May Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
Edited by Aída Bardales</
Jun 2, 2011FICTION
Matar a Lutero.
(To Kill Luther)
Escobar, Mario.
U.S. Thomas Nelson: Grupo Nelson. 2011. 256p. ISBN 978-1-60255-463-4. pap. $18.99. HISTORICAL FICTION
This novel reimagines the events immediately following Martin Luther's excommunication in 1521-22 and his presentation before the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, at the Diet of Worms. Part 1 reveals the machinations of the Church in its pursuit of Luther, the heretical monk, and his defenders' attempts to guard him. Part 2 finds Luther ensconced in Wartburg Castle, engaged in the translation of the New Testament into the vernacular German. The most interesting elements of this novel are the development of Luther's theology, revealed through conversations with visitors to his cell, and his personal struggle regarding whether his heretical perspectives are godly or not. Escobar's attempt to convey a sense of intrigue fall flat in part because the chapters that focus on the ecclesial conspirators feel more like digressions from the more important activity occurring in the Wartburg cell. The famous 95 theses and a chronology of the events in Luther's life appear at the back of the book. Protestant Reformation enthusiasts may find this novel brings the events to life, but overall, this is an optional purchase for public libraries and bookstores.-Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
Soñar una bestia.
(To Dream a Beast)
Güemes, César.
Mexico/Spain: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2011. 382p. ISBN 978-607-11-0907-1. pap. $19.99. FICTION
Mexico City journalist Ángel Balderas starts receiving messages from a serial killer dubbed "El Abrelatas" ("Can Opener") before each of his gruesome crimes involving castration. Wearily, Balderas learns to use a handgun, which he will use profusely as he investigates the murders. This 1996 novel by journalist Güemes walks a well-trodden path: it's a crime story with literary ambitions, using intersected chapters in the first person that also strives to entertain; and it also includes a host of colorful characters (e.g., the old master, the locksmith, the knife thrower). Güemes fondly, and a tad nostalgically, portrays the camaraderie of a newsroom where he sets a series of funny, insightful dialogs dealing with journalism and crime in Mexico City. The plot, though, doesn't bring much intrigue and reads like a succession of grisly torture sessions and implausible action scenes in which Balderas emerges as a gun-toting hero. Although well written and with glimpses of brilliance, this novel doesn't set itself apart from the seemingly endless barrage of Latin American violent crime novels. Recommended only for commercial bookstores.-Carlos Rodriguez Martorell, East Elmhurt, NY
El principio del placer y otros cuentos.
(The Pleasure Principle and Other Stories)
Pacheco, José Emilio.
Spain: Tusquets, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 321p. ISBN 978-84-8383-255-4. pap. $21.95. STORIES
Recipient of the prestigious Cervantes Prize in 2009, Pacheco is a well-known Mexican author and translator whose work is well respected internationally. He has also been a university professor in the United States, Canada, England, and Mexico. This volume compiles 20 previously published stories and allows readers to perceive the maturation of Pacheco's great talent. Many of the stories make use of magical realism, and the themes vary greatly, ranging from the natural world to the war in Vietnam to a child's initiation to affairs of the heart and a teenage girl's weight anxieties. Pacheco's style is innovative and sometimes quite experimental; his language is often colloquial, presenting the diversity of Mexico's dialects, as in "Virgen de los veranos" ("Virgin of the Summer"). Showing a keen interest in the natural world, some of the stories also border on the fantastic and show the influence (both in style and in theme) of other canonical boom writers, such as Cortázar, Borges, and fellow Mexican Juan Rulfo. Pacheco's characters, particularly his adolescents, and several recurring characters and families make for interesting intertextual references. Included here is "The Pleasure Principle," more a novella than a short story, which is written from the perspective of a boy coming of age. Recommended for all bookstores and libraries.-Sophie Lavoie, Univ. of New Brunswick, Fredericton
NONFICTION
Tu hijo, tu espejo.
(Your Child, Your Mirror)
Chávez, Martha Alicia.
U.S.: Vintage Español: RH. 2011. 152p. ISBN 978-0-307-47580-0. pap. $14. PARENTING
The parent-child relationship can be difficult at times. Some parents may favor one child over another or even dislike a child. Chávez, a psychologist specializing in family therapy and addiction, offers parents advice that will help them repair damaged relationships with their children. She points out that parents often concentrate on actions rather than the underlying reasons for them. She further notes that establish rules and limits is important but that the basis for them must be love. Parents need to explore their own inner lives to understand their roles in the relationship and the conflict. They need to act from a position of unconditional love and let their children know that they love them with verbal and physical expressions. Once this happens, they can build strong relationships and transform rejection and guilt into love. As Chávez notes, this is not always easy, but it is important. Parents, especially those dealing with adolescents, will find encouragement here if they can get past the flowery prose. Libraries serving communities where Chávez is popular will want to consider this for their parenting collections.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., Oakland
100 mitos de la historia de México.
(100 Myths of Mexican History)
Moreno, Francisco Martín.
Mexico: Aguilar: Santillana. 2011. 375p. ISBN 978-607-11-0529-8. pap. $19.95. HISTORY
In the United States, our most venerable debunkers of "official" history-the canards repeated endlessly in textbooks-have included James Loewen (author of the classic Lies My Teacher Told Me) and Howard Zinn. They have an accomplished Mexican counterpart in Moreno, a treasury attorney turned novelist with a string of best sellers. His ambitious historical fiction, freighted with footnotes, contradicts accepted versions of events. Moreno said that he's dedicated to "seeking out truths that have been hidden from us for generations," and in this first volume of 100 myths he emphatically does that. In fact, the book begins with the most important icon of Mexican culture and systematically makes the case that the beloved Virgin of Guadalupe was not only never seen by the legendary Juan Diego-who, Moreno maintains, himself never existed-but that she was imported wholesale by Spanish priests, who transplanted the legend of a brown-skinned Mary seen centuries earlier in Extremadura. The book dissects other traditional truisms with evidence certain to discomfit every reader, this one included, in short chapters whose titles summarize the kernel of the myth to be busted: "Cortés Conquered the Aztecs" (the vastly outnumbered Spaniards needed help from other indigenous groups); "Cárdenas Expropriated Oil" (it already belonged to the Mexicans, but the president's 1938 nationalization of petroleum's decrepit industrial infrastructure forged a corrupt monopoly that has enriched a fortunate few); and "Vasconcelos, Democrat" (but, subsequently, Nazi). Future editions will benefit from careful edits to the bibliography; evidently some of the 132 citations were rearranged, so that now authors not yet cited are listed by last name only. Recommended for all readers with an interest in Mexico.-Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
Pregúntale a Xavier. Respuestas a preguntas reales de finanzas personales.
(Ask Javier: Answers to Real Questions About Personal Finance)
Serbia, Xavier.
U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2011. 351p. ISBN 978-1-61605-194-5. pap. $16.99. FINANCE
STARSerbia has spent almost his entire life in the public eye, starting in 1980, when he became a member of Menudo, the Latino band sensation. He tried a solo career in entertainment, went on to earn a Master's degree in financial economics from Trinity College, and came back to the entertainment world as a financial commentator and host of CNN Dinero. He is a syndicated columnist and blogger, as well as author of the best-selling Four Steps to Wealth. Here, he applies his simple, straightforward, and practical style to answering basic questions on personal finances. Serbia includes chapters on financial schemes, relationships with money, insurance, loans and use of credit cards, buying a home, saving for retirement, investments, saving for college, and end-of-life issues. This is a financial guide for the beginner, filled with illustrative charts and graphs, and practical stories and examples that make for easier reading and understanding of complex issues. Highly recommended for all public libraries, academic libraries, and bookstores.-Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
El último brindis de Don Porfirio. 1910: Los festejos del Centenario.
(Don Porfirio's Last Toast. 1910: The Centennial's Celebrations)
Tovar y de Teresa, Rafael.
Mexico/U.S.: Taurus: Santillana. 2010. 323p. ISBN 978-607-11-0661-2. pap. $19.99. HISTORY
In September 1910, Mexico celebrated its first 100 years of Independence with a series of social and cultural events, new public buildings, and numerous parties attended by the delegations from 28 counties. General Porfirio Díaz, who had ruled the country for 30 years, skillfully used these events to showcase Mexico as a modern, peaceful, and prosperous country, as well as to present himself as a progressive and unifying leader-his slogan was "order, peace, and progress." Only five months later, however, Porfirio Díaz was ousted and forced into exile. Tovar y de Teresa (Paraíso es tu memoria, Alfaguara, 2009), formerly Mexico's ambassador in Italy and president of the National Council of the Arts, zeroes in on the centennial celebrations of 1910 as a way to explain the dawn of Porfirio Díaz's government. Through personal letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and historical documents, the author re-creates the social atmosphere of the time: from what people were eating, wearing, and seeing to the new infrastructure that was furiously built in the three years previous to the centennial-roads, railroad tracks, well-engineered water systems, much-needed schools, magnificent theaters, and street lights in all major cities. The documents also show the overarching power of the general, whose government heavily subsidized one newspaper (forcing others to go out of business) and who was oblivious to the new political forces slowly pushing for change. Profusely illustrated with historical pictures and very well documented, this is an interesting book for scholars, historians, and those interested in Mexican history.-Ximena Diego, Brooklyn, NY
Aguirre, el magnífico.
(Aguirre, the Magnificent)
Vincent, Manuel.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2011. 256p. ISBN 978-84-204-0629-9. pap. $24.99. BIOGRAPHY
This book tells the story of Javier Aguirre, a Spanish priest and thinker who was eventually became the Duke of Alba. Acting as narrator, Vincent starts by telling the story of how, during a literary award ceremony, Aguirre asked him to write his biography. The son of a single mother, Aguirre was born in 1934. He became a Catholic priest under the Jesuit religious order. Influenced by the Frankfurt School, Aguirre became part of a small community of progressive priests and participated in literary gatherings. He then decided to quit priesthood and eventually married Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the Duchess of Alba. This way, Aguirre assumed the royal title of Duke of Alba. From this moment on, he became the historian of the House of Alba and lived a secluded life until his death in 2001. In recounting the duke's life, Vincent also tells the story of Spain's intellectual elite from the Franco era to present time. Anyone interested in Spanish history will be delighted to read about famous art dealer Juana Mordo's gatherings, where writers like Juan García Hortelano discussed politics. Unfortunately, the narration feels cold and lacks details of Aguirre's emotions. For instance, Vincent doesn't discuss Aguirre's view of his homosexuality. The language is extremely rich and the narration flows very smoothly. Still, this book will be well received by people interested in Spain's history.-María E. Cruz, Boston
ALSO IN TRANSLATION
Fiction
Testigo.
(Witness)
Brown, Sandra.
tr. by Anna Plata. Spain: Zeta: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 575p. ISBN 978-84-9872-388-5. pap. $14.99. FICTION
Brown's 16 appearances on the New York Times best sellers list gives instant appeal to this tale of a young woman who testifies against a pair of white supremacists who just happen to be her ex-husband and father-in-law. [LJ 1996]
Cada siete olas.
(Every Seven Waves)
Glattauer, Daniel.
tr. by Macarena González. Mexico/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 267p. ISBN 978-607-11-0794-7. pap. $19.99. FICTION
This e-epistolary is constructed from the email correspondence between Leo and Emmi. It begins with witty and insistent Emmi seeking to renew the relationship that had ended in Contra el viento del norte (Against the North Wind) a few weeks previously. Although Emmi is married to her much older husband and Leo has a new American girlfriend, they can't help engaging in this somewhat illicit connection. They are intelligent, mature people who dance around the idea of meeting in person, catching that seventh wave, and changing their lives. The narrator marks the amount of time passing between each message-two weeks later, the next day, etc. -and emotion is indicated by exclamation points and all caps rather than with emoticons. A quick and easy read that flows pleasantly, this book is refreshing in the "everything old is new again" sense. Libraries that own the first installment should add this title; enough information is provided from the first novel to make this an optional add for all others.-Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Ctr., Tulsa City-Cty. Lib. Syst., OK
Agua para elefantes.
(Water for Elephants)
Gruen, Sara.
tr. by Many Berástegui. Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2011. 466p. ISBN 978-1-61605-403-8. pap. $18.99. FICTION
When his parents are killed in a traffic accident, Jacob Jankowski hops a train after walking out on his final exams at Cornell, where he had hoped to earn a veterinary degree. The train turns out to be a circus train, and since it's the Depression, when someone with a vet's skills can attach himself to a circus if he's lucky, Jacob soon finds himself involved with the animal acts-specifically with the beautiful young Marlena, the horse rider, and her husband, August. Jacob falls for Marlena immediately, and the ensuing triangle is at the center of this novel, which follows the circus across the states. Jacob learns the ins and outs of circus life, in this case under the rule of the treacherous Uncle Al, who cheats the workers and deals roughly with patrons who complain about blatant false advertising and rip-off exhibits. Jacob and Marlena are attracted to each other, but their relationship is fairly innocent until it becomes clear that August is not merely jealous but dangerously mentally deranged. Old-fashioned and endearing, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced story told by the older Jacob, now in his nineties in a nursing home. Recommended for all libraries. [LJ 3/15/06]
Juicio final.
(Just Cause)
Katzenbach, John.
tr. by María Alonso & Beatriz Iglesias. Spain: Zeta: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 590p. ISBN 978-84-9872-453-0. pap. $14.95. FICTION
Matthew Cowart is at the top of his profession-a member of the editorial page staff of a major Miami newspaper. Cowart thinks his days as a crime reporter are behind him until he receives a letter from death row inmate Robert Ferguson, who not only proclaims his innocence, but also to have learned the identity of the real murderer. Cowart, his personal life a mess, takes the bait, hits the crime beat again, and writes a series of articles that lead to Ferguson's release and win the journalist a Pulitzer Prize. But Cowart has opened a Pandora's box of events that leads him to a showdown with the killer. Katzenbach has fashioned another tense, well-written crime thriller. Highly recommended wherever good fiction is read. [LJ 1992]
Lo que es sagrado.
(Sacred)
Lehane, Dennis.
tr. Ramón de España. Spain: RBA, dist. by Santillana USA. 2011. 363p. ISBN 978-84-9867-885-7. pap. $24.99. FICTION
When detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro are kidnapped by dying billionaire Trevor Stone and forced to find his lost daughter, they become entwined in a vicious whodunit in which "up is down and north is south." The case takes them to Grief Release Inc., a Boston-area church/cult whose members purge their sins, secrets, and financial records; then, accompanied by Stone's henchmen to Tampa, Florida, where a top-of-the-line sports car and all the money they can spend are put at their disposal. Kenzie and Gennaro ditch it all to continue the search on instinct in a cheap convertible. When the detectives finally find their prize, the perfecto, leggy Desiree Stone, she turns out to be much more than they bargained for. With its fast-paced plot, Lehane's novel will be a winner with adventure buffs. [LJ 6/15/97]
La hora del ángel.
(Angel Time)
Rice, Anne.
tr. by Francisco Rodríguez de Lecea. Spain: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 333p. ISBN 978-84-666-4532-4. pap. $24.95. FICTION
An assassin meets an angel who puts him to work for God. Although "Lucky the Fox" has always justified his contract killing by letting himself believe he was really working for the proverbial "good guys," the seraph takes Lucky back to the 1200s and gives him the task of preventing a pogrom against Jews accused of ritually murdering Christian children. Readers of Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" and "Mayfair Witch" sagas develop a deep connection with protagonists Lestat and Rowan Mayfair, but it is hard to relate to Lucky. However, the novel is more fluid and action-oriented than Rice's recent trilogy about Jesus. At the heart of this odd mix of metaphysical thriller and historical novel is one man's rediscovery of his religious beliefs. While smoothly written and full of Rice's noted descriptive detail, this title may disappoint fans of her wildly popular series about vampires and witches, while Christian readers who know Rice only as a paranormal writer will probably avoid it unless they have read her Jesus novels. [LJ 8/09]
El sueño del Olivar. Una historia de Palestina.
(The Olive Grove)
Rohan, Deborah.
Mexico/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 548p. ISBN 978-607-11-0799-2. pap. $21.99. FICTION
Colorado-based writer Rohan brings the story of Palestine alive through a family saga of four generations. The main action begins as the Ottoman Empire's power begins to crumble in the Middle East before World War I and culminates with the establishment of modern-day Israel in 1948. Through this turmoil, Kamel Moghrabi, a young soldier and later patriarch of a large family, has to leave his homeland and lose memories, connections, and property held for generations, including his beloved olive groves to an unsatisfactory life of exile and sadness. Despite the difficulties of this unexpected diaspora (to several points in the Middle East-Lebanon, Bahrain, and ultimately, the United States), Kamel's children and grandchildren manage to make new lives for themselves. A half century later, one of Kamel's sons, Hamzi, and Hamzi's daughter, Ruba, decide to return to Akka, the city, where Kamel was born. Although Ruba has never been to Israel, she grew up with her father's memories of a Palestine that never came to be. They find a much less pleasant place than the more tolerant and multiethnic city that had been Kamel and Hamzi's home before the establishment of modern-day Israel. Through this long saga, Rohan tries to illustrate the complexities of the relationships among Arabs, Christians, and Jews living in an ancient land and the many influences that shaped its present-day outcome. Rohan's tale is ultimately a pro-Palestinian manifesto that attempts to put this group's plight into context. Recommended for all libraries.-Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Pequeños contratiempos.
(Little Earthquakes)
Weiner, Jennifer.
tr. by Eduardo G. Murillo. U.S.: books4pocket: Urano USA. 2011. 542p. ISBN 978-84-92801-76-3. pap. $11.95. FICTION
Four young women who seem to have little in common get to know each other in the late stages of first pregnancy and childbirth. At a time when each thinks she should be happy and fulfilled, there is the overpowering sense of fragile weariness that comes with a new baby. One of the women is married to a basketball star who shows up in the delivery room smelling of another woman's perfume; another has a steady, ambitious husband who loses his job and becomes a long-term couch potato. In the development of the individual stories, understanding, forgiveness, and maturity begin to emerge. The voices of the women drive the narrative, and the author, who also reads the story, gives each person a distinct and appealing personality. Female readers will relate to the universality of the friendship and warmth among these characters; recommended for all collections. [LJ 8/04]
Nonfiction
La dieta paleolítica. Pierda peso y gane salud con la dieta ancestral que la naturaleza diseño para usted.
(The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed To Eat)
Cordain, Loren.
tr. by Amelia Brito Astorga. Spain/U.S.: Urano. 2011. 319p. ISBN 978-84-7953-766-1. pap. $19.95. HEALTH
This is another "if you can't find it in the wild, don't eat it" diet that takes the germ of a useful idea and runs with it. According to Cordain (health and exercise science, Colorado State Univ.), Paleolithic humans were fit and lean because, as hunter-gatherers, they ate what was available: meats low in saturated fats, fresh fruits, and nonstarchy vegetables. Nor did they suffer from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, the byproducts of our poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Then again, the average Paleolithic life span was about 30 years, not long enough to develop most chronic illnesses. Still, the author asserts that by eliminating grains, dairy, refined sugars, and processed foods from our diets, we, too, can thrive as our ancestors did. Three levels of diet and six weeks of sample menus, with recipes, are included. [LJ 11/15/10]
Los 33. El rescate que unió al mundo.
(The 33: The Ultimate Account of the Chilean Miners' Dramatic Rise)
Franklin, Jonathan.
tr. by Jonathan Franklin. NA. U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2006. 264p. ISBN 978-1-61605-346-8. $16.99. pap. CURRENT EVENTS
When it was revealed that 33 miners were trapped 700 feet beneath the earth's surface in the remote Atacama Desert of northern Chile, a collective sense of awe struck the world. A somber plea for help from Chilean president Sebastián Pinera only underscored the bleakness of the situation. And so began what would be 69 excruciating days of waiting for these men to be rescued. Franklin, an American reporter living in Chile for over 16 years, covered the story for the Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Morning Herald, reporting from the San José mine as the events unfolded in real time. Coming directly on the heels of his English-language publication, released earlier this year, Franklin's Spanish-language translation of the events amount to an engrossing page-turner of an account, assembled through countless interviews and conversations with some of the main actors. We learn of the overwhelming odds faced by the engineers, architects, and rescue teams of Operation San Lorenzo, named after the patron saint of the miners; among other things, two cave-ins exacerbated the precariousness of the situation. Showcasing the seasoned journalist's flair for fly-on-the-wall reporting, Franklin makes this account of human drama all the more compelling. The photographs included in the work-snapshots of the 33 miners (one of whom was actually Bolivian), of the crowds of grieving Chilean mothers, of the candlelight vigils, and of the tent city that soon surrounded the site-will effectively recall some of news coverage of the miners. Franklin's account will certainly become a cultural touchstone on the events that transpired on that fateful day of August 5, 2010. Recommended for Latin American collections.-Michael Sosa, Brooklyn, NY
Mi biografía espiritual.
(My Spiritual Journey: Personal Reflections, Teachings and Talks.
Dalai Lama & Sofia Stril-Rever.
tr. by NA. Mexico: Diana: Planeta. 2011. 336p. ISBN 978-607-07-0637-0. pap. $19.95. BIOGRAPHY
Sign and symbol of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the focus of much political ire directed against the Chinese government and its policies in the country of Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama is also a genial and popular religious figure; it is not exaggeration to say that he is loved by millions in both Asia and the West. Stril-Rever has created a "spiritual autobiography" from many first-person passages in his previously unpublished writings. As it is, the work provides neither a consistent argument nor the anchors of a conventional memoir. Best read, perhaps, in conjunction with Freedom in Exile (the Dalai Lama's autobiography), this gathering of insights on a variety of topics should still please the Dalai Lama's Spanish-speaking adherents. [LJ 7/10]
Jesús de Nazaret. Desde la entrada en Jerusalén hasta la Resurrección.
(Jesus of Nazareth: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection)
Joseph Ratzinger, Benedicto XVI.
tr. by J. Fernando del Río. Spain: Planeta. 2011. 396p. ISBN 978-84-9920-080-4. pap. $28.95. RELIGION
Ratzinger, the current Pope, published numerous theological volumes prior to his becoming head of the Catholic Church in 2005. In 2007, he published Volume 1 of his examination of the life of Christ (Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration). This second volume examines the life of Christ through the Resurrection. The first volume attracted significant attention in part because of the suggestion stated by the Pope that it was written using modern historical criticism methods to establish the historical Christ. He was criticized for what many scholars considered was a tendency to ignore historical inconsistencies in favor of presenting a more traditional faithful view not necessarily supported by critical research. This second volume is similar and probably less critical in that the author avoids much of the academic controversies surrounding the trial, death, and Resurrection of Christ in favor of a historical recounting based primarily on the four Gospels. It is written in a readable style that will be attractive to a non-academic reader. A worthwhile addition to public library collections that service Hispanic populations.-Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
Un pequeño empujo. El impulso que necesitas para tomar las mejores decisiones en salud, dinero y felicidad.
(Nudge)
Thaler, Richard H. & Cass R. Sunstein.
tr. by Belén Urrutia. 2009. 332p. ISBN 978-607-11-0186-0. pap. $16.99. SELF-HELP
In the first of these two books exploring human behavior and the choices we make, organizational expert Ori Brafman and his psychologist brother, Rom, an organizational expert, discuss the various psychological forces (e.g., diagnosis bias and loss aversion) that cause people to act irrationally. To help illuminate their discussion, they draw on the latest research in social psychology, behavioral economics, and organizational behavior. Thaler (behavioral science & economics, Graduate Sch. of Business, Univ. of Chicago) and Sunstein (jurisprudence, Univ. of Chicago Law Sch.) consider how the science of choice can gently "nudge" individuals toward making life-improving decisions. They divide the text into five parts-"Humans and Econs," "Money," "Health," "Freedom," and "Extensions and Objections"-and employ numerous examples throughout. Easy to read, conversational in tone, and story-driven, Sway is suitable for public libraries. Nudge, a more research-based analysis full of practical solutions to real-life problems, is strongly recommended for public libraries. [LJ 5/1/08]
La tragedia del Congo.
(The Tragedy of the Congo)
Williams, George W. & others
Tr. by Susana Carral Martínez and Lorenzo F. Díaz. Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2010. 416p. ISBN 978-607-11-0849-4. pap. $21.99. CURRENT EVENTS
In 1876, Belgian king Leopold II began the International African Association with the intention of promoting humanitarian projects in the Congo, although still with the ethnocentric and profoundly racist intention of "civilizing" the "savages." The king financed Henry Morton Stanley's expedition to the Congo River. Under the guise explorer and researcher, and eventually claiming the Congo for Leopold II, Stanley exterminated Africans, committing gross crimes against humanity that, if not for the testimonies of this book's four authors, would have never come to light. The raw accounts of the true events that took place in the Congo and of Stanley's actions-written by Williams, Roger Casement, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mark Twain-together form a compelling portrait of a man who almost escaped accountability. The perfectly crafted translation, presented in clear language, makes you feel as if authors originally wrote in Spanish. A difficult read because of the overwhelming magnitude of the tragedy brought about in the Congo, this book remains especially relevant in a year that has seen revolutions and crimes committed against humanity, not to mention humanity's repetition of the same mistakes. This book shows the terrifying lengths some men go to when fueled by greed and lust for power. Strongly recommended for adult audiences and literature, history, and philosophy students.-Vivian Gómez, Woodside, NY
NEW TO THE MARKET
Nonfiction
El asco.
(Disgust)
Castellanos Moya, Horacio.
Spain: Tusquets dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2007. 139p. ISBN 978-84-8383-027-7. pap. $14.99. FICTION
Salvadoran writer and journalist Moya pays homage to Austrian novelist and playwright Thomas Bernhard in this scathing political critique. Edgardo Vega, a self-exiled Salvadoran temporarily in El Salvador for his mother's funeral, bends an old school chum's ear about his contempt for all things Salvadoran while the two share drinks at a local bar. The repetitive cadence of Vega's monolog and his earthy choice of words as he dissects everything from national cuisine to politicians and organized religion echo Berhard's play, Heldenplatz, in which a character criticizes Austria's national institutions. Moya received death threats after the 1997 publication of the novel, forcing him into exile and leading one to draw inevitable parallels between Moya and his character, Vega. The liberal use of scatological language-and the images it evokes-is not for the faint of heart. However, the nauseating is balanced by the darkly humorous, including a scene in which the paranoid Vega thinks he has lost his Canadian passport amid the stench and filth of a seedy brothel. This edition includes an afterword written before his death by award-winning Chilean novelist Roberto Bolaño. Recommended for libraries and literary bookstores.-Pamela Corante, Los Angeles
