Arts and Humanities cont...

Performing Arts

Travel writer Bolt (History Play: The Lives and Afterlife of Christopher Marlowe) here turns his attention to Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838), best known as the librettist for Mozart's three most familiar Italian-text operas (The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan Tutte). He chronicles Da Ponte's fascinating life, from his early years as a priest in Italy, to his womanizing and playing confidante to nobility in the capitals of Europe, to his experiences as a grocer, Italian professor, and opera promoter in America. Throughout, vivid descriptions of locales and breathless tales of intrigues hold the reader's attention. Bolt's scholarship is well documented but appears at odds with his highly charged style, so the author's intended audience is unclear. Furthermore, the organization of endnotes requires scanning a page for a specific word or phrase rather than for a corresponding number. Despite these cautions, Bolt's title is recommended for all libraries as a more detailed complement to Sheila Hodges's Lorenzo Da Ponte: The Life and Times of Mozart's Librettist, which it parallels extensively. (Sixteen-page color insert not seen.)-Barry Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

Steven Spielberg continues to arouse both positive and negative passions after 30 years of career success. Despite the multiplicity of books and articles written about the director/producer, Friedman (scholar in residence, Hobart & William Smith Colls.; The Jewish Image in American Film) claims to have penned the first comprehensive analysis of his films, and he may well be right. Friedman argues that Spielberg is consistently underrated by other scholars, with whom he frequently disagrees as part of his own analyses. Spielberg's films are divided into the not-always-comfortable categories of sf/fantasy, action/adventure melodrama, monsters, World War II combat, problem/ethnic minority, and the Holocaust. Friedman believes that Spielberg's central theme is how modern humans face challenges that sometimes require them to unleash their more primitive selves.

Buckland (film studies, Chapman Univ., CA) offers a most useful complement to Friedman's work, a close examination of the filmic structures of Spielberg's blockbusters-from Jaws to War of the Worlds-with practically a shot-by-shot breakdown of some scenes. In deconstructing these films, Buckland uses his own definition of poetics: the activities and techniques involved in constructing a work of art. Like Friedman, he is an admirer of Spielberg's and absolves him of the oft-repeated accusation that his production of the "first" blockbuster (Jaws) ultimately spelled doom for the "little" movie. These two books may or may not be the ultimate analyses of Spielberg's work to date, but they are highly enlightening. Recommended for large cinema collections.-Roy Liebman, Los Angeles P.L.

This memoir of a Jersey girl-turned-hip Manhattan writer sparkles with wry humor, touching honesty, and celebrity insight. Dunn, a longtime writer for Rolling Stone, fondly recounts her suburban youth while chronicling her rise to fame as an interviewer, writer, and media correspondent. Her genial family and beloved Jersey landscape provide a colorful framework for her coming of age. Inevitably, conflict arises when Dunn's career takes off, and chapters on this part of her working life are presented tongue-in-cheek as tips on the art of interviewing celebrities (e.g., mastering opening patter and dealing with paparazzi). This hilariously entertaining approach not only provides an incisive glimpse into the eclectic nature of Dunn's subjects-who range from Madonna to Barry White-but also smoothly complements the material on her personal life. Along the way, Dunn comes to realizations about family, career, fame, and relationships, but unlike so many other memoirs, hers is not heavyhanded with personal observations; her story speaks for itself-and speaks well. A thoroughly enjoyable book for circulating libraries and entertainment collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/06.]-Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ

Gardner is a celebrated documentary filmmaker who has made it his life's mission to seek out and record the complex, vanishing cultures and tribes in the world's remotest corners. His films include Dead Birds, an account of a New Guinea Stone Age society, and Forest of Bliss, a study of death and regeneration rituals in India. This book collects his reflections on more than 40 years of work, with pieces ranging from extended essays to brief musings and jottings. Entries from journals he kept while filming record Gardner's battles with the elements, balky equipment, and bureaucrats. The most notable feature of this work is the author's steadfast refusal to engage in sentimentality or idealize his subjects. Indeed, much of the material describes war, mutilations, executions, the sexual subjugation of women, and other examples of humankind's "futile cruelty." Gardner concludes, "We are all imprisoned by culture, one way or another." Enhanced by nearly 500 high-quality color photographs and a vivid, sometimes poetic text, this personal account is recommended for academic anthropology and documentary filmmaking collections.-Stephen Rees, Levittown Lib., PA

Nearly every rock fan has heard of Carlos Santana; a much smaller number will have heard of the bands in this book, which presents 20 chapters detailing the careers and musical contributions of most of the leading "below the U.S. border" rock musicians writing and recording songs in Spanish. Lechner has been tuned in to this music scene for the past 15 years and has written extensively about it in publications ranging from the Los Angeles Times to Rolling Stone. Here, he covers such musical pioneers as Café Tacuba and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs with descriptions of the music that will make readers want to seek it out. Even though the market for these musicians is still largely in Latin America, many of the bigger names do have crossover potential. With a discography of 100 essential albums and a foreword by Saul Hernandez, founder/vocalist of the popular group Caifanes (later Jaguares), this work is recommended for all music libraries and for public libraries serving Spanish-speaking patrons. (Twenty-six black-and-white photos not seen.)- Bill Walker, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA

"Another hope I have for this book…is that it will offer détente between the confrontational and absolutist pronouncements and questions of my youth and the more measured perceptions of my imminent old age…" With this statement, choreographer/dancer/filmmaker Rainer articulates the thesis for her intimate memoir told through diary entries, letters, program notes, snapshots, and more. Rainer studied with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, cofounded the Judson Dance Theater in 1962, and danced with Trisha Brown, among others. In a matter-of-fact style, she explores the various relationships of her life, analyzes herself and the artistic process, and examines her experimental work in dance (e.g., The Mind Is a Muscle) as well as the milieu of the early Sixties (Robert Rauschenberg, Yoko Ono, and Andy Warhol all make appearances). This unique view of the creative environment and portrait of the artist as a young woman is recommended for academic libraries with film and dance collections.-Barbara Kundanis, Geneva P.L., IL

Jock-of-all trades Ryder is running out of time: he needs the big score. And though a celebrated, self-referential ESPN.com column might seem to qualify, nope, that's small potatoes. His wife's given him one year to get a screenplay produced, or he's out. That's the start of this narrative, and you have a 50 percent chance of guessing the finish, so it's the daily grind of pitch meetings, phone tag, endless waiting, rejections, and neuroses that really make the book. Who knew that watching the slow progression of one man's nervous breakdown could be so fun? Ryder's writing is compelling, hinged somewhere between Woody Allen's manic depression and Tom Arnold's goofy machismo, with a dash of streetwise gonzo storytelling. Unfortunately, the adaptation of Ryder's columns into a more linear "countdown" format weakens the book, which loses steam when ESPN cancels the column with a few chapters to go. At its best, Hollywood Jock flies by in a messy rush of free associating, anecdotes, and chronic self-doubt. Sports fanatics, gossipmongers, and casual readers alike will find something at which to either laugh or groan. This one will stand out proudly amid the usual Hollywood tell-alls; for larger public and academic libraries.- Matthew Moyer, Jacksonville P.L., FL

There is no doubt that Barbra Streisand has enjoyed one of the greatest show business careers of all time. But with countless biographies of the songstress already in print, why add another one to the collection? This book by Streisand's ultimate fan, theater manager Santopietro, is different, less a biography than an analysis of the star's recordings, films, theatrical career, television appearances, and concerts. Though occasionally over the top (he calls Streisand "Babs"), Santopietro holds strong opinions on all things Streisand that are usually right on. He observes her successes as well as her bloopers, e.g., what was she thinking with A Star Is Born? Only one thing nags at the reader: who is this guy? Does having stage managed a couple dozen New York City shows give him the credentials to critique La Streisand? But anyone who ends an analysis such as this with a "career scorecard" grading each of her efforts is worth reading. Cheeky and essential to a well-rounded Streisand collection, this book is highly recommended for public and academic libraries alike.- Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA

The best kind of criticism examines the work in question as well as the world in which it came to exist, and these two books, originally published in England, manage that. Until his death in 2003, Walker was the film critic for London's Evening Standard for 43 years. He was also a passionate admirer and historian of British cinema who wrote as much about the industry as he did about individual films and personalities. Originally published in 1974, Hollywood England is a comprehensive and fascinating look at not only the dynamic minds of British filmmaking in the 1960s-e.g., Ken Russell and John Schlesinger-but also Hollywood's pervasive effects. The always complex machinations of filmmaking in Britain were compounded in the Sixties by the cultural and financial lens of American influence.

National Heroes, first published in 1985, focuses on the power brokers of British film. American money had disappeared, and the Swinging Sixties gave way to the violent realism of the Seventies, then a return to classic form in the mid-Eighties with Chariots of Fire. Walker reveals the struggles of producers Lew Grade and David Puttnam throughout this transition and the intriguing parallel between Britain's search for a national character and the films that helped or hindered that effort. Walker's work is especially engaging because he did not simply critique film-he uncovered motives, histories, and personalities of filmmakers while placing them squarely in societal context. There are few, if any, books that explore the industry in all its facets with the breadth and passion of these two exceptional studies of British filmmaking in its most dynamic period. Highly recommended for large public and academic libraries.-Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA

With this latest installment in the "Music in American Life" series, critic and journalist Whiteis places the present-day Chicago blues scene in historical perspective with biographical and stylistic portraits of important singers, guitarists, and harmonica and keyboard players from throughout the 20th century. The real meat of the book, however, lies in his portraits of living blues musicians-some famous, some obscure, and some outside of the Windy City, but all a vital part of musical life in Chicago. Whiteis uses historical documents, interviews, and his personal observations of the musicians in action to build his tale, which is part local history, part sociology, and part musicology. An important document of the thriving Chicago blues scene, this fluidly written book is an essential addition for public libraries with blues and R&B-related collections as well as for academic libraries, especially those with collections geared toward the sociology of music and American studies. Highly recommended, with the caveat that some of the material-with the frank, sexually graphic language of some of the blues artists-might be deemed inappropriate for younger readers.-James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH

Philosophy

Baggott (The Meaning of Quantam Physics) here tries to determine if he-or we-can ever state with authority that we know what is real or what isn't. To do this, he reviews what philosophers and scientists have said about it from classical times to the present. He brings the inquiry up to date by framing it with pertinent social issues and films, in particular The Matrix-"the mother of all reality movies." There is a detailed and thorough investigation of what physical scientists and philosophers can tell us about the nature of reality in terms of "quanta," "photons," "loops and strings," "waves and particles," "space," "time," and more. Baggott is absolutely correct when he states that "this is basically a philosophy book" because, ultimately, the question resolves into what we can know, and this is a philosophical question. Reading this book is not at all like sitting in a hall listening to a one-sided lecture; it is more like having an informal, intimate conversation with an informed-and informative-thinker. Enthusiastically recommended for all libraries.-Leon H. Brody, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Lib., Washington, DC

In this collection of stories, Casati (director of research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris) and Varzi (philosophy, Columbia Univ.) set out to show that philosophical concepts and paradoxes are not remote from our everyday existence. Instead, concepts like personal identity and the nature of consciousness are implanted in situations we may encounter in our lives. The authors begin each chapter with an explanation of the topics that will be raised and then proceed with a variety of humorous yet thought-provoking short stories where the characters debate philosophical topics when they find themselves in odd situations. While the concepts are taken from past and present philosophers, the authors creatively weave them into real-life situations. One standout is titled "Person Transplant," wherein the main character goes to a clinic that performs brain transplants and ends up in a discussion with a nurse and another character on the brain's role in personal identity. Philosophy novices and experts will find enjoyment in these cleverly written stories. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries.-Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib.,Lansing, MI

Poetry

Winner of the Barnard Women's Poets Prize, Sheehan's second collection (after 2001's Thaw) evinces a complex sensibility both playful and serious, refined and gregarious. Her vision is broad and anthropological, pointing outward to the physical world and empathic with those inhabiting unfamiliar or uncomfortable surroundings, from the Virgin Mary living among the mothers left childless by Herod's decree. to a Sudanese refugee in the Midwest ("He chews alone, he swallows alone, pristine/ he talks to no one"), to inner-city teens competing for the role of Shakespeare's Juliet. A skilled technician, the poet will sometimes heighten her subjects' sense of dislocation by filtering their narratives through unusual rhetorical registers, such as mock Middle English ("Bifel that rehearsen the girls; on occasion they rehearse;/ between trips to the bodega, they rehearse") and litanic pronouncement ("May ill repute visit her in smashes"). Sheehan's linguistic adventurism and ease with traditional formal structures are complemented by a wry wit (in Greenwich, CT, "...hedges are upholstered, each cobblestone/ has an appointment"; a cat is "loyal as tongue to tuna fish") that may surface when least expected. Recommended for larger poetry collections.-Fred Muratori, Cornell Univ. Lib., Ithaca, NY

Religion

Aaron (biblical studies, Hebrew Union Coll., Cincinnati; Biblical Ambiguities: Metaphor, Semantics, and Divine Imagery) takes us on a sophisticated literary journey to determine when and why the various versions of the Decalogue (a.k.a. the Ten Commandments) were written. In the common imagination, the tablets are a uniformly iconic symbol. However, most people don't realize that three versions exist in the Old Testament-in Exodus 20, in Deuteronomy 5, and in what Aaron contends is the most religious version, Exodus 34. Through close readings of translations and numerous scholarly annotations, he explores the differences among these versions as well as Moses's function as the recorder of God's words and the prophets' unique roles as interpreters of God's words. Furthermore, Aaron compares and analyzes the various ways that key biblical concepts are handled throughout the Five Books of Moses, investigating questions of authorship, compositional theories, the dating of the Bible, and the evolution of certain protonarratives. His discussion of the golden icon motif and its relation to the narrative of the golden calf is particularly enlightening. This thoughtful, scholarly work, though not intended for the average reader, will make an important addition to university library collections of biblical studies.-Herbert E. Shapiro, Empire State Coll. of SUNY, Rochester

Since its foray into trade publishing in 2002, Bahá'í Publishing has produced books of increasingly high quality; these two volumes are among five titles on its spring 2006 list. The classic Divine Art of Living, in print since 1944 and expanded and reorganized 20 years ago, is here compiled by Paine and revised by Anne Marie Scheffer. It is a standard anthology of Bahá'í scriptural passages on the basics of spiritual life (e.g., trust in God, immortality, prayer, faith, sacrifice, humility, marriage). These passages guide readers in applying a practical spirituality to their lives. As such, the book enters a well-established market for preselected texts on daily spiritual living and complements other books for that audience.

Issued simultaneously is Brode's (publisher, Fragile X Advocate) Power of Prayer, a moving discussion of prayer as a universal need of the soul and an instrument of personal and social change. Brode's engaging true accounts of prayer's transformative quality give the book a special attraction (particularly moving is the story of her use of prayer to change an angry nine-year-old girl into a friendly and poised young woman). Because Brode draws on the world's entire spiritual heritage and sets Bahá'í sacred texts within that framework, this work will connect with people of many backgrounds, not just Bahá'ís. Both books, among the better ones on the practical use of prayer and meditation, are recommended as a set for public and religious libraries. If only one is to be purchased, it should be Brode's volume.-William Collins, Library of Congress

Cornwell, author, journalist, and fellow at Jesus College in Cambridge, England, here tells the story of his life at an all-male school in the 1950s. Son of a struggling working-class family in London, John was sent to Cotton College to become a Catholic priest. Here, during his teen years, he experienced the best and worst of pre-Vatican II seminary life. Some of his teachers were pious and dedicated men; others were sexual predators. He had close friendships and fierce rivalries with other boys and felt forbidden romantic attractions. Though Cornwell chose not to continue into the priesthood, this book is not a denunciation of the system. Instead, it is a bittersweet recollection of a vanished world of religious insights and social isolation that profoundly influenced the author's character. Part spiritual odyssey, part boarding school story, Cornwell's well-crafted memoir is filled with vivid descriptions of people and places and a young boy's struggle to find himself. Recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/06.]-C. Robert Nixon, MLS, Lafayette, IN

This bluntly honest memoir is by one of the world's leading moral theologians who has continuously remained faithful to fundamental Catholic principles and priestly discipline despite "legitimate" dissent. Curran, a Roman Catholic priest and professor of human values at Southern Methodist University, has been a watchdog of Catholic moral theology for nearly 50 years. Unafraid to analyze critically the controversial moral issues of contraception, abortion, divorce, and homosexuality, he has frequently been at odds with the American hierarchy and the Vatican congregations. Readers here encounter both an autobiographical work and a reflective memoir chronicling Curran's evolving moral reasoning. He adroitly confronts established moral tenets with the brilliance of a scholar and the sensitivity of a seasoned pastor. Chapter by chapter, Curran articulates his tragic and liberating career in a style reminiscent of the Paschal Mystery. His book's title functions as a template for anyone daring enough to question critically and faithfully prevailing moral interpretations and address the issues of academic freedom in the Catholic academy. Recommended for academic and theological libraries.-John-Leonard Berg, Univ. of Wisconsin, Platteville

From the author of the popular and insightful Joshua novels comes a beautifully crafted reflection on the Christian faith and struggle. Girzone, a practicing priest until his retirement in 1981, has explored various theological topics in his dozen-plus books, prompting his readers and friends to ask what relation the beliefs about which he writes have to his own faith. In response, Girzone has written a work that combines spiritual memoir, systematic theology, biblical exegesis, and pastoral care into one volume. His probing questions focus on the central spiritual quandaries shared by many; anyone who has ever doubted or had serious conflict with biblical history and faith will readily embrace Girzone's testament of perseverance and the spiritual life. Though the book often feels homiletic, readers (especially Catholics) will feel at home with and inspired by his words, which convey the torment and joys of any faith journey. Warmly recommended for public, church, and theological libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/06.]-Anthony J. Elia, JKM Lib., Chicago

In this work, essentially an update of Mills's Atheist Universe: Why God Didn't Have a Thing To Do with It (2004), he surveys a variety of topics, including intelligent design and the origin of the universe, as well as conducts what appears to be a mock interview with himself. While some of Mills's arguments are logically sound, his antagonistic way of presenting them grows tiresome. For example, he avers that agnostics choose agnosticism over atheism primarily owing to a lack of "guts," failing to support that assertion with anything other than his own opinion. In addition, he calls all Christian fundamentalists naïve and suggests that all public schools are "miserable." But perhaps his most egregious mischaracterization is his description of atheism as a positive philosophy. Most scholars would agree that atheism is not a philosophy, but a factual premise based on logical conjecture. In fact, atheism addresses only one question: does God exist? In light of the various philosophical worldviews-e.g., humanism, secular Judaism-by which atheists can choose to live their lives, Mills's suggestion that atheism per se is a positive philosophy is unsubstantiated. Not recommended.- Brad S. Matthies, Butler Univ. Lib., Indianapolis

Sports & Recreation

"Americans love traditions and rituals and statistics that are meaningful and easily grasped, and baseball is full of them." This insightful observation from David Lamb's Stolen Season: A Journey Through America and Basebal's Minor Leagues makes plain that information must be capable of being understood. This latest baseball compendium of fact and fanciful observations, of witty and whimsical data, permits the casual crank and the fanatical fan to enhance their enjoyment of our national pastime. As is clear from the title, this book is for predicting success in the current season. Player and team prospects are analyzed by means of a statistical chart that is unrivaled. Not only can you discover everything that could possibly be advanced about Julio Franco's amazing productivity at age 47 or 20-year-old Felix Hernandez's precocious pitching, you may also discover the strengths and weaknesses of every big leaguer as compared with three other players (past and present), a feature that invites controversy and commendation. Thus, Kenny Lofton is compared with Brett Butler, Lou Brock, and Bill Bruton; Richie Sexson is compared with Jim Thome, Boog Powell, and Greg Luzinski. This is an outstanding addition to any general library.-Gilles Renaud, Ontario Court of Justice, Cornwall

New York Times sports columnist Rhoden explores the barriers some of the nation's greatest sports figures have faced because of their skin color. He discusses the expected luminaries-e.g., boxer Muhammad Ali, baseballer Jackie Robinson, and basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain. But equally interesting are his accounts of less well-known athletes, including jockey Isaac Murphy and cyclist Major Taylor. Most significant of all are Rhoden's often biting analyses, including his declaration that turn-of-the-20th-century America possessed a "deep-rooted fear of the fair fight" where African Americans were involved. Similarly, Rhoden writes that, to their racial brethren, black athletes served as "psychological armor, markers of our progress, tangible proof of our worth." He applauds the tradition of black athletes employing their celebrity to champion causes in the fashion of Paul Robeson, Jim Brown, and Curt Flood but is less pleased with the contemporary black star's abdication of responsibility to the black community. This sometimes riveting, often opinionated account is highly recommended for general libraries.-Robert C. Cottrell, California State Univ., Chico