Xpress Reviews: First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 11/27/2009
The week of Nov. 27, 2009
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Greenhalgh, Chris. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Dec. 2009. c.336p. ISBN 978-1-59448-455-1. pap. $15. F
In 1913 Paris, designer Coco Chanel attends the premier of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Fast-forward seven years, and the wealthy couturiere invites the exiled Russian composer and his family to spend a summer in her villa. Suspicious of Coco's motives, Catherine Stravinsky hesitates, but Igor gladly accepts the chance at a place to pursue his work.
Verdict The January 2010 U.S. release of the movie, adapted by Greenhalgh from his novel, will undoubtedly garner interest, especially among readers who enjoyed the recent film Coco Before Chanel, but this book stands on its own as a first-rate choice for fans of historical romance.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato
Bowden, Jonny & Allison Tannis. The 100 Healthiest Foods To Eat During Pregnancy: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About Foods You Should Be Eating During Pregnancy but Probably Aren’t. Fair Winds: Quayside. Dec. 2009. c.320p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59233-400-1. pap. $24.99. HEALTH
The list of dos and don’ts for pregnant women is a long one; nutritionists Bowden (The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth) and Tannis (Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles) attempt to make life easier for moms-to-be by focusing on food dos. Their compilation of 100 healthy foods is organized by trimester for the strongest nutritional impact on the developing baby. Each food, herb, spice, or supplement is given a spread of text with nutritional information. No recipes are included, but each spread has a box with "Jonny’s Tasty Tips" for ideas about how to incorporate each food into one’s diet. Also included are chapters on foods for breastfeeding, postpartum depression, and fertility. Not much surprises here beyond perhaps the inclusion of nonfood items like evening primrose oil and fish oil. In general, the recommended foods are the same healthy foods promoted in most pregnancy books.
Verdict Although easy to read and use as a reference, ultimately this is lean on information. A good effort that will likely have an audience with Bowden’s fans, but not essential for libraries.—Mindy Rhiger, St. Paul, MN
Brown, Marlisa. Gluten-Free, Hassle Free: A Simple, Sane, Dietician-Approved Program for Eating Your Way Back to Health. Demos. Dec. 2009. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-932603-82-8. pap. $19.95. MED
Brown, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and chef, has assembled a comprehensive, three-part look at living with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Part 1, "Making the Change," helps ease the transition into a gluten-free diet, providing the basics, quick-and-easy substitutions, tips on interpreting food labels, and advice on handling the emotional aspect of a lifestyle change. Part 2, "Making Gluten-Free Living Simple," covers finding hidden gluten in food, gluten-free cooking, and dining out. Part 3, "Making Your Life Healthy, Happy, and Uncomplicated," advises readers on how to explain easily gluten intolerance or celiac disease to family friends and offers simple coping strategies. In addition, this section includes valuable lists of web sites with restaurants that offer gluten-free menus, companies that sell gluten-free products online, and organizations that specialize in providing information about gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Also included are meal cards written in several languages that can be helpful when traveling or dining out and a good variety of gluten-free recipes.
Verdict This is an essential read for anyone who has been recently diagnosed with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.—Lisa Felix, Mishawaka-Penn-Harris P.L., Mishawaka, IN
Brown, Toni with Lee Abraham & Ed Munson. Relix, the Book: The Grateful Dead Experience. Backbeat: Hal Leonard. 2009. 244p. illus. ISBN 978-0-87930-986-2. pap. $29.99.
Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon, 1976–2009. Phoenix. 2009. 198p. illus. ISBN 978-1-59777-511-3. $22.95. MUSIC
These two oversized coffee-table books accurately reflect their audiences. Relix is a heady compilation of interviews, articles, and eye-popping artwork from the magazine of the same name that specializes in the Grateful Dead and other psychedelic groups. Celebrating 30 years of the publication, singer/songwriter and publisher Brown compiled dozens of color photos of past covers, interviews with and testimonials about Dead members, reminiscences of Jim Morrison, and features about newer jam bands like Phish and the swirling artwork of Gary Kroman. Catering to a different clientele, Kiss dispenses almost no text except for a brief history of Kiss fanzines and a few words of wisdom from author and Kiss leader Gene Simmons and band mate Paul Stanley. Instead, this favors hundreds of full-color photos of Kiss fanzine covers, pictures of the band, and shots of their adoring fans.
Verdict Though fanatics of the Grateful Dead and Kiss will undoubtedly embrace these works, they offer few new insights into the bands and almost no new material. Not recommended.—Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Browne, Sylvia. The Truth About Psychics: What’s Real, What’s Not, and How To Tell the Difference. Fireside: S. & S. 2009. c.240p. ISBN 978-1-4391-4972-0. $23.99. PARAPSYCH
With more than 50 titles in the areas of paranormal, mediumship, spirituality, and psychic phenomenon, psychic Browne (Temples on the Other Side) is bound to repeat herself every now and again. This covers a lot of the same ground as her Phenomenon: Everything You Need To Know About the Paranormal (2006), with brief descriptions and definitions of various religions, divination techniques, the afterlife, and astral beings of all sorts. The main differentiator and final few chapters explain what makes for a good psychic and how to spot a fraud, including fairly detailed and humorous description of cheesy tricks used by charlatans. Browne even gives out her office phone number so readers can report fakes. Included are a few exercises and meditations to expand one’s own psychic potential.
Verdict Browne continues here with her cheery and inclusive yet authoritative tone that accounts for her popularity. This is a bit of a rehash, but her many fans will not be disappointed.—Janet Tapper, Western States Chiropractic Coll. Lib., Portland
Davies, Jon. Trash. c.176p. ISBN 978-1-55152-261-6.
Quiroga, José. Law of Desire. c.160p. ISBN 978-1-55152-262-3.
Tsika, Noah. Gods and Monsters. c.176p. filmog. ISBN 978-1-55152-263-0.
ea. vol: Arsenal Pulp, dist. by Consortium. (Queer Film Classics). Nov. 2009. photogs. index. pap. $14.95. FILM
These volumes are the first in the new "Queer Film Classics" series. Editors Matthew Hays (The View from Here: Conversations with Gay and Lesbian Filmmakers) and Thomas Waugh (film studies & queer studies, Concordia Univ., Montreal) will release three books annually until 2015. Each title will focus on an individual film in depth, and the cumulative list will provide a significant contribution to the history and literature of gay cinema studies. In Law, Quiroga (Spanish & comparative literature, Emory Univ.) closely studies the triangularly structured relationship that is at the core of this 1987 film. He views the narrative within larger social, sexual, and cultural contexts, and his supporting analyses of specific scenes, cinematic elements, and dialog reflect his extensive research, as do his references to other works by director Pedro Almodovar. The 1970 film Trash achieved classic status not only through the efforts of director Paul Morrissey but also because of its famed producer, Andy Warhol. Davies (assistant curator of public programs, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery) delves into the title theme on material and personal levels, considering their symbolic interplay. He also offers observations on the film’s motif of redemption as seen through the lens of complex relationships. The third in this series is Tsika’s (Ph.D. candidate in cinema studies, NYU) interpretation of Bill Condon’s 1998 classic, Gods and Monsters. An intriguing biographical foundation drawn from the life of gay film director James Whale, with its narrative containing a mix of fact and fiction, this traces Whale’s journey personally and professionally through his conversations with a young gardener. In addition to his analysis of the film’s story and treatment, Tsika draws on other films and literature, as well as on the history of early Hollywood with regard to gay themes, in order to provide a full cultural context. Photographs and movie stills complement all of these texts.
Verdict This series will be a significant, valuable contribution to the history and literature of gay cinema. Each of these works will be valuable additions for academic and popular students of film and gay culture.—Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
Foer, Jonathan Safran. Eating Animals. Little, Brown. Nov. 2009. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-316-06990-8. $25.99. NAT HIST
In his first work of nonfiction, Foer (Everything Is Illuminated; Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) turns his attention to the meat production industry. Like Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson in The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food, Foer exposes the role factory farming and aquaculture plays in global warming and environmental degradation but takes a less radical approach. Advocating for a vegetarian instead of a vegan diet and insisting that measures be taken to lessen the negative impacts of our current means for producing meat, Foer isn’t demanding drastic dietary changes but rather asking readers to explore the origins of their eating habits. An on-again, off-again vegetarian, Foer is using his book not as a polemical soapbox but as a means to explore philosophical and ethical issues that have become more urgent to him in his new role as a father. Adding balance, he incorporates the opinions of an animal rights activist, an independent poultry farmer, a vegetarian rancher, and even a vegan who helps design slaughterhouses.
Verdict This is sure to attract animal welfare and animal rights advocates as well as Foer’s fans and general readers interested in learning more about the meat they eat. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/09.]—Diana Hartle, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens, GA
Kamkwamba, William & Bryan Mealer. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. Morrow. 2009. 288p. illus. ISBN 978-0-06-173032-0. $25.99. SCI
This is the remarkable story of an African teenager who, by courage, ingenuity, and determination, defeated the odds. Born in 1987 in a drought-ravaged Malawi where hope and opportunity were hard to find, Kamkwamba read about windmills in a library book and dreamed of building one that would bring electricity to his village and improve the lives of his family. At the age of 14, Kamkwamba had to drop out of school and help his family forage for food, but he never let go of his dream. Over a period of several months, using scrap metal, tractor, and bicycle parts, the resourceful young man built a crude yet operable windmill that eventually powered four lights. Soon reports of his "electric wind" project spread beyond the borders of his village, earning him international recognition and, with the help of mentors worldwide, he now attends a high school in South Africa.
Verdict Demonstrating the power of imagination, libraries, and books, Kamkwamba’s heartwarming memoir, with Mealer’s (All Things Must Fight To Live: Stories of War and Deliverance in Congo) contribution, is sure to inspire all readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/09.]—Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Clarkston
Keegan, Rebecca. The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron. Crown. Dec. 2009. c.288p. index. ISBN 978-0-307-46031-8. $24. FILM
In this reverential portrait of the creator behind some of the biggest films of the last 25 years (The Terminator, Aliens, and Titanic), former Time Hollywood correspondent Keegan documents the history and technical aspects behind James Cameron’s movies, concentrating on his use of special effects, set construction, and the original and sometimes difficult procedures that accompanied his cinematic creations. She begins with Cameron’s early life and growing interest in filmmaking and progresses to the 1980s–90s, a decade that solidified his position as a director who made wildly profitable movies and reflected his interest in the intersections between technology and humanity and the possible impact of that relationship on the future. Cameron is a driven and sometimes controversial personality figure, but Keegan focuses almost entirely on his filmmaking and is less concerned with his personal life or critical assessments of the individual films. She concludes with a section on the recent and complex making of Avatar, his first film in over a decade.
Verdict Most appropriate for science fiction and technical film buffs, though interest may increase with the big-budget push for the December 2009 release of Avatar.—Jim Collins, Morristown and Morris Twp. Lib., NJ
Klein, Richard S., M.D. Surviving Your Doctors: Why the Medical System Is Dangerous to Your Health and How To Get Through It Alive. Rowman & Littlefield. Dec. 2009. c.196p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-4422-0139-2. $32.95. MED
Approximately 100,000 deaths per year are attributed to medical errors in the United States. Klein, a practicing physician and expert malpractice witness in New York, would like to remedy this appalling situation. Here, he advises patients to communicate better with doctors and proposes policy decisions that the medical profession could implement to allow doctors to learn from mistakes instead of covering them up. Coverage encompasses how to survive doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, and specific diseases. Though this sounds like the kind of text that doctors would hate, Klein’s explanation of the time and effort required to get medical tests, drugs, and specialist referrals approved by insurance companies will have them nodding their heads in agreement.
Verdict Klein writes in a breezy, conversational style and includes personal stories that make it easy to understand the types of medical errors under discussion. Patients will appreciate the useful advice, and those interested in health-care policy reform will find timely information, too.—Elizabeth Williams, Washoe Cty. Lib. Syst., Reno
Watters, Ethan. Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche. Free Pr: S. & S. Jan. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-4165-8708-8. $26. PSYCH
The United States has long been known as the country that sent fast food and hip-hop music to other parts of the world. Watters (Urban Tribes) asserts that America is pushing more than just its culture: American trauma counselors and mental health workers are convincing the world to adopt their definition of mental illnesses occurring in times of crisis. Through case studies, Watters shows how the symptoms and causes of anorexia, PTSD, schizophrenia, and depression have become more prevalent in Eastern countries owing to American influence. Watters urges readers to set aside cultural expectations of the causes of mental illnesses by illustrating the idiosyncrasies and so-called treatments of these diseases by Western clinicians in foreign nations. He deftly outlines the implications of American influence and the need to treat mental illness in a culturally appropriate context.
Verdict Watters commands attention with his repartee and conversational manner while drawing much-needed attention to the consequences of Western intrusion. This fascinating book deserves attention from mental health workers and Americans interested in the reach of their culture’s psyche across the globe.—Melissa Mallon, Univ. of Pittsburgh Johnstown
