Xpress Reviews-The First Look at New Books
Sep 8, 2010
Week ending September 10, 2010
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson. Night Shade. 2010. c.386p. ed. by Jonathan Strahan. ISBN 9781597801843. $27.95. SF
The award-winning author, best known for his "Mars Trilogy" (Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars) has been a force in the sf community for the past three decades. Each of his Mars books won either a Hugo or Nebula award. Collected here are 22 short stories that may have been missed by even his avid readers. It includes the acclaimed "The Blind Geometer" (Nebula for Best Novella, 1986) and "Black Air" (World Fantasy Award, 1983). One of the most compelling stories is "Lucky Strike," an alternative history of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Verdict Robinson's many fans will enjoy the gems in this thought-provoking and entertaining anthology.—William Baer, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta
Estleman, Loren D. Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection. Tyrus. Sept. 2010. c.646. ISBN 9781935562245. $32.95. M
Detroit's most famous gumshoe, Amos Walker, is back in this mammoth collection of short stories. The omnibus contains 32 tales, including the previously unpublished "Sometimes a Hyena," and flawlessly showcases Estleman's distinct and penetrating style. With the release of Motor City Blue in 1980, Estleman was one of the first mystery writers to set a detective series in Detroit. For the past three decades, his gumshoe has tirelessly championed its denizens against the crime and corruption that can often define Motown. The collection begins with a wonderful introduction by Estleman tracing the history of the series and the endurance of his protagonist. The stories, much like the city in which they are set, are gritty and tough, and yet there is always a sliver of optimism to be found. Standouts include "Kill the Cat," "Anniversary Waltz," and "Cigarette Stop."
Verdict Estleman's writing is noir fiction at its best with a distinct sense of place that few can rival. Fans of the hard-boiled detective genre and regional mysteries will rejoice in this collection.—Amy Nolan, MSIS, St. Joseph, MI
McCall Smith, Alexander. The Charming Quirks of Others. Pantheon. Oct. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 9780307379177. $24.95. F
Isabel Dalhousie-moral philosopher, editor of The Review of Applied Ethics, and genteel problem-solver-returns for a seventh amiable saunter through her beloved Edinburgh (after The Lost Art of Gratitude). When an anonymous letter casts aspersions on three candidates vying to become headmaster at a tony boarding school, Isabel discreetly investigates. Meanwhile, Isabel ruminates on personal dilemmas: an old nemesis tries to insinuate himself back into the pages of The Review, and, more worryingly, she wonders if the affections of Jamie, her much younger fiancé, may be straying.
Verdict As the seemingly indefatigable McCall Smith expands his literary output ("The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" and "44 Scotland Street" series, La's Orchestra Saves the World, Corduroy Mansions, and so on), the plots become ever slighter, and this is no exception. However, his sly observations on the human condition remain warm and intelligent, and the evocative description of the Scottish cityscape is utterly beguiling. The result is pure comfort reading. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/10.]—Annabelle Mortensen, Skokie P.L., IL
Rock, Judith. The Rhetoric of Death. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Oct. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 9780425236642. pap. $15. F
Rock's debut immediately transports you to 17th-century France and that period's church intrigues and political turmoil. Charles du Lac is a former soldier and a Jesuit in training whose family has Huguenot (French Protestant) ties. When his uncle discovers he has been helping the heretic wing of the family, he sends Charles to Paris to teach rhetoric and assist with the annual ballet in a Jesuit college. A young boy in the ballet disappears, and Charles investigates much to his superior's dismay. After another student is killed, Charles's determination to find out who is targeting the school and its pupils leads him into danger.
Verdict Rock is an exciting new discovery. Her plotting holds your interest, her characters are real, and her attention to details of the time period is extraordinary. Highly recommended for fans of historical thrillers and readers who enjoy Ellis Peters, Edward Marston, and Ariana Franklin.—Susan Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA
Sobol, Joshua. Cut Throat Dog. Melville International Crime: Melville House. Oct. 2010. c.272p. tr. from Hebrew by Dalya Bilu. ISBN 9781935554219. pap. $15. F
Israeli playwright Sobol's debut novel is to spy stories what Julio Cortazar's Hopscotch was to novels. It jumps around. Although there is a narrative thrust to it, it's easy to lose track of plot because plotting is less important to this book than the way it is told. Characters change names, even context (time, place, actions) from chapter to chapter, at times radically. "Shakespeare," an Israeli spy, is pursuing an assassin named Adonas. Zip! Shakespeare's a partner in an ad agency. Zap! He's heading a prison break. Zip! He's hiding from the Nazis. Shakespeare befriends a whore named Winnie. (She's also called Melissa and Timberlake; she morphs into ad agency exec Mona.). He promises to protect her from her pimp, who may be Adonas, but she calls him Tony. Shakespeare and Tony/Adonas meet in a final confrontation in the desert. Are you confused by now? This Scheherazadean thriller is clever but thin: the plot isn't substantial enough to support the fun and games. And it doesn't always parse.
