Small Press Bk Rev-Fall '01/Part 1
HenryBerry
Fall 2001 Part 1
Current Interest
Secret Weapons - Two Sisters Terrifying True Story of Sex, Spies and Sabotage
by Cheryl and Lynn Hersha with Dale Griffis and Ted Schwarz. New Horizon Press,
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931. 2001. 426+xxix pp. $25.95 hardcover
(0-88282-196-2).photographs, illustrations, bibliography, index.
(true crime)
The story of two sisters who as young girls in 1965 became experiments in
an extreme U. S. government mind-control program to produce fanatical, robotic
individuals. Despite being deeply affected by the program, the sisters managed
to retain something of their own identities and struggled to get out of the
program and foil the designs of the government doctors and officials in charge
of it. The sisters who are now grown and the authors bring much proof and
documentation to this incredible story.
A Mountain Too Far - A Father's Search for Meaning in the Climbing Death of His
Son by Karl H. Purnell. New Horizon Press, PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931.
2001. 426+xxix pp. $25.95 hardcover (0-88282-204-7). photographs, glossary.
(true-life adventure; first-person narrative)
In taking up mountain climbing to try to understand the death of his son
in an avalanche while climbing, 63-year-old Karl Purnell comes to learn about
the challenges of climbing which drew his son to the risky sport. He comes to
understand that his son's mountain-climbing was his way of living out the urges
for adventure and challenges which the father had pursued throughout his life
in different ways. "A Mountain Too Far" combines the topical subject of
mountain-climbing with a search to find meaning which leads to spiritual
growth.
The Irish Book of Arms - Genealogy and Heraldry by Michael C. O'Laughlin. Irish
Genealogical Foundation, Box 7575, Kansas City, MO 64116. 200. 156 pp. $49.95;
8-1/2" x 11" (0-940134-86-1). color/b+w illustrations, index.
(Irish genealogy)
About two hundred of the coats-of-arms are in color on four pages, with
several hundreds of others illustrated also. Both color and black-and-white
show the details. Explanations of the origin and symbolism of the coats-of-arms
go with the numerous illustrations, as well as notes on the historical or
social importance of the related families as applicable. Coats-of-arms of
settlers in Ireland from Scotland, England, and Wales are also included. A
helpful work for genealogical, heraldry, and Irish studies.
Writing the Sacred into the Real by Alison Hawthorne Deming. Milkweed Editions,
1011 Washington Ave. South - Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415. 2001. 146 pp.
$12.00 trade paper (1-57131-249-8). notes, bibliography.
(ecology; spirituality; writing)
Deming engenders an appreciation for ecology and environmentalism through
writing about her own deep attachment to nature. She does not make an argument
why one should be an environmentalist or judge those who are not. Rather, by
her own fullness and sensitivities which come through in her writing, the
reader comes to understand these developed by her attachment to the true world
around her. In understanding this, the reader also comes to understand what
would be lost by heedless destruction of the natural environment. In not
explicitly making a case for environmentalism while making its value
self-evident, Deming also writes a work which makes for enjoyable nature
reading.
Shaped by Wind and Water - Reflections of a Naturalist by Ann Haymond Zwinger.
Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Ave. South - Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN
55415. 2001. 166 pp. $12.00 trade paper (1-57131-240-4). notes, bibliography.
(ecology; spirituality; writing)
The "Bibliography of Ann Haymond Zwinger's Work" including interviews,
sound recordings, and reviews as well as many books runs over 40 pages. Zwinger
had a friendship with the naturalist Edwin Way Teale based on their shared love
of the natural world and how appreciation of it enhanced a person's basic
humanity. Scott Slovic, the founding president of the Association for the Study
of Literature and the Environment, writes a "Portrait" of Zinger. Zwinger's
essay "Shaped by Wind and Water" takes up about 80 pages. It's a journal
covering a week in which Zwinger writes about her activities and conversations
with friends, thoughts on the world around her, and reflections on herself. The
essay along with Slovic's portrait of Zwinger and the complete bibliography
makes for a good introduction to this writer.
Sunk Without a Sound - The Tragic Colorado River Honeymoon of Glen and Bessie
Hyde by Brad Dimock. Fretwater Press, 1000 Grand Canyon Ave., Flagstaff, AZ
86001. 2001. 264+x pp. $28.00 hardcover (1-892327-28-7). $18.00 trade paper
(1-892327-98-8). photographs, glossary.
