Arts & Humanities Reviews, January 2011
Jan 15, 2011
Arts
Addiction and Art. Johns Hopkins. 2010. 160p. ed. by Patricia B. Santora & others. illus. index. ISBN 9780801894817. $29.95. FINE ARTS
Santora (psychiatry & behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins Univ. Sch. of Medicine), Margaret L. Dowell (education & art, Mount Saint Mary’s Univ.), and Jack E. Henningfield (vice president for research & health policy, Pinney Associates) address one of the most important public health issues of our time in an attempt to “reveal the human experience of addiction.” The editors state that the book marks “the intersection of science and the visual arts,” a rather grandiose claim; nevertheless, it brings forth images of the addictive process, promoting the idea that substance abuse and addiction are epidemic. There are some powerful artistic statements here, both in word and in image, as well as works of poorer quality. The book also inspired a website (addictionandart.org) promoting art about addiction and exhibitions of such work. VERDICT Beyond art enthusiasts, those interested in addiction or working with addicts may also be interested. An important book; recommended for all collections.—Terry McMaster, Syracuse, NY
Bennett, Mary. Ford Madox Brown: A Catalogue Raisonné. 2 vols. Yale Univ. 2010. 686p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300165913. $200. FINE ARTS
This colorful, hefty two-volume set published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art offers detailed descriptions of the works of Ford Madox Brown (1821–93), an artist associated with the British Pre-Raphaelite movement. Bennett (former Keeper of British Art, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool) has studied Brown and the Pre-Raphaelites for 50 years and helped revive interest in the movement. The text (complemented by almost 1000 illustrations) is arranged in sections by type of work: paintings and related drawings, portraits, cartoons and designs, book illustrations and prints, furniture, and picture frames. There is also a list of exhibitions of Brown’s work, several exhibition reviews, a bibliography, and indexes to the entire catalog, Brown’s works, and the provenance of those works. For more general overviews of Brown’s life and work, see Angela Thirlwell’s Into the Frame: The Four Loves of Ford Madox Brown and the exhibition catalog Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite. VERDICT Although there is much here for any reader, this catalogue raisonné would best serve advanced scholars of British art and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. It is best suited to university and museum libraries focusing on these subjects.—Martha Smith, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY
Govier, Louise. One Hundred Great Paintings. National Gallery London, dist. by Yale Univ. 2010. 216p. illus. index. ISBN 9781857094930. $45. FINE ARTS
London’s National Gallery opened in 1824, later than most other major European museums, and without a royal or private starter donation. However, today it holds one of the world’s finest collections, with remarkable breadth and depth, of European paintings. Govier (MLA Museums Clore Leadership Fellow) and the gallery’s staff include works to mark each era’s milestones and limit the book to one piece by each selected artist to offer just a glimpse into the collection’s riches. From Duccio to Leonardo, Goya to Holbein, and Rousseau to Cézanne, the catalog examines the historical settings, social implications, and techniques of the artists. The catalog entries include references to other works by the same artist in the collection, an indication of the extent of the gallery’s holdings. VERDICT This work is only the very tip of the iceberg, but it will whet the appetites of first-time viewers and seasoned visitors. A quick view of a massive collection, well produced with excellent illustrations, it is for general readers rather than specialists. —Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York
Hearn, Marcus. The Art of Hammer: Posters from the Archive of Hammer Films. Titan. 2010. 192p. illus. index. ISBN 9781848567375. $29.95. GRAPHIC ARTS
One of Britain’s top film studios from 1950 until its 1979 demise, Hammer produced films in every genre but leaned more toward the tawdry and sensationalistic. The productions featured mostly British casts, although in later years Hammer snagged aging Hollywood royalty like Bette Davis and Richard Widmark. From the late 1950s through the early 1970s, Hammer became England’s answer to Hollywood’s Universal Studios, shooting a number of solid horror films featuring Dracula, Frankenstein, and the mummy. The magical pairing of actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in everything from a string of horror flicks (Lee is arguably the screen’s best Dracula) to Sherlock Holmes and more brought the studio clout with American audiences. Hammer historian Hearn presents more than 300 pieces of poster art, including one sheets, half sheets, and inserts culled from Hammer’s archive and from private collections. The posters are nicely organized by decade in the order of their original British release dates, with art for foreign releases juxtaposed against their English counterparts. VERDICT Typical of Titan Books, the art is beautifully reproduced. B-movie fans and devotees of Hammer’s still highly watchable horror outings will eat this up, especially at this sweet price.—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Hoban, Phoebe. Alice Neel: The Art of Not Sitting Pretty. St. Martin’s. 2010. c.512p. photogs. ISBN 9780312607487. $35. FINE ARTS
The remarkable, expressionistic portraits of Alice Neel are unique in postwar American art. Her subjects are decidedly unpretty, gritty, and often devastatingly depressing and revelatory. Neel’s tumultuous life—Philadelphia born, bohemian, avowed communist, and unofficial portraitist to Beats, pop artists, and critics—spanned much of the 20th century (1900–84). Unconventional and self-directed, Neel transcended her arts academy training, depressions, and middle-class roots to become the woman she wanted to be—a full-time, serious painter. Her portraits bridged the gap between the prewar figuration of social realists and the postwar abstract expressionists. Hoban, author of the impressive Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art, reveals the life of a sometimes opportunistic and unlikable (an indifferent parent, Neel had a penchant for the “wrong” sort of men) yet ultimately admirable, astonishing protofeminist painter. VERDICT This is a terrific read, well researched, incident rich, and amazingly comprehensive. For readers who enjoy fine arts and feminist biographies with a frisson of social history.—Barbara A. Genco, Library Journal
Kidd, Chip & Geoff Spear. Shazam!: The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal. Abrams. 2010. c.246p. illus. ISBN 9780810995963. $35. graphic ARTS
