Small Press Bk Rev/Summer 97-Pt 3

[HenryBerry]

The Small Press Book Review
Summer 1997 - Part III

Literature continued from Part II:

The Strange Sad War Revolving: Walt Whitman, Reconstruction, and the
Emerging of Black Citizenship by Luke Mancuso. Camden House, Drawer 2025,
Columbia, SC 29202; 800-723-9455. 1997. 165 pp. $55.00 hardcover
(1-57113-125-6). chapter notes; bibliography; index.
(American literature; 19th century)
Whitman is generally seen as having little to say explicitly about race
relations. His views about race relations are usually inferred from his
ideas and visions about egalitarianism and the promise of democracy. In
this work, Mancuso brings Whitman closer to this central subject of
American society by studying Whitman's writings in the context of
Reconstruction issues and activities, especially legislative activities
and aims of the Congressional "workshop" regarding civil rights
legislation in existence from 1865 to 1876. Although Mancuso does not make
the case that Whitman had a direct effect on this "workshop" or that his
views of racial equality were incorporated into legislation derived from
the "workshop," Mancuso does show how writings of Whitman's addressed
concerns of the time and were not so visionary or "transcendent" as they
are usually regarded. Thus Whitman is seen as having not only a more
concrete concern about race relations than is ordinarily attributed to
him, but also as playing a role in shaping official and public attitudes
about this. Mancuso is an assistant professor of English at St. John's
University in Minnesota.

Reading for Realism -The History of a U. S. Literary Institution,
1850-1910 by Nancy Glazener. Duke U. Press, Box 909660, Durham, NC
27708-0660. 1997. 383 pp. $54.95 hardcover (0-823-1880-6). $18.95 trade
paper (0-8223-1870-9). notes; bibliography; index.
(U. S. literature; 19th century)
The "U.S. literary institution" Glazener analyzes is the realist novel
of the latter 1800s. She brings in works of Henry James, Nathaniel
Hawthorne, and Rebecca Harding Davis, among others. Using a psychological
perspective known as "reception theory," the author examines mostly
readers' understandings of such works of literary realism, not strictly
the subject matter and styles of the works themselves. She is mostly
concerned with how readers developed such understandings. She finds that
they acquired their understandings largely from the involvement of James,
etc. in the literary debates of the time, and also from the influence of
the Atlantic group of magazines, as it is known. In addition to the
leading magazine named the Atlantic (which is still being published),
there were among others The Critic (1881-1906), The Forum (1886-1930),
Lippincott's (1868-1916), Scribner's Monthly (1870-1881), and Harper's
Monthly (also still published). As Glazener writes, "It is no surprise to
find comparisons between realism and other kinds of U.S. fiction
supercharged with assumptions about culture's proper relationship to
democracy, nationalism, modernity, social hierarchy, citizenship, and
pleasure...My purpose is to analyze how the public debates about fiction
that produced generic categories, making it possible to identify a work as
an instance of realism or sentimentalism or romance, constructed certain
issues of cultural politics for writers and readers alike." With this
approach, Glazener's literary study not only involves leading writers and
periodicals of the time, but also larger issues in the culture, and indeed
even the nature of culture to some degree. The author is an Associate
Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh.

Battlefield Ghosts by B. Keith Toney. Rockbridge Publishing Co., PO Box
351, Berryville, VA 22611-0351; email: cw...@visuallink.com. 1997. 122 pp.
$12.00 trade paper (1-883522-17-X). bibliography; index.
(American folklore; history)
Nineteen stories recounting legends associated with individuals,
events, and locations in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. In some of
them, Toney relates the story of a living person who claims to have seen a
ghost associated with the folktale or legend; in others, he relates just
the folktale or legend. In either approach, he uncovers the origin of the
tale, so that readers learn about the famous incident or individual
connected with a location. Because of its simple style and colorful,
engaging subject matter, Toney's book would be appealing to younger
readers as well.

Journeys to the Brink of Doom -True Stories of Disaster, Mystery, and
Heroism at Niagara Falls by T. W. Kriner. J&J Publishing, PO Box 241,
Buffalo, NY 14205. 1997. 196 pp. $14.95 trade paper (0-9657245-0-6). b+w
photographs; illustrations; maps; bibliography; index.
(true-life adventure stories)
There is a legend that something evil lurks below Niagara Falls, and
that it requires four human sacrifices each year. At least four people die
in plunges over the Falls each year. In loosely-organized vignettes,
Kriner recounts scores of episodes about daredevils, suicides, and
accidents connected with the Falls, and even a few murders. He also
recounts the stories of police, firemen, and others who saved persons who
went over the Falls and survived or who somehow became caught in the
roiling currents beneath them. An entertaining collection of tales.

New Age
Sacred Mask, Sacred Dance by Evan John Jones with Charles S. Clifton.
Llewellyn Publications, PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55`64-0383. 1997. 178
pp. $19.95 trade paper; 7" x 10" (1-56718-373-5). color/b+w photographs;
illustrations; diagrams; chapter notes; bibliography; index.
(ritual; masks)
While there is some anthropological material at first, including the
significance of different animals and birds as models for particular
masks, this work is mostly about the place of masks in paganism,
shamanism, and wicca. It discusses how to make masks and form a group for
rituals using them. As the authors discuss in one section, masks are means
by which individuals can "reach the unconscious." Their work is primarily
a manual for making and using masks and understanding their spiritual and
psychological effects.

Celtic Tree Mysteries -Secrets of the Ogham by Steve Blamires. Llewellyn
Publishers, PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164. 1997. 296 pp. $14.95 trade
paper (1-56718-070-1). footnotes; appendix; glossary; bibliography;
discography; resources; index.
(Celtic spirituality; folklore)
Blamires brings together the ancient Celtic script of ogham with trees
on the basis that the names for the notches, letters, and consonants of
ogham are also parts of trees. The word "flesc" for an aspect of ogham
means "twig" in Celtic; "feda" means "wood"; and so on for other terms.
The system of spiritual growth Blamires presents is based on this
connection of ogham with trees. The Celtic Green World, as the author
calls it, includes 20 kinds of trees divided into the three levels of
Celtic reality--physical, mental, and spiritual. Each tree has a distinct
symbolism attached to it. For example, ash symbolizes a break in peace,
because spear-shafts were made of this tree; the tree Elder symbolizes
shame because the juice of its berries can redden a person's face.
Blamores discusses the symbolism of each tree with respect to the three
levels of Celtic reality. The author's system for spiritual growth
involves awareness of the symbolisms of trees, meditations on them, and
rituals.

Parenting
If My Kid's So Nice...Why's He Driving Me Crazy? - Straight Talk About
"Good Kid" Disorder by Dr. James D. Sutton. Friendly Oaks Publications, PO
Box 662, Pleasanton, TX 78064. 1997. 232 pp. $23.95 hardcover
(1-878878-53-0). charts; diagrams; glossary; bibliography; index.
"Good kid" disorder, named by Sutton "oppositional defiant disorder,"
can occur in a broad spectrum from borderline acceptable behavior through
chronic, harmful troublemaking. Its causes can be the rambunctiousness of
youth, a certain complex, or psychiatric or physical sources. "Good kid"
disorder is troublesome, but is not fundamentally antisocial or evil or
criminal. Because it can include so many kinds of behavior of young
persons ranging from typical to hostile and malevolent, it has to be dealt
with. In most cases, it affects the child more than adults or society.
With this disorder, a young person might do poorly in school, be unable to
control her or his emotions, or be unable to form relationships. For
concerned adults, dealing with this type of disorder requires it own
special understanding and techniques--which Sutton covers. He is an
educator and psychologist giving workshops on The Oppositional and Defiant
Child for child-service professionals, parents, and others at universities
around the country.

Periodicals
Counterpoise - for social responsibilities, liberty and dissent. American
Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table, 1716 S.W.
Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32608-4049. Quarterly (ISSN 1092-0714);
institutions $35.00 year; individuals $25.00; students and retirees
$15.00. issue examined Vol. 1, Number 1, January 1997.
(reviews; multimedia; articles)
"Ideas and publications [of the alternate press] are often ignored,
misrepresented or suppressed by corporate and government media and are
overlooked by schools, universities and libraries worldwide. Counterpoise
describes, criticizes, defends and promotes these publications and
products against this bias."--from the Editor's Notes of this first issue
of this new quarterly. In line with this purpose, books, pamphlets,
magaZines [sic], videos, and CD-ROMs from from small presses and other
alternate publishers are reviewed. The periodical casts a wide net--some
of the publishers are from foreign countries (e. g., Uruguay, India),
while others are institutions, foundations, research centers, and the
like. A few articles preceding the reviews survey and discuss several
alternate-press publications in terms of the theme or subject connecting
them. The Indigenous Press of Australia; Michael Parenti and the
Alternative Press; and a two-part article on Dollars and Sense and Other
Publications of the Economics Affairs Bureau Collective are among articles
in this issue. Periodicals like this are notoriously transient--if this
one lasts, it promises to be an invaluable resource for the presentation
of materials in all media from the alternate press. Coincidental to its
stated purpose, it also presents activity in various media going on in
countries besides the U.S. This first issue is 66 pages, with advertising
from some alternate presses.

