Week Forty Three, Book Fifty Seven

Land of the Snow Men

by George Belden

Review:

I am not really sure what to make of this work, yet I have found myself thinking about George Belden for the past two days. Who is this Mr. Belden? We know from the Editor's Forward, what he is not, but really who is he? I decided to do a little research after reading this collection of stories and found myself still in a state of wonder. Below are some sites that I found semi helpful and I highly suggest you check them out if you are interested in the solving mystery behind Land of the Snow Men. The writing style reminded me slightly of Jack London and Jon Krakauer. If you read this book in bed, you are destined to pull the covers up to your neck and shiver with uncertainty. Enjoy this one with a cup of cocoa!

Land of the Snow Men is a collection of visionary stories and renderings taken from the journals of the enigmatic George Belden, who claimed to be on the tragic expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott to reach the South Pole in 1910-12.
taken from: http://www.calamaripress.com/



Excerpt
"Little is known about George Belden. One thing is certain, however; he was not in Antarctica at the time of Scott’s 1910-12 expedition to the Pole, but the year after the disaster. His name does not appear on the list of passengers and crew aboard Terra Nova, nor is it mentioned by Scott in his journal or in any other known to have been kept by a member of the tragic enterprise. Belden’s own journal, purporting to be that of a witness to the misadventure, is clearly an invention…#8221;one which became increasingly whimsical and hallucinatory. His extraordinary account of having been with Scott, Wilson, and Bowers when they perished on the Barrier Ice and his fantastic depiction of the trolley-car hearse, which transported Scott up into Mt. Terror, must be understood as an attempt by Belden to forge a modern myth of the hero."

sites to visit:
Robert Falcon Scott - Conservapedia
University of New South Wales - - Scott and the race to the South ...
Barnes & Noble.com - Books: Race to the Pole, by Ranulph Fiennes ...

Words on the Street

The General Society

of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York
Founded 1785

BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND

Words on the Street:

From the Sidewalk to the Sky
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 6:00pm
Paul Shaw Principal, Paul Shaw/Letter Design

Paul Shaw, calligrapher, typographer and design historian, reveals another dimension to architecture through an illustrated lecture on environmental lettering in New York.

Admission: $15, $10 members, $5 students. For more information or to register for this lecture please visit www.generalsociety.org/events, or call 212-921-1767.

Women's National Book Association

Monday, October 29

6 to 9 p.m. at the New York Center

for Independent Publishing/

The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen

20 West 44th Street; between 5th and 6th Avenues; New York, NY

The event features readings from and conversation with authors Wally Lamb, Matthew Sharpe, Beverly Swerling, and Adriana Trigiani. So if you are part of a book club, a member of the publishing industry, or just an avid reader, please join us!
A read-a-thon featuring best-selling authors; wine, food, and conversation round out the festivities.

See
http://www.wnba-nyc.org/index.html
for more info on the Women’s National Book Association.

The Strand 80

*I thought this was rather interesting, click on the link and enjoy!

In celebration of Strand's 80th Anniversary, we are proud to present the top 80 books, as chosen by you, our customers.

http://www.strandbooks.com/app/www/p/booklist/?listid=strand80

The Scarlet Ibis

The Scarlet Ibis
by James Hurst

Review:

I read this short story with my class roughly a week ago and am still thinking about it on a daily basis. The story is set during World War I and the narrator is describing a "private war" of feelings for his brother Doodle. This story is packed with figurative language and symbolism, which was perfect to use in my 8th grade English classroom. The students actually liked this story the best so far and thought we should read more stories like it. I recommend it to all teachers and below are a few good sites to check out. Enjoy!

Graphic Organizer for Active Reading The Scarlet Ibis
"The Scarlet Ibis" - Review Questions, Extended Activities, and ...
Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast: The Scarlet Ibis

Week Forty Two, Book Fifty Six

The Story Behind John Steinbeck's of Mice And Men (History in Literature: the Story Behind) by Brian Williams

Review: Although, this is a small work, with beautiful illustrations, it is chock full of information. I have never read a book that was so informative historically and able to connect so accurately to a work of literature's settings and characters. I wish all my students could own this book when we read Of Mice and Men.

Here are a few good websites to check out, if you are a teacher or just a lover of Steinbeck:

http://www.steinbeck.sjsu.edu/

www.caviews.com/john.htm

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_steinbeck.html

Week Forty One, Book Fifty Five

Sleepingfish issue 0.9375

Review:

This is a literary journal of text and art objects by various talents. There are so many pieces to highlight from different genres, so I will just list my five favorites, with no particular reason or order.

Top Five

1. Thing Is by Minju Pak

2. The Psoriasis of Doubt by Terese Svoboda

3. Andrew Richmond (all works)
4. Boy's Tongue by Peter Markus

5. Elizabeth Albert (two images)

list of contributors:
http://www.sleepingfish.net/09375/09375_Contributors.htm#David

Week Forty One, Book Fifty Four

The Singing Fish
by Peter Markus

Review:

Peter Markus is the author of three books of short-fiction, Good, Brother; The Moon is a Lighthouse; and The Singing Fish. A novel, Bob, or Man on Boat, is forthcoming from DZANC Books.

What can I say about Mr. Markus that hasn't been said thus far? This is not just a collection of short stories/prose poems, so I would like to think of this piece as a novella. Anyone who reads a few of these stories will notice the obsessive use of certain words. One could never look at the words- brother, river, fish, and, especially, mud in the same way again. There is a lyricism that changes the meaning of these words as you are hypnotized by their juxtaposition on the page. At first, I wanted this to be a collection of short stories, but found myself forcing it to be a love story based on humanity. Peter Markus has introduced us to two brothers, the way Vonnegut wrote of his longtime alter ego Kilgore Trout and Philip Roth takes us on adventures with Nathan Zuckerman. I look forward to more walks with the brothers and now consider Peter Markus one of my favorite writers to come out of Calamari Press.

sites to check out:
The Singing Fish by Peter Markus
Books by Peter Markus
An Interview with Peter Markus
We Eat Mud by Peter Markus

Ian Bennett

LEAP YEARS

by Ian Bennett

Review:

This graphic novel is about a high school teenager named Jake. Throughout the novel his life is a boring routine. During his freshman year he is lost and attempts to be a cool sophomore with the help from his imaginary friend, Wilbur, a six-foot frog that only Jake can see. I thought the artwork was simple and clean which helped me to focus on the story at hand and the innocence it possessed. If I was a teenager, I think I would have loved this story, but being an adult, I could not relate to the plot at all. Although, I did not appreciate this story as much as I thought I would, I think the message of "the lessons learned in school aren't always in the classroom" is powerful and important.

Megan Kelso

The Squirrel Mother

by Megan Kelso

Review:

This is a collection of personal and semi-autobiographical stories that draw heavily on the details of the artist's childhood and adolescence. These stories capture everything from the heartbreak of dealing with an estranged family member to a biography of Alexander Hamilton. I like the idea of America and American history being exposed in such a racy way. There were a few times where I felt like I was punched in the guts unexpectedly. Kelso has long been a cartoonist of note in the worlds of mini-comics and alternative comics anthologies and I hope she now will get some mainstream publicity.
artist site: http://www.girlhero.com/

Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese

by Gene Luen Yang

Review:

American Born Chinese is made up of three individual plot lines: the Chinese folk hero Monkey King, Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student and Danny, an All-American teen. Each story works well on its own, but when they are intertwined at the end, I was very disappointed. I loved finding out what happened to each character throughout the story, yet when they converged at the end, I was left wanting to go back and reread to see if there were any clues that the plot was going in that direction. I did not see the foreshadowing at all. Overall, a fun graphic novel and it would even be good for teachers who are discussing stereotypes.
site to check out: First Second - Catalog - American Born Chinese A.B.C

Gordon Parks

Eyes with Winged Thoughts: Poems and Photographs

by Gordon Parks

Review:

Gordon Parks is a true Renaissance man who has mastered photography, film making, and writing. This collection of poems and photographs resonant words and lessons of his parents to meditations on current events--terrorism, the tsunami, the war in Iraq and Parks' emotional life. I was blown aware by this book and am even considering using this masterpiece in my classroom. A must read for all lovers of poetry and photography.

two really good sites:

Gordon Parks

PDN & Kodak Professional Present Legends Online: Gordon Parks

Simon Armitage

The Shout: Selected Poems

by Simon Armitage

Review:

Armitage was born in 1963 in Huddersfield, England. Widely regarded as one of the leading poets of his generation, he is also a playwright, travel writer, song lyricist and has written extensively for radio and television.Though Armitage has 11 books of verse in the U.K., this selection is his first in America. Sad to say, I had never heard of this poet before, yet I feel like I have read his work before and enjoyed every word. I am glad that he is finally released in the U.S.
website: Simon Armitage: Home

Jack Gilbert

Refusing Heaven

by Jack Gilbert

Review:

I really enjoyed sifting through this collection of poems from Gilbert who is seventy-nine years old and still as young and fresh as ever. He has published four books; won the Yale Younger Poets Prize in 1962 for Views of Jeopardy; was nominated for a Pulitzer for that book and the next one, Monolithos, which appeared twenty years later; won Guggenheim and NEA fellowships and published a third book ten years later, The Great Fires. I came across an interviews with the poet from his home in Northampton, MA (NPR: Jack Gilbert: Notes from a Well-Observed Life) and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Paul Muldoon

Horse Latitudes: Poems

by Paul Muldoon

Review:

Another Irish poet, but this one is not so typical. I do prefer his classic style to his modern, although he marries the two beautifully. In his 11th collection, the Pulitzer Prize–winner and former professor of poetry at Oxford has not skipped a beat. This is a extraordinary collection of diverse genres of poetry and themes. He tackles the death of his sister and rocker Warren Zevon all in one sitting. He treats us to post-9/11 America, aging, fatherhood and mortality, the notion of "the old country" in a handful of sonnets. For lovers of Seamus Heaney and T. S. Eliot look no further.
poet site: Official Paul Muldoon Home Page

J.P. Stassen

Deogratias, A Tale of Rwanda

by J.P. Stassen

Review:

Deogratias means "thanks be to God," and it's the name of a boy coming of age in Rwanda in 1994. Beware this book has scenes of rape, harsh language, and some sexual content. This award-winning comic was originally published in Belgium in 2000 and has an introduction explaining the history leading to the Rwandan genocide. The images painted showing the transformation of man to dog that are illustrated are amazing. You really "see" the metaphors as opposed to reading between the lines. This is a great fictional read of a real historical issue.
websites:
First Second - Creators - J.P. Stassen -
Comic creator: Jean-Philippe Stassen

Leland Myrick

Missouri Boy

by Leland Myrick

Review:

This is a fun filled week of graphic novel reading for me and the next few posts will probably be somewhat boring for those who are not a fan, those of you who are, read on! Remember comics are not just for kids. In this graphic novel, Myrick paints an innocent picture of his youth through vignettes that reflect life growing up in a small town. I would consider this a graphic novel memoir for adults. There are no surprises and it is just a good clean tribute to an American childhood. This is a perfect read for the memoir lover in all of us. Kudos for it being named to Booklist's Top Ten Graphic Novels for Youth 2007!
read an excerpt: First Second - Catalog - Missouri Boy
author website: Leland Myrick Illustration : in color and black & white

Week Forty, Book Fifty Three

Beasts of No Nation: A Novel

by Uzodinma Iweala

In this mesmerizing debut novel by Uzodinma Iweala, a sensitive young boy named Agu gets recruited by a unit of guerrilla soldiers to fight in the civil war engulfing their unnamed West African nation. Having witnessed the violent death of his father at the hands of militants and the abrupt departures of his mother and sister, Agu is effectively an orphan—unmoored from his family and the comforts of his domestic life—and vulnerable to the uncommon interest his authoritative new commander takes in him.

taken from:www.harperacademic.com/index.asp

Review:
Although, this book was more like a novella, it took me a few days to read it in its entirety. I loved most parts, but hated many, due to the graphic nature of the human beast. The title is perfect and the voice that came out in this story is like none I have ever read before. A few years ago, I heard Iweala twice read a chapter from this book and while I was reading, his voice resonated in my head. I myself tried to read out loud a few times, but could not do justice to the accent. I cannot believe that this is a first novel and that the author submitted this as a thesis paper. After sitting on my nightstand for well over a year, I am so glad that I finally got to this remarkable piece of literature.

Reading Guide: Beasts of No Nation

Joann Sfar

The Professor's Daughter

by Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert

Review:

I totally loved The Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar and overall liked this comic even more. This is a great 19th century London romance that has elements of murder, adventure, mystery and kidnapping. The dialogue is dazzling and the lovely plot twist really was the icing on the cake. I highly recommend this comic to history buffs alike. What if a 3,000 year old mummy really came alive?

sites to check out:
www.firstsecondbooks.net/sfar.html
http://lambiek.net/artists/s/sfar.htm
Pantheon Authors

Extraterrestrial Novelties

A.L.I.E.E.E.N.: Archives of Lost Issues and Earthly Editions of Extraterrestrial Novelties

by Lewis Trondheim

The first extraterrestrial comic book in print on planet Earth!

Review:

This was such an odd comic, but I loved it anyway. The whole book is roughly 100 pages in length and not a word of dialogue is in English. I have no idea what any of the language means. It is kind of a toss between Hebrew and Greek, but really not. The illustrations were enough to carry the story along and I love that there were mini episodes within bigger episodes. A must read for alien lovers of all ages!

check out these sites:
www.lewistrondheim.com/
http://lambiek.net/artists/t/trondheim.htm
The Comics Journal - Lewis Trondheim (excerpt)
Dungeon Homepage 1

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week
September 29–October 6, 2007
Free People Read Freely ®

How can you celebrate?

Here are my five favorite ways:

1. Read one or all the top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2006

2. Organize your own Banned Books Read-Out! at your school, public library, or favorite bookstore.

3. Write or call your representatives and let them know you want them to protect your freedom to read and your privacy.

4. WEAR a T-shirt with a clever anti-censorship message. The Washington Coalition Against Censorship has developed five different designs available in various colors and sizes. All profits support public education efforts by the Coalition.

5. GIVE away a banned book! Parents and students from the Goochland High School in Goochland, Virginia, were offered free copies of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot after the school board banned it. The bookstore, Volume I, created a front window display featuring Salem’s Lot and twenty other banned books. The Richmond Times-Dispatch published a photograph of the display and interviewed the bookstore owner. In the first week, twenty-two copies were given away.

Chicago, Chicago...

The Death of the Detective: A Novel

by Mark Smith

"The Death of the Detective is not only about Chicago, it is Chicago. . . . With this one enormous book Mark Smith has emerged as one of the most ambitious, original, and thought-provoking novelists writing today." --Chicago Daily News

* What can I say, after only visiting there once, I am a sucker for Chicago. I have to check this one out.

Check out the synopsis and some reviews here:
BiblioVault - The Death of the Detective
Death of the Detective, The, Mark Smith

Philip Roth

Exit Ghost

by Philip Roth

*This was just released in Hardcover on October 1. I am in the middle of The Plot Against America and plan on tackling this one next. I guess you can say I have been obsessed with him lately and can't stop reading his work, oh well. Enjoy.

check out this interview: http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/13911:13908/102-7713575-4473757

3:16 The Numbers of Hope

by Max Lucado

If 9/11 are the numbers of terror and despair, then 3:16 are the numbers of hope. Best selling author Max Lucado leads readers through a word-by-word study of John 3:16, the passage that he calls the "Hope Diamond" of scripture.



*Although, I never was a big fan of Lucado, his book has been receiving a lot of attention lately, so I checked out the website and thought it was worth sharing. http://www.maxlucado.com/

Christmas Day in the Morning

by Pearl S. Buck

Review:

Rob wants to get his father something special for Christmas this year -- something that shows how much he really loves him. But it's Christmas Eve, and he doesn't have much money to spend. What could he possibly get? Suddenly, Rob thinks of the best gift of all... This is one of my favorite Christmas stories. If shows the true spirit of giving. I read this with my Honors English class last week as an into to the author and her style. It is a very light hearted story with a lot of meaning. I highly recommend it as a complimentary text to The Good Earth. A welcome addition to any holiday collection, this timeless treasure will bring the true meaning of Christmas to the entire family for generations to come.
illustrated version: Christmas Day in the Morning

Travels With Charly

Travels with Charley in search of America

by John Steinbeck

To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colors and the light— these were John Steinbeck's goals as he set out, at the age of fifty-eight, to rediscover the country he had been...

excerpt taken from:
Travels with Charley (check out the books contents here)

Review:
My classes last week read this short story and did some background research on Steinbeck and his style of writing. There are apparently different sections of this story that are broken down into a short story format in literary anthologies. The reaction from my students was mostly the same... "What was that story about?" My answer was similar throughout the day, which I can sum up in one word "Americanism". We discussed what it means to be an American and why it was so important for Steinbeck to travel the country. We will be reading Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck soon and I think that this short story was a good introduction to one of America's greatest writers.
website to visit: http://www.steinbeck.org/Home.html