(true-crime)
Dimock revisits the mystery of the disappearance of the newly-wed couple
Glen and Bessie Hyde on a boating trip through the Grand Canyon in 1928. Many
years later, a woman appeared who said she was Bessie, and she had killed her
husband long ago on the trip. But other persons also appeared in later years
who claimed to be either Glen or Bessie. Dimock does not solve the mystery, but
his investigation is captivating.
Steve Martin - The Magic Years by Morris Walker. S.P.I. Books, 99 Spring St. -
3rd floor, New York, NY 10012. 2001. 280 pp. $$22.95 hardcover (1-56171-980-3).
photographs, illustrations.
(biography; entertainment; popular culture)
Walker went to high school with Steve Martin in Texas. The author has
pursued his own successful career in show business. The popular biography on
the popular comedian Steve Martin is light and largely anecdotal. Martin freely
refers to incidents in his long-time relationship with Martin and otherwise
describes incidents and situations in Martin's life. The biography loosely
follows the trajectory of Martin's career with regular turns into entertaining
subjects such as Martin's relationships with women and other performers. The
book itself is fun to read and often amusing while giving a good portrait of
Martin and occasional insight into his off-stage life and nature.
Stud Tools and the Family Jewels by Peter F. Murphy. U. of Wisconsin Press,
2537 Daniels St., Madison, WI 53718-6772. 2001. 167+xiv pp. $50.00 hardcover
(0-299-17130-2) $19.95 trade paper (0-299-17134-5). notes, bibliography.
(social critique; male studies)
In holding everyday language used by men up to the light, Murphy finds
that it is an effort to disguise fear more than a reflection of the true
feelings of men. The fear may be fear of sexual failure, of being inept, or
even the fear of failing to gain the upper hand in relationships which can be
momentary, expedient, or long-term. The terms examined are familiar--wet dream,
piece of ass, cojones, faggot, studmuffin. Murphy's examination of these and
others illuminates much about the male psyche and psychology and about men's
image in society, including men's feelings about their standing.
Celibacy, Culture, and Society - The Anthropology of Sexual Abstinence edited
by Elisa I. Sobo and Sandra Bell. U. of Wisconsin Press, 2537 Daniels St.,
Madison, WI 53718-6772. 2001. 275+x pp. $55.00 hardcover (0-299-17160-4).
$22.95 trade paper (0-299-17164-7). chapter notes, chapter bibliographies,
index.
(collected articles; sexuality, social critique)
Celibacy is commonly regarded as a condition embraced for religious
reasons or one adopted by eccentric individuals for some personal reasons. But
as the thirteen articles mostly by academics in the field of anthropology
relate, celibacy often serves various practical, cultural, physical, or
psychological purposes. For instance, woman may decide to become celibate nuns
in certain cultures to avoid the practice of being given to husbands and
thereby make a protest and also gain some freedom for themselves. The diverse
articles on celibacy raising subjects of gender, family, the body, and others
of current interest make the collection a critique of contemporary society and
ideas about sexuality.
Our Virtual World: The Transformation of Work, Play and Life Via Technology
edited by Laku Chidambaram and Ilze Zigurs. Idea Group Publishing, 1331 E.
Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA 17033-1117; 800-345-4332. 2001. 254 pp. no price
given - trade paper (1-878289-92-6). chapter notes, chapter bibliographies,
index.
(collected articles; technology; social critique)
Fourteen articles by authors with backgrounds in technology try to answer
basic questions about the impact of technology on society and individuals. The
areas covered are those of the subtitle--namely work, recreation, and the
social community. The authors carry these topical subjects beyond the
information ordinarily given in the popular media to provide facts and
discussion on many particular developments and little-known, but telling
effects.
Active Retirement for Affluent Workaholics - Planning for the Life You've
Always Wanted by Peter Silton. N. P. Financials, PO Box 49891, Los Angeles, CA
90049. 2001. 192 pp. $19.95 trade paper (1-882758-07-2). resources, index.
(retirement; lifestyle)
Partly a motivational book and partly a self-help, "Active Retirement for
Affluent Workaholics" helps this target segment of retirees to continue to
engage in the active, constructive, and fulfilling life styles they were
accustomed to in their working years. Silton himself falls into this category
of retiree. Before he began his retirement at the age of 59, he wrote two books
on computers and education, did consulting and developed business plans for
computer firms, taught entrepreneurial skills in Russia, and helped his son
raise money to start a software business. With Silton's book as a reference, an
affluent retired person never need feel bored or lost or wonder what he or she
might be doing.
Heading for a Crash! - How Pro-Sports Rip You Off by Robert J. Tanterri.
Tanterri Press, PO Box 31870, Mesa, AZ 85275-1870. 2001. 141 pp. $12.95 trade
paper (0-9702339-1-4). notes.
(social critique; sports)
Tanterri tells readers what they can do to protest not only the high costs
of attending games with high ticket prices and expensive food, but also the
insulated status and occasional criminal behavior of star athletes which mars
the image of sports and angers fans. The author also deals with the
preferential treatment of sports' franchises and new stadiums by government
officials.
Art
Beyond Popcorn - A Critic's Guide to Looking at Films by Robert Glatzer.
Eastern Washington Press, 705 West First Ave., Spokane, WA 99201-3909;
800-508-9095. 2001. 158+xiv pp. $14.95 trade paper (0-910055-70-X). b+w
photographs.
(film studies)
Glatzer is a film critic from Spokane who hosts a weekly public-radio
program on film. In chapters with titles such as The Difference Between Acting
and Acting in Films, Deciding Where the Camera Goes, and What We Learn from
Buster Keaton, he teaches the reader how to appreciate and evaluate films.
Glazer provides a list of one hundred films in all categories exemplifying his
points. His own choice for the greatest film ever made is The Godfather.
Cine Mexicano - Posters from the Golden Age 1936-1956 by Roger Agrasanchez,
Jr.; Introduction by Charles Ramirez Berg. Chronicle Books, 85 Second St. -
sixth floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. 2001. 130 pp. $18.95 trade paper; 8" x
10" (0-8118-3058-6). color illustrations, index.
(film studies; Mexican cinema; film posters)
The 150 collected posters are from the Agrasanchez Film Archive in
Harlingen, TX. They relate to movies in all genres--horror, mystery, comedy,
and others. A number exemplify how the Mexican film industry dealt with the
taboos of sex and drugs. The introductory essay by Berg, a professor in the
Dept. of Radio, Television, and Film at the U. of Texas - Austin, relates an
informative overview of this era of Mexican cinema and its posters.
Joe Brainard - A Retrospective by Constance M. Lewallen, with essays by John
Ashbery and Carter Ratcliff. U. of California/Berkeley Art Museum & Granary
Books. 2001. 156+x pp. $29.95 trade paper; 8" x 10" (1-887123-44-X). color
illustrations, photographs, bibliography.
(Joe Brainard; exhibition)
Joe Brainard was an artist who attracted a following among other artists
and writers, among them John Ashbery, who wrote an essay for this volume. Frank
O'Hara, Robert Creeley, Barbara Guest, Alex Katz, and Fairfield Porter were
among Brainard's friends and followers. Brainard died in 1994. His art work and
writings are getting a reevaluation lately. This is a catalog for a
retrospective at the Berkeley Art Museum of the University of California.
Brainard's collages, pop art, paintings, and mixed media works are observant
and often amusing; occasionally they make a political or social statement.
Biographical material and excerpts from Brainard's writings included in the
catalog offer an introduction to this individualistic and influential, though
not so widely-known, artist.
When Will the Book Be Done? - Granary's Books edited by Steven Clay. Granary
Books, 307 Seventh Ave. - Suite 1401, New York, NY 10001. 2001. $40.00 trade
paper; 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" (1-887123-43-1). color/b+w illustrations, index.
(book arts)
This is a catalog of the books published by Granary Books over the past
decade or so. But it's actually an art book on attractive and imaginative
limited editions and contemporary book art. Granary has published editions of
as few as thirty books. Photographs of parts of the books exemplify their
originality. Contents of the books can be anything from poems to aphoristic or
journal-like entries to photographs or music scores. Persons interested in how
the art of book design and publication is being kept alive in this age of
computerization will want to have a copy of this book--a collector's item.
Speechless by Peter Kuper. Top Shelf Productions, PO Box 1282, Marietta, GA
30061-1282. 2001. 112 pp. $19.95 12-1/2" x 9-1/2" (1-891830-14-7). color
illustrations.
(comic-book art; popular culture)
Kuper is the artist of the widely-known "I Spy" comic strip of Mad
Magazine for the past three years. He has been named as Rolling Stone's Comic
Artist of the Year. Beyond these achievements, he's also done covers for Time
Magazine and other popular periodicals, and is the co-founder of the 'zine
World War 3. Kuper has a brightly-colored, graphic, energetic,
expressionistic-like, style. Most of his illustrations are comments on social
or political events or circumstances. This large-size volume collects samples
from the range of work Kuper has done in recent years; it includes as well as
Timeline beginning with the artist's birth in 1958 which cites the highlights
of his career with annotations and representative works.
The Reel World - Scoring for Pictures; A Practical Guide to the Art,
Technology, and Business of Composing for Film and Television by Jeff Rona.
Miller Freeman Books. 56 Hawthorne St. - Ste. 600, San Francisco, CA 94105;
800-848-5594. 2000. 272+x pp. $24.95 trade paper; 7-1/2" x 9-1/4"
(0-87930-591-6). photographs, illustrations, diagrams, resources, index.
(cinema; scores)
Rona has written scores for a film and TV series. He relates experienced
advice on technical and artistic aspects of scoring as well as the business end
of composing and selling music for films. Rona's subjects include developed
one's own style, understanding what producers are looking for, and using the
latest technology for composing scores.
Celtic Music edited by Kenny Mathieson. Backbeat Books, 600 Harrison St., San
Francisco, CA 94107. 2001. 192 pp. $19.95 trade paper; 7" x 9" (0-87930-623-8).
photographs, bibliography, index.
(music; Irish studies)
The origins and traditions of Celtic music in different parts of Europe
are noted, but the focus of the chapters is on contemporary popular Celtic
music. The Celtic music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cape Breton, Brittany, and
Celtic Iberia is treated individually with a closing chapter summarizing the
"New Directions" gleaned from these various types of the music. A wide-ranging
introduction to this ethnic music and related musicians which have gained
attention from the interest in Irish and Celtic studies.
Henry Sugimoto - Painting an American Experience edited by Kristine Kim,
Foreword by Lawrence Small, Introduction by Karin Higa. Heyday Books, PO Box
9145, Berkeley, CA 94709. 2000. 141+xiv pp. $50.00 hardcover; 9" x 9"
(1-890771-38-4). $24.95 trade paper; 9" x 9" (1-890771-43-0). color
illustrations, photographs, bibliography.
(Japanese-American art)
The Japanese-American artist's paintings depict his travels to Europe and
Mexico as well as his Japanese heritage and most memorably his time in
internment by the U. S. during World War II. Sugimoto's style was noticeably
influenced by cubism, and by impressionism to a lesser degree. He died in 1900
after having spent most of his life in the U. S. after emigrated in the early
1900s. This volume coincides with an exhibition of Sugimoto's work at the
Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles from March to September, 2001.
Business/Employment
TUTORING AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS - AN EXPERT TUTOR SHOWS YOU HOW by Eileen
Kaplan Shapiro. Nateen Publishing, PO Box 1916, Burbank, CA 91505. 2001.
244+xii pp. $18.95 trade paper (0-9672361-0-X) appendices, index
Shapiro tells the reader everything she needs to know about how to make an
income from tutoring at any level from elementary school through college. She
covers not only the generalities, but also several of the most common basic
subjects for tutors. The material Shapiro presents and the directions for it as
well as the advice she gives is relevant both for prospective tutors with a
degree in a particular subject and also for individuals to educate themselves
so they can go into business. Besides the subject matter and teaching end of
tutoring, the author also thoroughly, pertinently, and succinctly covers the
business end. Advertising and customer relations receive prominent treatment in
this section. Rounding out Shapiro's manual are profiles of certain types of
students, advice regarding Special Education and Learning Disability students
and concerns, and guidance on tutoring in the area of preparation for college
entrance exams. Shapiro's expert, practical manual comes from her own extensive
and varied experience in the field of teaching.
Telecommuting and Virtual Offices: Issues and Opportunities edited by Nancy
Johnson. Idea Group Publishing, 1331 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA 17033-1117;
800-345-4332. 2001. 260 pp. no price given - trade paper (1-878289-79-9).
chapter notes, chapter bibliographies, charts, index.
(collected articles; technology; telecommuting)
Articles on community issues raised y telecommuting cover the legal
aspects and the public communications network needed for telecommuting. Another
article in this section examines telecommuting in Ireland, where this new form
of work has brought changes to the national economy. In the section on
"Employer Issues," telecommuting is considered mainly from the perspective of
management. The effects of telecommuting on employees are dealt with in the
third section, "Employee Issues." In all, thirteen essays by academics in the
field of computer science and business on central issues in the expanding field
of telecommuting.
The Small Press Book Review is posted periodically on the newsgroup
alt.books.reviews. Books for general readers in all categories from small
presses, independent publishers, and university presses are reviewed. Review
copies can be sent to P. O. Box 176, Southport, CT 06490. Henry Berry is the
Review's editor/publisher.