(Enlarge) Will Self's "Liver" is one of a trio of new books considered appropriate for this Thanksgiving.

The approach of Thanksgiving is impossible to ignore. Though some dread the holiday outright, even those who enjoy it may feel a twinge of apprehension now and then. Don't despair: Your clan can't possibly be more dysfunctional than the ones in the following three volumes.

"Liver"

by Will Self

Bloomsbury, $26

Even if the Plantation Club were in the United States instead of London's Soho, chances are it wouldn't serve a Thanksgiving buffet. The club, which provides the setting for "Foie Humain," the first in this collection of four connected stories, is a decrepit watering-hole patronized by a group of dissolute B-listers.

Val, the club's owner, is the worst of the bunch in terms of alcohol consumption, and his liver is feeling the strain. But, in a twist that comes delightfully out of left field, Val's bad health turns into another club regular's good fortune.

Similarly grotesque and mordantly funny are "Birdy Num Num," about a junky who imagines himself the lead in the Peter Sellers film "The Party," and "Prometheus," the best piece in the collection, about an advertising executive whose creative flair comes from the vulture who gnaws periodically on his liver.

"Leberknodel" hits a different, more bittersweet note with the story of Joyce Beddoes, whose terminal cancer leads her to Switzerland to seek assisted suicide. Once there, though, Joyce experiences a physical and spiritual rejuvenation. But is it too good to last? This misanthropic work is not for the sentimental or the squeamish, but Will Self extracts thought-provoking, even suspenseful stories from the wreckage of his often unpleasant characters' lives.

"Liver" is a first-rate, scathing take on contemporary culture.

"The Supremes"

by Mark Ribowsky

Da Capo, $26

In an industry famous for dysfunctional "families," Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson have a reputation as one of the most tempestuous. Even casual Supremes fans know the stories of Ross's diva attitude, Ballard's out-of- control drinking and Wilson's sometimes-less- than-scrupulous place in the middle.

Mark Ribowsky, in his solid new biography of the group, works to dispel some of the more over-the-top rumors, at the same time showing that there was plenty of excitement going on backstage. Though Ribowsky doesn't shy away from drama, "The Supremes" is not a work of scandal-mongering. Instead, it is a nuanced portrait of the Detroit music scene of the period.

Ribowsky's use of primary sources, including his own interviews with major players, ensures something new for Supremes aficionados, while his balanced tone makes this a good starting place for newcomers as well.

"David's Revenge"

by Hans Werner Kettenbach

Bitter Lemon, $14.95

Christian Kestner is a German teacher who tries to instill tolerant attitudes in his students. But at home, Christian worries about his teenage son, Ralf, who is increasingly drawn to extreme nativist groups. Tensions in the household increase when Christian's old acquaintance, David Ninoshvili, announces he is coming to stay.

Christian met David years ago, before the collapse of the Soviet Union, on a teachers' exchange in Georgia. Now, Christian begins to wonder about the motives behind David's visit. Does David want revenge for Christian's flirtation with Matassi, David's wife? Is he working for the remnants of the East German secret police, the Stasi, or the Soviet KGB? Or is he seeking asylum?

As Christian's paranoia threatens to get the better of him, David grows uncomfortably close to Christian's wife, Julia, and even to Ralf, who at first denounced him as an outsider. "David's Revenge," in addition to being a crafty thriller, offers a revealing look at some issues still rankling European society.

Rebecca Oppenheimer, a Towson University graduate and National Book Critics' Circle member, dives into the latest books from her home in Stevenson.

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