Tulsa
event guide
INSIDE!
Book Review 4 5 8
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 8
F R E E
NEW AND OF INTEREST
C H E C K
Larf
The only sasquatch in the world... or is he? Page 8
Out of Sight, Out of Time
I T
Great continuation to the series. Page 10
The Grey Album: On the Blackness of Blackness
O U T
Fascinating synthesis of AfricanAmerican culture Page 11
Triggers
History Meets the Paranormal By Seth Grahame-Smith Grand Central Publishing, $21.99, 336 pages
19
June 2012
What do vampires have to do with the Civil War president? Everything! Seth Grahame-Smith, author of the popular Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, once again has intertwined the paranormal with history to create a horror novel that is both humorous and historical in nature. The author, who places himself as a character in this book, comes into possession of the journals of Abraham Lincoln, which contain this vital secret: Lincoln was a vampire hunter. After a vampire kills his mother, young Abe vows to dedicate his life to the destruction of the undead.
The plot is certainly unique enough. There’s plenty of historical detail, and the idea that vampires were involved in slavery (and causing the Civil War) was interesting. The “photographic evidence” was a particularly nice touch. The writing style can be a little awkward, as he switches between a style that feels more like a biographical commentary and prose that is more what you would expect from a novel. Readers who wanted to enjoy Grahame-Smith’s last work but had a hard time getting through the See ABRAHAM, cont’d on page 2
The best sci-fi writer has done it again! Page 17
Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life
Rich in history, strength and perseverance. Page 18
75 Reviews INSIDE!
Book Reviews
Thrillers & Suspense SNAP IT for additional book summaries. Bloodland By Alan Glynn Picador, $16.00, 364 pages Check this out! When out-of-work journalist Jimmy Gilroy agrees to write the biography of the B-list celebrity who died three years before in an accident, he didn’t realize he’d be dragged into a conspiracy spanning three continents. Meanwhile, the former prime minister of Ireland, a recovering alcoholic supposedly writing his memoirs, falls off the wagon when he sees a news report about a skeleton found in the woods. In the U.S.A., a high-powered businessman waits to hear of his senator (and future U.S. presidential candidate) brother’s ill-fated trip to the Sudan. In the first chapter of Bloodland, the sheer number of characters to remember is daunting. Over time, it’s easier to differentiate the characters and eventually, after many twists and turns, pull the plot threads together to discover how the story lines fit. Flawed characters set in the backdrop of the Great Recession combine with a nonformulaic story to make a fun read for fans of conspiracy theories and intelligent thrillers. If you loved Alan Glynn’s novel Winterland, you will want to pick up this novel. Reviewed by Kelly Garrett Capitol Murder By Phillip Margolin Harper, $26.99, 352 pages Check this out! Over here is a serial killer who breaks out of custody when about to be retried for crimes whose prosecution was tainted by connection with an identical case for which he was mistakenly convicted and is now considered innocent. He manages to murder his lawyer and a couple of other people in the process.
Over there is a plot planned and set in motion by an independent cadre of Muslim terrorists who depend on a mysterious blonde white guy for their supplies, transportation and access to the enormous football stadium that they intend to blow up during a hugely important sold-out game. Somewhere in between we observe the foibles of a compromised United States senator who will do almost anything to satisfy the femme fatale who, with her accomplices, threatens to blackmail him. The author stitches all this together with abundant skill, energy and timing. His stitch pattern includes a bouquet of welldrawn lawyers, law enforcement officials, and a journalist whose cases and interests intersect. Brad Miller and Dana Cutler reappear for this third leg of Margolin’s Washington trilogy. As always, Margolin handles lawyerly and political matters with the authority of an insider. The action is hot, the twists inventive, the tension taut. Reviewed by Phil Jason
anonymous Fairlane — and the bad guys keep tracking him down as he dispatches them one after another, sometimes having a philosophical dialogue beforehand. Nothing coheres in this brutish universe as Driver tries to get to the source of all this hired help trying to shut him down. “Do the dots connect?” asks Manny, Driver’s old friend. “Could all be random.” That’s the essence of the Sallis universe, where loners like Driver can only labor like Sisyphus endlessly and unavailing for eternity battling the “unapprehended forces.” Reviewed by Phil Semler The Technologists: A Novel By Matthew Pearl Random House, $26.00, 496 pages Check this out! Boston is under siege. Boats in the harbor have crashed into each other, leaving the wharf in shambles, and glass has melted from the windows in the business district. The country is just getting back on its feet after the Civil War, and now Bostonians fear that the Industrial Revolution and technology have gone too far.
Driven By James Sallis Poisoned Pen Press, $19.95, 148 pages Check this out! Drive, the 2005 ne o -noi r -re ve n ge vendetta classic, was made into a 2011 movie with Hollywood hunk Ryan Gosling. Sallis didn’t write the screenplay. The film had many changes, not all bad, but that’s the movies — it was a visual homage to the ‘60s Steve McQueen — not Sallis’ literary homage to the ‘50s pulp. Seven years later, the now 32 Driver is back in Driven, living in Phoenix. On the first page of this lean, terse, brutal sequel, he and his fiancée Elsa go for a walk(!). Elsa is dead and the two assassins are dead by Driver’s hands. The mob has shown up, apparently to kill him. As our fifth largest city, it’s difficult to write about Phoenix’s mean streets, since presumably they’re so hot and wide to walk. But Sallis captures the strangely featureless artificial city. Driver gets a new ride — an Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 2
M.I.T. is in its infancy, just about to graduate their first class, and still struggling for acceptance. The problem is that most still don’t understand what the institute is trying to achieve and, in turn, fear the students and are ready to blame them for everything. The class of ‘68 has to investigate the horrifying disasters without letting the general public know what they are up to. They also have to do it before more people die and their cherished institute turns into a grand failure. With characters drawn from actual students, many twists and turns, and a fully painted portrait of Boston in 1868, The Technologists is a thrill ride from start to finish that will leave you wanting to learn more about the beginnings of M.I.T. and that time period. Very few historical fiction mysteries leave you as informed and entertained at the same time like this will. Reviewed by Gwen Stackler
ABRAHAM, cont’d from page 1 prose will find this book a good substitute. On the other hand, historical/Lincoln enthusiasts will enjoy this much more if they realize that the book is tongue-in-cheek and really shouldn’t be taken seriously. (PS: The movie version of this book debuts June 22 in theaters across the nation.) Reviewed by Alyssa Feller
Visit TulsaLibrary.org to request a copy.
Tulsa
Book Review Tulsa City-County Library 400 Civic Center Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 Ph. (918) 549-7323 EDITOR IN CHIEF Ross Rojek ross@1776productions.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jackie Hill Tulsa City-County Library jhill@tulsalibrary.org
GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Lisa Rodgers lisa.rodgers@1776productions.com
COPY EDITORS Lori Freeze Diane Jinson Lori Miller Robyn Oxborrow Holly Scudero Kim Winterheimer
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Elizabeth Tropp Shanyn Day Christopher Hayden Missy McEwen Derek Erickson James Rasmussen Audrey Curtis WEBSITE TulsaBookReview.com DISTRIBUTED BY Urban Tulsa Weekly The Tulsa Book Review is published monthly by 1776 Productions, LLC. The opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Tulsa Book Review or 1776 Productions advertisers. All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders. All words ©2012, LLC.
1776 Productions,
IN THIS ISSUE Thrillers & Suspense...............2 Mystery...................................4 Biography & Memoir...............5 Cookbooks...............................6 Picture Books..........................8 Teen Scene.............................10 Romance................................11 Popular Culture.....................11 Kids’ Books............................12 Tween Reads.........................12 Fiction...................................14
FROM THE PUBLISHER Summer is upon us and Tulsa CityCounty Library’s Summer Reading Program is in full swing! In fact, our program is the most successful program of its kind in the state — with one in four participants in Oklahoma residing in Tulsa County. While you may be watching the Summer Olympians collecting their medals in London on TV, a young one in your life could be earning their own medal for completing the library’s Summer Reading Program. With more than 800 free events happening at our libraries this summer, they’ll have a lot of fun participating. However, you may not want to tell them research shows children who participate in programs like this do better in school when they return in fall. Let’s agree to keep this little secret to ourselves. Agreed? Whether you want to read about an axe-wielding, vampire-hunting president before the summer blockbuster movie premieres, find a good romance book from our new Tulsa Book Review romance section, or bring the entire family to the library for a free program or book-hunting trip, the Tulsa City-County Library has something unique for you. We’ll plan to see you at the library soon. Best regards,
Nature & Science...................16 Science Fiction....................... 17
Gary Shaffer Tulsa City-County Library CEO
Fantasy.................................. 17 Com ing Up! History & Current Events......18 Summer of Love.....................20
Share your family’s heritage with future generations by researching your roots and creating a family tree. Join the Genealogy Center in July at its annual Family History Month series featuring programs for new genealogy researchers as well as lifetime enthusiasts. For a schedule of events, see the July Event Guide.
Book Reviews
Mystery SNAP IT for additional book summaries. The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Book 13 By Alexander McCall Smith Pantheon, $24.95, 272 pages Check this out! After a dozen bestselling novels of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series set in Botswana, author Alexander McCall Smith and his heroine, private detective Precious Ramotswe, are as deft as ever in The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection — navigating subtle plot twists and turns, digging up clues to mysteries large and small, and reminding readers of the powers of observation and of the written word. All the usual suspects in Mma Ramotswe’s mystery microcosm are back, including Grace Makutsi, associate detective and newlywed; Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, husband and proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors; and Sylvia Potokwane, friend and indomitable matron of the orphan farm. This time out, Smith opens the door to a new character his leading lady knows well but has never met: Clovis Andersen, fictional author of The Principles of Private Detection and unexpected visitor to Botswana. From the opening of the agency in the first novel of the series, the lady detectives have followed Andersen’s written instructions almost to the letter. When he shows up at their doorstep, thousands of miles from his own gumshoe stomping grounds of Muncie, Indiana, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are rendered nearly speechless (a very rare event). Now, with their mentor truly on the case, the ladies get a firsthand lesson in unraveling the secrets that reveal a trail of corruption — and ultimately Andersen reveals a secret of his own… The academy’s prime suspects are a rude contractor (who happens to be building Mma Makutsi’s dream house), a shady car “salesman” (who frames one of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni’s young mechanics) and an unscrupulous businessman/benefactor (who raises a red flag when he fires Mma Potokwane from the orphan farm). Extracting evidence from well-placed sources like a disgruntled manicurist, a tender-hearted secretary and an honest carpenter, the detectives leave no stone (or construction brick)
unturned in their search for truth, justice and the traditional Botswana ways. My copies of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels are almost as well thumbed as Mma Ramotswe’s copy of The Principles of Private Detection. I find myself gulping each new novel for the first read, then going back to savor them as Mma Ramotswe does her many daily cups of red bush tea. The entrance of Clovis Andersen into the latest episode was a charmer for me. Andersen’s astonishment that his book on private detection has become a guiding work for Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi — let alone that anyone outside Muncie has ever heard of it — seems like the perfect inside joke from Smith, whose books are anticipated and beloved by millions of readers around the world. Reviewed by Deborah Lee Rose The Skeleton Picnic: A J.D. Books Mystery By Michael Norman Poisoned Pen Press, $24.95, 250 pages Check this out! Skeleton Picnic by Michael Norman is the second in the Ranger J.D. book series, and sets us in a small town in South Utah where the local interest in pot hunting leads a local couple into danger. When they disappear out in the desert and their home is burglarized, the Ranger is on the case, but it’s not long before he’s bumping into conflicts of interest and the political influence of certain families. Such are the problems in small communities where family ties and social arrangements lead to rules being bent slightly out of shape. This is a classy police procedural with odd outbreaks of sundry violence and gunfire as our hero slowly uncovers evidence to suggest who may be responsible for the burglary. Now, if he were to assume the burglary and the disappearance are committed by the same people, he might be making progress. It’s written in a simple and direct form, cutting quickly to the chase and never letting up in the pace until we arrive breathless at the end. It’s well worth picking up if you like looking over the hero’s shoulder as he navigates through the investigation and tries to prove his theories correct. Reviewed by David Marshall
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 4
MYSTERIES/THRILLERS
COMING SOON
TO TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY Search the library’s catalog at http://tulsalibrary.org to reserve your copies now.
A Teeny Bit of Trouble
By Michael Lee West This follow-up to Gone With a Handsomer Man finds Charleston pastry chef Teeny Templeton witnessing a murder that reveals that her boyfriend Coop O’Malley may be the father of the victim’s 10-year-old daughter.
Running the Maze
By Jack Coughlin When her military doctor brother dies from a suspicious bridge collapse moments after sending her a photo from his cell phone, a Coast Guard sniper struggles to solve the mystery by investigating the photo and enlisting the aid of a special operations team that subsequently discovers an al-Qaeda plot.
Hush Now, Don’t You Cry
By Rhys Bowen The latest entry in the Anthony Award and Agatha Award-winning series finds a newly married Molly and her NYPD captain husband reluctantly honeymooning in 1904 Newport at the estate of an ambitious Tammany Hall politician whose subsequent murder challenges Molly’s resolve to avoid sleuthing.
Play Nice
By Gemma Halliday Faking her death and haunted by her past as an assassin, Anya is tracked down by her enemies and unexpectedly partners with hired gun Nick, who wonders who he can trust while investigating Anya’s past and the people behind a second hit attempt.
The Whole Lie
By Steve Ulfelder Conway Sax’s new garage and his committed relationship with Charlene are threatened by the reappearance of former flame Savannah Kane, who claims her 6-year-old son was fathered by a billionaire candidate for political office.
Havana Requiem
By Paul Goldstein Losing his successful law firm and marriage to pride and alcohol, litigator Michael Seeley slowly recovers his reputation only to risk everything by accepting a case from an aging musician who with six other composers seeks to reclaim copyrights to culturally famous Cuban songs.
