September Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
English-language reviews of the latest Spanish-language books for adults
Edited by Aida Bardales -- Library Journal, 09/15/2009
FICTION | NONFICTION | ALSO IN TRANSLATION
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Lo que tarda en morir un idiota.
(How Long It Takes an Idiot To Die)
Aguilar, J. M.
Spain/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2009. 345p. ISBN 978-84-8365-081-3. pap. $22.99. SUSPENSE
Manuel Artacho, a forensic psychologist, is contacted to help interpret the personality of a brutal and atypical killer whose evil actions lack an apparent motive. As he unravels the mystery of the assassin’s persona, Artacho himself confronts danger, and experiences firsthand physical and psychological pain. Detailed descriptions of dehumanizing, violent acts provoke feelings of fear, and the investigation reveals the powerful world of criminal gangs, such as Mara Salvatrucha (a.k.a. MS-13), whose activities include drug smuggling, arms and human trafficking, home invasions, and contract killings. To keep a semblance of “normal” quotidian life, Artacho enthusiastically shows his love for gastronomy, as he shares with the reader different recipes and dishes. Aguilar’s background (he’s a psychologist by training) is evident as he demonstrates through his characters his understanding of human conduct. This debut noir thriller includes all the ingredients of hardboiled crime fiction and will surely rank high within the genre. Recommended for public and academic libraries, and for aficionados of detective narrative.—Liliana Wendorff, Univ. of North Carolina at Pembroke
La isla bajo el mar.
(The Island Below the Sea)
Allende, Isabel.
U.S.: Vintage Español: Random House. 2009. 510p. ISBN 978-0-307-47604-3. $26.95. HISTORICAL FICTION
Allende’s latest excursion into historical fiction takes us to the Caribbean of the late 18th to early 19th century, first to the island of Saint-Domingue (Santo Domingo—later the capital of the Dominican Republic) a
nd then to New Orleans. Toulouse Valmorain, a French national who comes to the New World to save his father’s sugar plantation and the family, yearns to return to Paris. A humanist by nature, he is uncomfortable with the institution of slavery but considers it a necessary evil for the profitable running of the plantation. The first persona narratives of the slave Zarité, Valmorain’s wife’s servant, are the heart and soul of this novel, where passionate human melodrama takes place against the backdrop of exciting historical revolts, as slaves fight for their freedom and plantation owners struggle to maintain the status quo. Allende is diligent at recreating the varied cultures that collided in the Caribbean at that time. Readers will sink their teeth into this sweeping epic, It is an indispensable addition to every collection.—Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Center; Tulsa City-County Library System, OK
Todas mis vidas posibles.
(All My Possible Lives)
Rivas, Beatriz.
Mexico/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 262p. ISBN 978-607-11-0181-5. pap. $19.99. FICTION
This third book by Mexican author Rivas is a story of the writer Beatriz, as well as the many other women 
named Beatriz whose stories are interwoven with her own. The narrative opens with an engaging scene, in which the writer Beatriz receives a letter from a man condemned to death row in the United States. The stories that follow are interconnected, in both obvious and oblique ways, carrying readers to multiple corners of a globalized world. One Beatriz works as a pharmaceutical representative, another Beatriz does manicures in a salon, another Beatriz is murdered in Juarez, and the refugee Beatriz shares her story of life in a Spanish detention facility. Erudite in its literary allusions, the novel is very readable with a fast-paced narrative that weaves together stories in a game of gradually revealed interconnections that hold the reader’s attention. Written in the style of great novelists such as Italy’s Italo Calvino, the book is decidedly playful and postmodern, and though it is not as accomplished as Calvino’s works, it offers an engaging read. Recommended for larger bookstores and academic libraries.—Laura Barbas-Rhoden, Wofford Coll., Spartanburg, SC
Rebozo de aromas.
(A Shawl of Aromas)
Rizo Campomanes, Esther.
Mexico/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2009. 312p. ISBN 978-607-11-0210-2. pap. $21.99. FICTION
Rizo Campomanes’s debut effort is published at the eve of her 89th birthday. This is the fictionalized story of her family’s life from the mid 19th century to the 1920s. The author attended various writing workshops led by established Mexican writers, such as Elena Poniatowska and Monica Lavín, when Lavín recognized the quality of Rizo Campomanes’ narrative. Born in Cuba of an exiled Mexican family, Rizo Campomanes here gives voice to her ancestors. Interweaving her own family tree, historical research, and the stories passed on through generations, she relates the past using a rich descriptive language, including Nahuatl. The dramatic story is not told in a linear fashion, although it does begin with an abandoned blonde baby of noble ancestry discovered by childless peasants (the author’s great grandfather) and conclude with her mother arriving in Cuba to escape the Mexican Revolution. Notable characters are the author’s two grandmothers (after both of whom the author is named): Eloísa, who cures people with psychic powers, and Esther, who remains mute after having left Mexico for Cuba. Rizo Campomanes, an avid reader, thinks of herself as having self-taught skills because she did not finish high school; we can only be grateful that she had the courage and stamina to finish this long-envisioned project. Recommended for large Spanish-language fiction collections and all bookstores.—Sophie Lavoie, Univ. of New Brunswick, Fredericton
Inglés Práctico.
(Practical English)
U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2009. 272p. illus. ISBN 978-1603-9635-34. pap. $14.99. REFERENCE/ESL
This serviceable study guide to situational language use, while not spectacular, could work well in the hands of a good teacher and diligent adult students. The lessons span 40 everyday circumstances—among them, “At the 
Bank,” “Taking Care of Older People,” “The Plumber”—each of which has a few pages of key words and phrases, fill-in-the-blank and matching exercises, and a usage note relevant to the topic. Many of the themes and the language in them align with the aims of vocational English-language classes, although to its credit the book aims to equip learners to cope with a variety of possible roles: in a hotel, for example, as not only an employee but also a supervisor and a guest. Small ink drawings illustrate some of the vocabulary items. The appendix lists 2000 English words in groups of 100, purportedly ordered by frequency and importance, with a phonetic spelling and a Spanish equivalent. The book’s idiosyncratic phonetic conventions are not tied to a key and are often misleading. Words with the /j/ and hard /th/ sound, as well as those containing the schwa /ə/ (the familiar “uh,” our most frequent spoken English vowel sound) are peculiarly represented: think is zink, and judge becomes shash. A further concern for libraries is the great number of exercises that invite one to write on the book’s pages. Recommended for bookstores and adult education classes; an optional acquisition for public libraries.—Bruce Jensen, MA-TESL, Rohrbach Library at Kutztown University of PA
La polka de los osos.
(The Polka of the Bears)
Glantz, Margo.
Mexico: Almadía. 2008. 299p. ISBN 978 970 985 436-7. pap. $18.95. ESSAY
A prolific writer who has authored numerous novels, short stories, autobiographies, and essays, Glantz has received many literary prizes for her work, including the Sor Juan Inés de la Cruz Prize in 2003. This collection of 17 articles and essays written since 1972, some previously published in the erotica series La sonrisa vertical (The Vertical Smile) published by Tusquets, is divided into three sections, each exploring two main themes—memory and eroticism. The first part, touches upon the image of the female body, in literature and in eroticism. The author enlightens readers about the problems many authors throughout the ages have encountered when writing about eroticism and pornography. The works of various French writers—Marcel Proust, Arthur Rimbaud, Gustave Flaubert, and Roland Barthes, among others—serve as a basis for the second part, which focuses on how language and memory continuously intersect. In the third part, the author studies memory based on works by authors such as Paul Celan and Primo Levi, who, for example, wrote about their experiences in concentration camps during the Nazi period. In this section, Glantz continues focusing on the body, and how men and women differ in their discovery of their bodies owing to the historical oppression women have endured. The agile, precise prose immediately grabs the reader’s attention; recommended for graduate university libraries.—Liliana Wendorff, Univ. of North Carolina at Pembroke
Todo lo que debe saber sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
(Everything One Should Know About World War II)
Hernández, Jesús.
Spain: Nowtilus (Historia incognita). 2009. 509p. bibliog. ISBN 978-84-9763-732-9. pap. $24.95. HISTORY
Journalist Hernández, who writes popular histories of 20th-century warfare, has also penned titles on 
“enigmas and mysteries” and “haunting tales” of WWII. This history is complete in the sense that its 46 chapters span the entire chronology of the war and all the global theaters, both on land and sea. Emphasis falls on strategy, tactics, weapons, and pivotal leaders. The text is supported by black-and-white photos, and each chapter concludes with a filmography. Maps are sparse; and tables of data and statistics, absent. Although presented as a “definitive” guide, the book contains at least one deficiency, concerning the Battle of Monte Casino. It describes only “North” Americans conducting the assault, ignoring the Brazilian contingent that accompanied them. This book’s bibliography indicates sources principally from Spanish translations of American and British historians, not archival sources, confirming it is essentially a derivative digest. Recommended as a secondary purchase for libraries with significant readership concerned about or studying modern war.—Edward A. Riedinger, Ohio State Univ. Lib., Columbus
Diario de Oaxaca.
(Oaxaca Diary: A Sketchbook Journal of Two Years in Mexico)
Kuper, Peter.
U.S.: PM Press. 2009. 209p. ISBN 978-1-60486-071-9. $29.95. GRAPHIC MEMOIR
In 2006, illustrator Kuper moved from New York to the impoverished but ethnically and historically rich southern Mexican city of Oaxaca, bringing his wife and pre-teen daughter. The region was wracked by a massive teachers’ strike that made headlines worldwide, by the corruption of the state’s notorious governor, and by conflicts in the streets involving tens of thousands of protesters and troops—an interesting place for a politically minded artist to be. Kuper has done covers and other illustrations for a host of major topical publications including TIME, Newsweek, the Progressive, and the New York Times, and has for more than a decade drawn the “Spy vs. Spy” comic series for MAD Magazine. This is the appealing product of his two years in Mexico. Kuper’s diary entries, paired with a side-by-side translation into Spanish, help set the context for the 150-odd pages of paintings, sketches, cartoons, and collages that are the highlight of this book. Kuper’s offbeat eye and his MAD sensibility make for some striking images—comical ones, too, such as his Day of the Dead tribute to the Peanuts gang, which shows the skeletal dog Znupé digging through a boneyard while his Charlie Brown ruminates about death. Fans of comics and art lovers will appreciate Kuper’s unusual take on a remarkable place. Recommended for libraries, particularly those with graphic art and design collections, as well as general bookstores.—Bruce Jensen, Rohrbach Lib., Kutztown, PA
Lo que no digo cantando.
(Beyond the Songs)
Montaner, Ricardo.
U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2009. 219p. ISBN 978-1-60255-305-7. $14.99. AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
Born in Argentina and raised in Venezuela, Montaner is an internationally-renowned singer and songwriter with more than 15 albums in his discography and more than 
22 million units sold. He began his musical career by singing in the church choir and later starting his own rock band. Once he went solo, he performed in bars, nightclubs, and festivals before finally hitting the charts in the 1980’s. He writes most of his own songs and continues to record, tour, and sell out major concert arenas throughout the world. He now lives in Miami where he started a foundation (Fundación la Ventana de los Cielos) to help children with special needs. Montaner, a devout Christian, frequently uses his public platform to talk about the impact of God in his life. This combination autobiography and personal memoir weaves together stories about Montaner’s childhood, family life, and career with examples of his spiritual growth, beliefs, and challenges. Whether he is sharing touching stories about his special relationships with children with incurable diseases, or relating the frightening story of his kidnapping, Montaner delivers a strong message of belief and reliance on God. The book will appeal to his legions of fans, as well as Christian readers who may be familiar with Montaner’s music but not the man and his beliefs. Highly recommended for all public libraries, and general and Christian bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Ocultismo Medieval.
(Medieval Occult)
Musquera, Xavier.
Spain: Nowtilus. 2009. 334p. illus. ISBN 978-84-9763-735-0. pap. $22.95. HISTORY
While the word “occult” invokes ideas of magic and witchcraft, it also simply means “hidden.” Civilization was 
still young enough that simple scientific explanation was elusive and the alchemist was the chemical engineer of the day. Masons and guilds had their own mundane political and economic reasons, beyond spiritual and philosophical ones, to keep certain texts or images deliberately cryptic. This accessible, informative, and entertaining book looks into the rituals and lives of medieval masons and attempts to shed light on some of their mystery. It is perhaps no coincidence that author Musquera is also an illustrator, as one the strongest features of this book is the fascinating look into the history of and secret meanings of popular iconography and symbols. Tracing images such as the labyrinth back to Egyptian antiquity to early Christian churches and monasteries, the reader comes to the understanding that almost every image has deep roots. Highly illustrated, it serves as a good introductory text into Masonic iconography or history. Recommended for public or school libraries.—Laura Torres, Arlington, MA
Casos de la Dra. Anabel Ochoa.
(Dr. Anabel Ochoa’s Cases)
Ochoa, Anabel.
U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2009. 182p. ISBN 978-607-11-0228-7. pap. $17.99. SELF-HELP
Ochoa, Mexico’s Dr. Ruth, was a popular psychologist and sex educator who appeared on Mexican radio and television. She answered questions frankly, in lay terms that her audience could understand. This collection of 
answers to questions from her audience, published after her death, is a tribute to her. The book has four sections: body, mind, love, and soul, each of which cover a wide range of topics, such as body image, sexual techniques, sexually transmitted diseases, homosexuality, rape, and domestic violence. Ochoa answers each question with empathy, supporting the person who asked, and giving gentle but firm advice. For example, when someone who discovered that his sister’s best friend was a lesbian asks how to help her become straight, Ochoa says the best way to help was to accept and respect her. When a single mother whose daughter was raped by a family friend feels that it was her fault, Ochoa refers her to an agency for counseling and says that both she and her daughter need to deal with the issue without blaming themselves. This is an excellent book for public and consumer health library collections.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland PL, CA
Armas secretas de Hitler.
(Hitler’s Secret Weapons)
Romaña, José Miguel.
Spain: Nowtilus (Historia incógnita). 2009. 397p. illus. ISBN 978-84-9763-750-3. pap. $23.95. HISTORY
Romaña, a Spanish journalist, has published a number of books and articles on weapons and warfare, 
particularly those of the German Third Reich and the Soviet Union—popular versions of academic or professional history. This book is divided into three parts concentrating on advanced aviation; mines, missiles, and guided bombs; and submarines, ships, and “magic” arms. Black-and-white illustrations suggest how these secret weapons varied in range of realization from mere idea to completed object. That Germany, a country of such limited natural resources, could so quickly and relentlessly imagine and produce this array of weapons is as impressive as it is disturbing. This work is for collections with a sufficient readership interested in topics of warfare and military history.—Edward A. Riedinger, Ohio State Univ. Lib., Columbus
FICTION
La Dalia Negra.
(The Black Dahlia)
Ellroy, James.
tr. by Albert Solé. Spain: Negra Zeta: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 461p. ISBN 978-84-9872-197-3. pap. $13.95. FICTION
Based on a notorious, unsolved Los Angeles murder case, the central drama of this hard-boiled mystery, set in the late 1940s, begins when the body of Elizabeth Short, an engagingly beautiful and promiscuous woman in her 20s, is discovered in a vacant lot, cut in half, disemboweled, and bearing evidence that she had been tortured for several days before dying. Dubbed “The Black Dahlia” by the press, the victim becomes an obsession for two L.A.P.D. cops, narrator Bucky Bleichert and his partner, Lee Blanchard, both ex-boxers who also are best friends and in love with the same woman. Despite a huge effort by the department, leads seem to go nowhere. Building like a symphony, this is a wonderful, complicated but accessible tale of ambition, insanity, passion, and deceit. [PW 7/24/87]
El hijo del viento.
(Chronicler of the Winds)
Mankell, Henning.
tr. by Carmen Montes Cano. Spain: Tusquets, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 351p. ISBN 978-84-8383-135-9. pap. $20.95. FICTION
In an African country after the overthrow of its longtime dictator by revolutionaries, bandits terrorize the countryside and conscript young boys into their ranks, among them the child Nelio. Nelio escapes and journeys to a big city, where he joins up with a group of street children. When Nelio is shot, he is cared for by a baker named José, with whom he shares his story. Nelio’s tragic tale changes José’s life, and he decides to spend his own life telling Nelio’s story, thus becoming known as the “Chronicler of the Winds.” Mankell’s novel is about the broken legacy of colonialism and the greed and violence that follow in its wake. Timely and well worth reading, this is highly recommended for all libraries. [LJ 5/1/06]
La quinta mujer.
(The Fifth Woman: A Kurt Wallander Mystery)
Mankell, Henning.
tr. by Marina Torres Naveira. Spain: maxi: Tusquets, dist. by Spanish Publishers. 2009. 633p. ISBN 978-84-8383-534-0. pap. $13.95. FICTION
The fourth book in Mankell’s excellent series opens with the bloody killings of four nuns and a 
Swedish tourist (the fifth woman) in Algeria, then switches to the carefully staged murder of a wealthy retired car dealer in Ystad, Sweden. Even as Inspector Kurt Wallander and his cohorts tirelessly work the car-dealer case, the perpetrator obsessively plots her next murder, dispatching the victim as if all her life were meant for this killing moment. Wallander somehow uncovers the ties that bind these apparently disparate events together. The intricate plotting, chilling psychological divination, and thrilling police procedural are all seamlessly translated. Highly recommended. [LJ 6/1/00]
NONFICTION
100 Preguntas de mis hijas.
(100 Questions from My Child)
Chopra, Mallika.
tr. by Josep Escarré. Spain/U.S.: Integral: RBA, dist. by Santillana USA. 2009. 227p. ISBN 978-84-9867-357-9. pap. $17.99. PARENTING
Quite on its own merits, Chopra’s book is useful, clear, and appealing. She supplies, sometimes from example, 100 questions from a child (“Why can’t I get those shoes?”; “Mommy, what’s a bomb?”). Her answers are always personal but emphasize respect for her children while offering them structure for the development of their own sense of self and world. Her well-known father, Deepak Chopra, has provided the introduction to his daughter’s book. For most collections. [LJ 5/1/07]
Cómo encantar a un hombre.
(How To Enchant a Man)
Dugan, Ellen.
tr. by Ana García Bergua. Mexico/U.S.: Alamah: Santillana. 2008. 236p. bibliog. glossary. ISBN 978-607-11-0028-3. pap. $16.99. NEW AGE/SELF-HELP
Dugan is a psychic, clairvoyant, and Master Gardener, and has been a practicing Wicca witch for 25 years. She 
teaches classes on botanical medicine, practical magic, and flower folklore, and has written several books and articles. In this guide, she combines Wicca’s nature-based beliefs with the rituals of magic to help readers enhance and increase their ability to bring love into their lives. Centered on the belief that a secure, confident, and positive woman is naturally attractive to men, Dugan sets out to help women identify and enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual qualities that appeal to men. She discusses the rules of magic, identifies basic materials needed for creating the right environment, offers suggestions for enhancing personal appearance and tips for rekindling the attraction between partners, as well as for how to break off unhealthy relationships. The book includes lists of ingredients, and specific instructions and wording for different spells. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores with large spiritual and self-help collections.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
La vida real. Cómo prepararte para los siete días más difíciles de tu vida.
(Real Life: Preparing for the 7 Most Challenging Days of Your Life)
McGraw, Phil.
tr. by Gerardo Hernández Clark. Mexico/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2009. 381p. ISBN 978-607-11-0183-9. pap. $19.99. SELF-HELP
McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, is one of America’s most widely-known TV personalities and self-help gurus. Since 2002, he has hosted the second highest-rated daytime talk show, authored numerous books, and established the Dr. Phil Foundation to help children and families. He is a former psychologist turned entertainer whose advice and methods have sometimes been described as simplistic. Nevertheless, his popularit
y and appeal are undeniable. Here, he selects seven life-changing days or events and proposes step-by-step plans for helping readers prepare, manage, and recover from these experiences. These potentially-crippling days are those in which people are confronted with loss, fear, personal breakdown, a medical or physical challenge, a mental health challenge, a problem of addiction, or an existential crisis. Using a simple, straight-forward, and intimate style, McGraw defines each event, describes what to expect, and recommends action steps needed to get back to better days. The book contains numerous self-assessment tools and a resource guide with websites and suggestions for further reading. While much of the advice is not unique or new, the book’s organization will be helpful to readers looking for quick help in coping with a particular event or problem. Dr. Phil’s popularity makes this an essential purchase for all public libraries and bookstores. Highly recommended.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Dewey. El gatito de biblioteca que conquistó el mundo.
(Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World)
Miron, Vicki & Brett Witter.tr. by Isabel Murillo Fort. Spain/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2009. 295p. ISBN 978-1-60396-648-1. pap. $19.99. MEMOIR
One freezing night in 1988, an eight-week-old kitten was left in the book drop of the Spencer Public Library in 
Iowa. Head librarian Myron immediately fell in love with him, as did the rest of the library staff, and this is how Dewey Readmore Books became the Spencer library cat. Dewey grew into a handsome feline, making many friends in his 19 years at the library by sitting in many laps and greeting library visitors at the door with an uncanny knack for knowing just who needed his affection. Dewey’s fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and, amazingly, became international. Some of the most moving parts of this memoir express the intense, special bond that Dewey had with Myron, who survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Charming and heartwarming. [LJ 7/15/08]
Bebes con síndrome de Down. Nueva guía para padres.
(Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents’ Guide)
Skallerup, Susan J., ed.
tr. by Lexicon Comm. U.S.: Woodbine House. 2009. 366p. ISBN 978-1-890627-99-7. pap. $21.95. PARENTING
This book was originally published in 1985 because so little accurate and positive information on Down syndrome was available. Revised for the first time in over 13 years and featuring four new chapter authors, it covers information that will be most helpful for families with children from birth to age five and includes the experiences and advice of parents. This should be one of the first books parents read upon receiving their child’s diagnosis. The contributors, educators, medical professionals, adults with Down syndrome, and, primarily, parents of children with Down syndrome, along with Skallerup—mother of a child with Down syndrome—define Down syndrome and discuss many aspects, including adjusting to your baby, medical concerns and treatments (for example, 40 to 60 percent have some type of heart defect), daily care, family life, postnatal development, the importance of early intervention, and legal rights and hurdles. Highly recommended for parenting collections in public libraries. [LJ 10/1/08]
NEW TO THE MARKET
FICTION
Las grandes traiciones de México.
(The Great Betrayals of Mexico)
Moreno, Francisco Martín.
Mexico/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 331p. ISBN 978-607-11-0200-3. pap. $21.99. HISTORICAL FICTION
Martín Moreno has a dramatic flair for depicting the turbulent twists and turns of Mexico’s history, focusing on specific aspects that are vital to understanding the interconnections between church and state, workers and the privileged class, as well as the strong personalities that have affected Mexico’s evolution. In this latest novel, he examines various individuals, particularly those leading up to the great upheaval known as the Mexican Revolution, and offers further insight into the life and times of Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, Álvaro Obregón, Antonio López de Santa Anna, and less-known characters and events of 19th- and 20th-century Mexican history. The one-hundredth anniversary of the Mexican Revolution looms and with it many reassessments of what it all meant will be published and discussed. To this end, Moreno’s broad-ranging research combined with his gift for re-imagining key moments offers readers unusual perspectives that add to the already rich canon of Mexican historical writing. This book is propitious and will not disappoint all readers. Recommended for all libraries, especially those with strong Mexican fiction collections.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
El animal sobre la piedra.
(The Animal on the Stone)
Tarazona, Daniela.
Mexico: Almadía. 2009. 170p. ISBN 978-607-411-002-9. pap. $15.95. FICTION
Following the death of her mother, the narrator’s profound grief sends her into a luminal space between being herself and being other. She feels she no longer wants to inhabit her own body. As though comforted by the congruity between her external and her internal states, she convincingly and dispassionately chronicles the slow shape-shifting of her body to scaly skin, loosened folds of skin on her joints, and the relationships with her companion and pet. When she finds herself in the hospital on several occasions, the reader wonders why the staff does not see her as she is, but accepts the implausibility. While the nature of its subject begs comparison with Kafka’s Metamorphosis, this novella succeeds in standing on its own, due to both its feminine perspective and the tension around the uncertainty of what is actually occurring. The reader may be witness to the narrator’s descent into a psychotic episode prompted by grief, or perhaps the narrator is actually experiencing what she describes. The puzzle demands a second reading. This book is sure to make for spirited discussion and would be an excellent addition to edgy young adult collections. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
NONFICTION
Fibromialgia. La curación es possible.
(Fibromyalgia: A Cure Is Possible)
Bauer, Johann A., M.D.
tr. by Florián Hernández. Spain: RobinBook. 2008. 255p. ISBN 978-84-7927-960-8. pap. $26.95. HEALTH
Fibromyalgia is a difficult ailment, and those afflicted suffer from chronic pain but do not always know the cause. It is an uncommon condition as it only affects about two percent of the U.S. population, but it is also a diagnosis of exclusion as many physicians dismiss patients as hypochondriacs or send them to mental health professionals. Bauer, a German physician, claims to have a treatment that will cure fibromyalgia. He developed a surgical technique that clears away plaque interfering with nerve conduction. He makes incisions at acupuncture points on the back or the forearm or the inner ankle and claims to have a success rate of 66 percent. Originally published in 2002 in German, this book is based on a very small sample of patients and the research has not been published in any peer-reviewed journals. It was presented at a 2004 conference in Munich convened by Bauer. However, there is already reliable information about fibromyalgia available in Spanish on MedlinePlus and from the American Academy of Family Physicians, so this is an optional purchase.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
