Starred Reviews: October 2011
By Sarah Dinowitz & Heather McCormackOct 6, 2011
October 2011 brings 63 starred reviews from our two magazine issues and recent Xpress Reviews. First things first: it's impossible not to note the wealth of literary and popular fiction. Fall is the season to showcase award contenders and push holiday gift ideas. See Shelley Shepard Gray's Christmas in Sugarcreek, Erika Marks's Little Gale Gumbo, and Ron Rash's The Cove. And don't miss the YA-centric, graphic novel adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. We've no shortage of war stories either: Peter Hart's Gallipoli, Stephen G. Fritz's Ostkrieg, and David Stevenson's With Our Backs to the Wall, highlighted in Part 1 and Part 2 (pubbing Oct. 15) of our military history roundups.—Heather McCormack
ARTS & HUMANITIES | AUDIO | FICTION | MYSTERY | ROMANCE | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | SOCIAL SCIENCE | SPIRITUAL LIVING
Cosby, Bill (text) & George Booth (illus.). I Didn't Ask To Be Born: (But I'm Glad I Was). Center Street: Hachette. Nov. 2011. c.208p. illus. ISBN 9780892969203. $21.99. TV
This is a book with which everyone can identify on some level; it is humor at its best.
Fricke, John. Judy: A Legendary Film Career. Running Pr. 2011. 352p. illus. index. ISBN 9780762437719. $30. FILM
Fricke's volume brings us never-before-published photos, commentary, and the most complete tribute available to one of the world's best loved stars.
Jefferson, Thomas. The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Extracted Textually from the Gospels in Greek, Latin, French & English. Smithsonian Bks., dist. by Random. Nov. 2011. 200p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9781588343123. $35. REL
With great cultural importance for all readers from preteens through scholars in American studies, biblical studies, or the Enlightenment, as well as general readers.
Lawlor, Veronica. One Drawing a Day: A 6-Week Course Exploring Creativity with Illustration and Mixed Media. Quarry: Quayside. Oct. 2011. 128p. illus. ISBN 9781592537242. pap. $22.99. ART INSTRUCTION
Beginning and experienced artists alike will find that this highly accessible book can boost motivation, strengthen discipline, or even jump-start creativity during a block.
Prain, Leanne (text) & Jeff Christenson (photogs.). Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery. Arsenal Pulp, dist. by Consortium. Oct. 2011. c.408p. illus. index. ISBN 9781551524061. pap. $29.95. FIBER CRAFTS
Part art book, part guide to the art of embroidery, this hefty, lavishly illustrated work is highly recommended for embroidery collections.
Rybczynski, Witold. The Biography of a Building: How Robert Sainsbury and Norman Foster Built a Great Museum. Thames & Hudson, dist. by Norton. Oct. 2011. 240p. illus. index. ISBN 9780500342763. $29.95. ARCHITECTURE
Already, this book is a classic.
Davis-Gardner, Angela. Butterfly's Child. 9 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11 hrs. Recorded Bks. 2011. ISBN 9781449854935. $102.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Recommend this well-written audiobook to fans of literary and historical fiction, as well as for Davis-Gardner's descriptions of pre-World War I America and Japan.
Hill, Susan. The Various Haunts of Men. 12 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 14¾ hrs. AudioGO. 2011. ISBN 9780792774983. $89.95; digital download. M
Narrator Steven Pacey brilliantly captures the voices of the colorful characters of Lafferton-especially the psychopath who offers first-person accounts of his crimes.
Martini, Steve. Trader of Secrets. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11 hrs. Recorded Bks: Harper Audio. 2011. ISBN 9780062095787. $52.75; 10 CDs. retail ed. Harper Audio; digital download. F
This entertaining action fantasy is well read by Dan Woren and recommended for adult audio fiction collections.
Van Natta, Don, Jr. Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11½ hrs. Dreamscape Media. 2011. $44.99; digital download. SPORTS
Highly recommended for libraries with extensive sports biography, women's history, and Americana collections.
Anderton, Jo. Debris. Angry Robot. (Veiled Worlds Trilogy, Bk. 1). Oct. 2011. c.416p. ISBN 9780857661548. pap. $7.99. SF
This accomplished debut novel should enjoy a wide readership.
Avery, Ellis. The Last Nude. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. 2012. c.320p. ISBN 9781594488139. $25.95. F
Absorbing, affecting, and agitating-you'll end up wanting to punch de Lempicka-this work is highly recommended.
Franklin-Willis, Amy. The Lost Saints of Tennessee. Atlantic Monthly. Feb. 2012. c.352p. ISBN 9780802120052. $25. F
In her first novel, Franklin-Willis, winner of an Emerging Writers Grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation, plumbs the depths of family dynamics, compassionately depicting her characters as they struggle with situations over which they have no control.
Gray, Shelley Shepard. Christmas in Sugarcreek: A Christmas Seasons of Sugarcreek Novel. Avon Inspire. Oct. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9780062089762. pap. $16.99. F
Judith's big family and other Sugarcreek residents are lovingly portrayed in this feel-good winner.
Johnstone, William W. with J.A. Johnstone. A Lone Star Christmas. Pinnacle: Kensington. Nov. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780786028498. pap. $6.99. F
A well-paced saga with cattle rustling, bar fights, painful secrets, unrequited love, and a baby born on Christmas day.
Kaaberbøl, Lene & Agnete Friis. The Boy in the Suitcase. Soho Crime. Nov. 2011. c.320p. tr. from Danish by Lene Kaaberbøl. ISBN 9781569479810. $24. F
Readers who hang on will enjoy the fast-paced plot that takes a surprising twist when the multiple story lines are finally connected.
Knight, India. Comfort & Joy. Penguin. Oct. 2011. c.230p. ISBN 9780143119814. pap. $14. F
A cocktail-fueled discussion of men and women, biological clocks, and the myth of the perfect marriage foreshadows the subsequent two Christmases.
Marks, Erika. Little Gale Gumbo. NAL: Penguin Group (USA). Oct. 2011. c.448p. ISBN 9780451234650. pap. $14. F
A debut like this doesn't come along often-this is women's fiction to be savored, just like a bowl of Camille's delicious gumbo.
Mohr, Joshua. Damascus. Two Dollar Radio, dist. by Consortium. Oct. 2011. c.216p. ISBN 9780982684894. pap. $16. F
Reading like a cross between Harry Crews and Armistead Maupin, it has a wacky authenticity and demonstrates the preciousness of life.
Odell, Jonathan. The Healing. Nan A. Talese: Doubleday. Feb. 2012. c.352p. ISBN 9780385534673. $26. F
Bound to be compared to Kathryn Stockett's best-selling The Help, this historical novel relegates its few white characters to distinctly minor status and probes complex issues of freedom and slavery, such as the dangers of an owner's favor, making it more like Dolen Perkins-Valdez's acclaimed Wench.
O'Malley, Daniel. The Rook. Little, Brown. Jan. 2012. c.496p. ISBN 9780316098793. $25.99. F
The heroine is appealing, the villains all monsters or freaks, and something unexpected happens on almost every page.
Penney, Stef. The Invisible Ones. Putnam. Jan. 2012. c.400p. ISBN 9780399157714. $25.95. F
Another stunner from Penney.
Rash, Ron. The Cove. Ecco: HarperCollins. Apr. 2012. c.272p. ISBN 9780061804199. $25.99. F
Rash develops his story masterfully; the large cast of characters is superbly realized, as is the xenophobia that accompanies the war, and Rash brings the various narrative threads together at the conclusion of the novel with formidable strength and pathos.
Rock, Judith. The Eloquence of Blood. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Sept. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780425242971. pap. $15. F
Rock's historical accuracy resonates here, transporting you to 1686 Paris.
Russell, Paul. The Unreal Life of Sergey Nabokov. Cleis Pr. Nov. 2011. c.376p. ISBN 9781573447195. pap. $16.95. F
A story that will make you laugh and smile then breaks your heart, this is a rich tapestry of the human condition.
Sanderson, Brandon. The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel. Tor. Nov. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780765330420. $24.99. FANTASY
This fantasy is not a stale visit to a fondly remembered setting. Rather, it offers a fresh view of how a world can grow, building new dimensions into the best of the old.
Schiavone, Michael. Call Me When You Land. Permanent. Oct. 2011. c.240p. ISBN 9781579622213. $28. F
Readers unafraid of reading about families falling to the bottom and don't mind a stream of four-letter words will enjoy this novel of descent and tentative redemption.
Smith, Mark Allen. The Inquisitor. Holt. Jan. 2012. c.336p. ISBN 9780805094268. $27. F
With some detailed accounts of torture by Geiger and his competitor, Dalton (whose work is less elegant), this is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach.
Umrigar, Thrity. The World We Found. Harper: HarperCollins. Jan. 2012. c.320p. ISBN 9780061938344. $25.99. F
Umrigar will enthrall readers with her deft portrayal of the depth of women's friendships, the many facets of love, and the oh-so-human conundrum-whether to live with one's choices or walk away.
