September Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
Sep 17, 2010Edited by Aída Bardales
FICTION
Los últimos días de La Prensa.
(The Last Days of La Prensa)
Bayly, Jaime.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana (Colección Bayly). 2010. 434p. ISBN 9781616050924. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Originally published in 1996, Bayly's third novel is considered by some the work that best showcases his flair for the satirical and the literary. Beginning with his debut, No se lo digas a nadie, and through 2009's El cojo y el loco, Bayly's oeuvre can be wedged somewhere between social satire and literary realism, always dispensing just the right amount of each to create a narrative arc. And Last Days is no exception. At its very best, this work, as told through the eyes of the 15-year-old Diego Balbi, is a product of Bayly's wild imagination, brought to life by the dialog-driven prose and rich literary styling. Inspired by Bayly's own tenure during 1980-83 at Peru's conservative newspaper La Prensa and peopled by a colorful cast of characters (a coquettish secretary, Patty; a traditional church-going grandmother, doña Inés Tudela; a disgruntled farm laborer, don Rafael Tudela; and the international bureau chief of the newspaper, old man Zamorano), this novel never stumbles or misses a beat, thanks in large part to Bayly's ability to find humor in the goings-on. In this edition's new prolog, Bayly admits that most of these experiences were written out of fragmented memories, particular moments in his life as a15-year-old who was sent to live with his grandparents against his will. A testament to the author's gifts as a writer, even if Bayly himself doesn't think that it was his best work (he says so in the prolog); recommended for general Latin American fiction collections.-Michael Sosa, Brooklyn, NY
Crónica del desamor.
(Chronicle of Disaffection)
Montero, Rosa.
Spain/U.S.: Punto de Lectura: Santillana. 2010. 258p. ISBN 9788466324007. pap. $11.99. FICTION
Originally published in 1979, Montero's first novel provides a sensational portrait of life in Madrid during Spain's miraculous transition from Franco's authoritarian regime to a democratic constitutional monarchy. After so many years of repression, single mother and magazine editor Ana and her friends should be pardoned for their hedonistic and rather messy lifestyles. In 14 chronicles, we observe drug use, adultery, pregnancies and abortions, and violence (what is going on in that downstairs apartment?). Aristotle's claim that happiness is virtue finds no takers here, and mostly what we see is a nagging discontent in the complex characters, despite all the frenetic attempts at happiness. On one level, the specific context of the Transition colors the sensibilities, gender dynamics, social networks, and professional lives of the characters. On another-bookstores and public libraries take note-this is a Spanish Sex in the City-like story, with which many thirtysomethings who are making the transition to adulthood will identify-Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
Libro del fútbol y otros juegos de pelota.
(Book of Soccer and Other Ball Games)
Nacach, Pablo, ed.
Spain: 451 Ediciones. 2010. 253p. illus. ISBN 9788492891047. $29.95. FICTION
For avid World Cup fans ruefully contemplating the four years before the next tournament, this book may help fill the gap left by Xavi, Forlán, and Messi. Nacach, the editor of this homage to soccer, has gathered 18 stories of ball games by celebrated authors from around the world to create a "dream team" of an anthology. The stories are taken from predominantly English and Spanish works, which date from the 16th century to the present day and include offerings by Mario Benedetti, Osvaldo Soriano, and Camilo José Cela, among others. Not every story is related to soccer; Included here is the fantastical croquet game in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, as is an excerpt from Homer's Odyssey, thanks to a very tenuous ball-throwing incident. Other stories will introduce readers to a variety of modern soccer writers, and the book is beautifully presented, with many color illustrations. While it is unclear to whom this book will appeal, the wide variety of stories may mean that it is more for dipping into, which should not detract from the artistic presentation and the centuries-old enjoyment of the "beautiful game."-Alison Hicks, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder
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El retorno de Los Tigres de la Malasia.
(The Return of the Malaysian Tigers)
Taibo II, Paco Ignacio.
Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 330p. ISBN 9786070703713. pap. $19.95. FICTION
Taibo II is best known for his Hector Belascoarán Shayne detective novel series, set in Mexico City. His latest is a labor of love that brings new life to the adventure novel genre he cherished as a boy. One of his favorite authors was Emilio Salgari, a prolific Italian writer of adventure tales. (Many spaghetti Westerns were based on Salgari's stories.) The Malaysian Tigers were his creation-swashbuckling pirates capable of amazing feats of derring-do in the interest of truth and justice. Taibo II decided not to write his novel as if it were a long-lost Salgari manuscript but rather in his style. Thus, he takes Salgari's heroes, Yañez de Gomara and Sandokán, out of retirement when they discover a grisly murder scene involving a dear friend's young daughters. They are then led on a merry chase, reminiscent of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, having no idea who is persecuting them. The conspiracy and mayhem that ensue involve insidious poisons, ciphers from the "oldest Chinese man in the world," battles using exotic weaponry, and, historical figures and events from the second half of the 19th century, such as José Martí and the Paris Commune. The novel is divided into three parts and written in easily accessible short chapters, and Taibo II makes it a glorious ride. It will be popular with PIT II fans and all readers who love adventure novels. This is a clear choice for all public libraries and bookstores; optional for academic libraries.-Sara Martínez, Hispanic Resource Ctr., Tulsa City-Cty. Lib. Syst. OK
El último lector.
(The Last Reader)
Toscana, David.
Mexico/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 182p. ISBN 9786071104137. pap. $16.99. FICTION
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Toscana's last reader is old Lucio, the long unpaid librarian-by-default in an arid little town in the Mexican state of Nuevo León where no one else has any use for books. A painstakingly critical reader, the librarian condemns most every novel he opens and exiles it to a grim room full of hungry insects. It's a fate he regards as more apt than burning, as a second-rate book isn't worthy of giving off light and heat-not even that way. Lucio's other defining aberration is his deeply quixotic blurring and remixing of reality with novels. When his son Remigio discovers a dead girl at the bottom of his well and fears that rural police will instantly hang her killing on him, Lucio's counsel about what to do with the body comes straight from a favorite novel. His bizarre statement to an investigating officer results in apprehension of a scapegoat and in the appearance in town of the girl's mother. She becomes the only patron Lucio's pathetic library has ever had; their strange bookish interplay serves as a forum for Toscana to make challenging, trenchant comments about fiction, reading, Mexican culture, bureaucracy, and history. First published in 2004, El último lector won several awards and had a well-received English translation. Highly recommended for general audiences; an essential read for librarians and book lovers.-Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
NONFICTION
Alzheimer. Manual de instrucciones.
(Instruction Manual for Alzheimer's Disease)
Acarín, Nolasc, M.D.
tr. by Gabriel Pernau. Spain: RBA, dist. by Santillana USA. 2010. 125p. bibliog. ISBN 9788498677584. pap. $19.99. HEALTH
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Alzheimer's disease is an incurable illness, and there are very few treatments available to alleviate the progressive decline of those afflicted with it. Catalan neurologist Acarín has written this brief manual to explain the disease to patients and their families. Using case histories to illustrate, he discusses the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's. He also notes that not all memory loss is Alzheimer's and that there are other types of dementia. He also provides information about preventing memory loss; good nutrition, physical exercise, sleeping well, being organized and making lists, and engaging in activities that keep the mind alert all help. He also provides advice about explaining the disease to the patient and to friends and family and discusses the relevant legal issues, as well as the practical issues, involved in caring for the patient. The book has a bibliography of Spanish-language resources and a list of agencies for referral in Spain, though it does include the website for the Alzheimer's Association in the United States, which provides information in English and Spanish. This is a useful source for public and consumer health libraries, as well as general bookstores.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
Pecar como Dios manda.
(Sinning the Way God Intended It)
Aguirre, Eugenio.
Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 320p. ISBN 9786070704260. pap. $19.95. HISTORY/SEX
To understand who the Mexican people are-how they began and who they've become-Aguirre has compiled a rather brief but comprehensive history of Mexican sex and sexuality, beginning with the mythological gods of the Mayans, Nahuas, Aztecs, and other early Mexican peoples. Thoroughly researched and written in a crisp and exquisite Spanish that readers will surely savor, the book shows how the sex act is integral to the story of a nation and its people, even if, as the title implies, contemporary religious and secular conservatives view it as something sinful. Aguirre's approach is forthright-many will find it graphic, as he examines everything from coitus to masturbation and sodomy, all the while pointing out that sex and sexuality play an integral role (indeed, a seminal one, if you will) in the rise and fall of the earliest Mexican civilizations and how hypocrisy in the wake of colonization came to redefine the sex act and burden it with morality. The title cleverly uses a Spanish-language idiom (como Dios manda) which means "if you're going to do something, do it right" and which indirectly references that hypocritical notion that sex is sin. Strongly recommended for libraries, academics, adult audiences, and historians.-Vivian Gómez, Woodside, NY
Marilyn y JFK.
(Marilyn and JFK)
Forestier, François.
tr. by Alicia Martorell. Mexico/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2010. 238p. ISBN 9786071104113. pap. $16.99. BIOGRAPHY
The author of numerous books on famous personalities, including Howard Hughes, Aristotle Onassis, and Martin Luther King Jr., Forestier is a French journalist associated with Le Nouvel Observateur and a contributor to Elle and Vogue magazines, among other publications. Translated from the 2008 French edition, this book describes the love affair between two of America's icons as a sordid and shocking mix of raw ambition, sexual excess, organized crime, and drug and alcohol abuse in the glamorous worlds of Hollywood and Washington in the 1950s and 1960s. JFK is presented as a sex-addicted, gossip-craving, self-centered playboy fascinated with Hollywood and willing to use money, people, and power to satisfy his needs, while Marilyn Monroe is seen as promiscuous and drug-dependent, lacking in personal hygiene, always on the verge of mental instability, and dreaming of becoming the First Lady. According to Forestier, at the time the FBI, the CIA, the White House, the Mafia, and everyone else with the ambition to exert pressure, power, and control over people and events commonly tapped phone and tape recorded the most intimate bedroom conversations. Much of this material was either archived or deliberately and systematically destroyed immediately after JFK's death, so verification of Forestier's often incredible and controversial claims will have to wait until some of the archived records are officially released and made public. While the bibliography is substantial, the lack of source notes make for a juicy but ultimately unreliable exposé. Recommended only for public and academic libraries with large history and biography collections.-Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Curso de filosofía moral.
(Course on Moral Philosophy)
Jankélévitch, Vladimir.
Spain: Sexto Piso. 2010. 276p. ISBN 9788496867604. pap. $40.95. PHILOSOPHY
French-born philosopher Jankélévitch (1903-85) was a student of Henri Bergson and an influential teacher at the Sorbonne to generations of students between 1951 and1979. Though he has a strong following in Europe (many of his works have been translated into English), his works have not been easily available in English. His writings on music are still remarkable 40 years after their publication, and he also wrote extensively on moral philosophy, the topic of this book. As Françoise Schwab explains in the preface, this is a transcription of a course that Jankélévitch gave at the Free University of Brussels. Here, he unflinchingly explores issues dealing with music, forgiveness, death, bad consciences, and the paradox of morality. It is evident throughout that Jankélévitch was a memorable personality, and his work continues to be thought-provoking. Not a light read, this work distills and develops some of Jankélévitch's most salient ideas. Both a list of cited works and thorough notes accompany the text. This beautiful edition is well thought out and presented; recommended for all libraries with a strong interest in philosophy.-Catherine Rendon, Savannah, GA
Papeles falsos.
(Fake Papers)
Luiselli, Valeria.
