) & Ellen Silverman (photogs.). One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes. Rizzoli, dist. by Random. 2011. 192p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780847836666. $30. COOKING
With contributions from Dorie Greenspan, Michael Laiskonis, Maury Rubin, Laurent Tourondel, and others, this delightful book is perfect for readers who can't decide among other recently published titles.
Attlee, Helena (text) & Alex Ramsay (photogs.). Great Gardens of Britain. Frances Lincoln, dist. by PGW. 2011. 144p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9780711231344. $29.95. TRAV
Whether you're an armchair voyager or planning an actual garden visit, this book will bewitch!
Brizendine, Judy. Stunned by Grief: Remapping Your Life When Loss Changes Everything. BennettKnepp. 2011. c.296p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780983168812. pap. $18.95. SELF-HELP
This book will comfort and support anyone new to grief and will serve as a companion in times of loneliness.
Costigliola, Frank. Roosevelt's Lost Alliances: How Personal Politics Helped Start the Cold War. Princeton Univ. Jan. 2012. c.544p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780691121291. $35. HIST
This book offers a provocative psychological thesis on leadership and diplomacy that contributes to understanding the origins of the Cold War.
Edgerton, David. Britain's War Machine: Weapons, Resources, and Experts in the Second World War. Oxford Univ. 2011. c.464p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780199832675. $34.95. HIST
Perhaps Edgerton depends too much on hindsight to show that the war's outcome was inevitable. Still, this impressively documented book should generate a lot of discussion.
Judt, Tony with Timothy Snyder. Thinking the Twentieth Century. Penguin Pr: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2012. c.448p. index. ISBN 9781594203237. $35. HIST
We may never have the full history Judt intended to write, but this marvelous précis, vibrantly alive, rich, and piquant, is one last gift from an exceptional public intellectual.
Moody, Wesley. Demon of the Lost Cause: Sherman and Civil War History. Univ. of Missouri. Dec. 2011. c.192p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780826219459. $30. HIST
A well-researched and concisely penned work, offering progressive Civil War historiography that's sharply focused through the life of one of this country's most enigmatic and evocative military figures.
Pillemer, Karl. 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans. Hudson Street. Nov. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9781594630842. $25.95. SELF-HELP
The author skillfully weaves a prevailing theme (e.g., parenting, aging fearlessly) with self-disclosing statements from interviewees to create a compelling, inspirational book.
Soufan, Ali H. with Daniel Freedman. The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda. Norton. 2011. 608p. ISBN 9780393079425. $26.95. INT AFFAIRS
The best and most original book published in the West on al-Qaeda, this is highly recommended.
Taylor, Timothy. The Instant Economist: Everything You Need To Know About How the Economy Works. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. 2012. c.272p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780452297524. pap. $16. ECON
This highly readable, nonpoliticized look at some of the economic principles that shape our society, presented in an engaging, anecdotal fashion, is highly recommended for armchair economists and anyone with a general interest in the state of our economy.