Watson, Larry. American Boy. Milkweed. Oct. 2011. c.224p. ISBN 9781571310781. $24. F
With his graceful writing style, well-drawn characters, and subtly moving plot, Watson masterfully portrays the dark side of small-town America.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Hosseini, Khaled (text) & Fabio Celoni & Mirka Andolfo (illus.). The Kite Runner Graphic Novel. Riverhead. Sept. 2011. 136p. ISBN 9781594485473. pap. $19. F
This beautiful and accessible adaptation with fleshed-out characters should bring Hosseini's compelling story of families and friendship in a torn-apart country to a wider and younger audience.
Bradley, Alan. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel. Delacorte. Nov. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780385344012. $23. M
We find in Flavia an incorrigible and wholly lovable detective; from her chemical experiments in her sanctum sanctorum to her outrage at the idiocy of the adult world, she is unequaled.
Carr, Carol K. India Black and the Widow of Windsor: A Madam of Espionage Mystery. Berkley Prime Crime. Oct. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780425243190. pap. $14. M
Featuring historical authenticity, sharp vocabulary, and plenty of parenthetical asides, this romantic suspense romp delivers both action and guffaws.
Fields, Tricia. The Territory. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Nov. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9780312613785. $24.99. M
Tough and determined to make her way in today's Wild West, Josie is the type of police chief you'd want in your hometown, a gutsy new heroine who would be friends with Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon and probably Lori Armstrong's Mercy Gunderson, too.
Jennings, Maureen. Season of Darkness. McClelland & Stewart. 2011. c.396p. ISBN 9780771043253. pap. $22.95. M
Readers will be swept away by the sagalike tone and the characters' singular problems and traits.
Ritter, Todd. Bad Moon. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9780312622817. $25.99. M
Ritter's second outing (after Death Notice) will captivate readers with a tone reminiscent of John Hart (Down River) and Chelsea Cain (The Night Season).
Goodman, Jo. A Place Called Home. Zebra: Kensington. Dec. 2011. c.416p. ISBN 9780821774182. pap. $6.99. CONTEMPORARY
Realistic, romantic, and infused with plenty of humor, this brilliantly executed, fearlessly sensual first contemporary title from an author who has made her name in historicals is a stunning success.
Brazier, Brendan. Thrive Foods: 200 Plant-Based Recipes for Peak Health. Da Capo Lifelong. Sept. 2011. c.376p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780738215112. pap. $20. COOKING
This book will appeal to not only athletes and vegetarians but anyone who is concerned with eating to reduce personal and environmental stress.
Deacon, Terrence W. Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter. Norton. Nov. 2011. c.544p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780393049916. $29.95. SCI
Appealing to those who enjoy Umberto Eco, Roland Barthes, and Jacques Derrida as well as physical science and neuroscience buffs.
Stevens, Molly (text) & Quentin Bacon (photogs.). All About Roasting: A New Approach to a Classic Art. Norton. Nov. 2011. c.592p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780393065268. $35. COOKING
After reading Stevens's introduction to roasting history, science, and basic principles, cooks of all levels can confidently tackle the book's 150 recipes for roasted meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, vegetables, and fruit.
Washington, Harriet A. Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself-and the Consequences for Your Health and Our Medical Future. Doubleday. Oct. 2011. c.432p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780385528924. $28.95. MED
Extensively documented with minimal scientific jargon, this book is recommended for any reader interested in the future of our health system.
Barnes, H. Lee. When We Walked Above the Clouds: A Memoir of Vietnam. Univ. of Nebraska. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780803234482. $29.95. MILITARY HISTORY
This joins Philip Caputo's A Rumor of War as a haunting and beautifully written book.
Fritz, Stephen G. Ostkrieg: Hitler's War of Extermination in the East. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky. Oct. 2011. c.664p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780813134161. $39.95. HIST
Serious readers and specialists will most appreciate this book, owing to its analysis and extensive documentation.
Graham, Martin F. A Pocket History of the Civil War: Citizen Soldiers, Bloody Battles, and the Fight for America's Future. Osprey. 2011. c.256p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781849085472. $15.95. HIST
Concise and jam-packed but still leavening history-as the best teachers do-by projecting a sense of curiosity with aplomb.
Groom, Winston. Kearny's March: The Epic Creation of the American West, 1846-1847. Knopf. Nov. 2011. c.320p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307270962. $27.95. HIST
Groom is at his best using personal details culled from original sources to spice his capable narrative of the smaller battles, such as the Taos Pueblo uprising in New Mexico and the Battle of San Pasqual near San Diego.
Hall, Kermit L. & Melvil I. Urofsky. New York Times v. Sullivan: Civil Rights, Libel Law, and the Free Press. Univ. of Kansas. 2011. c.232p. index. ISBN 9780700618026. $34.95; pap. ISBN 9780700618033. $17.95. LAW
This is enlightening reading.
Hart, Peter. Gallipoli. Oxford Univ. Oct. 2011. c.560p. index. ISBN 9780199836864. $34.95. HIST
An excellent summary of an iconic campaign, offering many lessons for war planners.
Hughes, Robert. Rome: A Cultural, Visual, and Personal History. Knopf. Nov. 2011. c.512p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780307268440. $35. HIST
Essential for anyone interested in Roman civilization, European history, or armchair travel.
Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar. Nov. 2011. c.512p. illus. index. ISBN 9780374275631. $30. PSYCH
A stellar accomplishment, a book for everyone who likes to think and wants to do it better.
Keneally, Tom. Three Famines: Starvation and Politics. PublicAffairs: Perseus. 2011. c.336p. bibliog. index. ISBN 97811610390651. $27.99. HIST
We can only hope that works such as Keneally's will help policymakers escape the mistakes of the past.
Marlantes, Karl. What It Is Like To Go to War. Atlantic Monthly. 2011. c.224p. ISBN 9780802119926. $25. MILITARY HISTORY
A gutting look into the psyche of a soldier, adding flesh to the often flat and stereotyped personage.
Okerstrom, Dennis R. The Final Mission of Bottoms Up: A World War II Pilot's Story. Univ. of Missouri. (American Military Experience). Oct. 2011. c.260p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780826219480. $29.95. HIST
This is the perfect book for the adult reader who thinks there is nothing new under the sun in World War II histories.
Paddock, Nancy. A Song at Twilight: Of Alzheimer's and Love; A Memoir. Blueroad. 2011. c.302p. illus. ISBN 9780979650949. pap. $18. HEALTH
Paddock shows readers how to appreciate each special-if excruciating-moment of a parent's last years, how to be present with them, and how to accept the heartbreak of a parent in decline.
Pinker, Steven. The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. Viking. Oct. 2011. c.832p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780670022953. $40. PSYCH
A stimulating volume that tackles a big issue with an unusual combination of intellectual rigor and optimism.
Reid, Anna. Leningrad: The Epic Seige of World War II, 1941-1944. Walker. 2011. c.512p. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780802715944. $30. HIST
Especially well researched in Russian sources, this is an agonizing tale that belongs alongside Harrison Salisbury's classic The 900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad.
Stevenson, David. With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918. Belknap: Harvard Univ. 2011. c.670p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780674062269. $35. HIST
This is a monumental study deserving of a wide readership by scholars and generalists alike.
Taylor, Craig. Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now-as Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It, and Long For It. Ecco: HarperCollins. Feb. 2012. c.448p. illus. index. ISBN 9780062005854. $29.99. TRAV
More than a collection of conversations, this book brings London to life as it is-ever changing, ever eternal, ever unforgettable.
Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. Arcade: Skyhorse. Oct. 2011. c.352p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9781611453140. $24.95. MILITARY HISTORY
It's a rare thing to know the outcome of an event yet still feel suspense, frustration, and the gaining of new insight.
West, Jessamyn C. Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide. Libraries Unlimited: ABC-CLIO. 2011. c.250p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781598844535. pap. $40. PRO MEDIA
Librarians who feel lost in the technical revolution will find this book an essential guide to help familiarize themselves with basic computer usage and terms.
Wooldridge, Adrian. Masters of Management: How the Business Gurus and Their Ideas Have Changed the World-for Better and for Worse. HarperBusiness: HarperCollins. Dec. 2011. c.464p. index. ISBN 9780061771132. $29.99. BUS
This is one of the best overviews of management theory in the 20th century.
Chittister, Joan. Happiness. Eerdmans. Oct. 2011. c.234p. ISBN 9780802864819. $20. REL
Chittister's usual excellent and fluent style lends credence to this gentle reminder of the meaning of happiness (and perhaps of life in general).
Frykholm, Amy. See Me Naked: Stories of Sexual Exile in American Christianity. Beacon, dist. by Random. Nov. 2011. c.208p. ISBN 9780807004661. $24.95. REL
A fascinating, troubling, and finally heartening book that subtly shows ways that Christians might reconcile their bodies with their devotion to God.
Winner, Lauren. Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis. HarperOne: HarperCollins. Feb. 2012. c.256p. ISBN 9780061768118. $24.99. REL
A must-have for Winner's readers and fans of Anne Lamott, this title is recommended for educated readers as well as people of faith somewhere in midlife.
This article originally appeared in the newsletter BookSmack! Click here to subscribe.
