BOOK REVIEWS

“The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea”

By Philip Hoare (HarperCollins, 453 pages, $27.99)

A subject as big as the whale demands a book as broad as “The Whale.” Part memoir, part nature writing and part literary criticism, the book takes readers around the world for an exhaustive look at the mysterious mammal. Philip Hoare begins his book in the steps of Herman Melville’s Ishmael, visiting the famous 19th-century whaling ports Nantucket and New Bedford, Mass., before tracing the cultural significance of the whale from Jonah to “Free Willy.” For readers who don’t love science, there might be dull moments. But entertaining and educational, “The Whale” is an all-encompassing look at how an animal most people never see has impacted our history and inspired our imagination.

Rob Merrill, Associated Press

“Red Carpet Ready: Secrets for Making the Most of Any Moment You’re in the Spotlight”

By Melissa Rivers

(Crown Publishing Group

288 pages, $29.99)

Are you planning a wedding or trying to survive a breakup? Or maybe you’re unemployed. If you’re experiencing high-pressure situations such as these, Melissa Rivers has advice — and lots of it. Rivers is best known for covering fashion on the red carpet with her mother Joan Rivers. Parts of the book seem unorganized, choppy and hard to follow. Yes, Rivers dishes about Hollywood (like sharing a table at a restaurant with Sean Penn, who gave her divorce advice) — but there’s not enough to satisfy readers.

Alicia Rancilio, Associated Press “Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, With Recipes”

By Elizabeth Bard

(Little, Brown and Co.

352 pages, $23.99)

American writer Elizabeth Bard says her French husband was halfway to home base when she cut into a succulent steak during their first lunch in Paris. It’s not entirely certain in her recounting of their romance whether it was the man or the meals that kept drawing her back to the city celebrated for its cuisine. Sure, Gwendal was kind, funny and a tap dancer, but there were also molten chocolate cakes and swordfish tartar. In her first book, Bard tracks their relationship through meals — the pasta Gwendal made after they first made love, the sausage over which he proclaimed his love, the poached cod served when she met his parents and the smelly cheese at their wedding. She includes recipes at the end of each chapter for those wanting to cook up a little romance of their own.

M.L. Johnson, Associated Press

“The Girl Who Chased the Moon”

By Sarah Addison Allen (Bantam Books, 265 pages, $25)

Sarah Addison Allen stays on familiar ground in “The Girl Who Chased the Moon,” dishing up light doses of magical realism and romance, all in the North Carolina landscape where she grew up. In this book, teenager Emily Benedict is sent to her mother’s hometown after the death of her mother. Her mother — a social activist who dedicated her life to good causes and training others, including her daughter, to work for them — never talked about her youth or her father, who Emily discovers is a giant, over 8 feet tall. He’s apparently indifferent to her arrival, and not eager to talk about her mother. In fact, no one in Mullaby wants to talk about her. Next-door neighbor Julia tells Emily that her mother lead one of the most popular groups of students in high school. Julia, who was a gothic misfit in school, eventually adds that Emily’s mom constantly tormented her, bringing dog food and flea powder to school, or barking at her because of the dog collar she wore at the time. Although it may be hard to believe that people cling to high school hurts as long as the people in Mullaby apparently do, the book offers enough pleasures to make for an enjoyable read.

Susan Salter Reynolds, Los Angeles Times

“House Rules”

By Jody Picoult (Atria, 353 pages, $28)

Jodi Picoult knows her audience. She tends to write family dramas that tug at the heartstrings. Her books have short chapters, usually written from the perspective of the main characters, and often have a surprise ending. “House Rules,” sticks to this winning formula. The story focuses on Emma, a single mom with two teenage boys, Jacob 18 and Theo, 15. Jacob has Asperger’s syndrome and takes comments at face value, hates the color orange and schedules his days around his favorite TV procedural crime show. He has memorized dialogue from movies to insert into conversation when needed. Emma has rearranged her life to care for Jacob. She prepares meals according to the colors he likes: Mondays he eats green foods, Tuesday s it’s red, and so on. She can barely afford the bills for his medications and supplements. Theo is tired of making allowances for his brother and wants desperately to live a normal life with a normal family. He dreams of having two parents, a big house and a brother who doesn’t have special needs. Then the family is turned upside-down when Jacob’s tutor is found murdered, and he is accused of killing her. Emma can no longer shield him from life’s harsh realities. “House Rules” is a compelling mystery with heart. It won’t disappoint Picoult’s fans, and it should keep new readers engaged.

Alicia Rancilio, Associated Press