Web Exclusive Reviews: Week of 1/05/2009

-- Publishers Weekly, 1/5/2009

NONFICTION

Feed Me!: Writers Dish About Food, Eating, Weight and Body Image
Edited by Harriet Brown. Ballantine, $15 paper (256p) ISBN 9780345500885
Brown’s wide-ranging essay collection about women’s relationships with food is more than the sum of its parts, making an effective cross-section of modern Western attitudes toward eating. Those essays regarding eating disorders, such as anorexic Caroline Leavitt’s moving account of the criticism and verbal jabs leveled at her by her fiancée and his family, are thoughtful and well-written, but suffer from a plodding sameness; a few border on melodrama. Essays from a ballerina and a model may confirm some stereotypes, but Ann Hood’s account of the Draconian measures that ensure flight attendants conform to a body ideal is sure to inspire simmering outrage. The real gems come in frank, often comical accounts of growing up with unorthodox food practices: Kathi Kamen Goldmark’s story of her health-obsessed parents, and the culinary chaos that ensued when Kathi was left on her own in the real world, is enlightening and entertaining. Conversely, Rochelle Jewel Shapiro details her family’s more troubling obsession with eating as quickly as possible, inspired by her father’s brutal experience under the threat of Cossacks. This hit-and-miss collection, taken as a whole, has a comforting, important message for anyone with food issues: you’re not alone. (Jan.)

Homeland: From Clandestine Immigration to Israeli Independence
Mordecai Hacohen. Beaufort, $24.95 (256p) ISBN 9780825305900
Hacohen (1919-2008), an instrumental figure in the early development of Israel, leaves a vivid account of a life spent dedicated to liberating and empowering his people. Born in Vienna shortly after WWI, Hacohen would go on to deliver “illegal” European Jewish refugees from the Nazis to the safety of British-controlled Palestine as coordinator of the Aliyah Bet, the Jews’ underground railroad. Later, he worked to establish the Jewish state as a diplomat and administrator in the fledgling Israeli government. Though Hacohen dedicates his tale to the achievement of ordinary citizens, he’s disproportionately focused on the remarkable and legendary figures of his acquaintance—so much so, he fails to deliver the detail history buffs will crave (spilling as much ink on a state dinner as on the smuggling of Jews from Europe to Israel). Those already engaged with the history of the Aliyah Bet should relish this personal account, but casual history fans will want some blanks filled in. (Jan.)

Jealousy: True Stories of Love’s Favorite Decoy
Marcianne Blevis, trans. from the French by Olivia Heal. Other Press, $15.95 paper (200p) ISBN 9781590512579
In her first book, Parisian psychoanalyst Blevis attempts to define the many faces of jealousy through nine patient case studies (and one out-of-place discussion of jealousy among brothers and sisters, with no specific cases referenced). Unfortunately, what could be a juicy topic is given a sluggish, lackluster treatment. The patients certainly sound interesting enough: there’s Frank, who spends hours watching the entrance of his former lover’s house; Simon, the 29-year-old commodity trader who “helped himself to [friends’] things—a ‘little something, a little souvenir’”; and David, sexually active outside his “open marriage” but unable to find joy in life. After discussing his history, Blevis sums up David’s case with a characteristic analysis: “like the dying child in The Raft of the Medusa,” he’s going down with the shipwreck of his mother’s marriage. Blevis’s drawn-out discussions relate most adult angst to parents (either they abandon you or stick around to mistreat you), offering little insight beyond the fact that jealousy and its manifestations can have deep and obscure roots. (Jan.)

No Limits: The Will to Succeed
Michael Phelps with Alan Abrahamson. Free Press, $26 (230p) ISBN 9781439130728
At just 23 years old, world record-holding swimmer Phelps has become a worldwide sports and pop culture phenomenon, thanks to his unparalleled eight gold medal wins in the 2008 Olympic Games. With help from award-winning sports journalist Abrahamson, Phelps chronicles his life, from Baltimore childhood to triumph in Beijing. The younger brother of two record-setting sisters, Phelps was practically brought up in the water—though he was initially thrown into the pool as therapy for his ADHD, which was diagnosed at an early age. Each of eight chapters takes its name from one of the eight races Phelps won in Beijing, and each is filled with anecdotes and intimate details leading up to his record-breaking successes. He sheds a bit of light on his relationship with his estranged father, and his disenchanting DUI charge just months after winning six gold medals at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Sparing no details in his account of the rigorous and often grueling training regiment he developed, as well as the career-threatening injuries he overcame just in time for competition, Phelps provides sports buffs with the details they’ll crave and his global fan base the candor and charm they’re hoping for. (Dec.)

The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be
Michael Lux. Wiley, $25.95 (256p) ISBN 9780470395110
This vigorous history of the progressive movement in America is both insightful and enjoyable, assuming one’s politics line up with the author’s (and subject’s). Tracing a line of political thought from the founding fathers to the current Democratic congress, former Clinton advisor Lux presents an accessible if fawning look at progressive leaders like FDR, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. While regularly condemning conservative forces, Lux is willing to (infrequently) criticize his own side, and use facts and figures. While refocusing American history through the lens of modern progressive and conservative approaches, particularly in matters of suffrage, race and workers’ rights, Lux often pits enlightened progressives against backwards, racist conservatives. Though liberals will find this an entertaining and educational overview, anyone on the fence will probably be unconvinced, though not necessarily unmoved. (Jan.)

Sundays with Sullivan: How the Ed Sullivan Show Brought Elvis, the Beatles, and Culture to America
Bernie Ilson. Taylor Trade, $21.95 (224p) ISBN 9781589793903
For more than two decades, Ed Sullivan’s Sunday night show was, especially for fledgling stars like Elvis Presley and the Beatles, both a hallmark of success and the greatest exposure an act could get. Few people, however, appreciate the sizable cultural impact Sullivan’s show had with regards to its commitment to color-blind booking and “high culture” acts from the worlds of opera, ballet and the theater. Long-time show business public relations man Ilson worked with the show for several years, and wrote his PhD dissertation on the Ed Sullivan Show’s cultural impact; as such, Ilson has behind-the-scenes insight and several cogent arguments about the relevance of the show, which he unfortunately repeats, with little variation, throughout the text. Buoyed by interviews with producers and executives, Ilson continually returns to the same few points: high culture bits were popular, but in small doses; Sullivan was not a great host, but a fantastic booker; and Sullivan’s success was largely due to his experience in news media. A shorter treatment would certainly prove intriguing, but Ilson’s redundant text becomes dry, if not outright irritating, before the first act is over. 40 b&w photos. (Dec.)

The Tyranny of Dead Ideas: Letting Go of the Old Ways of Thinking to Unleash a New Prosperity
Matt Miller. Times, $25 (272p) ISBN 9780805087871
With copious examples ripped from the headlines (including the current subprime mortgage meltdown), columnist and author Miller (The Two Percent Solution) calls on all Americans—business owners, employees, policy makers, government leaders—to quit the “dead ideas” that pose great threats to America’s economic future, among them the beliefs that free trade results in a “net good” (regardless of how many people get hurt), taxes are bad (and always too high), and schools are a local matter. With experience as a corporate, government and nonprofit consultant, as well as a political talk show on public radio (Left, Right & Center), Miller brings authority, knowledge and a knack for breaking down complicated ideas to his explanation of “dead ideas’” irrelevancy and malignancy in the real world of global competition and rapid technological change. Miller also looks at “tomorrow’s destined ideas,” seven theories that, though they may not be practical today, are likely to reshape American government, business and politics in the future (including the ideas that “only government can save business,” only higher taxes can save the economy, and only nationalism can save U.S. schools). Miller’s politically loaded ideas should ruffle feathers, but they’re argued with convincing vigor that should appeal to readers on either side of the political divide. (Jan.)

