1. Chinese Films in Focus, edited by Chris Berry (British Film Institute, $24.95). From Chungking Express to A Chinese Ghost Story to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, these collected essays by a global panoply of scholars and critics lavish 25 films with the attention they’ve thus far failed to attract — in English, at least.
2. Autopsy of a Suicidal Mind, by Edwin S. Shneidman (Oxford, $19.95). A leading suicidologist offers this unique reading experience, a series of frank and revealing interviews with the loved ones of a successful young man who had everything to live for but killed himself anyway.
3. The Essential Neruda, by Pablo Neruda, edited by Mark Eisner (City Lights, $16.95). A hundred years after the Chilean poet’s birth, this bilingual paperback edition is perfect for carrying around to read in cafes. Keep an eye peeled for “La Semana Neruda” this summer at Berkeley’s La Peña Cultural Center.
4. Just Kiss Me and Tell Me You Did the Laundry, by Karen Bouris (Rodale, $14.95). Packed with checklists, tips, and lessons for couples trying to run households, this practical guide to negotiating who does what, when, and why — and what will happen if he or she doesn’t — might save your marriage.