Book Reviews
Biography & Memoir SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Carly’s Voice: Breaking Through Autism By Arthur Fleischmann Touchstone, $24.00, 386 pages Check this out! If I had my way, Carly’s Voice would be required reading for all — particularly those touched by the enigma of autism. Carly’s Voice tells the awe-inspiring story of Carly Fleischmann and her family as they navigate their way through the world of her severe autism. Arthur Fleischmann does the reader — and the autistic community at large — a huge favor by refusing to sugar coat anything. We get to witness the destruction, unmanageability, tears and screams of the family firsthand and without a censor. The result is a truly profound journey into the mind of this powerfully courageous young woman. Carly has severe autism. She cannot speak at all. Her ticks, tantrums, spasms and self-stimulating behaviors leave the home in total chaos. Like most autistics, she will not make eye contact, shuns attempts at physical affections, and appears lost in her own world and completely unreachable. But, like most teens, she is boy-crazy, coy, sarcastic at times and amazingly adept at deploying guilt traps as needed. This dichotomy is stunning. The young woman who seems so far away, so lost in her own world and a complete stranger to normalcy, actually is totally on top of the ball. And, we get to witness this through her writings. Through her writing, Carly invites us into her private world. She takes the time to explain her movements and tantrums. She explains, at length, many of the mysteries of autism — including what it feels like to suffer from it. How do autistic’s see the world? Carly gives us a view. What she manages to convey — even with her delayed cognitive development — is nothing short of amazing, as well as vastly useful for parents, educators and the public at large. Carly’s Voice changed the way I see the autistic world and I feel strongly she will have the same effect on you. Carly, you’re a brave young woman. Thank you for coming out of your world to educate ours. Reviewed by Elizabeth Raymond
House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family and a Lost Middle East By Anthony Shadid Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $26.00 336 pages Check this out! Foreign correspondent Anthony Shadid died in Syria days before the publication of House of Stone, the tribute to his heritage. An experienced war reporter, posted to the Middle East to cover the fighting, he died off the battlefield, an accidental death that leaves the book and the tales it tells more poignant. Twin themes crisscross the pages: the restoration of the stone house built by his forebears in a Lebanese village and the story of his family’s emigration to the United States. It is a metaphor symbolizing the successive tragedies that have befallen the region since before the Ottoman Empire led to Lebanon’s birth. For Shadid, the tragedies culminated in a destructive Israeli attack shortly before he started to implement his dream. And it is the story of migrants, young wide-eyed relatives fleeing their homeland, hoping to be absorbed into a new world. Nostalgic? Indeed, but with a hard, unsentimental core. Shadid employs the locals who jerk him around with the same regularity as Peter Mayle’s Provence laborers, but he persists in the same way, befriending them as his only option to see the work completed. The separate narrative about relatives who paved the way for him in Oklahoma describes the culture they brought with them to their new, wholly different urban world. House of Stone is a worthy legacy. Reviewed by Jane Manaster
retired early to marry Lord Cavendish and did not have Fred’s film career. This biography traces their Omaha beginnings to hobnobbing with royalty in London and beyond. It is important to read past the opening chapters and find the rhythm in the author’s allusions and quotations. Don’t judge her early; she does tell a good story about the entertainers. The author also obviously researched everything surrounding the period theatrics. At first distracting, the reader soon appreciates the exhaustive research that captures the heady time period of stage lights and after-hours Charlestons. After all, this is the pair who began the modern musical performance and perfected it with their charm and talent. This book is a fun read, particularly for theater students and Astaire fans. Reviewed by Julia McMichael Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie By Beth M. Howard Harlequin, $24.95, 311 pages Check this out! Everyone deals with challenges and loss in their own unique way. Some people drown their sorrows in alcohol, others numb the pain with drugs. For Beth Howard, pie was the healer.
The Astaires: Fred & Adele By Kathleen Riley Oxford University Press, $27.95, 241 pages Check this out! Here’s my prejudice: I can watch old movies of Fred Astaire’s effortless dancing all day long, not to mention his wonderful songs — many written expressly for him. But at least I’m not alone. Even classically trained dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov worship at the Astaire altar. He is grace personified. I knew less about his stage dancing partner and sister, Adele, who Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 5
Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie is Beth’s journey. It’s a love story, a chronicle of surviving the unexpected death of her husband, and finding the way to work through her grief and guilt. Pie had always been a part of Beth’s life, even before she was born. Banana cream pie brought her parents together. She learned how to make apple pie from a retired merchant marine pastry chef. She charmed a number of eligible bachelors with homemade pie, and eventually her pie-making skills landed her a job in Malibu, Calif., making pies for Hollywood stars. Pie ultimately took Beth cross-country where she met other pie lovers, and in her travels it became clear that these fellow pie makers used pie in similar ways to overcome personal tragedies and challenges. I really enjoyed this book. Beth’s wit and frank open writing felt like sitting at a table with a dear friend, sharing stories and eating pie. Or at least my mouth was watering for all the delicious pies she described. At the end of the book, after Beth comes full circle with her healing, she shares many of the recipes for those pies she made and shared with people she met on her journey. Reviewed by Laura Friedkin
Book Reviews
Cookbooks SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Allergy-Friendly Food for Families: 120 Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, EggFree and Soy-Free Recipes Everyone Will Love By the Editors of Kiwi Magazine Andrews McMeel Publishing $24.99, 240 pages Check this out! A llerg y - Fr iend ly Food for Families is a great addition to any parent’s shelf. Even if your family doesn’t struggle with allergies, this cookbook has a beautiful array of natural foods. The 120 nutritious recipes bring together lots of different foods, flavors and colors. Although there are not photos for each recipe, the photographs are wonderfully styled. The pages have color-coded tab-like elements, which provide an at-a-glance view of a recipe. If it is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free or soy-free, the recipe will indicate it with the various colored tabs. The recipes are divided into breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks and parties. Examples of the recipes are: blueberry corncakes, meat loaf muffins, chicken potpie, chocolate toasties, carrot fries and polenta mini pizzas. Besides the great recipes, the editors provide sections explaining how to create an allergy-free pantry, an introduction to the “-free” life. Most helpfully, the index lists recipes by allergies. Interspersed throughout the book are pages explaining how to teach your children to cook, for example, breading, juicing and zesting, or rolling pizza dough. This is a go-to cookbook, whether dealing with allergy challenges or not. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey Cooking Light Way to Cook: Grilling By the Editors of Cooking Light Magazine Oxmoor House, $24.95, 320 pages Check this out! You’ll have a tough job finding a better, more cook-friendly cookbook on grilling than Way to Cook: Grilling. If you are on a diet, this is the perfect
book for you. If diet is of no concern to you, you can substitute regular ingredients for the low-fat versions. Recipes are excellent, written in step-by-step format, easily accessible for even the most novice cooks. Photo illustrations provide visual aids both for cooking steps and the final results. Many of the full-page photos have arrows labeling ingredients and brief informative descriptions. Every recipe has detailed per-serving nutritional information and brief yet useful headnotes. In addition, many equally practical and informative tables and sidebars labeled Kitchen How-To are also included. Recipe ingredients, with a few exceptions, are available in any supermarket. Recipes are layed out with the cook in mind in order to avoid flipping pages. Photo illustrations are beautiful to look at and a great help in cooking. Recipes range from grilling standards through the more complex international creations. The separate subject and recipe indexes are excellent. Reviewed by George Erdosh Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking With a French Accent By Ellise Pierce Running Press, $25.00, 324 pages Check this out! Not only can this lady cook, she can write! Her background and obvious expertise as an author make this fine cookbook not only attractive and original, but a positive delight to read. This is an expatriate’s tale of struggling with another language, a climate radically different from her native Texas, and foodstuffs deceptively diverging from those she first learned to cook with — leaner beef, butter that behaves differently, but also sea salt of a particular origin that does more than salt should be able to do, a wondrous variety of cheeses. In attempting to assuage her homesickness by recreating flavors from home, Pierce has succeeded in creating a composite culinary culture. She shares it with extraordinarily clear and nonfussy instructions.
Smokin’ Tortilla Soup is not just “put this in that and do this to it”; it coordinates with the home manufacture of tortillas, in a place where they otherwise would not exist. Asparagus and Avocado Soup starts with the growers, their business survival, history and a graphic few lines about cutting your own spears from the earth. Ellise Pierce offers more than a hundred nicely served recipes, with humor, gusto and an obvious love of food as side dishes. Reviewed by David Lloyd Sutton Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food: 125 Simple and Satisfying Recipes, From “Mac and Cheese” to Chocolate Cupcakes By Susan O’Brien Da Capo Lifelong Books, $18.00, 226 pages Check this out! Allergen-free cooks rejoice! This book is stuffed with easy-to-prepare, traditional comfort foods — with the not-so-traditional adjustment of using all gluten-free and vegan ingredients. Those of us wishing to eat gluten-free for health or allergy reasons, or vegan for various purposes, can finally satisfy some of those longings we still have! Dig into some long-overdue Mac and Cheese, Mock Tuna Fish Sandwich Fixin’s, or indulge in some Pumpkin or Chocolate Cupcakes. The cookbook starts out with a discussion of ingredients, replacements and options for your pantry. Learn to stock a cupboard that enables you to bake and cook without gluten or dairy or meat, and refer to the book for breakfast recipes, snacks and party treats, traditional American side dishes, delicious and nutritious desserts, and everything in between! An “Everything Else” section covers a few easily prepared pantry replacements like a vegan mayonnaise and a simple pesto sauce. If you’re just starting out on the trail of allergen-free cooking, this book is easy to read and the recipes extremely easy to follow. If you’re a pro at this, ingredients will be familiar and you finally can find some recipes for those treasured family favorites! Reviewed by Andrea Huehnerhoff Lonely Planet The World’s Best Street Food By Lonely Planet Staff Lonely Planet, $19.99 224 pages Check this out! The aroma of exotic street foods invariably excites our taste buds, even the hot dogs on the path to the ball game. Lonely Planet strides across continents sharing the memory of grab-
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 6
and-go dishes we sampled (or didn’t dare try) on our travels. But even the best recipes and images fail to provoke the same frisson, produced as they are in squeaky clean kitchens. Part of the allure in eating the unknown in faraway alleys and public squares is knowing the oil tends to be tastier by reason of repeated use, pans are wiped clean with dubious cloths, and meat has undeclared provenance. Despite detractingly more hygienic surroundings, armchair travelers will relish this cleverly organized book of traditional foods where facing pages describe the country and origin across from the ingredients, recipe and how-to. Who will not fly by magic carpet to try the redolent cevapcici enjoyed in Croatia, Central Asian samsa, or gözeme from Turkey where half the pleasure is watching the cook? After exploring the recipes, the indexes, glossary and descriptions of contributing authors provide a worthy dessert. Reviewed by Jane Manaster Pure Beef: An Essential Guide to Artisan Meat With Recipes for Every Cut By Lynne Curry Running Press, $27.00, 286 pages Check this out! We all know how much better grassfed beef is, and want beef that is healthy, green and safe. Lynne Curry’s Pure Beef explains a new approach to cooking and eating meat, or rather, rediscovering the beef of our ancestors and understanding why quality trumps quantity in meat production every time. Part education, part cookbook, Pure Beef breaks down beef and beef production, from grass to table. It explains the difference between grain- and grass-fed meat; the effects of antibiotics and hormones; the difference between a cow, steer and bull; the certifications of beef; how to find it; how to taste it; and, at long last, how to cook it. Complete with invaluable cut charts and illustrations on how to cut it, and how not to cook it (since grass-fed beef cooks far differently from grain-fed), this book is a gem for anyone interested in healthy beef. Frugal cooks also will appreciate this book as the author lauds the value of lesser cuts of meat, even tongue, and the ever challenging amounts of chuck. As a beef producer, this reviewer cannot give higher praise other than saying it’s something I will recommend to my customers. Reviewed by Axie Barclay
Book Reviews
Join Tulsa County residents in reading this inspiring novel, which follows the life of a small-town woman as she reflects on her rural lifestyle that is giving way to progress in the name of development. Many of the themes covered in the book mirror the challenges faced by rural and urban families today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendell Berry, American writer, farmer and advocate for small-scale agriculture, is the winner of the Tulsa Library Trust’s 2012 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. He will be in Tulsa Dec. 7 and 8 to receive the award and give a free public presentation. Using “Hannah Coulter” as the conversation starter, this year’s One Book, One Tulsa initiative will focus on food, gardening, health and sustainability. Visit http://tulsalibrary.org/onebookonetulsa for related programming. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and Tulsa World.
The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious Recipes Edited by Pam Hoenig Oxmoor House, $24.95, 288 pages Check this out! Heartland haute cuisine — cast iron cookery is as American as apple pie. And there is a cranberry apple pie in these pages! Ten by seven and a half inches, nicely laminated flexible covers and a useable index make this a good kitchen tool. Fine full-page photographic illustrations make it difficult to leaf through without salivating, and vignettes of the culture of ironware and reminiscences of cast iron artistry intersperse the crisply instructed recipes. There is concise instruction, including the precise number of briquettes to put on a Dutch oven lid to achieve good browning of biscuits, and recipes range from literally chef-level enterprises like Pan-Roasted Sea Bass with Chive-Garlic Compound Butter to hunter’s food like Tender Venison Roast and Braised Breast of Grouse. The bean hole, a pit roasting method, and Dutch oven techniques are addressed. The Lodge Company has a long history, and has had ample time to set up collaborations with particular brand names.. That shows, and not in a negative way. There are chilies, chowders, corn bread, cobblers, pies, meat treatments guaranteed to clog arteries so you can die happy, and ways to turn seafood into ambrosia. I’ll be using this excellent collection of metallic wisdom for decades. Reviewed by David Lloyd Sutton
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 7
The Pasta Revolution By the Editors at America’s Test Kitchen America’s Test Kitchen, $26.95, 336 pages Check this out! There are pasta books ... and then there’s this pasta book. Flip your carbohydrate dreams upside down and strain them through this sieve of revolutionary, creative and also traditional recipes. Can you make spaghetti without cooking the noodles first? Can you find a family favorite that’s been polished and perfected by the scientists at America’s Test Kitchen? Learn everything you need to know about this fascinating dish, in 200 solidly tested recipes that run the gamut of six-ingredient dishes, wholewheat pasta dishes, sauces, Asian noodles and dumplings, and a staggering amount more. Treat your family and guests to Meaty Lasagna, Potstickers With Scallion Dipping Sauce, Spring Vegetable Pasta, and stash your fridge with homemade pestos and sauces for simple dinners. Don’t just look for a book that will provide a few recipes — look for a book that will offer an education in pasta and give you the recipes and the tools to flourish the pot in style! A me r ic a’s Test Kitchen steadily has cranked out solid cookbooks with thorough research, explanations and instruction, and this book is no exception. Set your expectations high. You will not be disappointed! Reviewed by Andrea Huehnerhoff
Looking for a New Job?
Get Free Online Career Assistance With
• Résumé and cover letter assistance • Interview practice • Career advice FUNDED BY THE TULSA LIBRARY TRUST.
p and use your library card to access Job Now!
The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook: 150 Healthy, Delicious Recipes for Diabetics and Those Who Dine With Them By Angela Shelf Medearis Andrews McMeel Publishing $24.99, 272 pages Check this out! The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook offers so much more than 150 recipes for those with diabetes as it includes good food the entire family will enjoy. Each of the recipes adds exchange list values and carbohydrate choices along with the detailed nutritional and caloric analysis. From Flavor Infusions of dips, dressings, sauces and spice mixes, to Sweet Finishes and Nighttime Nibbles,
Medearis offers seven budget-friendly chapters to prepare healthful, enjoyable meals all day long. Striking photographs whet the appetite for these Southern-inspired foods. The introduction includes a healthy kitchen guide; lists for stocking the pantry, refrigerator and freezer; and an explanation of the nutritional information she provides with each recipe. Preceding each of the seven chapters, Medearis adds her personal touch as she does throughout the book. She offers guidance to assist in living a healthful life, serving to affirm her initial statement on page one. “While a diabetic diagnosis may change the way you eat, it shouldn’t impact the pure pleasure of a deliciously prepared meal,” states the author. Diabetics and their entire family, adults and children alike, will benefit from the Kitchen Diva’s thoughtfully and lovingly prepared diabetic cookbook. Reviewed by Angie Mangino
Visit TulsaLibrary.org/j o b h
el
for complementary side dishes are also provided. Tips on buying meat, shopping for produce and streamlining prep time appear as sidebars, making this book a true kitchen reference and not just a collection of recipes. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell
F E AT U R I N G
Simple Weeknight Favorites By Editors at America’s Test Kitchen Cook’s Illustrated, $26.95, 352 pages Check this out! The chefs at America’s Test Kitchen are known for their relentless, meticulous quest to create best-of-the-best recipes that aim to be the final word on, say, beef stroganoff or chicken and dumplings. In Simple Weeknight Favorites, that focus is coupled with the goal of making recipes as easy as possible — easy enough to cook any day of the week, in a reasonable amount of time, with ingredients available at any local supermarket. Make no mistake: you won’t find cheap shortcuts here. Instead, recipes are streamlined; no need to use two pans when one will do, for example. The 200 recipes compiled in this volume include basics like Quick Black Bean Soup and old favorites like roast chicken and pork chops prepared in exciting new ways. Vegetarians and fans of international cooking will find plenty to like here as well. Recipes
Cookbooks
Book Reviews
Picture Books SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Larf By Ashley Spires Kids Can Press, $16.95, 32 pages Check this out! Larf is a one-of-akind creature: the only sasquatch in the world, or so he thinks. But rumor has it that another sasquatch will soon be visiting a nearby village. Is it true? What is this sasquatch like? Will he like Larf? Will he be a vegetarian too, or will he enjoy gardening? What will he think of Larf’s pet rabbit? And worst of all — what if he is actually a she? Larf has his doubts, but cannot rest until he finds out about this other sasquatch for himself! Ashley Spires has created a character that everyone will adore; Larf is a fun creature that you can’t help but want to hug, despite the fact that he’s 7-feet tall. The story is cute, with many fun details thrown in to entertain readers young and old alike, and Spires’ illustrations are a delight to behold. This is an adorable picture book that children are sure to want to read over and over again. A welcome addition to any book collection. Reviewed by Holly Scudero Good Night, Laila Tov By Laurel Snyder, Jui Ishida (illustrator) Random House Books for Young Readers $17.99, 32 pages Check this out! This delightful story-poem presents an idyllic JewishAmerican family that goes off on a brief camping trip: father, mother, daughter, son and dog. The cat stays home. The author offers passages of simple rhymed couplets, each section rounded off by a refrain of the title encouraging children to learn the Hebrew phrase for “good night.” The minivacation divides into three days: one at the seashore, one in an open field, and the last in a more heavily wooded area passed through before driving home.
Join Tulsa City-County Library’s
2012 Children’s Summer Reading Program
The story balances the excitement and risks of family camping (gathering berries, running away from bees, contending with a storm) against the comforting security of snuggling together in a tent. The family is further identified as Jewish by the presence of a menorah in the home and by the activity of planting trees — a reference to the commandment of “tikkun olam” (repairing the world). This feel-good book gains much from its gorgeous illustrations, which often communicate mood more fully than the words do. A PJ Library Book Club selection, this title and others are available through PJ affiliates to Jewish families otherwise unable to afford them. The program fosters Jewish family engagement. Ages 3 and up. Reviewed by Phil Jason Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons By Eric Litwin, James Dean (illustrator) HarperCollins, $16.99, 40 pages Check this out! James Dean and Eric Litwin have done it again. With Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Dean and Litwin have set Pete the Cat onto the groovy track (wearing his favorite shirt) and set the younger reader grooving to a new (free) song. The recorded song is available online, and don’t be surprised if everyone starts singing along with Pete. Pete the Cat’s first books introduced learning fun to kids by way of songs that focus on his shoes. In this latest installment, Pete the Cat shows off his mathematical muscles through “My buttons, my buttons, my four groovy buttons.” As with his shoes, Pete’s clothes start going through some changes. Each time, the reader is asked the familiar “Did Pete cry? Goodness, no!” and then Pete the Cat sings his button song (not too different from the color/shoe song.) The reader is prompted “How many buttons are left?” And with
Through July 28 Earn great prizes and coupons! Attend awesome free events! Read for the fun of it! Newborns through fifth-graders may participate. Visit any library location to get a summer reading log and event guide. Learn more at http://kids.tulsalibrary.org.
this, the answer introduces the young reader to subtraction. As with the original Pete the Cat book, the pages (and cat) are colorful and bold ... and fun. Kids will feel more at ease with subtracting numbers, and Pete is a groovy guide. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey What Little Boys Are Made Of By Robert Neubecker Balzer + Bray, $14.99, 32 pages Check this out! What are little boys made of? In this modern retelling of the 19th century nursery rhyme, boys are made of much more than “frogs and snails and puppy-dogs’ tails.” Trapped inside on a rainy day, Neubecker’s little boy uses his imagination and a few toy props to become an astronaut in deep space, an explorer in a wild jungle, a pirate on the prow of his ship, the star of an intense soccer match and a knight on the back of a fierce dragon. Frogs and snails and puppydogs’ tails are too sedate for this energetic little boy. He’s made of “blast and boom and uppity zoom!” The book’s il lustrations are as energetic and vibrant as the protagonist. Neubecker presents his imaginary journeys on two-page
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 8
spreads that teem with life. The animals in the jungle bare their teeth at the reader; the pirates on the ship swing and shout and wave their swords. The reader feels the motion and the excitement. The book ends when the little boy shares a snack with his mother and then snuggles in to read a book with her. Neubecker’s little boy is made of “a kiss and a hug, a snuggle and LOVE.” Reviewed by Tammy McCartney Night Knight By Owen Davey Templar Books, $15.99, 32 pages Check this out! Hear ye, hear ye, the tale of a gallant knight on his latest adventure! Ride through enchanted forests and cross treacherous bodies of water, climb steep and perilous mountains, and face fearsome beasts with our intrepid adventurer, as he embarks on his latest and quite possibly most important escapade yet: getting ready for a good night’s sleep. Even knights need to get their rest! Owen Davey’s new picture book Night Knight is sure to please young readers everywhere. While recommended for ages 2 and up, the bright illustrations will be
Book Reviews loved by even the youngest baby. Older siblings and adults alike will surely enjoy reading this book aloud to babies and toddlers. The story is simple, perfect for those just learning to read. Better yet, parents will appreciate how this sweet book promotes a good evening routine, complete with a bath and freshly brushed teeth. There aren’t really any faults to be found with this book; what’s not to love? This book would be a fantastic addition to the library of any young child, and is sure to become a bedtime favorite for many. Reviewed by Holly Scudero No Jumping on the Bed! By Tedd Arnold Dial Books for Young Readers, $16.99, 32 pages Check this out! Walter’s room is nearly at the top of a tall apartment building. While he gets ready for bed, his father reminds him there is no jumping on the bed. He warns that if Walter keeps it up, he and his bed might punch right through the floor and crash into the apartment below. Walter says good night, and in his dark, quiet room, the only sound is thumping from above — his neighbor Delbert, jumping on his bed! Walter says, “If Delbert can jump on his bed, so can I!” So Walter starts to jump ... and jump ... higher ... and higher. And then it happens — Walter and his bed crash through the floor. He lands in Miss Hattie’s spaghetti, but it is just the beginning. He keeps on crashing through to the next floor where Mr. Matty lives, along with Miss Hattie and Walter’s bed going along. And so it goes. Or is it just a dream?
“
Walter’s bedroom was directly above Miss Hattie’s dining room. She was quite surprised when Walter landed in her spaghetti and meatballs.” This 25th anniversary edition of Tedd Arnold’s book is updated with all new artwork in his well-known style. It’s a great edition, one youngsters will love, because it is silly and funny and the pictures make it more so. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck
Picture Books
Magritte’s Marvelous Hat By D.B. Johnson Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, $16.99, 32 pages Check this out! I like this book because it’s weird, funny, and makes me think. The story begins when the painter Magritte sees a floating hat in a window. He tries on the hat. It floats above his head. He loved the way the hat did not pinch his ears or muss his hair so he bought it. Magritte walked home and went back to his painting. Something about the hat made painting easier. The next day Magritte and his hat played in the park. Then he went home and painted a picture even better than the day before. All Magritte wanted to do was paint. But the hat wanted to play so it bounced out the window without Magritte. He rushed out to find his hat because he couldn’t paint without it, but the hat was hiding. Magritte decided to play the hat’s favorite game, hide-and-seek. Magritte hid but the hat couldn’t find him. Magritte was home when the hat flew back in the window and landed on his head. Magritte floated up in the air! I want a hat like Magritte’s. I loved the book because of the flying hat! Others should probably read it because it’s funny and surprising. 10 Hungry Rabbits: Counting & Color Concepts By Anita Lobel Knopf Books for Young Readers $9.99, 24 pages Check this out! In this book, the baby rabbits are hungry. They go out to the garden to pick vegetables. Each one finds a different ingredient for momma rabbit’s special soup. I enjoyed having my mommy and daddy read this book to me. I really liked all the colors and had fun counting with the rabbits. It is one of my favorite books.
Falcon By Tim Jessell Random House Books for Young Readers, $17.99, 40 pages Check this out! There was a little boy who wished he wanted to be a falcon. He imagined that he was a falcon. The falcon’s wings would slice through the air in the mountains. He went to a forest, and he went to the sea. Then he went to a city, and sat on a perch and watched all the birds scatter everywhere. He went down, and all the people dashed. The boy saw a falcon and said, “If only I was a falcon.” I did like this book. I liked the pictures of the falcon, and I liked the pictures of the places and the birds. I wish that we were the baby falcons and Mama and Papa were the mother and father falcons. I would like to be a falcon because no birds would get in my way. This book made me think that I was a falcon. Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote By Herman Parish, Lynne Avril (illustrator) Greenwillow Books, $16.99, 32 pages Check this out! Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote is about a little girl, Amelia Bedelia, who always loves to go to school and have adventures. She is very kind, but she understands words differently than what people mean and that’s what makes her funny. My dad says that she takes things literally — although taking things is wrong. She learns about different things at school including elections. One day she runs into Mr. K, the principal of the school, and he decides to let the students vote on the rules of the school. Some of the voting choices are ice cream sandwiches for lunch, growing berries in the school garden, or homework free Wednesdays. The vote ends up in a tie until a letter appears with a final vote. I like this book because it’s a nice book about kids and about how voting works. It’s also funny how Amelia understands or doesn’t understand what people mean. I also like the pictures. This book would be good for a girl or boy. I think kids 5 years old and older would enjoy it.
A Hen for Izzy Pippik By Aubrey Davis, Marie Lafrance (illustrator) Kids Can Press, $16.95, 32 pages Check this out! It is about a girl who found a hen and its home said, “A Hen for Izzy Pippik.” She took it home to her grandpa and her mother. Her grandpa said, “Scrambled?” and her mother said, “Chicken soup.” But Shaina said, “No, you can’t eat her; this hen belongs to Izzy Pippik!” They made a nest in her crate, and the hen laid an egg in the night. In a few years, the hens started scrambling in every direction. They spilled baby biscuits all over the floor. The hens grew, and the girl’s mother took a broom and tried to shoo them out of the house. The people liked the hens very much because they brought them good fortune. I would recommend this book. I really liked how Shaina wanted the hens to go back to Izzy Pippik because they were his hens and how Izzy Pippik sold all the hens back to the people. I liked that the hen wanted to stay with Shaina because she liked her more than him. I liked the drawings, and I felt good after I read this story. I thought it was really funny how there were eggs all over everywhere. Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 9
Book Reviews
Teen Scene SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Destined By Aprilynne Pike HarperTeen, $17.99, 320 pages Check this out! Destined, the conclusion to the Wings series, was everything I hoped for and more! After Illusions, which I liked but nothing really happened till the very end, Destined picks up and it’s nonstop action and danger. What I loved about this is that the humans get a chance to finally shine! Not that I don’t love Laurel and Tammani (because I do), but I always thought Chelsea was a bright character that should have been used more and she finally gets her chance to shine! I have a new-found respect and admiration for David as his character is put through the wringer worse than any of them and you get to see him grow into a person I think you will all love by the end. There is a letter he writes (I won’t say where or when) that literally tore me to shreds; I couldn’t believe he had me crying like that.
“
It is time to discover if you are the hero Laurel has always thought you to be. Will you join us in defending Avalon?”
The story itself was almost completely set in Avalon, which was awesome because I like the land that Aprilynne created. There’s also more Camelot/Arthurian legend in the story. Destined was the perfect way to wrap up this amazing series! Reviewed by Jaime Arnold Fair Coin By E.C. Myers Pyr, $16.95, 250 pages Check this out! Ephraim lives with his alcoholic mother. One day, he comes home from school to find her sitting at the kitchen table, overdosed on sleeping pills. He rushes her to the hospital
and discovers a boy who looks just like him who had died. In the dead boy’s wallet Ephraim finds a coin that when flipped causes wishes to come true. Ephraim thinks his troubles are over until his best friend starts to covet the coin, his girlfriend starts to hate him and his world begins to crumble. The rest of the book is how Ephraim tries to turn everything back to the way it was before. I liked this book; it was a Monkey’s Paw kind of story, which I always enjoy. It showed the many facets of Ephraim’s character as he traveled between alternate realities. It was slightly confusing at first, but later on it became much easier to understand and I enjoyed the ending. It was a clever plot and an intriguing premise. I will recommend this book to others as an engaging sci-fi novel. Reviewed by Peteson, age 14 Illuminate: A Gilded Wings Novel By Aimee Agresti Harcourt Children’s Books, $17.99 528 pages Check this out! As the book begins on a frigid January day, we find high-school student Haven Terra called to the principal’s office. The principal tells her that she and two of her fellow honor students, Dante Dennis and her best friend, and Lance, a quiet boy from her AP European History class, will have the privilege of interning at the soon-toopen Lexington Hotel. When Haven, Dante and Lance arrive at the hotel, they meet the manager, Aurelia Brown, and her second-in-command, Lucian Grove, both of them tall, elegant and ridiculously beautiful. As Haven shakes hands with Lucian, a sharp jolt travels
through her, and she begins to fall in love with him. But as the story moves forward, things become increasingly strange. The hotel’s underground nightclub has a blackout on opening night, a book appears telling Haven to beware all beautiful things, and Haven’s photographs of “The Outfit,” Aurelia’s personal squad, begin to change, showing rotting corpses where beautiful people once stood. What’s going on? You’ll have to read the book to find out. I thought it was a bit difficult to truly immerse yourself in the beginning, but as the story goes on and you invest more time, you find yourself pulled further and further into the story. It is an interesting read with more than its share of plot twists. Reviewed by Tee, age 13 Out of Sight, Out of Time By Ally Carter Hyperion, $16.99, 304 pages Check this out! Ally Carter has continued a strong series with Out of Sight, Out of Time. This fifth installment in the Gallagher Girls series begins a few months where the fourth book left off, only Cammie has no memory of what happened over the summer. She wakes up in a convent on a mountain, only remembering her vow to leave the Gallagher Academy to figure out a way to stop the Circle of Cavan. The rest of the de-
tails — who she talked to, where she went, where she stayed — are all gone. The majority of Out of Sight, Out of Time is spent trying to get those memories back. By traveling to the places they believe she went, Cammie and her friends slowly piece together what happened, bringing us one step closer to understanding the Circle and what their ultimate goal is. Carter does a great job of developing the mystery of the Circle while continuing to progress the relationships between Cammie and her friends and family. Readers and fans of the series will be satisfied with this installment, though the memory-loss plot has started to feel a bit overplayed in young adult literature recently. Some questions are resolved and some are left unanswered, leaving room for additional compelling books in the Gallagher Girls series. This is a solid addition, with enough depth to keep readers fulfilled until number six. Reviewed by Shanyn Day
Join Tulsa City-County Library’s
2012 TEEN AND TWEEN SUMMER READING PROGRAM THROUGH JULY 28 Earn great prizes and coupons! Attend awesome free events! Read for the fun of it! You must have completed fifth grade to sign up for the teen and tween summer reading program. Visit any library location to get a summer reading log and event guide. Learn more at http://teens.tulsalibrary.org.
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 10
TulsaLibrary.org
918.549.READ
JUNE 2012
A FREE MONTHLY GUIDE TO YOUR COMMUNITY LIBRARY, ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Pick up a Summer Reading Program Event Guide for more June events for children and teens.
adult/teen events BIXBY LIBRARY A-Book-A-Month Discussion for Adults Wednesday, June 20 • 2-3 p.m. Read "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Marriage of the Century" by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger, and then join us for a lively discussion.
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY Read or Die Manga/Anime Club Saturday, June 16 • 12:30-2 p.m. For ages 13-18.
CENTRAL LIBRARY Summer of Love: You, Me and Tea With Romance's Most Popular Authors Saturday, June 2 • 1-2:30 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Romance novels come in many different flavors, from paranormal to historical. Join four popular but very different romance authors – Julia Quinn, Rachel Gibson, Elizabeth Boyle and Pamela Palmer – as they discuss their inspirations, how they write and the state of romance novels today. A book signing and tea with light refreshments will follow. Wear your favorite boa or tiara! For adults. Hearing loop available. Switch hearing aid to T-coil.
TO SEARCH FOR EVENTS, SCAN THIS CODE USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND QR SCANNER APP.
THE SMITHSONIAN IS COMING TO COLLINSVILLE • PAGES 1 AND 2
ASIAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL PAGE 2
Spilling the Beans: Our Food System on Film Tuesday, June 5 • 6 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Join Tulsa City-County Library's Green Team for a showing of the documentary "King Corn." This film has language that may not be suitable for children. Free popcorn and drinks will be provided. This program is part of Tulsa City-County Library's "One Book, One Tulsa" initiative. For adults. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust.
Central Book Discussion Group Thursday, June 14 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Plaza Room Read "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson and then join us for a lively discussion. For adults.
Job Lab Mondays, June 11, 25 • 2-4 p.m. Location: Computer Training Room Update your résumé, search for jobs online or explore a new career in this special computer lab just for job seekers. You will have access to Microsoft Office software and the Internet. USB flash drives and CDs are available for purchasing, or you can bring your own to save your work. Standard printing charges apply. Library staff and resources will be in the lab to provide assistance. For adults. Class size is limited. Spilling the Beans: Our Food System on Film Tuesday, June 12 • 6 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Join Tulsa City-County Library's Green Team for a showing of the documentary "Our Daily Bread." This film contains images that may be disturbing to some viewers. Free popcorn and drinks will be provided. This program is part of Tulsa City-County Library's "One Book, One Tulsa" initiative. For adults. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust.
Spilling the Beans: Our Food System on Film Tuesday, June 19 • 6 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Join Tulsa City-County Library's Green Team for a showing of the documentary "Forks Over Knives." Free popcorn and drinks will be provided. This program is part of Tulsa City-County Library's "One Book, One Tulsa" initiative. For adults. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust. Novel Talk: Re@l Love – From Jane Austen to Reality TV Saturday, June 23 • 1-2:30 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Learn how to read Jane Austen from an English professor; explore the darker side of reality TV love shows like "The Bachelor"; and meet "Attachments" author Rainbow Rowell, who writes "stories about love, but not love stories." A book signing will follow. For adults. Registration Deadline for July Literacy Tutor Training Tuesday, June 26 The four-part literacy tutor training workshop will be held from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. on July 10, 12, 17 and 19. Tulsa City-County Library's Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Service needs volunteer tutors to help adults improve their reading and writing skills. Tutors must be 18 years or older and have graduated
from high school. Each trained volunteer is matched with an adult student to provide one-on-one tutoring once or twice a week. Volunteers are asked to make a one-year commitment to tutor. Tutors must complete all sessions of this workshop. Preregistration is required. The registration deadline is Tuesday, June 26. To register for the workshop or for dates of additional workshops scheduled throughout the year, call 918-549-7400 or visit www.tulsalibrary.org/literacy. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. Spilling the Beans: Our Food System on Film Tuesday, June 26 • 6 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Join Tulsa City-County Library's Green Team for a showing of the documentary "Fresh." After the film, Rita Scott, president of Sustainable Green Country, will speak. Free popcorn and drinks will be provided. This program is part of Tulsa City-County Library's "One Book, One Tulsa" initiative. For adults. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust.
COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY Key Ingredients: America by Food Raising Chickens Thursday, June 7 • 7-9 p.m. Carissa Pankey will share best practices for raising chickens in urban settings. She will discuss aspects of health, feed, coops and city restrictions. Just think ... fresh eggs, a pest-free yard and your own compost. This program complements the Smithsonian exhibit "Key
a d u l t / t e e n
e v e n t s
c o n t i n u e d
will present a style show of aprons from late 1800s to the present. Sen. Rick Brinkley will serve as master of ceremonies for the program. Tea, punch and cookies will be served. The Smithsonian exhibit "Key Ingredients: America by Food" will be open at the library from 1-5 p.m. For all ages. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Smithsonian Institution and Tulsa Library Trust.
GENEALOGY CENTER
Visit TulsaLibrary.org for a schedule of presentations and participating organizations. (Collinsville Library continued)
Ingredients: America by Food," which will be on display at the Collinsville Library June 16-Aug. 3. For adults and teens. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Smithsonian Institution and Tulsa Library Trust. Key Ingredients: America by Food Smithsonian Exhibit Opening: "Key Ingredients: America by Food" Saturday, June 16 • 4-9 p.m. Join us for carousel pony and train rides, petting sheep, milking cow, puppet show, apron vendors and more fun activities celebrating the traveling exhibit "Key Ingredients: America Food," which examines the evolution of the American kitchen and addresses farming, table manners, history, markets, kitchen gadgets and more. The ribbon cutting will take place at 7 p.m. Afterward at 7:30 p.m., join Boynton & the Boys outside on the plaza for some street dancing. The exhibit will be on display through Aug. 3. For all ages. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Smithsonian Institution and Tulsa Library Trust. Key Ingredients: America by Food Microwave Cooking Demonstration Monday, June 18 • 6:30-8 p.m. Microwaves are not just for heating foods. Join Kyndal Pett, Pampered Chef, as she shows us ways to use the microwave. The menu for this workshop is pork tenderloin and chocolate molten cake. This program complements the Smithsonian exhibit "Key Ingredients: America by Food," which will be on display at the Collinsville Library June 16Aug. 3. For adults and teens. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Smithsonian Institution and Tulsa Library Trust.
Key Ingredients: America by Food Meet William Winchester, Author of "A Very Small Farm" Friday, June 22 • 2-4 p.m. William Winchester of Collinsville has written a book that will calm you down and give you a glimpse of another way of life. Winchester will discuss his new book "A Very Small Farm" and talk about how he converted his 20 acres into a self-sufficient working farm. Copies of his book will be available for purchasing. While you are at the library, register for a trip to Southwind planned for July 29. This program complements the Smithsonian exhibit "Key Ingredients: America by Food," which will be on display at the Collinsville Library June 16-Aug. 3. For adults. Sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, Oklahoma Humanities Council and Tulsa Library Trust. Key Ingredients: America by Food Wagon Train Cooking Saturday, June 23 • 3:30-5 p.m. Ever wondered how travelers in covered wagons knew which supplies to take on those long trips? Susan Wessely will discuss provisions, cooking equipment and recipes of our founding mothers as well as show some historical cookbooks. This program complements the Smithsonian exhibit "Key Ingredients: America by Food," which will be on display at the Collinsville Library June 16-Aug. 3. For all ages. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, Smithsonian Institution and Tulsa Library Trust. Key Ingredients: America by Food Apron Style Show and Tea Sunday, June 24 • 2-4 p.m. Location: Collinsville City Hall There are hundreds of uses and styles for the everyday apron. The Home Representative Club of Collinsville
T u l s a L i b r a r y . o r g
Start Your Research @ the Library Thursday, June 7 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tulsa City-County Library's Genealogy Center is one of the largest genealogy collections in Oklahoma. Join Lisa Hansen, Genealogy Center associate, to learn about all of the resources available for genealogists. For adults. Connecting With Cousins Thursday, June 14 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Your family tree is not just a straight line up the trunk. Following the branches of aunts and uncles can lead to living cousins that may have different pieces of your family puzzle to share. Join Liz Walker, library associate, to learn how to find your distant living cousins. For adults.
HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Business Plan Basics With SCORE Thursday, June 7 • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Whether you are starting a new business or expanding an existing company, a thorough business plan is important. Volunteers from SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business will take you through the steps to develop your own business plan. Learn why a business plan is important and what research is required. You also will review an actual business plan and learn about helpful library resources. For adults. Preregistration is required. Call 918-549-7550 to register. Intermediate Facebook Saturday, June 9 • 9:30-11:30 a.m. This class is for anyone who would like to learn more about Facebook. For adults. Class size is limited. Grandmother Told Me She Left Her Estate to Me. Where's Dad and His Girlfriend? Wednesday, June 13 • noon-1 p.m. Location: Pecan Room • Join attorney Rita Foster as she discusses wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents. Learn how to avoid probate. For adults. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat at the seminar, call 918-549-7363. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust.
MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Asian-American Festival Saturday, June 2 • 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate and learn about the customs and traditions of AsianAmericans with entertaining, educational events for the entire family. Explore the colorful cultures of Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. Visit TulsaLibrary.org for a schedule of presentations. For all ages. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust with assistance from the Library Staff Association and Nam Hai Oriental Supermarket. Job Lab Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 • 9-11 a.m. Update your résumé, search for jobs online or explore a new career in this special computer lab just for job seekers. You will have access to Microsoft Office software and the Internet. USB flash drives and CDs are available for purchasing, or you can bring your own to save your work. Standard printing charges apply. Library staff and resources will be in the lab to provide assistance. For adults. Spanish Conversation Club "Charlas" Saturdays, June 9, 16, 23, 30 noon-1 p.m. • Practice your Spanish in a low-stress setting! This class is for people who have completed AT LEAST one course, preferably more, and are not yet comfortable with spontaneous Spanish conversation. For ages 16 and older. Call 918-5497597 for more information. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center. Teen Advisory Board Meeting Saturday, June 16 • 3:15-4:15 p.m. Help plan library services for teens, and provide a teen perspective on the services and materials that the Martin Regional Library offers. For ages 12-18.
NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Complications With Diabetes Thursday, June 28 • 3-4 p.m. Join Susan Nole from Couch Pharmacy for this educational seminar for everyday living with diabetes. For all ages.
OWASSO LIBRARY Books With Barbara Wednesday, June 13 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. • Read "Caleb's Crossing" by Geraldine Brooks, and then come and share your thoughts with other readers. For adults.
a d u l t / t e e n
RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY Historic All-Black Town Tour Saturday, June 9 • 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Join us for our popular daylong annual tour of Oklahoma's historic all-black Towns. Tickets cost $35 each. Cost includes breakfast and lunch. Children ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Tickets are nonrefundable and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To purchase a ticket, visit the Rudisill Regional Library or call 918-549-7645. For all ages. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and African-American Resource Center. Community Help Series: Home Buyer Assistance/Counseling Saturday, June 9 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a home owner and need down-payment assstance, this seminar is for you. A representative from the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League (MTUL) will present this seminar. MTUL is a HUD-certified Housing Counseling Agency that provides home buyer education and counseling, and assists with up to $5,000 in down-payment assistance for those who qualify. Preregistration is required. Class size is limited. Call MTUL, 918584-0001, to register. For adults. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library. Kuruoshii Manga Club Thursday, June 14 • 6-7:30 p.m. Join us as we discuss an exciting Japanese manga and anime movie. Bring your favorite book to discuss. For ages 12-18.
en español BIBLIOTECA REGIONAL MARTIN
e v e n t s
c o n t i n u e d
Business Plan Basics Saturday, June 16 • 10 a.m.-noon Whether you are starting a new business or expanding an existing company, a thorough business plan is important. Volunteers from SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business, Tulsa Chapter 194, will take you through the steps to develop your own business plan. Learn why a business plan is important and what research is required. You also will review an actual business plan and learn about helpful library resources. Preregistration is required. Call 918-5497645 to register. For adults. Job Lab Tuesday, June 26 • 1-3 p.m. Update your résumé, search for jobs online or explore a new career in this special computer lab just for job seekers. You will have access to Microsoft Office software and the Internet. USB flash drives and CDs are available for purchasing, or you can bring your own to save your work. Standard printing charges apply. Library staff and resources will be in the lab to provide assistance. For adults. Preregistration is required. Call 918-549-7645 to register. Keeping the Ties That Bind: Relatives as Caregivers Friday, June 29 • 10 a.m.-noon Are you a grandparent caring for your grandchildren or a relative caring for your relative's children in your home? If so, join representatives from DHS and OSU's Fresh Start program as they share resources and services to support your role as a relative/kinship caregiver. There also will be information about creating a support group at the library. For adults. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library.
Patrocinado por el Centro Hispano y el Fideicomiso de las Bibliotecas de Tulsa. Informes al 918-549-7597.
TulsaLibrary.org/hrc
Microsoft Word I Miércoles, 6 de junio • 9:30-11:30 a.m. En esta clase te enseñaremos a usar el programa de Microsoft Word para formatear texto, escribir cartas y documentos. Para todas las edades.
Facebook I Miércoles, 20 de junio • 9:30-11:30 a.m. Explora el fenómeno social que es Facebook. Los participantes aprenderán cómo abrir una cuenta en Facebook, encontrar amigos y familiares, cómo controlar el contenido de su página y asegurar la privacidad de su información. Para todas las edades.
Correo Electrónico I Miércoles, 13 de junio • 9:30-11:30 a.m. Les enseñaremos cómo crear una cuenta de correo electrónico y cómo usarla para enviar y recibir correo. Para todas las edades.
Facebook II Miércoles, 27 de junio • 9:30-11:30 a.m. Esta clase es continuación de la anterior. Participantes deben de haber tomado la primera clase para poder asistir a ésta. Para todas las edades.
/
c o m p u t e r
SCHUSTERMAN-BENSON LIBRARY Mystery Readers' Roundtable Thursday, June 7 • 2-3 p.m. Join us for coffee and tell us what you've been reading. For adults.
ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Urban Homesteading Discussion Group Monday, June 4 • 7-8 p.m. Interested in a more sustainable, selfsufficient lifestyle? If so, this ongoing group is for you! We meet each month to discuss topics like gardening, poultry, beekeeping, food storage and more. Meet other like-minded people to share inspiration and ideas. This program is a part of the library's "One Book, One Tulsa" initiative. For adults and teens. Cherokee Language Class Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28 6-7:30 p.m. • Come and learn the Cherokee language with Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization teachers. For adults and teens. Class size is limited. Sponsored by the American Indian Resource Center. Westside Stitchers Mondays, June 11, 25 • 6:30-8 p.m. Like to knit or crochet or want to learn how? If so, join us for yarn-y fun and fellowship. For adults and teens.
computer classes
c l a s s e s Really Basic Computer Class Saturday, June 16 • 10-11 a.m. This class is designed for new computer users who have little or no previous experience using computers, Windows, a mouse or the Internet, and little or no knowledge of basic computer terms. MS Excel 3 Tuesday, June 19 • 6-8 p.m. Learn how to create visual representations of spreadsheet and workbook data. Learn how to create charts, apply conditional formatting and control the appearance of printed spreadsheets. MS Word 1 Saturday, June 23 • 9:30-11:30 a.m. Learn how to create various kinds of documents; use the toolbar; set margins; apply spell check; and preview, save and print documents. Introduction to MS PowerPoint Tuesday, June 26 • 6-8 p.m. Learn how to create group presentations and slide shows.
MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY
CLASSES ARE LIMITED TO 12 ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. MS Word 1 Saturday, June 9 • 10 a.m.-noon Learn how to create various kinds of documents; use the toolbar; set margins; apply spell check; and preview, save and print documents. MS Word 2 Saturday, June 16 • 10 a.m.-noon Learn how to create and format tables, use bulleted and numbered lists, and apply and format columns in a document.
CLASSES ARE LIMITED TO 18 ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
MS Word 3 Saturday, June 23 • 10 a.m.-noon Learn how to create and use borders and shading, headers and footers, page numbering and drawing tools.
MS Excel 1 Tuesday, June 5 • 6-8 p.m. Learn how to create formulas, use automatic fill and change basic formatting.
MS Word 4 Saturday, June 30 • 10 a.m.-noon Explore mail merge, use tables to perform calculations and create onscreen forms.
Intermediate Facebook Saturday, June 9 • 9:30-11:30 a.m. This class is for anyone who would like to learn more about Facebook. For adults. Class size is limited.
ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY
HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY
MS Excel 2 Tuesday, June 12 • 6-8 p.m. Learn how to create and edit formulas, and apply functions and advanced formatting to your spreadsheets and workbooks.
FOR ADULTS. CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED. Computers for Genealogists Wednesday, June 6 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. Computers have revolutionized family history research in recent years. If you are an experienced genealogist who feels intimidated by technology or if you are new to genealogy and want to know how to apply the computer skills you already possess to finding
TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY EVENT GUIDE
JUNE 2012
c o m p u t e r
c l a s s e s
c o n t i n u e d
(Zarrow Regional Library continued)
your ancestors, then this class is for you. For adults. Computers for Seniors Wednesdays, June 13, 20, 27; July 11 1:30-3:30 p.m. • Have you always wanted to learn to use a computer but were afraid to try? This series of four classes is designed especially for older folks who need a slower-paced, encouraging atmosphere in which to learn new skills. If you always thought a mouse was something you set a trap for, this is the class for you! June 13, "Hardware Boot Camp"; June 20, "Beginning Internet"; June 27, "Beyond Typewriters"; July 11, "Email 101." For ages 55+. Preregistration is required. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7683 to register.
children’s events For a complete list of children's events for June, pick up a Summer Reading Program Event Guide or visit tulsalibrary.org.
MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Asian-American Festival Saturday, June 2 • 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate and learn about the customs and traditions of Asian-Americans with
/
c h i l d r e n ' s
entertaining, educational events for the entire family. Explore the colorful cultures of Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. Visit TulsaLibrary.org for a schedule of presentations. For all ages. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust with assistance from the Library Staff Association and Nam Hai Oriental Supermarket.
NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • For ages 5 and younger. PAWS for Reading Saturday, June 30 • 1-2 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent
e v e n t s listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Preregistration is required. Call 918-549-7617 to register.
Free and Open to the Public If you are hearing-impaired and need a qualified interpreter, please call the library 48 hours in advance of the program. The Tulsa Book Review and Tulsa City-County Library Event Guide are printed on partially recycled paper.
tulsa city-county library locations 1 Bixby Library 20 E. Breckenridge, 74008 • 918-549-7514 M-Th, 12-8; Fri., 12-6; Sat., 10-5 2 Broken Arrow Library 300 W. Broadway, 74012 • 918-549-7500 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 3 Broken Arrow Library/South 3600 S. Chestnut, 74011 • 918-549-7662 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 4 Brookside Library 1207 E. 45th Place, 74105 • 918-549-7507 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 5 Central Library and American Indian Resource Center 400 Civic Center, 74103 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5, Sept.-May 6 Charles Page Library 551 E. Fourth St., Sand Springs, 74063 918-549-7521 • M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 7 Collinsville Library 1223 Main, 74021 • 918-549-7528 M-Th, 12-8; Fri., 12-5; Sat., 10-5 8 Genealogy Center 2901 S. Harvard, 74114 • 918-549-7691 M-W, 10-5; Th, 1-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 9 Glenpool Library 730 E. 141st St., 74033 • 918-549-7535 M-Th, 12-8; Fri., 12-5; Sat., 10-5 10 Hardesty Regional Library and Connor’s Cove 8316 E. 93rd St., 74133 • 918-549-7550 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 11 Helmerich Library 5131 E. 91st St., 74137 • 918-549-7631 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 12 Herman and Kate Kaiser Library 5202 S. Hudson Ave., Suite B, 74135 918-549-7542 • M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 13 Jenks Library 523 W. B St., 74037 • 918-549-7570 M-T, 12-8; W-Th, 10-6; Fri., 12-5; Sat., 10-5
14 Judy Z. Kishner Library 10150 N. Cincinnati Ave. E., Sperry 74073 • 918-549-7577 M-Th, 12-7; Fri., 12-5; Sat., 10-5 15 Kendall-Whittier Library 21 S. Lewis, 74104 • 918-549-7584 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 16 Martin Regional Library and Hispanic Resource Center 2601 S. Garnett Road, 74129 • 918-549-7590 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 17 Maxwell Park Library 1313 N. Canton, 74115 • 918-549-7610 M-F, 10-6; Sat., 10-5 18 Nathan Hale Library 6038 E. 23rd St., 74114 • 918-549-7617 M, 12-8; T-Th, 10-6; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 19 Owasso Library 103 W. Broadway, 74055 • 918-549-7624 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 20 Pratt Library 3219 S. 113th W. Ave., Sand Springs, 74063 • 918-549-7638 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 21 Rudisill Regional Library and African-American Resource Center 1520 N. Hartford, 74106 • 918-549-7645 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 22 Schusterman-Benson Library 3333 E. 32nd Place, 74135 • 918-549-7670 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 23 Skiatook Library 316 E. Rogers, 74070 • 918-549-7676 M, 12-8; T-Th, 10-6; Fri.-Sat., 11-5 24 Suburban Acres Library 4606 N. Garrison, 74126 • 918-549-7655 M-Th, 10-6; Fri.-Sat., 11-5 25 Zarrow Regional Library 2224 W. 51st St., 74107 918-549-7683 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5
T u l s a L i b r a r y . o r g
The Tulsa City-County Library Event Guide is produced by the Public Relations Office of the Tulsa City-County Library. For questions or concerns, call 918-549-7389.
Book Reviews
Romance
Popular Culture
SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Blame It on Bath: The Truth About the Duke By Caroline Linden Avon, $7.99, 384 pages Check this out! Even if this is the middle of a threepart saga, don’t be deterred from reading it whenever. It stands alone very well. It’s a marriage-of-convenience plot with a delicious twist: it’s the bride who has the money and chooses her groom who needs it! She knows the story, but he doesn’t until late in the novel, and by then he’s all wrapped up and unwilling to change a thing. Very neat! Katherine Howe is a 30-year-old widow with a beautiful, if shallow, mother who has convinced the poor girl that no man will ever love her, so she should marry a wealthy man. She did that, and he died, leaving her very wealthy and at the mercy of his grubby nephew. But once upon a time, a neighboring young man was kind to her and she’s never forgotten him. When she hears a rumor about him and his two brothers being in possible financial difficulties, she sets out to marry him, thus neatly solving the problems of both of them. Except, of course, the man she marries is occasionally a bit thick in the head! Gerard de Lacey, the younger son of the Duke of Durham, finally puts the pieces together and realizes the worth of the treasure that’s fallen into his lap. Lovely. Reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne By Madeline Hunter Jove, $7.99, 344 pages Check this out! I’ve been a secret reader of Madeline Hunter, having read most of the Seduction series while on extended holiday. This author revels in strong female leads who are fueled by their dedication to their art or their ideals. This time around, the titular character is the newly orphaned daughter left in charge of a prestigious auction house. Emma Fairbourne is determined to preserve her family’s business, clinging to the slim hope that her brother is still alive to claim his inheritance, despite all reports he was lost at sea. The man who stands in the way of her ambitions is her father’s silent partner, the handsome Earl of Southwaite, who is determined to sell the business. Like most good Regency romances, the book features some solid material that serves as a backdrop for the romance. In this case, the issues of smuggling and spying are essential to the intrigue. Hunter also doesn’t let the occasional historical inaccuracy get in the way of a good story. While there are some contrived situations which seem improbable given the time period, all of this is secondary to the seduction. If you like your historical romances seasoned with handsome nobles with a dash of art history on the side, The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne makes excellent light reading. Reviewed by Rachel Anne Calabia
The Grey Album: On the Blackness of Blackness By Kevin Young Graywolf Press, $25.00, 463 pages Check this out! Long an admirer of Kevin Young’s sly lyrical poetry, I approached The Grey Album with some trepidation. What could this poet want to convey to readers that pushed him to prose? As it turns out, Young has a great deal to say, all said with the sharp eye, good humor and honesty found in his earlier works. Young has large fish to fry locating the origins of modernism. This requires striking a careful balance. On the one side, Young must defend modernism from those who brand it as cultural imperialism in new clothes. On
the other, he wants to forcefully assert the centrality of the A f r ica n-A mer ica n contribution at the origin of the modernist movement. He locates this contribution in music and poetry. From Dunbar to Kaufman, and Armstrong to Jay-Z, Young marshals an eclectic range of material in the service of his argument. The glue in these essays is the idea of “storying.” This art of verbal dissimulation See GREY, cont’d on page 17
Traveling the Mother Road this spring?
Download the Guide to Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives for diners on this route and many others.
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 •11
Book Reviews
Kids’ Books
Tween Reads
SNAP IT for additional book summaries. A Warmer World By Caroline Arnold, Jamie Hogan (illustrator) Charlesbridge, $7.95, 32 pages Check this out! A Warmer World is a nonfiction book about how climate changes are affecting wildlife all over the world. It includes stories of animals such as polar bears, walruses, butterflies, squirrels, mice, krill, penguins and the arctic fox. It also includes a sad story about one extinct animal, the golden toad, which lived in the cloud forests of Costa Rica but hasn’t been seen since 1989 because the cloud forest dried up. On each page the author, Caroline Arnold, writes about the seasons and weather changes. She tells about how animals are moving and even dying because of the weather changes. She gives informa-
SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
tion about animals in the ocean, arctic and rain forest. A Warmer World is a wonderful book. I recommend this book for kids ages 6-9. I like how the author organized the book; she tells about the weather changes on one page and has a story of the animal that lives in that habitat on the other. This book would also be good for people to read who always pollute the earth because they could learn from it. I think this book is good for elementary schools that are studying animals and their habitats. I learned that it isn’t always other people’s fault that animals are hurt, sometimes it’s the weather. Reviewed by Hunter - age 9
Kids Book Review
thousands of book titles, find author events, listen to author interviews searchable database
Chomp By Carl Hiaasen Knopf Books for Young Readers, $16.99 304 pages Check this out! Wahoo Cray, an animal wrangler’s son, has been trying to help his father ever since a frozen iguana gave him a concussion. While Wahoo is helpful and goodtempered, his father is the opposite — fiery and stubborn. When he accepts a job as the animal wrangler for a reality TV show, the so-called survivalist, Derek Badger, turns out to be a spoiled brat of a celebrity whose television scenes are completely phony — the smallest things, down to the mud on Derek’s boots, are fake. To add to things, a girl called Tuna shows up and needs help hiding from her father, who has given her a black eye. As the three of them travel with Derek Badger’s crew to the Everglades, they discover more about each other, and the quirky adventure begins! I really liked this book; it was exciting and funny, the characters were all hilarious, believable and intriguing in their own ways. It made me laugh, and yes, I would recommend this to any tween who likes humor, survival, animals and adventure. Reviewed by Erica, age 11 Cold Cereal By Adam Rex Balzer + Bray, $16.99, 432 pages Check this out! Scottish (Scott, for short) Play Doe is friends with Erno and Emily Utz, who are supposed to be twins. Scott’s father, John Doe, is an actor whose nickname is Reggie Dwight. Scott has migraines (a headache that makes you see and hear unusual things) and sees a rabbitman and a unicat while biking to school. On the first day of school, he takes a field trip to the Goodco Cereal Factory. When he’s there he “accidentally” picks up a leprechaun who wants to be called Mick. Erno and Emily get puzzles from their foster parent Mr. Wilson and compete against each other to
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 12
get a prize; Emily wins and lets Erno win on their birthday month. They both meet a man named Merle Lynn (Merlin). Emily has been taking Milk-7 (a medicine that makes you really smart) for 10 years. Someone finds a rabbit-man whose name is Harvey and lets him stay at his home. Mick and Harvey’s magic is almost gone. It was a very good book! Reviewed by Camille, age 9 Cloaked By Alex Flinn HarperTeen, $9.99, 341 pages Check this out! Cloaked is the story about a simple shoe repairman, Johnny, who longs for adventure in his life. His dream comes true when a famous princess shows up and sends him on a journey to find her lost brother. The only catch is that he’s a frog!
“
Until last week, I didn’t know there were witches, or enchanted foxes or talking swans.” This fabulously written book references many unique, and sometimes unfamiliar, fairy tales such as “The Elves and the Shoemaker” and “The Golden Bird.” It is especially good for fans of the Harry Potter series and of the book Island of the Aunts. Reviewed by Jeanette, age 17 Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind By Tom Angleberger Amulet Books, $13.95, 208 pages Check this out! It all started on Casper’s birthday. Casper had been saving up for the No. seven handlebar mustache at Sven’s Fair Priced Store, but needed 10 more dollars, so he made his friend Lenny give him the 10 dollars since Lenny gave Casper such a bad pres-
Wonder By R.J. Palacio Knopf Books for Young Readers, $15.99 320 pages Check this out! This amazing book, written by R.J. Palacio, is about a 10-year-old boy named August. August isn’t just an ordinary boy; he has facial deformities. Just by his appearance, everyone thinks he is just a weird boy, but once everyone gets to know him, he is just like any other boy, but even cooler! Auggie, his nickname, has been homeschooled for most of his life. His parents think it is time for him to make his own friends and go to a local school. Auggie is, of course, selfconscious about his looks and he has no idea what school is like! But with the help of a great principal, caring friend and a loving family, Auggie learns many life lessons. I got hooked reading Wonder once I got to know the characters. The author really makes you feel a meaningful connection to Auggie and the other kids. My favorite part was when Olivia, Auggie’s older sister, talks about the way she lives with Auggie. This is my favorite part because I can relate to Olivia better than anyone else in the story. We have similar social issues. Also because when Auggie talks about his life, you feel so bad for him and do not even think about his sister. But when Olivia talks, she says that Auggie gets all the attention and she has to teach herself to be patient and understanding. You think of the story in a different way. Wonder makes you realize that you
shouldn’t judge someone by their appearance; it’s about their personality and who they actually are. Reviewed by Naomi, age 11 Promise the Night By Michaela MacColl Chronicle Books, $16.99, 264 pages Check this out! Promise the Night is an outstanding, historical fiction novel. Based on her childhood, Beryl Markham was the first woman to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean from England to America, against the prevailing winds. Markham made her historic flight in 1936. Packed with action, Promise the Night will captivate any preteen who loves history. Born in England in 1902, Beryl Clutterbuck, at the age of two, moves to a ranch in British East Africa, now known as Kenya. The book begins when Beryl is now 10 years old, and she helps her father take care of the horses on his sprawling ranch. Beryl is nothing like a proper English girl; she is feisty and strong-willed. She runs and jumps with the boys of the Nandi, an African tribe. Beryl is a likable character: she befriends a Nandi boy and shows her bravery by going on a lion hunt. Anyone who has big dreams will be inspired by this book because Beryl’s spirit is never broken. Learning what might have made Beryl want “to fly over the valley, like an eagle” is an exciting adventure not to be missed. Reviewed by Zachary, age 11
blocked off for other mall visitors. There is a small stage with a microphone and 10 chairs for the trainers like Grace. Grace’s father was killed in a car accident and Grace meets one of the boys who was in the car that hit her father. She tries to get him to talk about the accident, but instead of telling her he goes and tells the police, confessing everything. Another part of the story is that Regan’s high school best friend Sheena tries to steal jewelry from their home. After Regan finds out, her and Sheena’s friendship is over for good. I liked this book a lot because I thought it had really good context and really good writing. I also liked it because I thought the author did a very good job explaining the characters and what the characters were feeling. This book is a very good example of what some people can feel like when someone in your life dies and how it’s very sad when someone dies. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story about friendship and love. Reviewed by Safiya, age 10
Got Homework? Get Free Online
• Real, expert tutors • Help with all core subjects • Available from your home, school or library computer THIS SERVICE IS FUNDED BY THE TULSA LIBRARY TRUST AND KJRH 2 WORKS FOR YOU.
elp
ent. But that mustache changed everything. After Casper got the mustache, he decided to get a manabout-town suit to look more like an adult. Lenny decided to go home after that. His parents were watching the news and Lenny saw Casper! Casper had been caught robbing a bank and had stolen millions of dollars! Lenny went to Casper’s house to see if it was true. When Lenny went to Casper’s room, he couldn’t even open the door because his room was filled with money bags. Casper really had robbed the bank! This is a great book with many exciting twists and turns. I would definintely recommend this book to 10-year-olds and up. Reviewed by Perri, age 12
and use your library card to access Homework Help Now!
Tween Reads
Book Reviews
Visit TulsaLibrary.org/hom e w o r
kh
SATURDAY, JUNE 30 • 9 A.M.-NOON SUMMER READERS, join us at the Tulsa Zoo for a special midsummer celebration! Learn all about nocturnal animals, visit the new Helmerich Sea Lion Cove and enjoy other fun activities. Children and teens who show their summer reading logs or sign up for the Summer Reading Program will receive free admission to the zoo that day. Summer reading completion prizes will be available at the Tulsa Zoo.
What the Dog Said By Randi Reisfeld Bloomsbury Kids, $16.99, 256 pages Check this out! This book is about a girl named Grace who gets a brown and gray mutt (who they later name Rex) at the pound which she thinks is talking to her. She is about 12 years old with curly brown hair; she has freckles and hazel eyes. She has a sister named Regan who is in high school, with blond hair and blue eyes. When they get Rex, Regan and Grace’s mom decides to use Rex as a service dog to help disabled people. The setting of the training department is a small grassy area in the mall Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 13
Mohawk Park requires a $2 parking fee.
Book Reviews
Fiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries. Half-Blood Blues: A Novel By Esi Edugyan Picador, $15.00, 336 pages Check this out! It’s easy to see why Edugyan’s narrative was a finalist for the prestigious Man Booker Prize, with its velvety prose — fluid and hip as jazz. Edugyan’s character Sidney Griffiths weaves a tale of comradery, betrayal and lost dreams against a vivid backdrop of Nazi Germany and the post-war rise of jazz. At the story’s center is a young black man, Hieronymus Falk, an extraordinarily gifted jazz trumpeter, and his cohorts, the Hot-Time Swingers, intent on cutting a record while the black boots Nazis storm the streets of Berlin. One night, by a fluke, while Sid stands by helpless, Falk is taken by the black boots and disappears to the camps. Cut to the states, the inflationary 1990s — of the original group only Sid (“on piano”) and Chip Jones, the drummer, now in their 80s, are still alive. Chip tours the globe in expensive, handmade suits, his music career launched in part by the record cut that last night in Berlin 50 years before, while Sid works in medical records and lives alone in a tawdry tenement in Baltimore, bereft of the love of his life. On the eve of a Berlin jazz festival and documentary celebrating Hieronymus Falk, news arrives that sets in motion a whole new gig. Reviewed by Zara Raab History of a Pleasure Seeker By Richard Mason Knopf, $25.95, 288 pages Check this out! Thankfully for the eager reader, Richard Mason’s sophomore novel is as erotically tinged as the title suggests. It surely will have you lustily turning the pages in hopes of more goodness. That being said, the beauty in History of a Pleasure Seeker is the fact that Mason’s superb writing turns what could have been a work of sheer erotica into a discussion of class struggles, friendship, childhood mental illness and adventure. The year is 1907. The setting is Amsterdam and the pleasure seeking in question
is the ambitious young Piet Barol. After growing up the son of a university professor father and singing teacher mother, Barol sets out for a better life — or world dominion, if you will. Armed with his father’s lessons in intellect and his mother’s teachings in social charm, Piet Barol always has had a knack for getting what he wants. And now what he wants is to move up on the social ladder. His plan: securing a job as the tutor to the troubled son of Europe’s leading hotelier. This he achieves by charming the pants off the lady of the house (not literally, that will come later in the book). Despite the fact that he resides in the servant’s quarters, Barol is sure of his ability to infiltrate the family. First, he has to win over the confidence of their only son — a boy with incredible smarts but even more incredible internal demons. Young Egbert refuses to leave the house, won’t eat with the family, has endless rituals to ward off the voices in his head and is generally a giant disappointment to his father. Barol’s job lies not so much in tutoring the boy, but in curing him. Can he reach the unreachable and save the boy from himself? Can he rise in the ranks of the family? What about the lady of house and him? Will their love affair cause disaster? What will become of Piet after disaster forces him to flee the house? The answers to these questions will keep you chomping at the bit for more. The ending will not leave you disappointed and the book will keep you fondly remembering scenes for weeks. I give this my complete recommendation. Reviewed by Elizabeth Raymond Jezebel By Irene Nemirovsky Vintage, $14.95 208 pages Check this out! Gladys Eysenach is beautiful. This is the fundamental truth of her life, the fact
around which her actions and thoughts revolve. She is beautiful, with the ability to bring men to their knees; ensnaring men’s interest — and then casting it aside — has been the main purpose of her life and its primary satisfaction, since she was old enough to understand her power. But Gladys is no longer young — and she is on trial for the murder of her younger lover, Bernard Martin. She has admitted her guilt but still must listen as voices from her past and present bluntly describe her character. The story of how Gladys wound up in this tragic position makes up the bulk of Jezebel, and what is revealed about her past casts new light on both her guilt and the criminal accusation itself. The protagonist of Jezebel is based on Nemirovsky’s own mother, whose determination to remain young led her to dress Nemirovsky in children’s clothes even when she was a teenager. The strained mother/ daughter relationship, the fear of aging, the fixation on beauty and sexual power — all of these are familiar themes for Nemirovsky, and in Jezebel they come to haunting, uncomfortable life. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell Open City: A Novel By Teju Cole Random House, $15.00, 259 pages Check this out! The narrator of Open City is Julius Olatubosun, a young psychiatrist from Nigeria, where his German mother settled with his Nigerian father until he died of TB when Julius was still a boy. Written in the style of a diary, Julius relates with quiet emotion and deep intelligence the events of his life, weaving past and present: his painful childhood in war-torn Nigeria, his passage through a brutal military boarding school and his eventual escape to college in the Northeast of the United States. The themes of enslavement and freedom illume each episode: when he visits his friend Professor Saito or a prisoner interred in a detention center for illegal immigrants with Nadege, who becomes his girlfriend and then leaves him; when he thinks, as he often does, of his patient V., the celebrated scholar of the eradication of native peoples by the early European settlers to North America; when he meets a young Muslim radical in Belgium, where he goes in search of his lost grandmother; and perhaps most poignantly, in his rambling walks through Manhattan, with its landmarks of earlier tyrannies. Even here, or especially here, perhaps, one senses that freedom is as much an inner state of mind as an outer arrangement to one’s life. Reviewed by Zara Raab
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 14
Perla By Carolina De Robertis Knopf, $25.95, 256 pages Check this out! Perla is a good girl, the obedient daughter of a naval officer and wealthy socialite in Argentina. She fiercely loves her father, but her love comes at a price. She knows there are secrets of which her family never speaks, “lies” told by others to slander her father. She knows he played a role in the loss of the desaparecidos, The Disappeared, and that there are atrocities in which he must have taken part. So she mentally cuts herself in two, burying the disloyal part of herself that feels shame for her father’s actions and wants answers to her family’s unanswered questions. Perla maintains this uneasy balance until she starts dating Gabriel, a journalist who reports on the search for the desaparecidos and the circumstances that led to their disappearance. He pushes Perla to ask the questions she has steadfastly refused to ask. Feeling threatened, she isolates herself in her family’s home, speaking to no one. And then the stranger arrives. Powerful and moving, Perla asks the question, is it possible to love a monster? At what cost? Perla’s conflict is visceral and heart-wrenching, and De Robertis’ poetic writing offers passages that make the soul ache. How will Perla, and Argentina, heal from this painful rift in history? Reviewed by Tammy McCartney A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty By Joshilyn Jackson Grand Central Publishing, $24.99, 322 pages Check this out! Ginny Slocumb isn’t fond of God. In her unhumble opinion, no respectable deity would allow a 15-year-old to get pregnant the first time she had sex, not to mention letting the resulting baby, Liza, repeat the pattern, and then disappear with her daughter for a couple of years, only returning when she’s too tired and strung out to stay away. And now Liza’s baby, Mosey, is turning 15. Liza has had a stroke, which paralyzed her right side and left her speechless, so she’s no help at keeping a lid on Mosey. And Ginny’s favorite once-upon-a-time boyfriend has finally left his wife but hasn’t been in touch. What would ever make Ginny think that God had got her back? These Slocumb women do not inhabit a benevolent world. No guardian angels hover over their backyard. They are not spared the mean and ugly of small-town Christian folk, who seem to have overlooked that Bible instruction about not judging.
Book Reviews
There is a boatload of secrets and surprises tucked inside this raucous novel. You may want to shake some love sense into Ginny, yell at Liza and try to snatch Mosey from the train wreck her life is trying to become, but you’ll be glad you met them. Reviewed by Elizabeth Benford A Partial History of Lost Causes By Jennifer DuBois Dial Press, $26.00, 369 pages Check this out! This novel is about overwhelming loss, to an almost unbearable degree: the multitude of ways one can experience it, how to endure it, how to survive it and — fleetingly, elusively — how to blow past the fear that loss leaves behind. It is also about love: painful, senseless, quixotic love, with no plan B or exit strategy.
“
I was full of the narcissism of needing the world to bend to you, and the petty outrage that you feel when it does not.” To wit: Aleksandr Bezetov, a Russian chess champion at a startlingly early age, loser to a computer a decade later, accidental politician, decides in midlife to run a losing campaign for president of Russia. Irina Ellison, American philosophy Ph.D., waiting for signs that the brain-destroying Huntington’s disease that slowly killed her father to manifest in herself, cuts her ties with everyone she cares about and goes in search of Bezetov — one of her father’s heroes — and finds him just in time to participate with the campaign. How the novel ends is a foregone conclusion and Dubois takes us there, patiently and methodically, in the overlapping accounts. Her descriptive language is compelling and pervasive. You cannot ignore the smells and sounds; the damp, the cold, the fetid, humid air. It’s a tsunami of decaying sensation, worthy of Dickens and sometimes relentlessly turgid. You may struggle to accept Dubois’ depiction of the worlds the protagonists walk in, but it is well worth the effort. Reviewed by Elizabeth Benford
Fiction
Boleto By Alyson Hagy Graywolf Press, $24.00, 288 pages Check this out! Alyson Hagy speaks softly. Or readers might imagine she does, as her latest novel, Boleto, is a hypnotic whisper, not unlike the way her main character, Will Testerman, speaks to his horse. Early on in the book, Hagy writes, “He listened to his voice drift down toward the ground,” and this image persists throughout the story. The pacing of the novel is pitch-perfect with the writing, and the story unfolds in the same way that Testerman listens to his voice drift. But the story in and of itself is not slow or ponderous. Testerman is a young horse trainer who has already succeeded and failed many times in his young life. He has the feeling of a man betting on his last race, though, in fact, most of his life still lies ahead of him. Still, when he puts down his life savings of 12 hundred dollars to buy a new horse, the sense of risk is palpable. Testerman takes the horse as far as she will go, far away from the small Wyoming town where he grew up and where his parents and brother still live, chasing his destiny. This quiet yet powerful novel doesn’t disappoint. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell The Coward’s Tale: A Novel By Vanessa Gebbie Bloomsbury, $16.00, 384 pages Check this out! “Listen with your ears. I have a story for them, see?” Ianto Passchendaele Jenkins, self-proclaimed coward and professional beggar, tells stories. Each story features a different member of his village and attempts to explain that villager’s quirks. Why does the carpenter carve wooden feathers? Why is the podiatrist called Baker Bowen? Why does the window washer collect silver leaves? The stories don’t seem to have a common thread until 9-year-old Laddy Merridew comes to town and starts asking the beggar questions about himself. As Ianto reveals his story, it becomes clear that all the stories are tied together by a single tragedy, a tunnel collapse in the Kindly Light coal mine. Gebbie’s skillful storytelling made me feel as if I were one of the townsfolk begging Ianto to tell a story. With each succes-
sive tale, another character comes to life, and behaviors that had been isolating and off-putting are suddenly understood and loved. Even though the subjects don’t want their stories to be told, it is these narratives that bind the town together. Initially the structure of the book is confusing, but once Gebbie and Ianto hit their stride, the stories are captivating. I fell in love with Laddy and Ianto and found myself cheering them on. Reviewed by Tammy McCartney The Legend of Pradeep Mathew By Shehan Karunatilaka Graywolf Press, $16.00, 416 pages Check this out! Question: In fiction, what do you get when you cross an alcoholic sports journalist with a quest to find a Sri Lankan sports legend? Answer: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew by Shehan Karunatilaka. The author balances the game of cricket, the history of Sri Lanka, an enigmatic sixfingered coach and a warlord. The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, published as Chinaman in other countries where it received high praise, is Karunatilaka’s debut novel that sets the 64-year-old sportswriter W.G. Karunasena (Wije) and his friend Ari in search of Pradeep Mathew, a legendary cricket bowler. Wije, the curmudgeonly protagonist you will try hard not to want to like, believes that sports are all that matters. While this book may not be for everyone, don’t pass it by even if you are not a cricket fan (specifically a Sri Lankan cricket fan). There is a lot to appreciate in this 416-page book, particularly Karunatilaka’s ability to inject humor and his steadiness at introducing fact alongside fiction. Wije embarks on his search for Mathew, who he has seen play cricket and knows he exists, and Karunatilaka asks his readers to ponder truth and reality. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek: A Novel By Jane Myers Perrine Faith Words, $14.99, 384 pages Check this out! This warmly wise book is the best example of faith-based living. It proves that faith isn’t something that has to be in your face all the time in order to bring out the best in each of us. You’re never so big, so important, so wonderful that you can’t need — or use — a helping hand once in a while. Butternut Creek is a small town in western Texas, where Adam Jordan has been called as minister of the Christian Church.
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 15
It is his first post, and if not quite still damp behind the ears, he’s not far from it, either. The Welcome Committee is comprised of two widows, one of whom — Miss Birdie — feels that only she can set the new young minister on the right path to benefit their town. It’ll be a struggle, but in the end, they’ll both win. Along the way, the church provides sustenance (and a roof over their heads) to two struggling families, thus fulfilling its purpose to help when possible. Two marriages come out of this charming book, although neither involves the young minister. There will be (at least) two more books in the series, so presumably, eventually the widows will find the right woman for him. You’ll enjoy their adventures! Reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz Three Weeks in December By Audrey Schulman Europa Editions, $16.00, 353 pages Check this out! At the end of 1899, Jeremy, an engineer, arrives in British East Africa to oversee a major railroad-building project. He quickly finds that two lions are killing the men he’s bound to protect. Charged with hunting down these unusually powerful animals, Jeremy relies on Otombe, an African guide. As the lions’ killing continues and Jeremy’s secrets become harder to hide, Jeremy realizes that he’ll experience unbearable loss in Africa — and find an opportunity for a previously unimaginable new life. A hundred years later, in the final weeks of 2000, Max, a brilliant scientist with Asperger’s, is invited to Rwanda to hunt for a potentially life-changing vine, hidden in the habitat of a group of endangered mountain gorillas. Facing a constant threat from the violent Kutu tribe and forced by close quarters and danger to overcome her inability to connect with her colleagues, Max, like Jeremy, seizes the chance to make a new version of a life she thought she knew. Brilliantly written, with exceptional descriptions of Africa, Three Weeks in December is a gripping, unforgettable story of lives that undergo unexpected changes when they’re freed from the bounds of home. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell
Book Reviews
Nature & Science SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Too Big to Know By David Weinberger Basic Books, $27.50, 218 pages Check this out! In a quest for how best to harness information for corporate use and productivity, Weinberger grapples with the question, “Is the Internet making us stupid?” — a subject raised by The Atlantic magazine a few years ago. What Weinberger describes is a body of knowledge without borders or foundation, spreading at a rate of 3.6 zettabytes per year. There isn’t enough page space to print the digits of a single zettabyte. This consumption of data once restricted to the elite professionals of any given field now belongs to us all. Not too long ago, these elites belonged to exclusive clubs like the Royal Society and quoted each other in scientific journals. They kept score on who had the greatest impact by a complex calculation of what articles were cited most over a certain period of time. Now their impact factor is dead. The smartest guy in the room is the network itself. And yet, some businesses still seem to think the old-fashioned way, limiting themselves and their opportunities. Weinberger guides us through the new living maze of data with a sense of humor, giving us five specific ways to hyperlink this superabundance to our corporate benefit. Reviewed by C.D. Quyn In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World By Ian Stewart Basic Books, $26.99, 342 pages Check this out! For the less mathematically inclined, there’s no greater stumbling block to understanding than the equation. Equations are sentences in a foreign language, barely penetrable and somewhat dishearten-
ing to encounter. But equations are valuable tools, serving as keys to unlock scientific mysteries and quantify a strange and often baffling universe. Thankfully, Ian Stewart has penned a book for both sides of the divide with In Pursuit of the Unknown, ably bridging the gap between those daunted and undaunted by the language of equations. From his first paragraphs explaining how the lowly equal sign came to be, Stewart explores the origins of 17 equations that have heralded changes great and small. From how Pythagoras helped with land surveying to how Einstein’s theory of relativity lead to GPS navigation, from how chaos theory informs space exploration to how a misused equation partly contributed to the current economic crisis, Stewart tackles both the math behind them and the incredible discoveries that have resulted. It’s a fascinatingly grounded glimpse into how big ideas and innovations emerge from seemingly small leaps in calculated logic. By making some tough concepts truly accessible, In Pursuit of the Unknown will hopefully open a few more minds to possibility. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment — and Your Life By Jon Kabat-Zinn Sounds True, $20.95, 156 pages Check this out! About 10 years ago, I took an eight-week class at Kaiser Hospital called “Mindfulness.” We read Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living and learned many methods to deal with pain outside of regular health care. The class was inspired by his MindfulnessBased Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. I can vouch for this discipline. It can help. And it is a discipline, which requires practice. He takes mostly Eastern philosophy but makes it palatable for the Westerner without complicated vocabulary. It was Zorba the Greek who
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 16
said so much of the time we are in pain in one way or another — suffering in the face of what he called “the full catastrophe of life” — which is nothing less than the human condition itself.
“
Mindfulness is much ado about what might seem like almost nothing that turns out to be just about everything.” This simple, short book is a beginner’s book on mindfulness. But make no mistake, it’s a book to get you practicing. It’s not about good ideas, teachings, wisdom, etc. “Mindfulness,” the author writes, is learning to “pay attention to purpose in the present moment and nonjudgmentally.” Written in 40 short chapters, this is primer for anybody suffering physically and mentally; anybody living in pain, who would like to change his or her life. You read this book and then you begin formal practice using the guided meditations. That’s all there is to it. Reviewed by Phil Semler Princes & Ogres: Integration of Psyche and Soul By Don Mordasini Millennial Mind Publishing, $22.00 241 pages Check this out! Princes & Ogres: Integration of Psyche and Soul is a self-help book written to “…accelerate our personal growth by blending the
best part of modern psychology with ancient spiritual wisdom”. In Princes & Ogres, Mordasini describes how perception is the key to understanding the world around us. He differentiates our perceived reality from reality itself, and how our reality is shaped by our perceptions and the values and beliefs placed upon what we perceive. According to Mordasini, “We need to become aware of our mind’s tendency to interpret reality according to its beliefs; we need to take full responsibility for projecting our thoughts onto what is actually taking place out there.” By understanding these concepts set forth by Mordasini, he seeks to lead people to their fullest potential. Mordasini provides a great deal of discussion about integrating our mind and soul in order to raise our consciousness and ultimately live more fulfilling lives. “With discerning wisdom, we can make better choices in our lives.” Conceptually and theoretically, Mordasini provides a narrative across the spectrum of psychology and spiritually for the general reader to understand with ease. For those interested in the mind and body, Princes & Ogres makes for an interesting read. Reviewed by Jennifer Ochs
The African-American Resource Center and Tulsa Library Trust Present
The 2012 Historic All-Black Town Tour Commemorating Juneteenth
Join us for our popular daylong tour as we visit Redbird, Muskogee, Tullahassee and Wybark, as well as Fort Gibson and the Fort Gibson Cemetery.
SATURDAY, JUNE 9
(Bus departs promptly at 7:30 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m.; sign in at 7 a.m.)
DEPARTURE AND RETURN LOCATION: Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford, Tulsa TICKETS: $35 each (includes two meals). Tickets are nonrefundable. Youths ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Rudisill Regional Library or call 918-549-7645.
Book Reviews action, adventure, humor, battles, romance, drama and suspense. Zayvion, Nola, Cody, Stone, the Hounds, Shame, Terric and other fan favorites are back. Clear your calendar. Once you start reading, you won’t want to stop. Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin
Science Fiction
SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Triggers By Robert J. Sawyer Ace, $25.95, 340 pages Check this out! The United States is under siege by terrorists. While preparations for a counteroffensive are laid, the president is struck down. As he’s rushed to the nearest hospital for
surgery, a scientist begins an experimental treatment to ease the traumatic memories of a PTSD-afflicted soldier. But when a bomb destroys the White House and the ensuing electromagnetic pulse affects the experiment, it triggers an impossible side effect: people begin to share the memories of others — including the president. And secrets have a way of getting out. ... I admit, I was a bit dubious when I read the book jacket teaser of Sawyer’s latest, Triggers, but I should have known better. Robert J. Sawyer’s greatest gift always has been his ability to incorporate the human element into stories about complex scientific ideas, and Triggers is one of his most emotional and successful to date. While the hunt for the person possessing the president’s memories is interesting, it holds a distant second place to the enthralling exploration of how this accident has linked the lives of these people. Learning their backstories and watching the consequences unfold is a genuine treat. Despite the near-dystopian setting, Triggers is haunting in its optimism. It was a joy to read. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas
Fantasy SNAP IT for additional book summaries. Magic Without Mercy: An Allie Beckstrom Novel By Devon Monk Roc, $7.99, 368 pages Check this out! Allison Beckstrom has discovered the hard way that magic has been poisoned. To find the antidote, she must defy the potentially corrupt Authority (the secret council that enforces magic’s laws), run from the police and listen to the advice of her undead father. The war between Death, Life, Flux, Faith and Blood magic is quickly escalating. As thousands of Portland’s magic users become deathly ill, Allie and her supporters are the only
ones left who are capable of defending the innocent and saving magic. Devon Monk’s Magic Without Mercy is urban fantasy at its finest. Readers become invested in the fate of each character as they navigate the complex world Monk has created. As someone who has read all eight books, I can confidently say that Monk’s series keeps getting better with each new installment. If you are looking for a new series to immerse yourself in, start with Magic to the Bone, the first Allison Beckstrom novel. Every book is packed with
Dead Harvest By Chris Holm Angry Robot, $7.99, 304 pages Check this out! Don’t let the garish ‘70s cover fool you, while written in a classic smoking gun, hardboiled film noir style, Dead Harvest by Chris F. Holm, the first book in The Collector series, is completely fresh and absolutely distracting. You won’t be able to put it down, and you’ll want a stiff drink and a smoke to go with it.
“
If I was right, and this girl’s soul really did hold the fate of the world in balance, at least I knew God had a sense of humor. I mean, shit, he could’ve sent her a savior with a clue.” Sam Thornton, collector of souls, has one job, collect the souls of the damned. When he is sent to collect the soul of a young woman who he believes to be innocent, he says what no collector has ever said, “No.” Angels, demons, collectors of the dead, innocents who slaughter their families and are blessed in divine light, it’s hard to be sure who’s good and who’s evil in this urban fantasy and noir-dark crime. Sam is a flawed and tragic hero who is utterly compelling and strangely sympathetic. The cast of demons and angels surrounding, and often chasing, him are equally intriguing in this solid debut for a thrilling new novelist. Look forward to this and any other work by this author. Reviewed by Axie Barclay Fair Game: An Alpha and Omega Novel By Patricia Briggs Ace, $26.95, 293 pages Check this out! Book three in the Alpha and Omega series is as thrilling and exciting as the series has led us to expect. Anna and Charles travel to the East coast to become involved in the investigation of a serial killer. All is not well between the two as Charles has blocked the link that joins a werewolf with his mate. Anna is hurt and desperately worried about him, as she
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 17
knows he is sorely wounded. Charles, his father’s enforcer, has had to mete out punishment much more severe since the wolves have revealed themselves to human society. Much that would have been cause for correction within the pack must now be dealt with by Charles and much more severely. Most see Charles as a cold and unfeeling monster, but Anna knows the man and the wolf within. Can their relationship survive this new reality? When they join the investigation, they quickly learn that all of the victims have been werewolves, and this changes the pattern of the search. Can they act quickly enough to stop the killer and not become victims themselves? Even if you were not breathlessly waiting the next installment (like I was!), read this, and you will be! Reviewed by Beth Revers Forerunner By Andre Norton Tor, $15.99, 272 pages Check this out! Simsa had never known who she was — an infant rescued from a trash heap to live in the burrows with her mentor in the depths of Kuxortal, a city of infinite history. She hid much of who she was, her white hair in contrast to her coal-black skin, the claws she used for defense. She was unlike anyone she had ever met. Discovered, she would become an item for trade, not the trader. Thom had journeyed to this world to seek both his lost brother and the hints of Forerunner remains that those who hoped to learn from the mistakes of past empires long sought. Together they found more than either could have dreamed, but first they must win free of the city and across a deadly desert escape those who sought to stop them. This reprint of grand master Andre Norton’s masterwork still shines as brightly as at its first printing. It is well worth revisiting if you are a longtime fan. If this is your first time, read it — she writes wonderful characters and swift, breathtaking action. Over 100 of her works remain for you to discover. Reviewed by Beth Revers GREY, cont’d from page 11 Young sees as central to African-American survival under slavery and the oppression which followed emancipation. The evolution of storying fascinates, particularly as it fuels literature, music and popular culture. A part of me was disappointed that Young didn’t follow his arc to storying’s ethically challenging moments, such as with Robeson. Yet this does not detract from Young’s central thesis, that African-American culture is American culture, no limb of a trunk, but a root which nourishes the whole. Reviewed by Jordan Magill
Book Reviews
History & Current Events SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
1494: How a Family Feud in Medieval Spain Divided the World in Half By Stephen R. Bown Thomas Dunne Books, $27.99, 304 pages Check this out! Stephen Bown illustrates how the papal bulls decreed by Pope Alexander VI and the subsequent Treaty of Tordesillas between Spain and Portugal impacted the political and cultural shape of the world. It lead to “the loosening of the monopoly over the use of the world’s waterways, an increase in mutual communication and traffic between people, and the development of universal laws to guide the relations between nation states in the international arena.” While the treaty of 1494 meant to preserve peace, ultimately it backfired and the implications had a profound influence on the world; it would make Portugal rich from “Spiceries,” and Spain would acquire cargoes of gold and silver from the Americas. Bown illustrates the global drama that played out during European exploration, the events leading to the treaty, how a stroke of the pen drew an imaginary line that gave the Americas to Spain and the Far East to Portugal thus dividing the world in half. While admittedly not an expert in the history of Spain and Portugal, Bown presents a compelling example of general history. He masterfully illustrates how important events in history often originate from domestic affairs. Reviewed by Wendy Iraheta Scandalous!: 50 Shocking Events You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends) By Hallie Fryd Zest Books, $13.99, 221 pages Check this out! For as long as there have been celebrities, there has been a public obsession with scandal. As a society, we’re enthralled by the failures, shortcomings, misadventures and
criminal wrongdoing of those we’ve elevated above ourselves, either in entertainment, politics or any other arena of celebrity. Scandalous! covers 50 events that captured the public’s attention over the last century. From murder and mayhem to bizarre secrets and shenanigans, it runs the gamut of America’s seemingly bottomless hunger for celebrity debauchery and descent from grace. Fryd briefly summarizes the scandal and the events that preceded it, including great detail in a few words, as well as offering brief tidbits about the aftermath. Her economic storytelling style hits the high notes and, as promised in the title, gives the reader just enough to converse about the subject later. The only thing missing is a listing of source materials, in case the reader wants to delve deeper into a particular scandal. While most of these cases are common knowledge, there were a few I hadn’t encountered before, brightening up a wellcrafted collection of tabloid highlights. Also, I’m genuinely grateful John Bobbitt’s harrowing tale didn’t warrant inclusion. Some news stories deserve to fade away! Reviewed by Glenn Dallas Titanic: The Tragedy That Shook the World — One Century Later By Editors of LIFE Magazine Life, $29.95, 144 pages Check this out! Published by LIFE Books, Titanic: The Tragedy That Shook the World — One Century Later follows the tradition of LIFE Magazine by telling the story mainly with photographs. Many were taken by Frank Brown, a theology student who left the ship at Queenstown. There are also photographs taken af-
ter the rescue as well as reproductions of telegrams, tickets and menus from the ship. The book is padded with some photographs of the Olympic, Titanic’s twin sister, to help readers form an impression of a luxury liner. There are even a few eerie photographs of the wreck of the Titanic on the ocean’s bottom. Because no one was expecting the Titanic to sink there are no foreboding photographs in this book. Mainly, they are photos anyone on vacation would take: rooms, happy people, crew members at work. That the photographs are so unremarkable makes the book even more impressive. “Look how normal life was just one day before the most memorable sea tragedy,” this book says. It is an incredible look back at the Titanic, not complicated diagrams of the how, why, whens of the sinking but life as it was supposed to be on a luxury liner. Reviewed by Jodi Webb Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life By David Treuer Atlantic Monthly Press, $26.00, 368 pages Check this out! Over time and the course of history, there has been a grim perception of what life must be like living on the various Indian reservations in America. That’s not to say that there isn’t some truth to how the general population perceives this hard life. There is crime, alcohol and drugs, epic cases of diabetes and other health problems. There is extreme poverty. But beneath the grit and grime, there is also a staunch pride, and a powerful unflagging spirit to persevere, to survive. Author David Treuer, a member of the Ojibwe of northern Minnesota, presents a detailed study of Native American reservation life, past and present, mixed with a personal memoir narrative that debunks some of that negativism. Treuer’s writing reveals great affection and reverence, and truths told by someone who lives the Rez Life. As someone who lives in a state that recognizes at least 29 different tribal nations, I’ve seen firsthand the success and the tragedy of Native Americans, in the glittering lights and bells of casinos and the ghost-town life poverty of the coastal towns. I’m certain that a great many of us share the feeling that Native Americans have been dealt a bad hand and have suffered inequities and injustices that continue even today. This is a story that needs to be heard. Reviewed by Laura Friedkin
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 18
The Day in Its Color: Charles Cushman’s Photographic Journey Through a Vanishing America By Eric Sandweiss Oxford University Press, $39.95, 240 pages Check this out! Chronicled in this classic collection of Kodakchrome photos is a pictorial history of America in the years between 1938-1969. The photographs are spellbinding as they relate the changing emotions of the landscape and the inhabitants during this transitory period that has been forgotten in our current frenetic technological state. Using a 35mm camera with the then-new Kodachrome color film, Charles Cushman, a traveling businessman, acted as an itinerant photographer, capturing the essence of the country. Moving across the continent, west to east and north to south, his images recorded the people, the neighborhoods, agricultural sites, the glory of the natural scenery, industrial production, urban development and suburban life. For the mature, these images will reawaken memories; for the youthful, the pictures recall life in the past century. This series of sensitive photographs have a patina of thoughtful timelessness that is lacking in the precise digital reproductions currently in vogue. Along with artists like Edward Hopper, this amateur photographer and his candid collection of color slides filtered through his eyes serve as a hallmark of social realism. Reviewed by Aron Row The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery and Endurance in Early America By Scott Weidensaul Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $30.00 445 pages Check this out! Scott Weidensaul has spent years of research on this invaluable treatise. In offering a most coherent, if necessarily fragmentary, overview of the American frontier before it was “America,” from the 1500s to 1700s, he has performed a wonderful service. His notes alone, guiding the reader to his sources, comprise 21 pages of fine print! Ranging from anthropology to politics and frequently delving into very personal strivings and sufferings, The First Frontier deserves to be standard reading in American history courses. Far from the usual whitewashed pablum offered in our schools now, Weidensaul makes clear the stew of misunderstandings, misapprehensions, sheer criminality and land hunger that actually composed the evolving frontier of colonization for over 200 years.
Book Reviews
There are endless small fascinations: the origin of the word “buck” in the deerskin trade, the first uses of the terms “white” and “redskin.” The very common intermarriage and adoption of native and colonial, the interleaving and interdependence of their living are revelations. The author has skillfully delivered narrative and storyline from bits and obscure pieces without injecting himself into the skein. There is enough humor to make what could have been a dry work into something fascinating and fresh to read. Reviewed by David Lloyd Sutton The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer By Anne-Marie O’Connor Knopf, $30.00, 368 pages Check this out! Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele BlochBauer” is a painting that stays with you. What will haunt you is the story behind the painting and the Bloch-Bauer family, from its creation in Belle Epoque Vienna to how it landed in New York’s Nueue Galerie in 2006.
History & Current Events
Vienna was blooming with culture and mainstream acceptance of Jewish citizens in 1907 when the painting was completed. Artists catered to the emerging upperclass Jews and broke the accepted boundaries with their styles as well. The portrait was seen by many of the pinnacle of fashion and modernism. Adele herself passed away in 1925 leaving the painting to her husband until his death, when she wished that it would be displayed in the Austrian National Gallery. Then the Nazis came and threw Vienna into a tailspin that would take decades to recover from. Anti-Semitism meant that everything was stripped from the Jews — their art, their homes, often their lives. Great works of art were bounced from hiding place to castles to shows, where they often had their original titles “Arayanized.” The people were sent into hiding or death camps. The portrait became the “Lady in Gold,” losing the
Jewish name and celebrating the Austrian painter Klimt. The war ended, but the governments kept the paintings. The heirs were left to battle in multiple courts to prove ownership, and in the case of the “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer,” the heirs didn’t get it back until 2006. The lives lost and the stories that flow from this one painting will haunt, sadden, anger and stick with you indefinitely. Reviewed by Gwen Stackler Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong By Raymond Bonner Knopf, $26.95, 299 pages Check this out! In 1982, an elderly white widow was murdered in a small South Carolina town. Within days, a semiliterate and mentally retarded black man was arrested on flimsy evidence. He was found guilty and sentenced
Tulsa Book Review • June 2012 • 19
to death row. Raymond Bonner, winner of a Pulitzer Prize, details the twists and turns of the justice derailed in Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong. Bonner was once a reporter for The New York Times, who spent several weeks on assignment looking into capital punishment. During this reporting, he learned of the case of Edward Lee Elmore and his sevenday trial and the subsequent appeals and trials. After Elmore had been on death row for more than a decade, Diana Holt, a native Texan lawyer, started championing Elmore’s case. The reader is taken back to the 1980s South and forward into the legal challenges that ultimately reveal injustice. An investigative reporter and former lawyer, Bonner’s well-honed skills are evident as he spends time painstakingly illustrating the crime, the community in which the crime took place, Elmore’s life — in and out of prison — and Holt’s fervent belief in justice. Anatomy of Injustice is a fascinating nonfiction read. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey