HomeBooks
REVIEWS IN BRIEF *As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin Laurence Bergreen (Viking, $24.95) A colorful history of our greatest popular % art-the music that emerged out of the ethnic and social commotion of 20th- century America-as well as a vivid biography of its foremost exponent. A
*The Barnum Museum Steven Millhauser (Poseidon, $18.95) Brilliantly imaginative stories from the author of the novel Edwin Mullhouse. A-
*The Burden of Proof Scott Turow (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $22.95) Although The Burden of Proof lacks the surefire thriller devices that helped make Presumed Innocent such a commanding piece of storytelling, readers who persevere will be rewarded. B
*The Burning Season Andrew Revkin (Houghton Mifflin, $19.95) The story of Chico Mendes and his efforts to prevent the destruction of the Amazon rain forest. B+
*Children of the Dragon: The Story of Tiananmen Square (Collier, $19.95) A handsome collection of photographs, speeches, and newspaper accounts documenting China's ill-fated democracy movement. B+
*Coyote Waits Tony Hillerman (Harper & Row, $19.95) The 11th tale in Hillerman's series about the Navajo Tribal Police is sturdy work from an incorruptible craftsman. A-
*Crosstown Traf c: Jimi Hendrix and the Rock 'n' Roll Revolution Charles Shaar Murray (St. Martin's, $18.95) The best book yet on Hendrix-and also a sweeping historical discussion of soul, jazz, the blues, and the impact of electronic technology on pop music. A
*The Dark Romance of Dian Fossey Harold T.P. Hayes (Simon & Schuster, $21.95) An engrossing study of the life and murder of Dian Fossey, the courageous but troubled champion of Rwanda's mountain gorillas. A-
*Disturbing the Peace Vaclav Havel; translated by Paul Wilson (Knopf, $19.95) Readers interested in learning more about this most reluctant of political heroes will find no better place to begin. A-
*The Innocent Ian McEwan (Doubleday, $18.95) Far more than an intelligent thriller, The Innocent is also a haunting black comedy charged with psychological complexity, sex, and suspense. A
*Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond Will Friedwald (Scribner's, $29.95) The author's quirks aside, this is quite simply the best available guide to the art of jazz singing. A-
*Saratoga Hexameter Stephen Dobyns (Viking, $16.95) A charming small-town mystery-comedy. B+
*Slim: Memories of a Rich and Imperfect Life Slim Keith with Annette Tapert (Simon & Schuster, $22.95) An irresistible combination of salty wit, down-to-earth honesty, and great photographs. B+
*Stardust Robert Parker (Putnam, $18.95) A new episode for Spenser, mysterydom's most self-satis ed shamus. B-
*Too Good to Be True: The Outlandish Story of Wedtech James Traub (Doubleday, $21.95) As Traub deftly shows us, this is a story not about venality but about human frailty. A
ALSO NOTED *Going to Chicago: A Year on the Chicago Blues Scene Photographs by Stephen Green; introduction by Laurence J. Hyman (Woodford, paperback, $19.95) Every kind of blues, even joyful blues, nds a home here. Splendid photographs.
*The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1963-1989 Martin Elliot (Blandford, paperback, $12.95) A must-have for fans of the world's greatest rock & roll band.
*See Under: Love David Grossman (Washington Square Press, paperback, $9.95) A novel of the Holocaust by the most celebrated Israeli writer since Amos Oz.
*Willa Cather: Later Novels (Library of America, $32.50) Six novels, including Death Comes for the Archbishop and Cather's masterpiece, The Professor's House.
*Wily Violets and Underground Orchids: Revelations of a Botanist Peter Bernhardt (Vintage, paperback, $9.95) Lively, occasionally tart discussions of various botanic oddities: 12-foot lily pads, villainous orchids, rodent pollination.