Captain Marvel, alas, is now all but forgotten, no doubt owing to his lack of a movie franchise for modern audiences. Half a century ago, however, it was a vastly different story—Billy Batson’s utterance of the acronym “Shazam,” which in a flash of lightning turned him into the world’s mightiest mortal, was known everywhere. Though Superman is thought of as comics’ first superstar, Captain Marvel regularly outsold him by a whopping 14 million copies monthly. His image also adorned countless paraphernalia, the basis of this lovely volume. Writer-designer Kidd and photographer Spear offer brief snatches of background text, but the feast here is the remarkable array of toys, ephemera, and artwork from the likes of C.C. Beck, Mac Raboy, and Jack Kirby featuring Cap, Cap Jr., and Mary Marvel. The cash cow Marvels appeared on every imaginable product, from toys to buttons, wrist watches, compasses, clothes, paint sets, whistles, flutes, and even tie clips. VERDICT Despite the quite reasonable price, this features typical Abrams art and production quality. Fans will grab this Marvel-ous piece of Americana faster than you can say “Shazam!”—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Leone, Sabrina & Leone Spita. Eco Structures: Forms of Sustainable Architecture. White Star, dist. by Sterling. Jan. 2011. 304p. ed. by Gianpaola Spirito. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9788854404977. $50. ARCHITECTURE
This large-format survey features 50 recent complexes and buildings worldwide. Many already seem iconic, such as Renzo Piano’s cultural center in Nouméa, New Caledonia, which resembles a row of giant woven baskets. Spirito (New Urban Giants) has grouped his subjects into categories he calls eco tech, low tech, green arch, land arch, and recycle arch. Each design incorporates sustainable elements in a different way. Architects include prominent firms like Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Foster + Partners, Herzog & de Meuron, Steven Holl Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The book concept and summary essays by Leone and Spita (both architecture faculty at La Sapienza, University of Rome) are inspiring, and the visuals superb. However, awkward descriptive text often forces a reader to halt in puzzlement at unclear meaning. VERDICT A fine effort to introduce a worthy Italian book into the English-language market, let down by inadequate translation and copyediting.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.
Marsh, Graham & JP Gaul. The Ivy Look: Classic American Clothing; An Illustrated Pocket Guide. Frances Lincoln, dist. by PGW. 2010. 208p. illus. ISBN 9780711231382. pap. $19.95. FINE ARTS
Gentlemen, break out your Weejuns, Gant shirt, and favorite khakis. With Mad Men’s popularity and the return of true prep, the sartorial choices of the 1950s and 1960s are once again chic. Art director, illustrator, and designer Marsh (coauthor, Denim) and first-time author Gaul have penned a love letter and introductory guide to the masculine Ivy League style through a visual feast of advertisements, photographs, movie posters, and illustrations. The book’s first half is organized by apparel type. Each chapter begins with a short introduction to a garment detailing the preferred designers and cuts, followed by advertisements and photographs of celebrities who embody the Ivy look. The latter half explores the crossover appeal of the look to French New Wave cinema and Japanese youth culture and the use of prep in cigarette and car ads. Readers looking to expand their prep wardrobe will appreciate the shopping guide for retailers and makers. VERDICT While the book’s scope and analysis of the era is brief, it is well illustrated. Prep wannabes and libraries supporting fashion, performing arts, or advertising programs may consider this as an optional purchase.—Maura Deedy, Ferguson Lib., Stamford, CT
Scacchetti, Luca. Guglielmo Ulrich, 1904–1977. 24 ORE Cultura, dist. by ACC. 2010. 512p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9788871796123. $95. DEC ARTS
Ulrich, an Italian architect and designer, was active in Milan from the 1930s through the 1970s. This thick volume, the first published monograph on his work, highlights designs for furniture and interiors produced during his career in Italy’s design capital. Scacchetti, himself a noted architect and designer, divides the designs into two sections: one devoted to specific items (e.g., interiors, tables, clocks); the other, consisting of group illustrations of chairs, chaises, couches, and more, is reminiscent of a museum study collection. The 830 color illustrations are charming, with strong control and precise placement of line. Media include graphite, watercolor, and colored chalk. This text is bilingual, with Italian and English on alternating pages. Some details, however, such as the picture captions and the list of works are entirely in Italian, so readers should either know the language or have a dictionary handy. VERDICT This book will appeal to advanced scholars of design and to upper-level undergraduate and graduate design students.—Martha Smith, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY
Star Wars Art: Visions. Abrams. 2010. 176p. illus. ISBN 9780810995895. $40. FINE ARTS
George Lucas’s space opera has inspired artists and writers for 30-plus years—the oceans of ink and paint spilled over it are immeasurable. This volume gathers 120 artists’ “visions” of the saga, from straightforward illustrations of movie scenes to remarkably creative and far-out interpretations. The portraits and action shots are solid, but what shines here are the mashups combining real and unreal, like Uncle George as the Mos Eisley Cantina bartender with Graflex Lightsaber on the bar, Jaba’s nerdy high school yearbook picture (a hoot), Luke’s speeder parked at American Grafitti’s Mel’s Drive-In, and Padawan Ahsoka throwing down in a saber duel against her former master Anakin–turned–Darth Vader. Many selections mimic famous artworks and artist’s styles ranging from LeRoy Neiman to Japanese prints to Picasso, and contributors include Gary Carter, H.R. Giger, Alex Ross, and Jamie Wyeth. The book also sports a foreword by Lucas and an introduction by Lucasfilm executive editor J.W. Rinzler, author of the epic The Making of Star Wars and Making of The Empire Strikes Back, and it is capped with the artists’ biographies. VERDICT Beautiful and supercool, Visions will enchant Star Wars fans.—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Vidler, Anthony. James Frazer Stirling: Notes from the Archive. Yale Univ. 2010. 300p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300167238. $70. ARCHITECTURE
