Book reviews and more!

You are browsing the archive for December2009

WHITE IS FOR WITCHING by Helen Oyeyemi

December 21, 2009

SPOOKY, EVOCATIVE HORROR story about food, family, and femininity, told in shiveringly gorgeous prose. A MINUS

WHITE IS FOR WITCHING
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
2009

Grade: A MINUS

Tags:

THE LOST ART OF GRATITUDE by Alexander Mccall Smith

December 20, 2009

GENTLE AS A WARM EDINBURGH AFTERNOON, the latest adventure of Isabel Dalhousie features toddlers, high finance. B PLUS

THE LOST ART OF GRATITUDE: AN ISABEL DALHOUSIE NOVEL
Pantheon Books
2009

Grade: B PLUS

Tags:

PERFECTION by Julie Metz

December 19, 2009

BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, excruciatingly candid memoir of a complicated widowhood, and coping with betrayal and loss. B PLUS

PERFECTION: A MEMOIR OF BETRAYAL AND RENEWAL
Voice
2009

Grade: B PLUS

Tags:

I’M DYING HERE by Damien Broderick (Author), Rory Barnes

December 18, 2009

BRASH, SALTY AUSSIE private-eye caper reads like a grimmer, raunchier Carl Hiassen. Loads of gritty fun. B PLUS

I’M DYING HERE
Point Blank
2009

Grade: B PLUS

Tags:

THE FOIE GRAS WARS by Mark Caro

December 17, 2009

FASCINATING, DETAILED look at how gourmet delicacy foie gras sparked controversy, became political football. A MINUS

THE FOIE GRAS WARS: HOW A 5,000-YEAR-OLD DELICACY INSPIRED THE WORLD’S FIERCEST FOOD FIGHT
Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
2009

Grade: A MINUS

Tags:

HAVANA LUNAR by Robert Arellano

December 16, 2009

ATMOSPHERIC NOVEL set in 1992 Havana has some vivid detail, but an annoying protagonist and convoluted plot. B MINUS

HAVANA LUNAR
Akashic Books
2009

Grade: B MINUS

Tags:

AMERICAN CHINATOWN by Bonnie Tsui

December 15, 2009

ENGAGING LOOK AT CHINATOWNS across the US mixes interviews with cultural history for some surprising insights. B PLUS

AMERICAN CHINATOWN: A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS
Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
2009

Grade: B PLUS

Tags:

1848 by Mike Rapport

December 13, 2009

ENCYCLOPEDIC AND DETAILED, this look at the European revolutions of 1848 is informative, but a bit too dry. SOLID B

1848: YEAR OF REVOLUTION
Basic Books
2009

Grade: SOLID B

Tags:

PLAN BEE by Susan Brackney

December 12, 2009

CHARMING, CHATTY overview of bee culture and history; not for specialists, just for fun. A MINUS

PLAN BEE: EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HARDEST-WORKING CREATURES ON THE PLANET
Perigee Trade
2009

Grade: A MINUS

Tags:

LOST BOY by Brent W Jeffs

“LOST BOY” Brent Jeffs, nephew of FLDS cult head Warren Jeffs, tells a raw, true story of abuse and redemption. SOLID B

LOST BOY
Broadway Books
2009

Grade: SOLID B

Tags: