In the Woods

by Tana French (Viking, hardback $24.95)

If you know of someone who loves a psychological crime thriller with a sophisticated literary style, then this one is for them. Set in Ireland, with all the scenic beauty that sense of place offers, the main plotline involves the discovery of a young girl’s body, which appears at an archeological dig sight. To discover who murdered her and why, it’s up to murder detective Rob Ryan and his partner Cassie to dig into family secrets.

This book, however, is as much about the unfurling of memory as anything as else, as the assignment forces Detective Ryan to open up a murder case of two childhood friends. The three were together when the crime occurred. Though Ryan survived, he’s blacked out any of the facts. The book is abundant in stylistic detail—for example, “he slouched in his chair and drummed an increasingly irritable riff on the table with his index fingers,” or, “He was like a huge smug albatross waddling around my desk, squawking vacuously and crapping all over my paperwork.” The weakness in the book may be in its ending, but the strength of characterization and style more than make up for it. In the Woods is Tana French’s first book, and if the rest of her works match up to this one, she’s in for a successful career.

 

The Cleft

by Doris Lessing (Harper Collins hardback $25.95)

This is a book for the intellectual in the house, but it’s a challenge. This the latest book from Doris Lessing, this year’s Nobel Prize winner for literature. Its strength lies in its mythological elements. The premise is that society started with women who were half sea creatures, half land creatures, and that they lived in a perfect conflict free existence until the first baby boy was born: “I don’t remember anyone saying anything about being afraid before.”

The boys were deemed an ugly frightening deformity by the women. At first they were sacrificed, and next left out as fodder for eagles. Little did the women know, however, that the eagles were saving the babies and carrying them over the mountain top to the other side, where a civilization of their own sprang. Soon there was conflict between the two sexes, and after awhile the women were no longer able to give birth without the men. The book lacks the basics—characterization, plot, and even style. For those that are Lessing fans, it may be an interesting book as part of her whole body of work, but for those who are looking for a good read, they’ll want to find it elsewhere.

 

The Ultimate Babysitter’s Handbook

by Debra Mostow Zakarin (Price Stern Sloan paperback $4.99)

At a time when babysitting seems to be becoming an outdated art, this book has arrived at the right time. Written for kids twelve and up, The Ultimate Babysitter’s Handbook is a cool piece of work for those who want to make some money. Its pitch list doesn’t appeal to just the materialist in them, but also shows how to have some fun while earning valuable job experience. It covers the basics and more—making sure the refrigerator is well-stocked with easy access, and that the children of the parents are, on the whole, well behaved. It tells how to start a business and get organized. The most original idea is keeping index cards on each family, so the babysitter can track the children’s names and birthdates as well as their favorite activities and books. The only weakness of the book is that it seems rather outdated in how to advertise: It doesn’t take into consideration today’s safety factors. Other than that, this how-to book is a comprehensive overview of babysitting with bright, helpful colorful illustrations—a great gift for teenagers.

 

Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds

by David Gershon (Empowerment Institute paperback $12.95)

For those who want a simple, clear self-help guide that tells them how they can become responsible carbon digesters, this is it. So many environmental books can become complicated, or so thick they feel overwhelming. Instead of making the reader feel empowered, they leave them feeling guilty. This book manages to strike a balance between humor and insight, starting with the title: Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 pounds. I had to look twice to realize he wasn’t talking Big Macs. It immediately personalizes the environmental challenge and casts it in a different light. Chapters address easily obtainable goals. For example, Scrub-A-Dub Tub talks about reducing water used for washing dishes, and Wear It Again Sam talks about washing and drying clothes efficiently. This is a highly recommended gift both for people eager to take action on global warming and the not-so-converted, but willing to learn. It’s a motivational gem.