Nonfiction
American Swastika: Inside theWhite Power Movement's Hidden Spaces of Hate
Pete Simi and Robert Futrell. Rowman & Littlefield, $34.95 (170p) ISBN9781442202085
America's white racists see themselves as an endangered minority, according tothis disturbing look at the white supremacist movement. Simi, an associateprofessor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Nebraska,teams up with Futrell, an associate professor of sociology at the University ofNevada, to provide a panorama of the white power movement in its differentregional and ideological iterations. With insight and clarity, the authorsoffer a detailed review of supremacist literature, as well as the role theInternet has played in strengthening the movement. Although occasionally dry,the book is indisputably a powerful and unnerving study of how parentsindoctrinate their children to hate and fear minorities, and the role thatactivities as mundane as concerts, house parties and tattooing can play in theconversion of new recruits into these subcultures. Also helpful is the overviewof groups ranging from the Ku Klux Klan to racist skinheads, each of whom havetheir own distinctive beliefs, social codes and agenda. (Mar.)
A Dog for All Seasons: A Memoir
Patti Sherlock. St. Martin's/ Dunne, $24.99 (256p) ISBN 9780312577926
Sherlock, a writer and former sheep farmer, chronicles life with her clever andemotionally-intuitive Border Collie, Duncan, who herded her sheep for 16 years,supported her as she attended to grueling farm work and comforted her as herchildren left home and her marriage unraveled. We see Duncan as a puppy, soeager to please that he fakes peeing to get the praise he craves, to apreternaturally bright companion and working dog. Clearly the proud parent,Sherlock shares endearing moments that show Duncan's playful and tendersides-his quivering with excitement over the lawn sprinkler and snapping at thestream of water; his fear of thunderstorms and ability to detect them frommiles away; his sulks at seeing a suitcase. Tender, wise, and deeply affecting,Sherlock's vignettes will make readers smile and sigh and wish for their ownDuncan. (Apr.)
Get a Life, Not a Job: Do What You Loveand Let Your Talents Work for You
Paula Caligiuri. Prentice Hall/Financial Times, $19.99 (208p) ISBN9780137058495
A psychologist, career coach, and Rutgers University professor of HumanResource Management, Caliguiri uses her significant practical wisdom to turnthe pie-in-the-sky notion of "doing what you love" into an achievable lifestyle.Caligiuri makes a convincing case that, as employers no long show any long-termloyalty to their employees, it's up to workers to take control of their owndestiny. Thus she provides a progressive plan of attack focusing on empowermentand fulfillment-chapters range from "Discover What Really Motivates You" to "IntegrateYour Career with Your Life Priorities"-with helpful questionnaires, exercises,and case studies of people whose multiple career "acts" have given themhappiness as well as financial freedom (such as a nurse of 30 years who turnedher love of sewing into a paying side business, or Caligiuri herself, whosecareer has included four acts). Though "do what you love" may seem like aluxurious conceit in a time of economic recession, Caligiuri provides acumulative, practical plan for leveraging skills, talents, and interests to addincome and value to life. (Apr.)
Hay Fever: How Chasing a Dream on aVermont Farm Changed My Life
Angela Miller with Ralph Gardner, Jr. Wiley, $24.95 (304p) ISBN978047039833
For those with dreams of starting over again in a bucolic countryside setting,Miller's account of her double life as a successful literary agent and owner ofa Vermont goat farm is a bracing dose of reality featuring hard work,frustration and financial straits. In painful (sometimes monotonous) detail,Miller welcomes readers into the barn with tales of her education in farmingand cheese-making, introducing them to the kid-birthing process, the problem ofbloated goats, and some of her favorite animals. The intricacies of milking andcheese-making, dealing with temperamental equipment, and day-to-day drama amongemployees should prove informative (and cautionary) to gourmands anddissatisfied office drones considering a move to the farm, but she spends farmore time on minutiae than general readers will have patience for. Herwarts-and-all account even includes details of her financial struggles, but,strangely, gives comparatively little attention to her two-year stint as the managerof a small-town cafe, a missed opportunity to expand on her tale ofentrepreneurship. (Apr.)