Poetry
May Swenson - A Poet's Life in Photos by R. R. Knudson and Suzzanne F.
Bigelow. Utah State U. Press, Logan, UT 84322-7800. 1997. 192 pp. $29.95
hardcover; 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" (0-87421-218-9). b+w photographs.
(photography; poet)
Remembered as a poet, May Swenson worked as a reporter, editor,
ghostwriter, secretary, and teacher in her lifetime. Growing up in Utah,
she died in 1989 after having become one of America's most noted poets and
receiving the Bollingen Prize for poetry and grants from the MacArthur,
Guggenheim, and Ford foundations. Photographs from all the stages of her
life, her travels, and places she lived along with accompanying
biographical text give an overview of her life. Poems of Swenson's are
occasionally interspersed with this photos; and an anthology of her
poems--which is like a small volume--following the biographical section
exemplify the major phases of her path as a poet.

Poetry Book Series, Volume XXXVI edited by T. and R. Weiss. Quarterly
Review of Literature, 26 Haslet Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540. 260 pp.
$12.00 trade paper (1-888545-03-8). b+w photographs.
(collected poetry)
This Volume regularly published by the Quarterly Review of Literature
includes collected poems from the five poets Yannis Patilis, Warren
Carrier, Christopher Bursk, Joseph Powell, and Fadhil Al-Azzawi. The poems
of each are introduced with an photograph of the poet, notes on him, and a
contents listing the many poems to follow--so that each of the five
sections is like a short volume of the poet's poetry, making for
five-volumes-in-one of work by accomplished poets for a modest price.
Yannis Patilis is a Greek poet whose poems are translated by Stathis
Gourgouris, a Professor of Comparative Literature at Princeton.

Green Mountain Review - 10th Anniversary Double Issue: American Poetry at
the End of the Millennium. Johnson State College, Johnson, VT 05656.
$10.00 (ISSN 0895-9307). 270 pp.
(critique; anthology)
The issues combined in this special double issue are Fall/Winter
1996-97 and Spring/Summer 1997. Among the poets who answered with an essay
for a request for "a 10-30 page essay that focuses on both the state of
poetry now and what current trends predict for the writing of the future"
are Stanley Plumley, Alice Fulton, Robery Pinsky, Maxine Kumin, and Robert
Bly, plus 11 others of varying stature. Some of the essayists, plus many
others, contribute to the 92 poems in the anthology following the
critiques and predictions. Among poets contributing poems but no essay are
Marvin Bell, Donald Hall, Joy Harlo, Alice Ostriker, Gary Soto, and James
Tate. Some well-known poets such as Anthony Hecht and Richard Howard
declined to provide either sort of material; the reasons of a few are
related in the Introduction. Despite such noticeable omissions, the double
volume offers a noteworthy assessment of the recent past, present, and
near future of American poetry by many individuals who know best, as well
as an extensive sampling of contemporary poetry.

Reference
America in Historical Fiction - A Bibliographical Guide by Vandelia L.
VanMeter. Libraries Unlimited, PO Box 6633, Englewood, CO 80155-6633.
1997. 294 pp. $38.50 hardcover (1-56308-496-1). indexes.
(literature)
Close to 1100 books from large and smaller publishers divided into
standard periods of U. S. history from colonial days to 1995; with an
additional section on books with historical material on each of the
fifty-two states. Three indexes--subject, author; title. Along with
standard bibliographical data, there are succinct descriptions of each
title running from 4 to 8 lines. The descriptions are somewhat more than
mere annotations. Mentioning subjects, themes, main characters, story
line, style, and tone of the book, they are particularly helpful.

Inside America - The Great American Industrial Tour Guide by Jack and
Eunice Berger. Heritage Publishing, PO Box 4320, Peabody, MA 01961-4320.
1996. 352 pp. $18.95 trade paper; comb-bound (0-9655306-0-4). indexes.
(guidebook; commerce)
Of interest to students and researchers as well as regular tourists,
this is a guidebook to tours of all kinds of businesses in all parts of
the country--farms, mines, food manufacturers, manufacturers of packing
such as boxes, clothing manufacturers, car makers, pharmaceutical
companies, TV stations, bus terminals, and technology companies among
these. Annotations cite the products or services and when applicable, the
processes which the visitor will observe. A comprehensive, useful guide.
The subject may seem unusual, but as one realizes when looking over the
nearly 1,000 tours the authors have compiled, a visit to a business can be
as interesting as a visit to many other sites while traveling; and such a
visit has a connection to the interests of many persons regarding career
choices and educational projects. Probably unknown to the average person,
may businesses have programs for visitors.

America's Lowest Cost Colleges - A Comprehensive Directory of More Than
1,200 High Quality, Low Cost Colleges and Universities, 10th Edition by
Nicholas A. Roes. Lifetime Books, 2131 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, FL
33020-6750. 1997.170 pp. $12.95 trade paper (0-89780-042-7). index.
(higher education)
Nearly all of the institutions listed are state colleges and
universities where tuition and fees are under $3500 for state residents.
Such costs are higher for out-of-state students, but still usually much
less than for private institutions. All the schools listed are fully
accredited and offer programs and majors similar to those at other,
costlier, schools. The community colleges included offer associate degrees
in courses of study; while the four-year colleges offer full degrees in
many areas of the arts and sciences.

Sexuality
Real Live Nude Girl - Chronicles of Sex-Positive Culture by Carol Queen.
Cleis Press, PO Box 8933, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. 234 pp. $14.95 trade paper
(1-57344-073-6). bibliography; index.
(essays)
Queen's articles are undeniably outre, but for readers with ordinary
sexuality, they are insightful, and sometimes even informative. Queen is a
bisexual activist, feminist performance artist, and "self-avowed whore"
who takes her sexuality seriously. Active mostly in California and Oregon,
she was co-founder of one of the nation's first gay and lesbian youth
groups and sued an Oregon school district for the right to place ads for
this group in a newspaper of one of its high schools. Associate editor of
Libido magazine, she has also written articles and books on sexuality from
many angles. Her articles are based on her ideas, her experiences, and her
observations. Over a Knee, Willingly: Personal Reflections on Being
Spanked; Healing and Holy Acts: Sacred Whoredom; Dirty Pictures, Heavy
Breathing, Moral Outrage and the New Absexuality; and Safe Words and Safe
Sex are among their titles. Most of them have appeared in periodicals over
the past few years.

Sports/Outdoor Activities
Chinese Fast Wrestling and Fighting - The Art of San Shou Kuai Jiao:
Throws, Takedowns, and Groundfighting by Liang, Shou-Yu and Tai D. Ngo.
YMAA Publication Center, 38 Hyde Park Ave., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130;
800-669-8892. 1997. 206 pp. $19.95 trade paper; 7" x 10" (1-886969-49-3).
b+w photographs; appendix; glossary; bibliography; index.
(martial art)
From the many photographs, this kind of Chinese fighting looks like
what you see Bruce Lee doing in his movies. After an introductory section
on basic exercises to prepare one for this style of fighting, 75 throws,
takedowns, and other maneuvers are covered step-by-step with accompanying
photographs. You could learn the throws, etc. practically by the photos
alone. They're particularly instructive: there are several for each throw,
etc. with arrows drawn in to show the direction of movements, the target
of blows and kicks, placement of feet, and other points.

Lefty O'Doul: The Legend That Baseball Nearly Forgot by Richard
Leutzinger. Carmel Bay Publishing Group, PO Box 222543, Carmel, CA
93922-2543. 1997. 164 pp. $19.95 trade paper; 8" x 10-3/4". b+w
photographs; illustrations; charts; bibliography; index.
(baseball; biography)
During his career spanning the 1930s and 40s, O'Doul was a player,
coach, and manager. In his prime, her was a leading hitter, including high
on the list for homeruns in some years. In the 1930s, he toured Japan with
other players to introduce the sport to that country--a hugely successful
tour. After the War, he played a role in the reconstruction of Japanese
society by establishing baseball there, a role that was recognized by
Douglas MacArthur. After his playing days ended, he was the manager of the
San Francisco Seals. One reason O'Doul may not be in the Baseball Hall of
Fame is that his career as a player was ended when he got an eye injury in
a barroom brawl; this was toward the end of his career when he was mostly
pinch-hitting. Or while his place in the sport and contribution to it is
considerable over a fairly long period, it was somewhat diffuse and not
unquestionably superior in any one respect. In any event, Leutzinger
presents an appreciative biography of O'Doul and also presents a nostalgic
look at baseball in mid century.

Winterwise - A Backpacker's Guide Second Edition by John M. Dunn.
Adirondack Mountain Club, 814 Goggins Rd., Lake George, NY 12845-4117.
1996. 213 pp. $12.95 trade paper (0-935272-80-1). b+w photographs;
appendix; bibliography; index.
(hiking; camping)
Equipment, clothing, food, campsites, safety, and following a trail
are among the basic hiking and camping subjects covered from the
perspective of engaging in these in the winter, especially when the ground
is covered with snow. Dunn is a doctor, so he is especially qualified to
treat his subjects of safety and first aid. This second edition has been
put out to meet the increased interest in winter backpacking.

Plugger - Wade Fishing the Gulf Coast edited by W. R. McAfee. Texas Tech
U. Press, Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 74909; 800-832-4042. 1997. 216 pp. $24.95
hardcover (0-89672-377-1). b+w photographs; illustrations; index.
(fishing; Gulf of Mexico; memoir)
Rudy Griger--nicknamed Plugger--is a legendary fisherman in the coastal
waters of Texas and Louisiana. He claims to have caught over one million
pounds of fish. Whatever the exact weight, it is prodigious. Griger is a
wade fisherman, wading into the marshes and shallow coastal waters to
catch mackerel, bluefish, tarpon, and others. The text is described as a
memoir edited by McAfee. Griger not only relates many lessons and tips on
how to wade fish, but also talks about his ecological concerns for the
coastal waters. With respect to the fishing, he discusses how to find a
good fishing spot, techniques of wading, hooks, the value of guides, and
cooking a catch. Witnessing the gradual decline of game fishing along the
Texas coast, pollution, and harmful effects of commercial fishing are his
major ecological concerns.

Travel
Fire, Faults and Floods - A Road and Trail Guide Exploring the Origin of
the Columbia River Basin by Marge and Ted Mueller. U. of Idaho Press, 16
Brink Hall. Moscow, ID 83844-1107. 1997. 288 pp. $19.95 trade paper
(0-89301-206-8). b+w photographs; maps; glossary; bibliography; index.
(guidebook; U. S. northwest)
The Columbia River Basin includes all the kinds of terrain found in
the Pacific Northwest--including cliffs, valleys, caves, plateaus, lakes
and lesser rivers, and coastline. This detailed guidebook, with nearly one
hundred photographs and 80 maps and illustrations showing geological
features, takes the reader through all of these different terrains. The
authors explain the geological features and activities of the different
areas, as well as the formation of the entire river basin territory; which
stretches roughly from Spokane to the Pacific Ocean. An outstanding
guidebook for the independent traveler with an interest in the
environment.

Guide to Impressionist Paris by Patty Lurie. Robson Press, 120 Schuyler
St., Manchester, NH 03102; email: 10620...@compuserve.com. 1996. 180
pp. $24.95 trade paper (0-9654027-5-4). color photographs; color
illustrations; maps; index.
(guidebook)
A nice idea for a travel book. In 9 walking tours, Lurie takes the
reader to 80 locations in Paris which have been painted by Impressionists.
In most cases, color photographs of the paintings are placed alongside a
color photograph of the location as it is today. This allows the reader to
gain an appreciation for the techniques, color, and style of the
paintings. Degas, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and Van Gogh are among the
painters whose works are included. In her accompanying commentaries, Lurie
briefly notes the significance of the site to the painter and briefly
explains techniques and style of the painting. The Guide makes many places
in Paris memorable for the traveler; one gains not only an appreciation
for the paintings, but for the sites painted.

The Small Press Book Review is a quarterly electronic publication posted
on the Internet newsgroup alt.books.reviews; reviews of books in all
categories from small presses and independent publishers. Not copyrighted;
reviews can be copied and disseminated in any medium with reference to The
Small Press Book Review as their source. Review copies and inquiries to
Henry Berry, Editor/Publisher, PO Box 176, Southport, CT 06490; email:
Henry Be...@aol.com