GRACIOUS AND ELOQUENT, if not wholly compelling, culinary memoir of a tough childhood and a life in publishing. SOLID B

CAKEWALK: A MEMOIR
Dial Press
2010

ENLIGHTENING, EVEN SURPRISING history of the tomato in Italy. Lots of research, fascinating anecdotes. B PLUS

POMODORO!: A HISTORY OF THE TOMATO IN ITALY
Columbia University Press
2010

INTRIGUING TALE of family secrets and family dysfunction spanning generations, cultures. Fascinating puzzle. B PLUS

A STRANGER IN THE FAMILY
Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
2010

DYSTOPIAN ARK of clones in a dying future world still haunted by memories of World War II makes for poetic SF. SOLID B

THE FACILITY (LEAPLIT)
Leapfrog Press
2010

A SINGAPOREAN DETECTIVE solves a mystery in Malaysia in this first of a sparkling new series. Fascinating plot! B PLUS

INSPECTOR SINGH INVESTIGATES: A MOST PECULIAR MALAYSIAN MURDER
St. Martin’s Press
2010

NOBELIST V.S. NAIPAUL travels in Africa asking people about their beliefs; this should be better than it is. B MINUS

THE MASQUE OF AFRICA: GLIMPSES OF AFRICAN BELIEF
Knopf Publishing Group
2010

SPOOKY GANGSTER DYSTOPIA is at the heart of Darren Shan’s first urban fantasy for adults. Some fine moments. B MINUS

CITY #01: PROCESSION OF THE DEAD
Grand Central Publishing
2010

NEUROSCIENCE AND STAGE MAGIC brought together in this remarkable book. Fascinating topic, clear writing! A MINUS

SLEIGHTS OF MIND: WHAT THE NEUROSCIENCE OF MAGIC REVEALS ABOUT OUR EVERYDAY DECEPTIONS
Holt, Henry & Company, Inc.
2010

RUTH RENDELL, grande dame of psychological thrillers, with a novel of manners–really, really creepy manners. B PLUS

PORTOBELLO
Scribner Book Company
2010

SURPRISINGLY DELIGHTFUL, quirky history of chemistry told as the story of the periodic table of elements. Fun! B PLUS

THE DISAPPEARING SPOON: AND OTHER TRUE TALES OF MADNESS, LOVE, AND THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM THE PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS
Little Brown and Company
2010