We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan that Will Work
Jimmy Carter. Simon & Schuster, $27 (256p) ISBN 9781439140635
In his latest, President Carter has written a review of the history of the conflict between Israel and its neighbors, including his own 35-year involvement in the peace process, in the hope that the new president will follow his lead with direct diplomacy and a dedication to creating peace. Acknowledging that his analysis (especially in 2007’s Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid) has gotten him labeled “an anti-Semite, senile, a liar, a plagiarist, a racist, unfamiliar with the region and a supporter of terrorism,” Carter doesn’t spare any of the region’s players from criticism, and documents the six proposals he made to the Hamas leadership in Palestine during a meeting last year. He also documents the behind-the-scenes story of the Camp David accord he negotiated between Israel and Egypt during his term in office, and the contributions to peace made by Shimon Perez, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasur Arafat, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat. Though unafraid to ruffle feathers, Carter is illuminating and inspiring in this knowledgeable insider’s history. (Jan.)

LIFESTYLE

Beef: And Other Bovine Matters
John Torode. Taunton, $34.95 (256p) ISBN 9781600851261
This book from UK restaurateur and television personality Torode is as versatile and unctuous as its namesake, a topic that’s been seemingly done to death, but rarely this well. An enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, Torode gives cooks of all skill levels plenty to chew on, with chapters on salads, steaks and large cuts, soups and veal. A handful of basic recipes for carpaccio, steak, corned beef, bresaola and others, once mastered, can be garnished or served multiple ways, instantly broadening home cooks’ repertoire. Dishes range from simple (breaded veal scaloppine) and classic (like bolognese) to more challenging fare like home-made pastrami, a five-day event. Ingenious riffs like Ground Beef Wellington and Carpet Bag Steak (a filet mignon stuffed with a plump fresh oyster, wrapped in bacon and grilled) are to-the-point and sure to satisfy. Though based in the UK, Torode has a global palate, evidenced in dishes like Oxtail Ravioli, an easy Thai salad, Russian beef dumplings known as Pelmeni and Aussie meat pies. A book that cooks can grow with (including uses for sweetbreads) Torode’s volume is a modern classic on the subject of beef, deserving shelf space in the kitchen of any self-respecting carnivore. 75 color photos. (Feb.)

Cook with My Indian Mother-in-Law: Mastering the Art of Authentic Home Cooking
Simon Daly with Roshan Hirani. Anova UK/Pavilion (IPG, dist.), $29.95 (192p) ISBN 9781862057999
After tasting her chicken curry, Daly found himself equally smitten with his mother-in-law as he was her daughter. A long-time lover of Indian food, Daly presents a compilation of home-cooked recipes, giving those without a skilled Indian relative a tasty and comprehensive guide to everyday Indian food. After mastering basic masalas, Daly and his mother-in-law Hirani demonstrate the methods behind a myriad of curries, incorporating everything from chicken to black-eyed peas, as well as unexpected detours like Masala fish and potatoes, a riff on the traditional English fish and chips, and Kuku Paka, a rich combination of coconut, spices, chicken and potatoes. Though the number of ingredients required for many of the dishes may give readers pause, a great many (tumeric, fresh ginger, chili peppers, lemons, etc.) crop up again and again, minimizing the need to invest in ingredients that will only be used a handful of times. Though Daly has a tendency to ramble, particularly in his introduction, he’s a patient teacher and his compilation is a terrific entry point for those previously intimidated by attempting the cuisine at home. (Feb.)

AUDIO

The Candle in the Wind & The Book of Merlyn
T.H. White, read by Neville Jason. Naxos Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 10 hrs., $58.98 ISBN 9789626348802
Neville Jason, the reigning master of the classics audiobook, returns with his reading of the final volumes of White’s beloved version of King Arthur and the Round Table. His plummy tones are as pleasing as ever and give White’s epic its proper heroic English texture. Surprising, however, are the occasional eruptions of modernity—of contemporary speech and intonation—that emerge in Jason’s reading. The effect, while disconcerting, is also pleasing, giving Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere, and their knotty romantic travails, a surprisingly up-to-date gloss. Another fine entry in Naxos’ ever-growing Complete Classics collection. (Sept.)

Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now
Peggy Noonan, read by the author. HarperAudio, unabridged, four CDs, 4 hrs., $22.95 ISBN 9780061754753
On the eve of the 2008 presidential election, Noonan projected her fears, hopes, condemnations and predictions for what the U.S. needs in order to climb out of its current funk. From the political arena to the living room, Noonan explains that what is needed is patriotic grace; not jingoism in the guise of flag waving and not political correctness run amok, but poise, composure and eloquence about the significance and potential good of this country. Granted, politically she presses a bit harder on the left than the right, but her effort is sincere and well argued. Noonan has a lively voice that, at times, has a bit of a lilt to it, especially when waxing nostalgic. Her delivery is deliberate and reserved, yet emphatic where needed, giving the narration its own sense of grace. A Collins hardcover. (Nov.)

Wedding Belles
Haywood Smith, read by Cynthia Darlow. Macmillan Audio, unabridged, 10 CDs, 13 hrs., $39.95 ISBN 9781593979690
Cynthia Darlow’s bravura narration of Smith’s novel makes this a must-listen on audio. The characters consist primarily of middle-aged Southern women, yet Darlow gives each one a distinctive and memorable voice. Outside the members of the Red Hat Club, Darlow gets a chance to show her range and versatility as Georgia’s elderly mother, Pru’s five-year-old granddaughter, Diane’s aw-shucks Texan beau and, best of all, blunt and brassy cousin Rachel. Darlow’s rendition of the rude-yet-utterly-clueless Rachel, with her over-the-top New York accent, is priceless and will have listeners howling with laughter. As perfect as she is with such comic moments, Darlow is equally deft with the poignant ones. As enjoyable as the print novel was, this is even better on audio. A St. Martin’s hardcover (Reviews, June 2). (Sept.)

The Woman in White
Wilkie Collins, read by Allan Corduner and others. Naxos Audio, unabridged, 22 CDs, 28 hrs., $128.98 ISBN 9789626348840
Naxos’ latest audio adaptation of a 19th-century British classic requires no less than six readers to convey the words and thoughts of the 11 narrators of Collins’s 1859 suspense novel. Allan Corduner, best known for his portrayal of Sir Arthur Sullivan in Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy, takes the reins for most of the 28 hours, and his buttery, fluting voice, intensely dramatic at times, gives Collins’s work its properly Victorian glow. Helped along by an able team of readers (Glen McCready, Rachel Bavidge, Hugh Dickson, Teresa Gallagher and Marie Collett), Corduner is an appealing lead narrator, conveying both the chilling ambiguity and occasional absurdity of this legendary protomystery novel. (Sept.)

FICTION

Plum Spooky
Janet Evanovich. St. Martin’s, $27.95 (310p) ISBN 9780312383329
Trenton bounty hunter Stephanie Plum must track down a bail jumper intent on wreaking havoc in Evanovich’s breezy “between the numbers” adventure, the first novel-length episode. Before disappearing, Martin Munch, a 24-year-old boy genius with a doctorate in quantum physics, stole a magnetometer from the research lab where he worked. Tasked with bringing him in, Stephanie reluctantly enlists the help of Diesel, the handsome, mysterious bounty hunter who periodically pops into her life. They discover that Munch joined forces with Gerwulf “Wulf” Grimoire, a wealthy psychopath with a penchant for snapping his victims’ necks and burning a handprint into their flesh. With Munch and Wulf MIA in Trenton, Stephanie and Diesel follow the trail to the Pine Barrens, a densely wooded area rumored to be the home of the mythical Jersey Devil. Add to the mayhem a bird-flipping monkey named Carl, stolen rockets and just enough of her main squeezes, Morelli and Ranger, to keep it interesting, and you’ve got just another day in Stephanie Plum’s crazy life. Evanovich (Fearless Fourteen) skillfully balances humor with a surprisingly coherent plot, ensuring readers will be clamoring for the next “numbered” installment. (Jan.)