Verdict Readers who enjoyed Robert Coover's Noir may enjoy this odd book, but it's too contrived to appeal to most thriller lovers. [This title launches the publisher's new Melville International Crime imprint, previewed in Wilda Williams's "Passport to Mystery," LJ 4/15/10.-Ed.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Nonfiction
Austerlitz, Saul. Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy. Chicago Review, dist. by IPG. Sept. 2010. 512p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781556529511. pap. $24.95. FILM
In this collection of 30 long chapters, 100 shorter entries, and very few photos, Austerlitz (Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video from the Beatles to the White Stripes) takes a more academic approach than his predecessors. His essays are clever and well researched, and he's not afraid to use big words as he describes the film industry's most misunderstood artists and performers. This is not a guide for the average reader looking for a good list of funny movies. Austerlitz has the credentials to tackle the subject with some seriousness, being a journalist and film reviewer. He offers intuitive analyses and expertly discusses the relevance of his subjects within American culture, giving their cinematic contributions proper historical perspective.
Verdict Austerlitz doesn't have a great deal of new biographical information to offer when compared to such dependable standbys as Leonard Maltin's The Great Movie Comedians. If you have several of the earlier handbooks on the subject, you will want to add this handy, up-to-date guide of major film comedy teams and comedians only for its contemporary additions.—Richard A. Dickey, Washington, DC
Martin, Buzzy. Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Sept. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 9780425240052. pap. $15. MUSIC
It takes courage and heart to teach music to prison inmates, and professional guitarist Martin has more than his share of both. He here chronicles the three years during which he taught music at San Quentin Prison. Martin successfully proved the therapeutic powers of music, earning respect and heartfelt gratitude at the "Q." His honest observations about the atmosphere of the prison are often terrifying-from the inmates' stories, to the sound of alarms outside his classroom, to the constant anxieties about violence. In turn, he shared these stories of prison horrors with the at-risk young people he worked with in an effort to get them on the right track.
Verdict Martin provides a straightforward tale of his experiences within the prison environment and offers much for young people, in particular, to reflect on. This potent book will be of particular interest to community groups, juvenile halls, and schools that address the needs of troubled youth, providing the basis for further discussion and outreach.—Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
Ribowsky, Mark. Ain't Too Proud To Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations. Wiley. Sept. 2010. c.336p. photogs. discog. index. ISBN 9780470261170. $25.95. MUSIC
Ribowsky (Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: The Soulful Journey of Stevie Wonder) is rapidly becoming the go-to guy for Motown history. In his latest work on Motor City musical legends, he takes us from small-town Alabama to the top of the pops with an enthralling story of fame, fortune, joy, sex, drugs, betrayals, rivalry, and persistence-themes that informed the hit songs of Motown and the lives of the Temptations. But what wonderful music they created. Ribowsky relies on primary sources, in particular founding member Otis Williams, but his portrait of the group is anything but biased. In fact, the Rashomon-like quality of the participants' memories paints an even fuller picture of this multifaceted group.
Verdict More than a biography, this fascinating portrait of popular music from the Fifties through the Seventies as seen through the development and success of one of Motown's most successful groups is a winner. Recommended for lovers of popular music and the Motown sound.—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
Roberts, Andrew. The Thinking Student's Guide to College: 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education. Univ. of Chicago. (Guides to Academic Life). Sept. 2010. c.184p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780226721149. $42; pap. ISBN 9780226721156. $14. ED
Roberts's (political science, Northwestern Univ.) easy-to-read, informative book for students and parents on the college-selection process contains commonsense tips as well as helpful information that most would probably not initially consider when selecting a college. College is an exciting time, but one can easily get lost in the shuffle and graduate without really feeling like one has gotten anything out of it beyond a piece of paper-and an expensive one at that. This guide will help students make the most of their experience.
Verdict This book is highly recommended for students and parents as a first step, before beginning to consider things like which schools to apply to and potential majors. It will give a larger picture of options to explore when making such an important decision and will help save money, sleep, and calm.—Helena Travka, Cleveland P.L.
Rubenstein, Benjamin. Twice: How I Became a Cancer-Slaying Super Man Before I Turned 21. Woodley. Sept. 2010. 295p. ISBN 9780978647292. $28. HEALTH
It is estimated that only 150 diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma are made annually and only two-thirds of these patients survive more than five years. Rubenstein was diagnosed with Ewings's at 16, but was determined not to be a "Sick Kid" for "I would never be able to discard the Sick Kid label." Writing with wit and humor, he chronicles his fight with this terrifying disease. Rubenstein's belief in the superhuman ability to fight his cancer gave him the courage to face chemotherapy and its devastating side effects, bone biopsies, a second cancer (leukemia), a stem-cell transplant, more chemotherapy, infections, hemorrhagic cystitis, weight loss, and osteoporosis. In spite of invasive diagnostic tests, treatment set-backs, and demanding physical therapy, he never fears he will lose his battle. The strong support of his family is documented with love and occasional frustration at what he sees as over-protectiveness. A University of Virginia economics degree is testament to his survival and entry into young adulthood.
Verdict An inspiring and fascinating personal account of a long and often painful journey that would appeal to other patients and their families.—Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Lib., OH