High Heat: The Secret History of theFastball and the Improbable Search for the Fastest Pitcher of All Time
Tim Wendel. Da Capo, $25 (288p) ISBN 9780306818486
Intent on determining the fastest pitcher ever, Wendel (founding editor of USA TODAY Baseball Weekly) questionsformer and current players, managers, scouts, historians and other experts forinsight into what has become one of the most prized proficiencies in all ofsports. Wendel examines such high-heat icons as Walter Johnson, Satchel Paige,Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson, but also brings readers along on fieldresearch: browsing, white-gloved, through documents at the National Baseball Hallof Fame; visiting a rural cemetery in search of the unusual grave marker ofJames Creighton ("the game's first true fireballer"); making his own fastballattempt at the American Sports Medicine Institute; and more. Wendel alsoreflects on the fastball's dark side, looking at the steroids era and battersstruck (in one instance, killed) by high-speed pitches. Wendel's too-cleverorganization can muddle the narrative-chapters are arranged by the phases of apitch ("The Windup," "The Pivot," "The Stride," etc.)-but he presents asatisfying search for the ultimate fastball pitcher, with a result that's justconclusive enough (going to the player "who persevered the most with what wasbestowed upon [him]") while leaving plenty of room for baseball die-hards' second-favoritesport: debating other fans. (Mar.)
If You Can Read This: The Philosophy ofBumper Stickers
Jack Bowen. Random, $14 paper (224p) ISBN 9780812981056
In his latest, author and philosophy teacher Bowen (A Journey Through the Landscape of Philosophy) has a nifty concept that'sunfortunately derailed by an arch tone and a strong, if tacit, atheist subtext.Using popular bumper sticker slogans as a lens to explore philosophy, Bowencomes across some interesting questions-"What happens if a horse and cart runsover a chicken and egg?"-that he doesn't seem fully willing to explore; indeed,taking a cue from bumper stickers themselves, Bowen seems all to willing to runthrough his ideas as quickly as possible: "To put the cart before the horse andfirst divulge the solution, the chicken came first." Though they'reperhaps meant to dazzle, Bowen's slaloming through philosophical concepts feelhurried, an attempt to convince readers he's right rather than foster thought.Bowen's book also suffers from anti-religion bias, which he never acknowledgesoutright but makes clear in repeated (and sometimes highly dubious) claims: "Toupdate the scorecard tally: The Numbers Killed in the Name of: Religion: 1million give or take. Nothing: 0." Further, virtually no theologians arementioned; one bumper sticker, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us tobe happy," isn't even attributed to its proper source, Martin Luther. Bowen'sconcept is certainly a clever way to draw in laypeople, but his hubris andnarrow-mindedness is a good way to turn them off. Illus. (Mar.)
Know What Makes Them Tick: How toSuccessfully Negotiate Almost Any Situation
Max Siegel with G. F. Lichtenberg. Amistad, $25.99 (256p) ISBN9780061717123
Siegel, CEO of a sports and music media platform company, shares nineprinciples for personal and professional advancement centered on figuring outwhat makes someone else "tick," what motivates them, and what they value, need,and want. To really succeed at negotiation, according to Siegal, it isnecessary to determine how the other players define success. This principlelays the foundation for his subsequent maxims-appreciating coworkers andcompetitors, using your outsider advantage, and "gathering your inner circle."By peppering each tip with multiple stories from his long and varied career andchallenging personal life, Siegel follows through on his eighth rule-rememberwho you are and how you got to where you are. He freely admits his mistakes andpulls no punches in this lucid and very readable guide to winning at home andat work. (Mar.)
The Little Black Book of Success: Lawsof Leadership for Black Women
Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy Mclean. Ballantine/OneWorld, $20 (176p) ISBN 9780345518484
The authors, all high-level black executives, seek to "support women who do notalways have access to coaches, mentors, or the ‘Old Boys' Network," and theirprofessional advice is savvy and sensitive to the challenges women of colorface in the workplace. They offer self-affirming advice to rev up a career,complete with "MAMAisms"-what the authors describe as aphorisms and "familiarterms, both practical and spiritual, that we grew up with and can draw upon aswe travel the road to leadership success." The authors revisit and refreshfamiliar tips on staying positive, honing skill sets, having a plan of actionand following through, networking, and avoiding common workplace dilemmas. Theyalso provide valuable advice on achieving work/life balance and findingguidance, mentorship, and support. Offering sound advice, practical tools, andwarm wisdom, this book will help black professional women get and stay on trackand maximize their abilities. (Mar.)
