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Previous issue's reviews | September/October Contents | Gazette Home  Reviews in Brief
BRIEFLY NOTED SURVIVOR FROM AN UNKNOWN WAR Isakjan Narzikul came from a land that lies beyond the edge of Western imagination, shrouded by centuries of isolation. He witnessed the most extreme results of repressive politics, poverty and war. He served as an officer in the Soviet Red Army, survived life in a German POW camp only to be hunted by Communists after World War II and was recruited by the CIA. Crane tells the story of a janitor and Turkestani immigrant his family came to know when he was growing up in Philadelphia. PAPER BRIDGES: Selected Poems of Kadya Molodowsky Kadya Molodowsky (1894-1975) was among the most accomplished and prolific modern Yiddish poets, publishing six major books of poetry, as well as fiction, plays, essays and children’s tales. All of her books, both poetry and prose, reflect the cultural and historical changes that she experienced growing up in Poland and later moving to the United States. But the poetry in particular evinces the often contradictory influences of the cultures among which Molodowsky lived, from the Yiddish modernists to the Hebrew Bible and social-protest poetry. Hellerstein is a lecturer in Yiddish language and literature in the Department of Germanic Languages and the Jewish studies program. The book title comes from Molodowsky’s poem My Paper Bridge, which, according to Hellerstein, recounts a Jewish legend that "when the Messiah comes, the Jews will cross into Paradise over a paper bridge. In this poem, Molodowsky changes this legendary bridge into a symbol of private, personal desires." WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?: Dressing for Occasions First the rush of excitement the invitation brings, then the anxious question, "What should I wear?" and the usual answer, "I have nothing to wear." As creators of the best-selling Chic Simple series of guides to modern-day living, Gross and Stone step in with solutions, not only showing what is appropriate for whatever occasion–be it a weekend on the slopes or an invitation to a bris–but helping you find the crucial outfit in your own closet. The first chapter asks you to define your personal needs. Chapter two provides a quick wardrobe workshop about the six essential elements of style. Succeeding chapters take you through spring, summer, autumn and winter, reviewing wardrobe additions each season may require. The book presents basic guidelines for 27 key occasions, from court appearances to taking a cruise. Included is a regional guide to dressing for occasions in every part of the United States–and beyond. Together, Gross and Stone own the SoHo design firm Chic Simple Design and write a column for In Style magazine. They are the authors of more than 20 books. HUMPHREY BOGART: A Bio-Bibliography More than 40 years after his death, Humphrey Bogart remains a symbol of the Golden Age of Hollywood and an icon of popular culture. This work presents a biography of Bogart and examines his place in American culture through scholarly articles, essays and new and previously published interviews. As a guide to further research, the book includes a filmography, discography and videography; it also documents theater listings, radio and TV appearances, and a directory of Bogart Web sites. Duchovnay is a professor of English and head of the languages and literature department at Texas A & M University-Commerce. He is founding and general editor of Post Script: Essays in Film and the Humanities, an international film publication. THE AGE OF THE BICYCLE This novel questions what would happen if one afternoon all the cars in the world stopped running. In Babich’s tale, set in Tinny Waters, Texas, tea shops soon burgeon on the interstates and rush-hour traffic goes by on bicycles at an average speed of eight miles an hour. But drought plagues the area because the local rain goddess has run off with a handsome mortal on a stolen red tandem. The author, who has never owned a car, gets around Austin by bike. FOUNDATIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW With 48 essays by leading legal scholars, philosophers and social scientists, this book examines the foundational elements of liability, covering such topics as theories of punishment, mental states, causation, justification and excuse, and sentencing. Each essay is accompanied by an introduction, notes and questions designed to encourage readers to think analytically about the issues it raises. The editors are Katz, a law professor whose books include Bad Acts and Guilty Minds: Conundrums of the Criminal Law; Moore, law professor and the author of Placing Blame: A General Theory of the Criminal Law; and Morse, a law professor and a professor of psychiatry who has written on criminal responsibility as well as the intersection of psychology, psychiatry and the law. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA: A Film’s Anthropology In his study of Lawrence of Arabia, Caton combines ethnography, film criticism and an extensive knowledge of the Middle East to pose questions about the film’s ethnographic representation and the discourse of power. He draws from situations in his own life, biographies of the film’s key participants and analyses of issues relating to class, gender, colonialism and cultural differences. Caton is professor of modern Arab society in the anthropology department at Harvard University and author of Peaks of Yemen I Summon: Poetry as Cultural Practice in a North Yemen Tribe. MUSIC USA: The Rough Guide This book is a tour through the best of the country’s popular music, giving the story behind the sounds of more than 20 regions. Its features include critical overviews of performers and styles, from Appalachian bluegrass to New Orleans jazz and New York klezmer; concise reviews of the essential recordings in every genre; features on the key festivals and sights plus behind-the-scenes accounts; practical tips on the best music venues, radio stations, record stores and publications in each locale; and more than 150 pictures, including some rarely seen photos. Unterberger is the author of The Rough Guide to Seattle and Unknown Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll; he is also senior editor of the All Music Guide to Rock. HOW AMERICA FOUGHT ITS WARS: This book examines in detail the battles and campaigns of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War. It contains a specially commissioned series of maps that illustrate both the complete theater of operations for each war and the decisive moments of key battles. The authors also provide "what if" scenarios and a rating system for the major commanders, who are given grades for their performances. DEATH AT HIGH TIDE In the quaint New Jersey seaside town of Oceanside Heights, freelance ghostwriter Anne Hardaway is frustrated by her latest assignment: a tell-all autobiography of Mallory Loring, the former local "sexpot" who has made it big in movies. While Mallory’s new movie is being shot in town, Anne isn’t the only one having a hard time with the ego-driven star. The actress disappears –only to resurface as a corpse. Though police rule the death as accidental, Anne suspects murder. Using the biography as her calling card, Anne begins an investigation into Mallory’s murder to determine which suspect is only "acting" innocent. Sherman is a writer and editor based in Huntington Station, N.Y. Previous issue's reviews | September/October Contents | Gazette Home |
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