The impetus for both this publication and an accompanying exhibition is the vast wealth of material in the James Stirling/Michael Wilford Fonds, which was donated to the Canadian Centre for Architecture in 2000 and fully processed and cataloged by 2008. The drawings, documents, models, and photographs span Stirling’s career from student projects through each iteration of his professional partnerships to his final works. Stressing that he has only scratched the archive’s surface, Vidler (dean, Irwin S. Chanin Sch. of Architecture, Cooper Union) focuses on three themes: careful analysis of Stirling’s formative years, overview of the 1970s–90s work, and tracing the course of three projects through sketches and drawings. Regrettably, while the illustrations throughout are numerous, they are not reproduced at a scale that invites close examination. Nevertheless, this publication is a tremendous contribution to the architect’s bibliography. VERDICT Not meant to be a monograph on Stirling, this book is best suited to those already familiar with him. For this audience, it is essential reading and the illustrations, from sketches on hotel stationery to the office’s famed axonometric drawings, are critical.—Amy Trendler, Ball State Univ. Libs., Muncie, IN
Literature
Chatwin, Bruce. Under the Sun: The Letters of Bruce Chatwin. Viking. Feb. 2011. c.400p. ed. by Elizabeth Chatwin & Nicholas Shakespeare. ISBN 9780670022465. $35. LIT
Bruce Chatwin (1940–89), famous primarily for his travel writing, was a romantic, an art expert, and a storyteller. As this book’s coeditor, novelist and Chatwin biographer Shakespeare writes, “He tells not only the half truth, but a truth and a half.” This book reveals Chatwin’s widely varied pursuits, the ever-expanding interests of a man who worked his way up at Sotheby’s from teenage porter to resident expert on impressionist art, and company director. Disillusioned with the world of commercial fine art, he entered the University of Edinburgh to study archaeology but left without a degree to begin in earnest his peripatetic travels that led to his most widely read books, such as In Patagonia. Later, Chatwin was accused of inserting fictionalized characters and situations into his travel writing. Now his letters—to his parents; his wife, Elizabeth, coeditor of this collection; his mother-in-law; or other writers—may offer his truest voice, from terse and emphatic postcard messages to letters that sparkle with description and anticipation. VERDICT Chatwin’s verve and imagination are clear here. As in his life, there is scant reference to his sexuality or contraction of AIDS. What is included provides a memorable profile of a compelling writer. For all readers of Chatwin’s writing.—Robert Kelly, Fort Wayne Community Schs., IN
Lutz, Deborah. Pleasure Bound: Victorian Sex Rebels and the New Eroticism. Norton. Feb. 2011. c.320p. illus. index. ISBN 9780393068320. $27.95. LIT
Writing about the advice to courtesans in Richard Burton’s translation of the Kama Sutra, Lutz (English, C.W. Post, Long Island Univ.; The Dangerous Lover: Gothic Villains, Byronism, and the Nineteenth-Century Seduction Narrative) notes, “No judgments about the profession are found here…it is presented as a legitimate occupation…that requires skill and intelligence.” In this compelling look at the men who made up the Cannibal Club and the Aesthetes—two Victorian groups responsible for producing much of the sexually themed writing and painting in mid- to late 19th-century England—Lutz approaches her subject in much the same way. Many critics view Victorians and their sex lives through the lenses of contemporary theoretical frameworks. What Lutz is trying to do here, however, is present glimpses into the often complex working and personal lives of such figures as Burton, William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Algernon Charles Swinburne as they actually were. In doing so, she attempts to place herself and her readers “in these drawing rooms, public urinals, and studios and see them without the layers of cultural accretion that veil our eyes today.” VERDICT Although Lutz aims high and is not always successful, her nuanced and fascinating work deserves a wide audience. Recommended.—William D. Walsh, Georgia State Univ., Atlanta
Slawenski, Kenneth. J.D. Salinger: A Life. Random. Jan. 2011. c.464p. index. ISBN 9781400069514. $27. LIT
Slawenski, creator of DeadCaulfields.com, a site devoted to J.D. Salinger, has blended a critical mass of Salinger fact and fable in this tendentious biography. Previous biographies, e.g., Paul Alexander’s Salinger and Ian Hamilton’s In Search of J.D. Salinger, are descriptive chronicles of Salinger’s “writing life” rather than full-flesh biographies. The reclusive, uncooperative Salinger had legally prohibited direct quotation from archival letters and impeded biographers’ access to close friends and family. Slawenski, comparably hindered, concentrates here on Salinger’s early years—his education at Valley Forge Military Academy, Ursinus College, and Columbia University; war service (Counter Intelligence Corps); first marriage; and youthful short stories. Commendably, Slawenski discloses and describes several short stories that are now lost. Since Salinger’s reclusive years (1965–2010) offer scant biographical detail, the latter part of Slawenski’s book contains long summaries of the author’s stories, accounts of his litigations, and media reactions to Salinger’s death. VERDICT The text lacks grammatical and stylistic polish, many factual statements are without source, and letters are cited without reference to a collection or archive. In spite of these flaws, Salinger enthusiasts will want to read this, so libraries should certainly purchase.—Lonnie Weatherby, McGill Univ. Lib., Montreal
Winchester, Simon. The Alice Behind Wonderland. Oxford Univ. Mar. 2011. c.128p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780195396195. $16.95. LIT
Winchester (The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary) makes photography the focus for this small biography, in particular the famous photo Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll made of the probable model for Alice in Wonderland when she was six in 1858. Alice Liddell, daughter of a family friend, posed as a beggar girl, looking seductive in rags and revealing one small nipple. This photograph, as well as Dodgson’s interest in the company of children and in photographing them, has led to accusations of pedophilia. Winchester points out, though, that Dodgson’s attitude of idealizing children was no different from that of his Victorian contemporaries; in fact, he took hundreds of other photos that were well received. Also, no evidence exists of Dodgson’s being accused of any sexual improprieties. Describing the early development of photography and Dodgson’s growing expertise, Winchester provides a new perspective on the shy bachelor who wrote one of the world’s most famous children’s stories, while questioning the most recent scholarship that neglects the role of photography in Dodgson’s life. VERDICT An important addition to the burgeoning collection of Dodgson scholarship, this book will appeal to scholars and general readers and is recommended to all.—Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo
The Word: Black Writers Talk About the Transformative Power of Reading and Writing. Broadway. Jan. 2011. c.224p. ed. by Marita Golden. photogs. ISBN 9780767929912. pap. $14.99. LIT
Having had a desire “to talk to other writers about the texts that made them lifelong readers, changed their ideas about the world, and made them want to be writers,” Golden (president, emeritus, Hurston/Wright Fdn.; Migrations of the Heart: An Autobiography) undertook interviews with 13 African American authors, including novelists, historians, and biographers. The results are divided into three sections: “Reading Beyond Borders,” “Reading for the Mind,” and “Reading for the Soul.” Nikki Giovanni, J. California Cooper, and Chimamanda N. Adichie are three of the most recognized interviewees. Topics common to several interviews include influential books, libraries, and the practice of reading from a young age. Throughout the interviews, presented in transcript form, a love of the written word shines through. Each interview concludes with a short list of books recommended by that writer; some are surprising, such as Mat Johnson’s nod to Charles Bukowski’s Factotum. These lists alone will be of interest to book lovers. VERDICT This compilation will appeal to literature and creative writing students and those who enjoy books on reading and writing. Discussions of black authorship and race issues also make this a valuable resource for African American studies.—Stacy Russo, Chapman Univ. Libs., Orange, CA
Performing Arts
Bogle, Donald. Heat Wave: The Life and Career of Ethel Waters. Harper: HarperCollins. Feb. 2011. c.624p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780061241734. $26.99. MUSIC
Preeminent African American popular culture historian Bogle, noted for his groundbreaking Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films as well as an acclaimed biography of Dorothy Dandridge, has produced an exemplary biography of pioneering Broadway, film, recording, and television star Ethel Waters (1896–1977). As a singer Waters introduced such standards as ??Am I Blue,” “Stormy Weather,” and “Heat Wave.” She was the first African American to be billed above the title in a Broadway show. With a noteworthy later role in Carson McCullers’s stage adaptation of The Member of the Wedding, her Oscar-nominated turn in Elia Kazan’s Pinky, and frequent appearances on the Billy Graham crusades, her work spanned 20th-century entertainment from tent shows to television. Bogle does not shy away from a frank discussion of Waters’s bisexuality and her legendary temper born of a lifetime of slights. VERDICT Bogle masterfully uses Waters’s story to examine the economic, aesthetic, and racial politics of 1920s–60s popular culture. This work is everything a biography should be.—John Frank, Los Angeles P.L.
Dench, Judi. And Furthermore. St. Martin’s. Feb. 2011. c.304p. index. ISBN 9780312659066. $26.99. THEATER
In her preface, celebrated stage and screen actress Dench declares that this book is not an autobiography, something she had neither the time nor the skill to write. Instead, it’s meant as a companion to the biography and other works by John Miller (who gets an “as told to” credit here), with Dench’s own reflections on her roles and her fellow actors. After quickly dispensing with her early years, Dench gets right down to her first role at the Old Vic—Ophelia, via unnerving on-again, off-again casting. Then she’s on to the Royal Shakespeare Company, marriage to Michael Williams, experiences in film and television and on Broadway, receipt of an Oscar and an OBE, and more. It’s all told in a dry, engaging voice, at once fierce and modest; Dench is forthright about her own slip-ups and the plays she loathes (including The Merchant of Venice). Clearly, Dench finds acting both all-absorbing and a real hoot; she and her colleagues cut up a lot. Young actors should attend to her comments on the value of theater training. VERDICT A delightful visit with a rare actress, definitely worth reading even for those acquainted with Miller’s works.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Hopkins, Craig. Stevie Ray Vaughan: Day by Day, Night After Night; His Early Years, 1954–1982. Backbeat: Hal Leonard. 2010. 256p. illus. index. ISBN 9781423485988. $32. MUSIC
In this first of two volumes, Vaughan aficionado Hopkins (The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan) offers the most comprehensive examination of the guitar hero’s early years. Hopkins takes readers through countless bands, gigs, and memories of the guitarist, from his first guitar to the brink of his commercial breakthrough in 1983. He anchors this coffee-table book with dozens of engrossing and revealing interviews with Vaughan’s mother, relatives, former bandmates, and friends, only inexplicably failing to talk with brother Jimmie, who served as Vaughan’s role model. Between the recollections, Hopkins sprinkles hundreds of seldom-seen color photos, band posters, day-by-day lists of Vaughan’s performances, and even drawings by the rock icon. He expands on Vaughan’s background and motivation more generally described in Joe Nick Patoski and Bill Crawford’s excellent Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire. VERDICT In this labor of love, Hopkins captures the blues-based essence of Stevie Ray Vaughan, who dedicated a laserlike focus on his instrument to undergo a transformation from a teenage Hendrix clone to an original rock voice poised for megastardom. Recommended for anyone interested in rock ’n’ roll.—Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Ice-T & Douglas Century. Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood. One World: Ballantine. Mar. 2011. c.288p. photogs. ISBN 9780345523280. $25. MUSIC
Ice-T (born Tracy Marrow) has had a successful career in many fields, including rap, heavy metal, film, and television. Writing with Century (coauthor, Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World’s Most Elite Counterterrorism Units), he relates his childhood growing up in New Jersey until the age of 12, when his parents died, and his time in Los Angeles, influenced by gangs, before joining the army. Taking his name and writing style from author Iceberg Slim, he became one of the pioneering West Coast rap artists. He then challenged himself to take his music in a new direction, hard rock, and was dropped by his label and scrutinized by the government for Body Count’s controversial song “Cop Killer.” He went on to a successful movie and television career, including his well-known role on the long-running Law & Order: SVU. VERDICT Ice-T recounts his life and career and shares advice in a straight-talking street style. An enlightening read for fans of his various artistic endeavors and for anyone interested in how street smarts are transferable to the entertainment industry. [Library marketing; see Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Lani Smith, Ohlone Coll. Lib., Newark, CA
Jousse, Thierry. David Lynch. ISBN 9782866425739.
Sotinel, Thomas. Pedro Almodóvar. ISBN 9782866425678. ea. vol:
Cahiers du cinéma, dist. by Phaidon. (Masters of Cinema). 2010. 104p. photogs. filmog. bibliog. pap. $9.95. FILM
The iconic French film periodical Cahiers du cinéma has added to its already large output of publications with this series of ten monographs, its first original English-language series. Each looks at a leading director, most of whom are American, including Woody Allen, Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood, and Francis Ford Coppola. Much has been written about these eminent filmmakers, and this series adds little new insight. David Lynch and Spain’s Pedro Almodóvar have been somewhat less parsed in print. Jousse, former editor in chief of Cahiers, examines the career of Lynch. Although his “conventional” films (The Elephant Man; The Straight Story) have met with some success, he is justly acclaimed for his more personal films (e.g., Blue Velvet; Lost Highway). Almodóvar has also established a reputation for making extremely personal films. Sotinel, journalist at the French newspaper Le Monde, discusses Almodóvar’s distinguished oeuvre from his first short films through major works like All About My Mother and Talk to Her. Each series title follows the same format—an overview of the films and a bit of analysis of the major ones, brief biography, excerpts of articles by the filmmakers and/or critics, and filmography/chronology. VERDICT For those who are interested in capsule looks at these filmmakers, this lavishly illustrated series will amply fit the bill. Readers who seek more in-depth analyses should look elsewhere.—Roy Liebman, formerly with California State Univ., Los Angeles
Leonard, Herman. Jazz. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. 2010. 320p. photogs. ISBN 9781608193332. $65. MUSIC
Accurately billed as the “definitive collection of [Leonard’s] work,” this volume gives his jazz photographs the attention they deserve, just months after his passing at age 87. His work has been collected before in smaller books or alongside critical commentary, but a single volume dedicated to his sessions with jazz musicians was missing. Ten years after the beautiful Blue Note Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff, this Leonard edition creates the perfect bookend for jazz portraiture, covering the seminal period of the medium from the 1940s through the 1960s, along with images from the last 20 years—e.g., picturing Wynton Marsalis and a young Trombone Shorty and late photographs of one of Leonard’s favorite subjects, Miles Davis. Compiling rarely seen photographs and his best-known images, this work also features a brief but enlightening interview with Leonard about the techniques of his work and his evolution with cameras. VERDICT Essential for any enthusiast of jazz or photography, this book belongs in every library as a tribute to these loved musicians.—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA
Needham, Hal. Stuntman!: My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life. Little, Brown. Feb. 2011. c.320p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780316078993. $25.99. FILM
Needham is best known for directing movies that are simply fun to watch—such as Smokey and the Bandit, Hooper, and The Cannonball Run—and his autobiography of a life in film lives up to that tradition. Focusing on his years as a prolific stuntman, stunt coordinator, and film director, Needham fills the pages with behind-the-scenes anecdotes of his days with John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, and countless others. When he occasionally mentions his family, his childhood in Arkansas, or his relationship with his mother, it is all the more affecting; he is a consummate professional who never lost touch with where he came from or how lucky he was for the opportunities he had. The greatest attribute of the book is Needham’s voice. He can tell a good story, and his life has provided an endless amount of source material. VERDICT A well-written, conversational look at a distinctive Hollywood experience, perfect for any library and anyone who admires the skills of filmmaking. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/10.]—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA
Steinmeyer, Jim. The Last Greatest Magician in the World: Howard Thurston Versus Houdini & the Battles of the American Wizards. Tarcher: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2011. c.384p. index. ISBN 9781585428458. $26.95. THEATER
In the early 1900s, America was entertained by carnivals, circuses, and traveling magic shows. Top magicians of the time were Harry Kellar, Paul Valadon, Harry Houdini, and Howard Thurston. Steinmeyer (Charles Fort: The Man Who Invented the Supernatural), a professional magic illusion designer, has written an entertaining account of Thurston’s life and work. Thurston began his career after running away from home, riding the rails, working as a carnival con man, then becoming a card manipulator and magician. Thurston dreamed of having his own magic show. He toured Europe, Asia, and Australia, and when his mentor, Kellar, retired, Thurston bought him out and was billed as the Greatest American Magician. The need for bigger and better illusions created financial and marital problems, and his rivalry with Houdini became more obvious with Houdini’s success. VERDICT Steinmeyer’s in-depth research and knowledge of magic along with colorful characters, schemes, and magic espionage come together in a fast-paced, excellent read. Highly recommended for all readers.—Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL
Swayne, Steve. Orpheus in Manhattan: William Schuman and the Shaping of America’s Musical Life. Oxford Univ. Feb. 2011. c.712p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780195388527. $39.95. MUSIC
William Schuman (1910–92) united musical creativity with a passion for the arts as a social phenomenon. Pianist and composer Swayne (music, Dartmouth Coll.) here devotes equal space to a thorough analysis of Schuman’s work as a composer and to discussing his considerable influence on the educational and artistic institutions of his day and beyond. Relying heavily on Schuman’s extensive correspondence and memoirs—and indicating where gaps exist—Swayne profiles a man whose leadership of Juilliard and Lincoln Center had perhaps as great an impact on American music as did his composition. How Schuman balanced, or failed to balance, these often competing priorities is as fascinating as his achievements in both. To read this biography is to journey through a life inextricably intertwined with America’s greatest composers, musical works, and performers of the 20th century. VERDICT Schuman has not had a complete biography until recently; now, together with Joseph W. Polisi’s American Muse: The Life and Times of William Schuman, Swayne’s work reflects on the cultural, social, and political achievements of a musical giant. For scholars of Schuman and American music and aficionados of both.—Genevieve Williams, Pacific Lutheran Univ. Lib., Tacoma, WA
Philosophy
Frampton, Saul. When I Am Playing with My Cat, How Do I Know That She Is Not Playing with Me?: Montaigne and Being in Touch with Life. Pantheon. Mar. 2011. c.320p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780375424717. $26. PHIL
Frampton’s introduction to the life and thought of that most humane late Renaissance figure, Montaigne, suffers from unfortunate timing, with its publication five months after Sarah Bakewell’s estimable How To Live: Or a Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer. But regardless of timing, Frampton’s style is ham-handed, e.g., this would have been a much shorter book if all sentences beginning with “And” or “But” had been edited. The content, while acceptable early on, deteriorates in later portions. Several of Frampton’s conclusions are strained and anachronistic. Can one argue that Montaigne intuited the modern sciences of proxemics (“the anthropology of people’s relations to each other in space”) and kinesics? How can Montaigne’s thought really “echo” the 20th-century Japanese philosopher Watsuji Tetsuro’s writings on “betweenness”? Frampton writes of “empathy neurons,” and he devotes more than a page to summarizing Stanley Milgram’s 1970s experiments on obedience to authority, as though Montaigne had somehow anticipated modern-day ideas and concerns 400 years before they surfaced. Montaigne, for all he speaks to us still, was very much a man of his times. VERDICT There are worthwhile insights in this book, but they are buried in the dross. Try Bakewell’s book instead.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Hughes, Bettany. The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens, and the Search for the Good Life. Knopf. Feb. 2011. c.528p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781400041794. $35. PHIL
Hughes’s (visiting research fellow, King’s Coll., London; Helen of Troy) book isn’t a biography of Socrates or a critique of his philosophy, but instead a look at what it was like to live in Athens during his lifetime. She uses the writings of Xenophon, Plato, and Aristophanes along with archaeological and historical discoveries to create a glimpse of the political and cultural life of Socrates’ Athens. Socrates’ life and philosophy are analyzed by looking at the lives of fellow Athenians such as Alcibiades and Diotima and at events he would have experienced as an adolescent in the gymnasium and as a soldier on the battlefield. His trial and death are covered at the beginning and end of the work, and Hughes examines, in detail, why Socrates’ ideas were seen as so threatening for the younger citizens of Athens. VERDICT Hughes does a wonderful job of offering the reader a new and insightful look into Socrates’ life and philosophy. The writing is engaging and will appeal to academics and general readers who are interested in Socrates and life in ancient Greece.—Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib., Lansing, MI
Matousek, Mark. Ethical Wisdom: What Makes Us Good. Doubleday. May 2011. c.272p. bibliog. ISBN 9780385527897. $25.95. PHIL
Matousek (contributing editor, O, The Oprah Magazine; Sex Death Enlightenment) presents a fast-paced account of what evolutionary biology, neurobiology, economics, and cognitive psychology teach us about morality. The psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundations theory has especially influenced Matousek. In this theory, “our moral organ has five primary foundations”: harm and care, justice and fairness, in-group loyalty, authority and respect, and purity and sacredness. Matousek discusses each of these, stressing the role of emotions in our moral responses. He maintains that mirror neurons, parts of the brain that fire both when we act and when a similar action is performed by others, provide a biological basis for sympathy. He does not push an ideological agenda but contends that unselfish people tend to be happier than egotists. He urges us to see the sacredness in everyday things. The book is enlivened by vivid anecdotes, e.g., of double murderer Tyrone Thompson, who showed no remorse. VERDICT Matousek appears uninterested in what philosophers have to say about morality and (in the galley under review) confuses John Dewey with the founder of the library classification system. Nevertheless, the book is an insightful and informative survey that will appeal to general readers looking for a guide to scientific research about morality.—David Gordon, Bowling Green State Univ., OH
Poetry
Collins, Billy. Horoscopes for the Dead: Poems. Random. Mar. 2011. c.128p. ISBN 9781400064922. $24. POETRY
In his ninth book of poems (after Ballistics), Collins recalls a boyhood passion for collecting: “lantern, spyglass, tomahawk...in the order you would need them in,” a sweet beginning with ominous implications. And there is a sharp edge to his fabrications in this volume, which begins with a verbal prank at his parents’ grave, ends with the last poem he will ever write, and includes a catalog of his unborn children. His Florida is not Paris; his friend does not have cancer, nor is she human; and the dead don’t do anything that appears here in their absurd, generic horoscopes (nor would they have even when alive). In the empty lawn chairs, “no one is resting a glass or placing a book facedown,” and the most delightful companions are the cemetery dead. As if feeling naughty, the poet lounges poolside and regards a floating rubber version of himself: “a cool ducky, nonchalant/ little dude on permanent vacation.” Ultimately, these absorbing games can’t deny the fundamental calamity: grief seeps between the cracks. VERDICT Witty bleakness from a former poet laureate and one of the country’s most popular poets.—Ellen Kaufman, Baruch Coll., New York
Kasischke, Laura. Space, in Chains. Copper Canyon. Mar. 2011. c.110p. ISBN 9781556593338. pap. $16. POETRY
The narrators in poet/novelist Kasischke’s eighth collection (after Lilies Without) examine a fractured past in a tone both haunting and erotic. Winner of the Elmer Holmes Bobst Award as well as several Pushcart Prizes, Kasischke writes open-formed language poems set in the place where paradox meets mystery. She pursues a stream-of-consciousness style, using rhyme, repetition, and subliminal connections to hook the reader. Often her pieces seem more like paintings than poems; like impressionist works of art, they allow light to shine from various portals, then bring it all together to create a misty composition whose meanings seem to change before the reader’s eyes. (“My Son Makes a Gesture My Mother Used To Make” does this extremely well.) VERDICT In the best poems here, memories of childhood and adolescence mingle with religious and philosophical questions as Kasischke deals with subjects both homey and exotic, from sex to smoking cigarettes to questions about the existence of God. What Kasischke says often doesn’t matter as much as the hypnotic way she says it. Most readers of contemporary poetry will want to take a look.—Diane Scharper, Towson Univ., MD
Religion
Beal, Timothy. The Rise and Fall of the Bible: The Unexpected History of an Accidental Book. Houghton Harcourt. Feb. 2011. c.256p. illus. index. ISBN 9780151013586. $25. REL
The Bible, at first glance, might seem to be a straightforward book, one that easily serves as a guide for religious faith. However, Beal (religion, Case Western Reserve Univ.; Biblical Literacy) argues that the Bible is actually a complicated book with a long and convoluted history. Raised in an evangelical religious tradition, Beal as a young adult viewed scripture as a consistent and clear guide for answers to religious questions. Now, as a religious scholar working at a secular university, he views scripture in its diversity and complexity, and he sees it more as a collection of significant questions than a storehouse of set answers. In developing his argument, Beal addresses such issues as the variety of Greek texts, the long process of canonization, the diversity of biblical books, and the multitude of translations. VERDICT Beal is a good writer and explains some of the difficulties in biblical scholarship in a way that will be easy for lay readers to comprehend. For students new to the subject and interested in understanding more about the Bible.—John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ., TX
Glickman, Mark. Sacred Treasure, the Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic. Jewish Lights. 2010. c.300p. illus. index. ISBN 9781580234313. $24.99. REL
The story of the Cairo genizah (synagogue storage room) is an absorbing one. The Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo had been in existence for nearly 800 years, suggesting that it might offer possibilities for challenging discoveries, when in 1896 enterprising Cambridge rabbi Solomon Schechter conjectured that Ben Ezra’s genizah might hold interesting manuscripts. What he found was a treasure trove of original manuscripts whose mysteries scholars are still unpacking to this day. Schechter unearthed a massive find replete with sacred Torah scrolls, pages of Talmud, original documents from Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides’ hand, poetry, love letters, and even centuries-old Hebrew school primers. Glickman, a rabbi in Washington State who contributes a religion column to the Seattle Times, shares the history as well as the politics behind this find. (For example, why is the Cairo genizah given so little public attention and the Dead Sea Scrolls so much more?) VERDICT For bibliophiles as well as historians; this is the kind of story that will set their hearts aflutter. Recommended also for special Jewish and Middle Eastern history collections.—Sandra Collins, Byzantine Catholic Seminary Lib., Pittsburgh
Pistono, Matteo. In the Shadow of the Buddha: Secret Journeys, Sacred Histories, and Spiritual Discovery in Tibet. Dutton. Jan. 2011. c.324p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780525951193. $25.95. REL
Pistono (founder & executive director, Nekorpa), a practicing Buddhist and self-proclaimed activist, entwines three major themes in this memoir of his life from 1999 to around 2005. Presented in tones of high drama for general readers, his book reads as one part spiritual quest inspired by a 19th-century Tibetan mystic; one part contemporary travel memoir following that mystic’s physical journey as guided by his reincarnation, Sogyal Rinpoche; and one very large part an account of Pistono’s exploits smuggling photos, stories, and documents to the West to verify continuing Chinese atrocities against the Tibetan people. Unfortunately, the author’s prose comes across as superficial and egotistical. In spite of the mission to expose Chinese malfeasance, none of the photos the author claims to have taken proving the atrocities and none of the related documents he and others risked so much to smuggle out are included in the book (the photos are of key religious figures and objects). VERDICT Not recommended. Instead, seek out Arjia Rinpoche’s Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama’s Account of 40 Years under Chinese Rule both for its insight into a religious quest and for its perspective on Chinese-Tibetan relations.—James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina at Asheville Lib.
Tobin, Greg. Was Jesus Really Born on Christmas?: The Catholic Origins of Holy Days, Holidays, and Every Day. Palgrave Macmillan. Mar. 2011. c.256p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780230104877. pap. $16. REL
Writing in a fashion similar to Michael P. Foley in Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Friday?, Tobin (Selecting the Pope: Uncovering the Mysteries of Papal Elections), who has written on Catholic issues for many years and has also authored religious novels, explores the origins of Catholic holidays according to the church’s liturgical calendar. Starting with Advent and ending with Thanksgiving and Christ the King Sunday, Tobin capably describes each holiday, including its origin and adaptations to it that were made over the years. Since the book starts with the winter season, the question “Was Jesus really born at Christmas?” is answered by the second chapter, leaving readers to decide whether to read the rest of the book. But Tobin is engaging enough that most will continue. VERDICT Although the book is written with Catholics in mind, most of the holidays mentioned are celebrated by the general population; only toward the end does Tobin venture into information in which only devout Catholics will be interested. Catholic collections as well as most general collections will benefit from this engaging and readable book.—Holly Hebert, Brentwood Lib., TN
Sports & Recreation
Bolt, Usain with Shaun Custis. Usain Bolt: My Story; 9.58: Being the World’s Fastest Man. HarperSport: HarperCollins UK, dist. by Trafalgar Square. 2010. 288p. photogs. ISBN 9780007371396. $26.95. SPORTS
This entertaining and well-illustrated book reads somewhat as its subject runs: easily, with a dash of ego and an undercurrent of passion contained within a handsome exterior. Indeed, the choice of brief, narrowly defined thematic chapters progressing in chronological order, richly illustrated with beautiful color photographs, enhances the reader’s ability to follow the world’s fastest man through his mercurial path from a small outlying region of Jamaica to being one of the world’s best-known sports personalities. The didactic value of the text is further enhanced by the inclusion of first-person contributions by relatives, coaches, teachers, and schoolmates who have known Bolt well since his childhood. Bolt himself is brutally frank in relating his development as an athlete, circumstances in Jamaica, training methods, love of nightlife and fast cars, and how he will triumph in London in 2012 and in 2016 Brazil. VERDICT Athletic biographies are often breezy accounts; this one offers more. It is a rich and textured outline of a life of present accomplishment and of future promise lived in the fast lane. A delight for readers of all ages and backgrounds.—Gilles Renaud, Cornwall, Ont.
Clavin, Tom. One for the Ages: Jack Nicklaus and the 1986 Masters. Chicago Review, dist. by IPG. Mar. 2011. c.240p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781569767054. $24.95. SPORTS
At this writing, with Tiger Woods in a tailspin, Jack Nicklaus has a lock on “the best golfer ever to play the game.” Clavin (Sir Walter: Walter Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf) writes about the last major championship, the 1986 Masters, that Jack won. What is particularly notable about this last championship is that Nicklaus was considered an unlikely contender: he was near the bottom on the PGA money list and hadn’t won a major in six years. Considering the narrow focus of the title, Clavin spends a considerable amount of time on the creation and lore of Augusta National, material covered in other books such as Curt Sampson’s The Masters and David Owen’s The Making of the Masters. Nicklaus himself (with Ken Bowden) recounts the 1986 Masters in his own Jack Nicklaus: My Story. Additionally, most golf magazines cover this subject in their March/April editions, and it is brought up in Masters television coverage as well. VERDICT Owing to the abundance of similar coverage, golf readers can pass on this. There is better material available.—Steven Silkunas, North Wales, PA
Grange, Michael. Basketball’s Greatest Stars. Firefly. 2010. 216p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781554076376. $35. SPORTS
Typical of many Firefly books, this is a colorful, picture-driven reading experience. Don’t expect an exhaustive history of the NBA, but an interesting summary of stars and teams. After a brief history of U.S. pro basketball, the book serves as a who’s who of the sport, with Grange (sports columnist, Globe and Mail, Toronto) selecting his top players in two categories, the “Best of the Best” and the “Best of the Rest,” 50 players in all. These two sections, the meat of the book, offer biographies (two or three pages each) and statistics. One could quibble with some placements (e.g., this reviewer would put Steve Nash in the “Best of the Best”), but the 50 players included are a good overall selection. Add a section of brief histories of each franchise, a chapter on international competition, and a chapter on statistical analysis of the sport, and you have a fun experience for the reader. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the NBA who seek a quick reference to the best players the game has ever seen and for all libraries collecting accessible and colorful basketball books.—Todd Spires, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL
Merlino, Doug. The Hustle: One Time and Ten Lives in Black and White. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. Jan. 2011. c.320p. photogs. ISBN 9781608192151. $26. SPORTS
Expecting a conventional basketball book? Look elsewhere. Although the central focus is ten members of a biracial boys basketball team, freelance journalist Merlino, in his first book, is writing about race relations and the changing socioeconomic experiences and expectations of five black and five white kids who came together in 1986 to form an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team in Seattle. The book provides remarkable insight into the fortunes and misfortunes of the ten kids who shared a court but never a dream. For Merlino, who was on the team, the titular hustle is the drive to achieve in today’s competitive economy. Readers will witness the omnipresent racial divide in Seattle and the nation, in the workplace, and in a secondary school setting. The chapter on Seattle’s Lakeside School, a private K-12 institution, is compelling reading for today’s parents and educators. The former teammates whom Merlino traced up to the present include a prosecutor, a financial manager, a preacher/teacher, a writer, a street hustler—and a murder victim. VERDICT This book, both memoir and social analysis, is an essential read as a recent social history and personal story of America.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Libs., AL
Sullivan, Jeff. America’s Team: The Official History of the Dallas Cowboys. Insight Editions, dist. by PGW. 2010. 269p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 9781608870097. $50. SPORTS
This official history is expansive but a bit airbrushed for such a colorful franchise that has had a well-publicized darker side, too. The book is enlivened by a wealth of new interviews telling of the team’s story, and each chapter includes a separate essay from a different voice, such as Steve Sabol writing on the origins of the “America’s Team” moniker. Of course, as an “official” history, there’s an essay from former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue on the greatness of owner Jerry Jones. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders get a whole chapter! Additional features include a golden anniversary team selected for this book, special inserts of replica memorabilia, pieces on each Super Bowl champion, an abundance of sidebar interviews, and a profusion of striking photographs. A surprising omission: there are no sections for statistics and records. VERDICT This well-executed history of the Cowboys will be in heavy demand in public libraries (although the inserts may not last there).—John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., NJ