Love in a Time of Homeschooling: AMother and Daughter's Uncommon Year
Laura Brodie. Harper, $25.99 (272p) ISBN 9780061706462
Told by elementary school teachers that her daughter, Julia, "needs to spendmore time in our world," author Brodie (Breaking Out, The Widow'sSeason) decided that her daughter's unique intellectual needs would best beserved by a year of home-schooling: "The more I looked into it, the more Idiscovered that short-term homeschooling is a growing trend in America, for avast array of reasons." Chronicling the entirety of her homeschoolingexperience, from the decision-making process to Julia's successful re-entryinto 6th grade, Brodie takes pains to show how difficult homeschooling can be: "Howfoolish I had been, to have believed that Julia's complaints over the past twoyears... stemmed from an institutional cause" (as it turns out, Julia simplydoesn't like to be told what to do). Having been frustrated by otherhomeschooling books' Pollyanna attitude toward the parent-child relationship,Brodie's contribution to the field is full of honest revelations that make itvital for anyone considering homeschooling; happily, her gift for goodstorytelling and keen observation (of herself and others) make this anabsorbing read for everyone else. (Apr.)
The Responsibility Revolution: How theNext Generation of Businesses Will Win
Jeffrey Hollender and Bill Breen. Jossey-Bass, $27.95 (240p) ISBN9780470558423
With the public increasingly embracing ecological sustainability, manybusinesses have pledged to be good corporate citizens-but how committed arethey? Hollender, chairman of clean household company Seventh Generation, shareshis own company's process of redefining its mission and values, and makes anunimpeachable argument for how sustainable business practices protect both theenvironment and employees. However, he fails to obviate criticisms or concernsthat companies can remain competitive and profitable while undergoing thetransition to becoming more environmentally conscious. For example, Hollenderdescribes how outdoor clothing and equipment company Patagonia decided to movefrom chemically grown or treated cotton and wool to "good cotton," only to findthat their demand exceeded supply. Patagonia had to convert farmers to newgrowing methods, which increased the price of their product. While the company "eventuallyright-sized itself," and "influenced far bigger companies... to follow its lead,"it is unclear what the company's return on investment was or how long it tookto achieve. While corporate responsibility is an incontrovertibly attractiveethos, this work skimps on the finer points and complications of making thisnecessary-but complex-transition. (Mar.)
Theodor Seuss Geisel
Donald E. Pease. Oxford Univ., $19.95 (192p) ISBN 9780195323023
A celebrated academic and authority on Geisel's work, Pease presents acomprehensive look into the life of the artist and author best known as Dr.Seuss. Born into a prominent German family and raised in Springfield, Mass.,young Geisel demonstrated his linguistic creativity early on, mixing German andEnglish to create nonsense names for toys and imaginary animals; he also drewcartoons on the walls in every room of his childhood home, improbablyencouraged by his mother. As a student at Dartmouth, Geisel had limitedenthusiasm for his studies, but fell in love with the Jack-O-Lantern, the college newspaper he wrote for and edited. Itwas at the Jack-O-Lantern Geiselwould develop the whimsical Dr. Seuss persona that would define his professionand, to a great extent, his life. On a tour of Geisel's prolific career (he was,among other roles, an advertiser and political cartoonist), Pease analyzes theappeal and impact of Geisel's game-changing children's books (The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, etc.) clearly and succinctly; the intricaciesof Geisel's tumultuous personal life provide a sobering counterpart. B&Wphotos. (Apr.)
What Would Rob Do? An Irreverent Guideto Surviving Life's Daily Indignities
Rob Sachs. Wiley, $16.95 paper (224p) ISBN 9780470457733
A producer, reporter and director for popular NPR programs like Morning Edition and All Things Considered, Sachs found a personal connection to hisaudience through his quirky advice podcast series, "What Would Rob Do?"Expanding on that series, Sachs presents a guide to dealing with daily dilemmasand embarrassing snafus, from parenting ("Annoying Kids' Music") to dating ("Avoidinga Chick Flick"), socializing ("Underdressed for a Party?"), personal hygiene ("Combingthe Coif"), and the places they intersect ("I Clogged the Toilet and I'm at aParty! What Would Rob Do?"). In addition to his own funny, direct take on amyriad of issues, Sachs also consults with experts (or whatever one would callFabio), and manages some genuinely useful advice (his take on emailing isespecially timely and on point). Though it loses something in the translationfrom audio to print, and fans may find it more of the same, readers should findthis a funny and (more often than not) helpful take on the common pitfalls ofmodern life. (Apr.)
When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'mDead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man
Jerry Weintraub with Rich Cohen. Hachette/Twelve, $25.99 (304p) ISBN 9780446548151
Hollywood power player Weintraub, now 72, is always in control and goes togreat lengths to prove it: besides having managed musical legends like Presley,Sinatra and John Denver ("I cooked [him] from scratch"), Weintraub once closeda deal by faking a heart attack, and won the respect of one of Chicago's mostpowerful men, Arthur Wirtz, when he cursed Wirtz out for making him wait (Wirtzwould go on to become one of Weintraub's mentors). Weintraub's also producedplays, TV shows, movies (from Nashvilleto the Ocean's 11 franchise), andmore, summing up his talent simply: "When I believe in something, it's going toget done." Edgy and honest but refreshingly spare in his criticism of stars,colleagues and family, Weintraub can be forgiven for glossing over speed bumpsin his career (one failed business lost $30 million before it closed in themid-'80s) and occasionally showing his age with wandering rumination. With a bold voice, a storied career,and a cast of superstars, Weintraub's memoir makes a rousing insider tour of some fivedecades in the entertainment industry. Photos. (Apr.)
Where the Dragon Meets the Angry River:Nature and Power in the People's Republic of China
R. Edward Grumbine.Island, $25.95 (240p) ISBN 9781597265515
For teacher and author Grumbine (GhostBears), visiting China's Yunan Province was an eye opener; as an expert onenvironmental issues, his concern over U.S. "protected area policies" hadshielded him from far more profound problems abroad, especially the potentialconflict between renewable energy development and biodiversity protection amongthe "88 percent of the world's humans who [lack] electricity, potable drinkingwater, basic education and healthcare." Though they've already built more damsthan any other country, China's plan to build 13 new ones on three Himalayanrivers will have a huge impact on Yunan, a biological paradise home to orchids,snow leopards, fifteen species of primates and more. An internationalgrass-roots outcry has put the project on hold, good news for the Golden Monkeybut, as a staffer from the nature conservancy points out, bad news for the area's200,000 impoverished villagers. Further complications include the fact that,should the new dams be scrapped, the growth rate of China's already-troublesomecarbon dioxide emissions will be far worse. Grumbine's account demonstrates howfirst-hand experience broadened his understanding of the problem, requiring anapproach that balances "using nature and protecting it." With much informationon Beijing's efforts to reach an equitable solution, Grumbine's carefulreconsideration of world conservation efforts is an important read for policymakers and grass-roots advocates. (Apr.)
Wild Horse Annie and the Last of theMustangs: The Life of Velma Johnston
David Cruise and Alison Griffiths. Scribner, $26 (320p) ISBN 9781416553359
Velma Johnston (1912-1977), the daughter of a Nevada horse wrangler, wasstricken by polio as a child, but she fulfilled her youthful aspirations ofowning a ranch and marrying the man of her dreams; her tenacity is theemotional core of this moving-and first-biography of the animal advocate.Cruise and Griffiths (coauthors of Fleecingthe Lamb) weave a story of western grit and guts, showing how Velma'sindignation and early efforts-rescuing wild mustangs from pet food poachers andangry ranchers-blossomed into the passage of landmark legislation thatprevented the capture or killing of herds of horses and burros. Velma'sintelligence, candor, and charm are eloquently conveyed by the authors, andtheir rich and detailed portrait of Velma and her beloved "wild ones" becomes apaean to the American West-of cherished wildness and spirited individualism.Photos. (Mar.)
Lifestyle
Good Housekeeping Best-Loved Desserts: More than 250 ScrumptiousRecipes
Good Housekeeping. Hearst, $19.95 paper (384p) ISBN 9781588167798
Bakers of all skill levels will appreciate this inclusive collection of classicrecipes, clearly rendered; whether they want to craft an old-fashioned Key LimePie or a simpler, ice cream-based version called a Cool Lime Pie, they'll findexpert guidance here. Though this volume doesn't dive too deep into anyparticular genre, virtually all the classics can be found: simple macaroons,Devil's Food Cake, Banana Cream Pie, Lemon Bars, and nine varieties ofcheesecakes are included, as well as more imaginative riffs likeBlack-And-White Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Custard Sauce, HazelnutDacquoise, and Banana Crepes with Maple-Walnut Sauce. Clever tips will helpcooks keep chopped nuts from sinking into batters (toss them with a littleflour), separate eggs (best when the eggs are cold), and whip up pastry doughin a food processor (though the traditional, by-hand method is also included).Recipes for pastry dough are thoughtfully scaled for various tart and pieshells, and variations on standards are grouped together helpfully. Thisthorough, well-thought-out collection represents the Good Housekeeping brand at its best, and makes an excellent choicefor budding cooks and bakers. (Mar.)
Gourmet Meals in Crappy LittleKitchens
Jennifer Schaertl. HCI, $18.95 paper (288p) ISBN 9780757313653
Those accustomed (or resigned) to cooking in tight quarters will appreciate chefSchaertl's guide to getting the best meal out of a less-than-ideal space.Paring kitchen equipment down to its bare essentials, Schaertl shows readershow she manages to prepare mouthwatering dishes like Tahitian-Style Corn andCrab Soup, roasted poblano cole slaw, Rum-Infused Caramelized Pork Chops andGoat Cheese Souffles in her 300-square-foot Brooklyn apartment. Though herspace is cramped, her style isn't; readers will be salivating over her BreadPudding with Bourbon Crème Anglaise, Bloody Mary Relish, Moroccan Lamb Chopsand smoky chicken soup, all presented with a game sense of humor. But while theequipment list is usually short, the steps and ingredients for dishes likegumbo, Seafood Risotto, and Mushroom Tamales aren't; many will require someadvance planning. Rounded out with all manner of kitchen tips and ingeniousshortcuts (cut a corner out of a plastic freezer bag to pipe out sweet potatognocchi), as well as a list of space-hogging items you don't need ("CLKSaboteurs"), this is a terrific compilation of doable dishes that shouldresonate with cooks, whether they've got space issues or just want tostreamline their process. (Apr.)
The Master Your Metabolism Cookbook
Jillian Michaels. Crown, $26 (240p) ISBN 9780307718228
Best known from TV's The Biggest Loser,weight-loss guru Michaels presents a well-meaning collection of 125 recipesdesigned to meet specific health and fitness goals. Though she has no formaltraining in nutrition, Michaels asserts that most health problems are caused bymetabolic hormonal imbalances; charging forward without any cited sources,Michaels includes a list of "amazing health benefits" with each recipe (RoastHerbed Turkey Breast with Orange-Cranberry Sauce, for example, is meant toboost metabolism and immunity, improve mood and digestion, fight cancer, andaid the heart). Dogma and posturing aside, these tasty, healthy recipes arelikely to please. Michaels does her best to avoid esoteric ingredients, and disheslike Coconut-Curry Steamed Mussels and Grilled Skirt Steak with ChimichurriSauce would be right at home in a traditional cookbook. Others, like WatermelonSoup with Blackberries and Jicama, or Ginger Shrimp Rolls with Green PapayaSlaw, won't make dieters feel like they're settling. Less concerned withcalories or fat, Michaels emphasizes the benefits of foods like beans (fiber),cranberries (anti-bacterial, gum disease-fighting properties), and cinnamon(helps normalize blood sugar levels); while some claims seem glib ("If yousuffer from asthma, eat lots of apples!"), Michaels's suggestions are, atworst, harmless and delicious. (Apr.)
Illustrated
Art + Science Now: How Scientific Research and TechnologicalInnovation are Becoming Key to 21st-Century Aesthetics
Stephen Wilson. Thames & Hudson, $50 (208p) ISBN 9780500238684
Wilson (Information Arts), Professor of Conceptual and Information Artsat San Francisco University, presents a fascinating collection of art involvingmolecular and macro-biology, physical sciences (pure and applied), kinetics,robotics, processing-and-sorting algorithms, and other scientific fields inways that "confront the problem of definitional boundaries head-on." Thoughworks sometimes "do not look like either art or science," they all involve acreative celebration or critique of science; some artists even invent "totallynew technologies" out of their own labs. With color photographs of works frommore than 200 artists world-wide, accompanied by brief explanations and chapterintroductions, this is a volumethat provokes much thought with a minimum of text, by turns mind-expanding(like Ken Rinaldo's Augmented FishReality, based on research into fish intelligence), fun (a virtual realitydance floor from Josephine Anstey, Dave Pape and Dan Neveu), provocative (WimDelvoye's working robotic recreation of the human digestive system), andeducational (like projects involving atomic force microscopy, functional MRI,and galvanic skin response). As Wilson points out, "[m]uch of the experimentalwork described in this book has not yet been assimilated into mainstreaminstitutions," making this an excellent introduction to the art world's growingclass of cutting-edge scientific commentators. (Apr.)
Religion
First Invite Love In: 40 Time-Tested Tools for Creating a MoreCompassionate Life
Tana Pesso with Penor Rinpoche, foreword by the Dalai Lama. Wisdom, $15.95paper (248p) ISBN 9780861712854
Those who read and, more importantly, try out the compassion exercises asoutlined by Pesso and her teacher, the late Nyingma Buddhist leader Rinpoche,may find a marked increase in empathy and good will. Most of the practices areinner visualizations which involve bestowing possessions to others,acknowledging the pain of people and animals, or picturing strangers asnurturing mothers in a past life. The authors emphasize that a belief inreincarnation isn't a prerequisite; these are simply thought exercises aimed atexpanding the heart. Building on the compassionate inner meditations arechapters that apply the practices to strangers encountered in daily life. Theseare very simple gestures limited to a friendly smile or, at the most, some kindwords. Prior to undertaking each of the 40 exercises readers are instructed to "firstinvite love in," an elegant opening sequence which involves identifying andaccessing a spiritual support figure. Many of the meditations are quitesimilar, the authors' intention being to grow compassion gradually andsystematically. This careful repetition may instead cause skipping around tofind a particular exercise. (Mar.)
Fiction
Daughters of the Witching Hill
Mary Sharratt. Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt, $24 (352p) ISBN 9780547069678
In this slow-burning tale, author Sharratt (TheVanishing Point) gives voice to two prominent victims of the Pendle,England witch hunt of 1612, Bess "Demdike" Southerns and her 15-year-oldgranddaughter, Alizon. Living in poverty and illegitimacy, without the protectionof men, the Southerns and their community gain some relief from powerlessnessby harnessing a combination of Catholic and pagan magic: Demdike is a renowned "blesser,"and Alizon may be even more adept than she. While Sharratt shows understandingfor these women, her intent to present them sympathetically is undermined byher decision to portray their powers as real; healings, fortune-telling, andcurses are recounted through a subjective, first-person account, but seemunambiguously actual. The waters are further muddied by awkward narration, whichtoo often reads like bad Renaissance Faire dialogue. Though Sharrattsuccessfully evokes the economic and social factors that marginalized thesewomen and their fellows, as well as the paradoxical power they held over thecommunity that feared them, one longs for Sharratt to commit either to asupernatural explanation of events, or a thoroughly realistic approach.(Apr.)
Jane Slayre
Charlotte Brontë and Sherri Browning Erwin. S&S/Gallery, $15paper (400p) ISBN 9781439191187
Another entry in the growing genre of horror mashups (ranging from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter), thisvolume takes Brontë's classic and turns the Reed family into vampires, JaneEyre's classmates at Lowood into zombies, and Bertha Rochester into somethingfar more dangerous than a madwoman. While Jane herself remains much the same,the supernatural additions prove highly amusing, turning the gothic elements ofthe original up to eleven while preserving the story's post-Victoriancoming-of-age conventions. Despite her whimsical and irreverent modifications,Erwin displays great affection for Brontë and her characters; the undeniablespark between Erwin's Jane and Rochester is made all the more delightful byJane's plucky fearlessness in the face of evil. With the possible exception ofpurists, fans of Jane Eyre will findmuch to love, with moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity; horror fans unfamiliarwith the original will also be pleased, though they'll miss out on some of thecomic nuance. (Apr.)
Night of the Golden Butterfly
Tariq Ali. Verso (Norton, dist.), $23.95 (288p) ISBN 9781844676118
Completing his Islam Quintet, which began in 15th century Moorish Spain,British-Pakistani writer, filmmaker and activist Ali (A Sultan in Palermo) lands readers in the turbulent politicallandscape of recent decades. The central characters start as philosophicalstudent activists in Lahore, moving to London, Paris and the U.S. as adults;their story begins some 45 years after their student days, when Pakistaniartist-scholar Mohammed Aflatun, nicknamed Plato, calls in a debt of honor toDara, the novel's narrator, requiring his old friend to write a novel based onPlato's life. Agreeing against his best judgement, Dara sets out to understandand account for his mysterious older friend's life and art, leading him torediscover old friends-including Zahid, now a distinguished cardiologist inWashington, D.C., and Zahid's wife, Jindie, an old flame of Dara's-as well asnew art-world connections in London and Paris. Though Ali frequently digressesfrom Plato's story, including episodes of Chinese history and lengthybackground stories involving characters new to the series, Plato's lifegradually unfolds against a backdrop of contemporary politics and terrorism.Epic in scope, this novel explores affairs political and romantic whilebristling with fervor and ribald humor. (Apr.)
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