by Steve Martin |
CRITIC'S CHOICE
REVIEWED BY KYLE SMITH
MEMOIR
When they were handing out talent, Steve Martin stuck around for seconds. And maybe fourths. His pedigree in both movies and the literary world—who else could host the Oscars and the National Book Awards?—is evident in this fascinating, dryly witty memoir, which takes him from a lonely childhood (in which he was mostly ignored and once cruelly beaten by his father), to the hippie haze of '60s San Francisco, where he redefined standup comedy, to the beginning of his huge success on Saturday Night Live and in movies. Along the way there are funny glimpses of Elvis and the intimidatingly sexy rock goddess Linda Ronstadt ("After the ninth date, she finally said, 'Steve, do you often date girls and not try to sleep with them?'"). But what makes the book is Martin's deconstruction of the art of comedy, which he goosed with his studies in metaphysics and logic. How often does a genius open up his box of tricks and explain how it all works?
Bitter Sweets
by Roopa Farooki |
REVIEWED BY CLARISSA CRUZ
FICTION
Fast-paced and populated with characters as colorful as a closetful of saris, Farooki's debut follows three generations of an Indian family. Beautiful teenage Henna tricks future husband Rashid into marrying her—kicking off a legacy of deception that has myriad repercussions on the couple's daughter and grandchildren. But it's how the family members contort themselves around—and ultimately free themselves from—the lies that propels the story. Rashid and Henna's daughter Shona suffers through a crumbling marriage; her London-born twin sons (Omar and, yes, Sharif) get caught between two cultures; Rashid struggles with his own secrets. And while there are enough surprise plot twists to keep the tale entertaining, it's the characters' emotional musings that make it memorable.
An Uncertain Inheritance
Edited by Nell Casey |
REVIEWED BY SUE CORBETT
ESSAYS
These essays about caring for gravely ill parents, partners, even children, meet a real need: 30 million Americans are currently caregivers. Though wrenching, the stories provide solace and practical advice. Cartoonist Stan Mack's story about his partner's cancer offers help navigating medical bureaucracy. Ann Harleman shares what she learned about nursing homes: Look for nonprofits because "the staff are better-paid and therefore happier." Susan Lehman points out the hidden rewards of taking in her cantankerous mom, who corrupts the grandkids with candy—and leaves a lasting impression on their futures.
Them
by Nathan McCall |
REVIEWED BY JAKE LAMAR
NOVEL
Bold and bitingly funny, this debut novel by the author of the memoir Makes Me Wanna Holler takes us to the front lines of America's racial Cold War. McCall's protagonist, Barlowe Reed, is an African-American printer living in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward, the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., which "seemed to finger-pop to its own soulful tune." But when gentrification threatens the neighborhood—the white Gilmores move next door; the Mini-Mart becomes Café Latte—territorial squabbles escalate into violence. Treading a line between tragicomedy and polemics, Them ends on a rueful note: When it comes to black and white Americans living side by side, maybe the best one can hope for is a Cold Peace.