México: Sexto Piso. 2010. 106p. ISBN 9788496867666. pap. $20.95. ESSAYS
Luiselli's first book is a collection of essays with a fine but common thread: it uses urban metaphors and personal anecdotes as a point of reference to reflect on literature and on various aspects of the human experience. In a young yet wise voice, she explores the relationship between riding a bicycle and perceiving reality, language acquisition and urban works in progress, writing and finding unused pieces of city space, and more. Every essay combines personal and often humorous experiences with poems and quotes from various authors, adding to the intellectual depth of the author's reflections. Even when the author explores philosophical concepts, her narrative flows smoothly, and the connections she makes between seemingly unrelated situations are always surprising and entertaining. In "Dos calles y una banqueta" ("Two Streets and a Sidewalk"), for instance, Luiselli explains the complexity of translating, or even understanding, the Portuguese word saudade. She explores different approaches to the meaning (melancholy, nostalgia, depression) during a trip to a bookstore, and concludes that maybe the meaning lies somewhere around the books and her bicycle rides. This debut by a 27-year-old writer showcases her literary talent with mind-opening texts. Recommended for libraries with essay collections.-María Elena Cruz, Boston
Libro del Camino de Santiago.
(Book of the Camino [route] de Santiago)
Miranda Ruiz, Xosé, ed.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2010. 261p. ISBN 9788496822979. pap. $29.95. RELIGION/HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY
An award-winning writer and researcher of oral traditions in Galicia, Spain, Miranda Ruiz has compiled an unconventional book about one of the world's most visited roads, active since the ninth century: the Camino (route) de Santiago de Compostela. Who is Santiago the saint? Why was such a remote place in northwestern Spain chosen as a pillar for pilgrimage? Who are the people who came and still come to this place? From testimonies of the medieval sinners walking to purge their faults to a fragment of a Luis Buñuel film script, the chapters use humor, dreams, pictures, and even reproductions of paintings by El Greco and Tintoretto to illustrate different aspects of the Catholic pilgrimage and discuss the changing legends and symbolic relevance of the route in different time periods. It's a beautiful book and a pleasant read that through short narratives appeals to history and myth without committing to a single genre or a highly academic approach. Recommended for public libraries with a popular religion, history, or geography collection.-Angela Lang, New York
La ciudad de la palabras.
(The City of Words)
Manguel, Alberto.
Mexico: Almadía. 2010. 218p. ISBN 9786074110449. pap. $21.95. LITERATURE/ESSAYS
Distinguished author/essayist Manguel is a true bibliophile. Possessing over 30,000 books, he believes that libraries, as sites of collective memory, should be the true symbol and identity of society. It is not surprising, then, that he explores the place of fiction in our ongoing effort to build society. Translated into Spanish from his 2007 Canadian lectures, "The City of Words," this work invites the reader to look at fiction as a way to analyze our broken and fragmented society. By reconsidering Cassandra, Babel, and Don Quixote, among others, Manguel forces us to consider how our choice of language, whether it is the language of advertising, politics, or literature, changes us and changes our understanding of the world. The eloquently argued text merits many readings, each providing more food for thought. Although this was originally published in English, the Canadian-Argentine author's collaboration in the translation means that neither meaning nor language is compromised. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.-Alison Hicks, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder
Pablo Neruda. Antología general.
(Pablo Neruda: General Anthology)
Neruda, Pablo.
Loyola, Hernán, ed.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana & RAE. 2010. 832p. ISBN 9788420404967. $15.99. POETRY
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Nobel Prize winner Neruda's (1904-73) poetry is honored in this insightfully organized commemorative edition, which presents a poignant Neruda caught in perpetual disarray as he passed through many literary and political periods. Known as a love poet to most, Neruda was also a modernist, a poet of the Americas, a political radical, and a postmodernist. An adventurous, preternatural poet, Neruda himself wrote near the end of his life that he felt he had been not one man but many. The surrealist alchemy of words in his most indelible, innovative poems ("Elemental Odes," "Residence on Earth," "The Captain's Verses," "Canto General") is augmented in this edition with an array of prose, letters, and lectures. The chronological division of the work into 12 sections and the systematic presentation of poems and text offer a clear portrait of the poet's most personal ruminations. The verses of "Canto General," for example, are put into context by a letter addressed to a family that offered Neruda shelter when he was being persecuted by the military of the Chilean dictatorship. Four essays and six academic lectures accompany this anthology, ranging from an acute exploration of the great themes in Neruda's poetry to a punctilious analysis of Neruda's influences. Jorge Edward's essay "El último Neruda" ("The Last Neruda") is a stunning portrayal of Neruda's last years. Recommended to libraries and bookstores with a Spanish poetry collection.-Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Palo Alto, CA
Arte y olvido del terremoto.
(Art and Oblivion of the Earthquake)
Padilla, Ignacio.
Mexico: Almadía. 2010. 141p. ISBN 9786074110463. pap. $17.95. ESSAY
The destructive 1985 earthquake that jolted Mexico's capital, the largest city in the hemisphere, was by any measure an important event-a catastrophe of global proportions whose aftermath revealed significant truths about the nation's government and its civil society. Yet, as Padilla observes in this provocative piece of cultural criticism, the earthquake has scarcely registered in the literary or the visual landscape of Mexico's creative artists. Padilla explores the psychological relationship between artistic expression and a society's manner of dealing with momentous events. He posits that the collective memory can forget its past in ways that are fundamentally different-on one hand, there is the oblivion of the unexamined experience and on the other the constructive forgetting-as-a-process that follows confrontation of the event through art. Throughout, Padilla cites as touchstones work by Susan Sontag and by W.G. Sebald, who wrote of the lack of reflection in German letters of the bombing of his own country. It also acknowledges a few exceptions to the general creative silence about the earthquake, notably "No sin nosotros. Los días del terremoto" by Carlos Monsiváis (whom we lost in June 2010). Padilla was a teenager when the earthquake hit his city, and he has since built a distinguished intellectual and scholarly career that includes a stint as director of Mexico's biggest library and a collection of literary awards for various genres of writing; this essay won one of those. Recommended for academic audiences.-Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
Vive tus emociones. Guía práctica para comprender y aprovechar nuestra energía emocional.
(Live Your Emotions: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Taking Advantage of Our Emotional Energy)
Plasencia, Juan José.
Spain: Books4pocket, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 315p. ISBN 9788492801244. pap. $12.95. HEALTH/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Plasencia is a master practitioner of various disciplines of bodywork and has written several books on them. Here, he focuses on understanding emotions and their relation to the body, as well as techniques to restore balance. The first half of the book discusses theories and definitions of emotions, proceeds to the physiological functions and processing of emotions, and closes with an outline of traditional Chinese medicine. The second half combines further conceptual underpinnings with various techniques to restore balance. In a section reminiscent of the principles popularized by Louise Hay, each part of the body is described in terms of how it represents emotional energy, e.g., the knees represent, among other things, one's flexibility or rigidity in daily life, while the feet symbolize both equilibrium and the ability to move forward. Various modalities, from essential oils and visualizations to self-massage, acupressure, yoga asanas, and tai chi movements, are presented through diagrams and clear text to help address specific emotions. The popularity of alternative medicine suggests this will be a helpful introduction to its theoretical foundations, as well as a broad array of practical techniques to achieve wellbeing.-Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
ALSO IN TRANSLATION
FICTION
Los que nos salvaron.
(Those Who Save Us)
Blum, Jenna.
tr. by Gabriela Ellena Castelloti. Spain: Destino: Planeta. 2010. 542p. ISBN 9788423342686. pap. $24.95. FICTION
Perhaps the most surprising thing about this novel is that it is the author's first; its historical sweep, character delineations, and alternating time periods would lead one to believe that Blum had many others to her name. The German-born Anna and her young daughter, Trudy, who suffer a harrowing existence under the Nazi regime, are saved by a brutal SS officer and then an American soldier, who whisks them off to the wilds of Minnesota after the war. But the SS officer exacts a chilling price, and the immigrants are never really accepted in their new home, raising the question of what it means to be "saved." Trudy is obsessed with finding out more about her German heritage and the SS officer, who evidently fathered her, but Anna adamantly refuses to discuss the past. Then Trudy, now a divorced college professor, embarks on a project to interview Germans who survived the war and, in the process, makes an astonishing discovery that will affect the course of her life. Blum, who is half Jewish and worked for four years for Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, tells her story in the present tense in both real time and flashbacks that impart immediacy without causing confusion. Highly recommended for all literary fiction collections and many popular collections as well. [LJ 2/1/04]
Crepúsculo. La novela gráfica.
(Twilight: The Graphic Novel)
Meyer, Stephenie; adapted and illustrated by Young Kim.
tr. by Julio Hermoso Oliveras. Mexico/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 220p. ISBN 9786071104823. pap. $19.99. FICTION
First, the good news: South Korean artist Young Kim's pen and brushwork here is magnificent. Her sure line and her gentle touch with grayscale tonalities capture the world of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, the two high schoolers whose paths cross in rainy Forks, WA, in the phenomenally popular vampire opera. The artist has a fine feel for the shōjo manga idiom-that is, comics designed to appeal to young female readers-which is a perfect fit for the Twilight saga. She uses color sparingly but dramatically, and she cleverly pares down many of the wordier bits of Meyer's text to effectively move the tale at a satisfying graphic novel pace. Many readers objected, however, to the ham-fisted lettering imposed on Kim's panels for the English-language edition of this book: huge, inartful balloons intruded on the characters' features and were sometimes confusingly ordered. Unfortunately, this edition uses precisely the same layout-and, what's more, the incidental drawn-in sound effects are left in their original English. Some bits that accompany Bella's car accident are translated into Spanish-language onomatopoeia, but aside from that most such words (MURMUR and CLENCH and CRASH) were left unchanged. This could have been a better book had the shortcomings of the English-language edition been changed or corrected and/or had the otherwise serviceable translation been more thorough. Still, even as is, this book will surely appeal to readers everywhere. Recommended for libraries and bookstores where the original novels are popular.-Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
Mi otra vida.
(Time of My Life)
Winn Scotch, Allison.
tr. by Rosa Martí. Spain: Vergara: Ediciones B., dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 302p. ISBN 9788466640138. pap. $23.95. FICTION
Jillian has what seems to be a perfect life-a beautiful house in the suburbs, a loving husband, and an adorable baby girl. But she also has a nagging feeling that something isn't quite right. Could it have something to do with Jackson, her past boyfriend, who couldn't be more different than her solid, stable, and perfectly predictable husband, Henry? One morning, Jillian wakes up seven years in the past, in bed with Jackson, and she has the chance to live her life again-a do over, complete with the knowledge of what her future will become. Will she still quit her job right on the cusp of making it big? Will she run for the hills when she meets Henry or be drawn to him again? Or will Jackson's easygoing, wild lifestyle pull her back from her future baby, the adorable Katie? So many life choices come at Jillian, and she can go forward as she pleases, knowing the outcome of one direction. Recommended for women's fiction collections. [LJ 9/15/08]
NONFICTION
Mitos del mundo. Mas de 240 leyendas y relatos populares.
(Myths of the World: The Illustrated Treasury of the World's Greatest Stories)
Allan, Tony.
tr. by Olga Usoz Chaparro. Spain: Blume, dist. by IPG. 2009. 320p. ISBN 9788480768627. $34.95. MYTHOLOGY
Perhaps best used as a scholastic introduction, this anthology of 250 world myths opens with a broad survey of mythology's chief themes and recognized academic interpreters. Complemented by beautiful, full-color, indigenous illustrations, entries run one page and retell the myth. Allan ranges over 18 cultures but in his introduction neglects to explain the criteria used for choosing stories. In addition, vital contextual details, like whether the story has a textual or oral source, are entirely omitted. [Recommended for large collections or where mythology is popular.-Ed.] [LJ 2/1/10] REVIEWER SIGN OFF???
Historia del arte. El lenguaje de los símbolos y las figuras de la pintura universal.
(The Secret Language of Art: The Illustrated Decoder of Symbols and Figures in Western Painting)
Carr-Gomm, Sarah.
tr. by Cristóbal Barber Casanovas. Spain: Blume, dist. by IPG. 2009. 256p. ISBN 9788480768542. $15.95. ART/ART HISTORY
Painting can easily seduce the eye and the spirit, and one can forget that behind the beauty of the image is often a sophisticated visual vocabulary. Art historian Carr-Gomm demystifies the symbolic images in classical Western painting, thus providing a greater depth of understanding. The book is divided into five chapters-"Classical Mythology," "The Bible and the Life of Christ," "The Saints and Their Miracles," "History and Literature," and "Symbols and Allegories"-each of which reviews 15-30 paintings, noting all the key elements and historical and literary background information to the various symbols. All key symbols are frequently cross-referenced for a comprehensive reading of each painting. As an example, the author notes that in Jan van Eyck's famous Arnolfini marriage portrait a small black dog appears casually present at the bottom of the painting. Further investigation reveals the dog to have potential multiple meanings, from loyalty to heredity, while the fruit on the windowsill implies wealth and abundance. The text is straightforward and easy to understand. Includes full color illustrations and examples. A great addition to high school art classrooms, bookstores, and public and academic libraries.-Laura Torres, Somerville, MA
Escuela de chefs. Técnicas paso a paso para la práctica culinaria.
(Chef School: Step-by-Step Techniques for Culinary Expertise)
Farrow, Joanna.
tr. by Margarita Gutiérrez Manuel. Spain: Blume, dist. by IPG. 2009. 255p. photogs. ISBN 9788480768528. $29.95. COOKING
Anyone who has ever watched a cooking show can appreciate that certain techniques demonstrated by celebrity chefs beg for an instant replay. Farrow's latest book explains some of these skills in a style that's accessible to beginning and experienced cooks alike. Divided into nine chapters by food category, the book opens with a brief section on cooking utensils before delving into kitchen skills. Clear, concise instructions are provided for more than 200 basic cooking techniques-e.g., gutting a fish, roasting a chicken, blind-baking a pie crust-to more advanced skills such as making custards and soufflés and cleaning, prepping, and cooking squid. It should be noted that the metric system is used for measurements and oven temperatures, making some of the cook time tables in the meat and poultry section somewhat cumbersome to use without a conversion chart. Relatively few recipes are featured; among these are classics, such as béchamel sauce and homemade pasta, and more esoteric items, such as rillettes and passion fruit-orange mousse. Those seeking a traditional recipe book may be somewhat disappointed, but anyone who has ever wished for a straightforward manual on cooking techniques may find this to be among the cookbooks they refer to the most. Highly recommended for bookstores and libraries.-Pamela Corante, Los Angeles, CA
El método Gabriel. Transforma tu cuerpo sin hacer dieta.
(The Gabriel Method: Transform Your Body Without Dieting)
Gabriel, Jon.
tr. by María Isabel Merino. Spain: Urano, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2009. 254p. ISBN 9788479537289. pap. $17.95. HEALTH
Gabriel was morbidly obese and could not lose weight despite trying numerous diets. By studying biochemistry, he learned that the body has an internal logic that controls weight and that he had to work with it to become thin. His method is nothing new-a combination of eating healthy, preferably organic, food, using meditation and visualization to reduce stress and set goals, spending a few minutes a day in the sun, using vitamins and supplements, exercising, and drinking lots of water. It is a variant of the Set-Point diet. Gabriel recommends using a CD that he created for the visualization, but it does not come with the Spanish-language edition of this book (and it is in English). The book is also full of testimonials from people who used the method successfully. Judging by his heavy web presence, Gabriel has a loyal following, so the book may be popular. Purchase if there is demand.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
El bebé filosófico.
(The Philosophical Baby).
Gopnik, Alison.
tr. by María Jesús Asensio. Mexico: Temas de Hoy: Planeta. 2010. 317p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978607704659. pap. $19.95. PSYCHOLOGY/PARENTING
Babies are not included in the philosophical literature, but Gopnik, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, feels that this is an error. First published in English in 2009, this fascinating book argues that babies are more conscious than grownups. Their malleable, inquiring minds are discovering the world, so they are not operating on automatic pilot. They are alert to all aspects of their environment and carry on experiments as they try to make sense of the world. As they try to make a mobile spin or get their parents to smile, they are learning how things work. Gopnik thinks that babies and children are keys to how the mind operates and important to our understanding of the human condition and the nature of love. Including an extensive bibliography of English-language academic sources, this book will interest those who want to go beyond the traditional parenting book. Both public and academic libraries will want this for their collections.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
Amar lo que es. Cuatro preguntas que pueden cambiar tu vida.
(Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life)
Katie, Byron & Stephen Mitchel.
tr. by Mari Luz Hernández. Spain: Books4Pocket: Urano, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2009. 414p. ISBN 9788492516902. pap. $12.95. SELF-HELP
A thrice-married housewife and mother of three who once suffered from depression, Katie presents what she calls "the Work," a series of questions to help alter bad thinking patterns and reveal painful truths. So that readers might see the method in action, she has reproduced edited dialogs among herself and participants at her workshop. Direct and easy to follow, her book could indeed produce results for readers battling run-of-the-mill work and relationship problems. However, Katie and coauthor/husband Mitchell, a translator of the Bhagavad Gita, would like their audience to believe that this is heads above a standard self-help book: in Mitchell's compelling introduction, he compares Katie's process to the Socratic method and the Zen Koan and posits that it will enhance any other program or religion. These are heady claims, and it's up to the reader to decide whether the authors deliver on their promises. [Recommended for large self-help collections, as well as general bookstores.-Ed.] [LJ 2/15/02]
Los primeros cuidados del bebé. Consejos y soluciones practicas.
(Basic Infant Care: Advice and Practical Solutions)
Lewis, Marianne.
tr. by NA. Spain: Robin Book, dist. by IPG. 2009. 252p. ISBN 9788499170329. pap. $18. PARENTING
Lewis, a psychologist specializing in childbirth preparation, has written a basic guide to infant care. Written in an informal style, each chapter has a brief introductory paragraph followed by questions with bulleted lists of answers. She covers stages of growth and development, nutrition and feeding, bathing, appropriate clothing and furniture for the baby, common illnesses, accident prevention, sleep and the lack thereof, and how to cope with nonstop crying. The advice is useful, although there is some out-of-date first aid information (e.g., The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends the use of syrup of ipecac for poisoning.) This book is suitable for public library collections, but a better choice is El cuidado de su hijo pequeño. Desde que nace hasta los cinco años by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is more current and offers greater depth.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
De qué hablo cuando hablo de correr.
(What I Talk About When I Talk About Running)
Murakami, Haruki.
tr. by Francisco Barberán Pelegrín. Spain: Tusquets. Dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 230p. ISBN 9788483832301. Pap. $22.95. MEMOIR
Murakami is neither a conventional novelist nor a conventional memoirist. In this work whose title was inspired by Raymond Carver's short story collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, he explores how running has shaped his life. The best memoirs inform readers and enlighten them; this memoir contains practical philosophy from a man whose insight into his own character, and how running both suits and shapes that character, is revelatory and can provide tools for readers to examine and improve their own lives. Murakami wrote most of it between 2005 and 2006, but a key chapter from 1996 reinforces his later examination of his own development and the cadence of his life. This book will be appreciated by runners (as well as Murakami's usual readership) because it is ostensibly about running, but anyone interested in the processes of writing and self-examination will also be well served by it. Highly recommended for all collections. [LJ 6/15/08]
NEW TO THE MARKET
NONFICTION
Y tus emociones, ¿qué dicen? Aprende a manjerlas.
(And Your Emotions, What Do They Say? Learn to Control Them)
Basañez, Liz.
Mexico: Pax. dist. by IPG. 2008. 203p. bibliog. ISBN 9789689609057. pap. $16.95. SELF-HELP
Our thoughts and emotions influence our behavior, and learning to control them can help us enjoy life. Cognitive and behavioral psychologist Basañez, who specializes in treating anxiety and depression, often appears on radio and television shows as an expert. Written in a question-and-answer format, this book explains how thoughts and feelings control behavior and how people can use them to improve their mood. The author discusses positive and negative thinking, anger and impulsive behavior, stress and burnout, anxiety, depression, and suicide. She also explains mental health and the difference between psychology and psychiatry. She then applies these ideas to real life by explaining how mood affects our reactions to music, why people buy things, and why they sometimes have problems communicating. This is excellent, practical advice that is easy to understand; a good addition to public and consumer health library collections.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
