April 13, 2012 Books Update

On the Cover of Sunday's Book Review 'The Great Animal Orchestra' By BERNIE KRAUSE Reviewed by JEREMY DENK Bernie Krause's book guides us through nature's sonic treasures and begs us to pay attention to their fate. Also in the Book Review 'Children in Reindeer Woods' By KRISTIN OMARSDOTTIR. Translated by LYTTON SMITH. Reviewed by HELEN OYEYEMI An 11-year-old girl becomes the ward of a soldier in this novel. 'Suddenly, a Knock on the Door' By ETGAR KERET. Translated by MIRIAM SHLESINGER, SONDRA SILVERSTON and NATHAN ENGLANDER. Reviewed by STEVE ALMOND Etgar Keret's stories highlight humor, bizarre twists and characters in the midst of psychic upheaval. 'The Crisis of Zionism' By PETER BEINART Reviewed by JONATHAN ROSEN Peter Beinart aims to save Israel from itself, and the United States from the Israel lobby. 'The Richer Sex' By LIZA MUNDY Reviewed by RACHEL SHTEIR A journalist argues that the increasing number of female breadwinners will change American culture. 100 Years at Sea Reviewed by HOLLY MORRIS Two books explore the doomed maiden voyage of the Titanic. 'Dust To Dust' By BENJAMIN BUSCH Reviewed by ELIZABETH D. SAMET War intensifies the ruin this memoirist senses around him. 'The Real Romney' By MICHAEL KRANISH and SCOTT HELMAN Reviewed by GEOFFREY KABASERVICE Two Boston Globe journalists, probing Mitt Romney's life, emphasize his relationship with the father he adored. 'Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power' By RACHEL MADDOW Reviewed by SCOTT SHANE Rachel Maddow argues that the decision to take America to war has become too easy. 'Reagan and Thatcher: The Difficult Relationship' By RICHARD ALDOUS Reviewed by GEOFFREY WHEATCROFT A look at the relationship between the prime minister and the president. Fiction Chronicle By ANDREW HAIG MARTIN New books by Gwenaëlle Aubry, Lysley Tenorio, Esi Edugyan and Dan Vyleta. 'Schmidt Steps Back' By LOUIS BEGLEY Reviewed by RON CARLSON Louis Begley's hero emerges, in his 70s, for a third novel. COMICS Dreams of Youth By DOUGLAS WOLK New books by Lynda Barry, Sean Phillips, Joost Swarte, Mark Long and Michael Zulli. 'Home Burial' By MICHAEL MCGRIFF Reviewed by JEFF GORDINIER Michael McGriff's poems look at people struggling with loss.

BEST SELLERS Combined Print & E-Book Fiction Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction Hardcover Fiction Hardcover Nonfiction Paperback Trade Fiction Paperback Mass-Market Fiction Paperback Nonfiction All the Lists By the Book David Sedaris The author of "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk" would like to go back in time and collect kindling for Flannery O'Connor. Back Page My Life With Bob By PAMELA PAUL A regular diary is fine, but keeping track of reading with a "Book of Books" may reveal even more. Inside the List By GREGORY COWLES Adriana Trigiani's 12th novel, "The Shoemaker's Wife," based on the lives of her immigrant grandparents, enters the hardcover fiction list at No. 5. Editors' Choice Recently reviewed books of particular interest. Paperback Row By IHSAN TAYLOR Paperback books of particular interest. Book Review Podcast This week, Michael Kranish and Scott Helman discuss their biography of Mitt Romney; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Jeremy Denk talks about the sounds of nature; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host. Theater Talkback: Frank Langella Telling Tales Dick Teresi Talks About the Line Between Life and Death Vatican and Bodleian Libraries to Digitize Ancient Texts REVIEWS BY THE TIMES'S CRITICS 'Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms' by Richard Fortey 'Escape From Camp 14' by Blaine Harden 'An Economist Gets Lunch' by Tyler Cowen 'The Complete Poems' by Philip Larkin 'Truth Like the Sun' by Jim Lynch ARCHIVE Crime Columns Children's Books The New York Times Book Review: Back Issues