THE DINNER PARTY -- Neil Simon

Samuel French, Inc. -- acting edition
New York -- ©2002 -- 64pp
ISBN: 0-573-62831-9

As the first of six guests arrive for a dinner at a swank restaurant, they begin to wonder what they might have in common, soon wishing that they hadn't accepted the dinner invitation.

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I saw this on Broadway and enjoyed it immensely. Now, as I read through it, considering it for production with a local community theatre group, I realize that I like this more than most of Simon's latest works.

I have felt recently that Neil Simon has either tried too hard to make us laugh (Laughter on the 23rd Floor) or been trying to be too poignant (the biographical 'Brighton Beach' series) for me to really enjoy his recent works. Where is the writer who penned The Odd Couple or The Sunshine Boys or even Barefoot in the Park? The answer is ... he is here.

Before I began to read this, I wondered if perhaps what I had enjoyed about the Broadway performance was seeing John Ritter and Len Cariou and Henry Winkler sharing the stage. But no, what makes this play work is the writing.

The witiness, which covers a characters pain ... classic Simon ... is here. And yet the pain isn't too deeply imbedded, otherwise we'd have trouble really laughing (which has been my problem with the Brighton Beach plays).

If you've liked the earlier Neil Simon works, you will probably like this one, too. Worth reading. Worth seeing. Worth producing.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY -- Michael Chabon

Picador USA -- tpb
New York -- ©2000 -- 639pp
ISBN: 0-312-28299-0
Pulitzer Prize Winner

A "biography" of Thomas Kavalier and Sammy Clay, two men who changed the world of comics.

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Finally. Finally I have read a major prize winning novel that is unique, and exciting, and adventurous, and easily worth the time I spent reading it.

I admit that I was somewhat hesitant to even start this novel as so many of the big prize-winning novels that I've read recently have been dull, boring works of self-loathing and pity and moroseness. To read a 600+ page novel of the type was not something I looked forward too. Fortunately, Kavalier & Clay was anything but.

Perhaps it's my own interest in the comic-book medium that helped make this novel so enjoyable, but I'd like to think that I would have been engrossed in this even if I'd never read a comic in my life. The research seemed impeccable, and the biographical style was brilliant. There was just the proper amount of 'biographer-removed' and 'biographer-respect' in the telling of the story.

Part of what marked this as incredibly well done is that I wanted, so badly, to see and read the comics that Kavalier and Clay created, and at the same time, it seemed that I had seen them. Absolutely remarkable.

Ther relationship between Joe and Sam and Rosa was extremely well plotted. It's hard to imagine any other possible way for the relationships to co-exist.

The war years for Joe seemed odd, at times, but it helped to explain much of what he had done.

Really a brilliant novel, and well worth the read.

GUYS WRITE FOR GUYS READ -- Jon Scieszka, editor

Viking -- hc
New York -- ©2005 -- 272pp
ISBN: 0-670-06007-0

Brief autobiographies about being a guy.

Forward -- Jon Scieszka
"The Truth About the World" -- lloyd Alexander
"My Maturity, in Flames" --M.T. Anderson
Daniel Adel
"Stone = Throw" -- Marc Aronson
"Superpatriot" -- Avi
"The Crossing" -- T.A. Barron
"Reading Can Be Dangerous" -- Tedd Arnold
"My Entire Football Career" -- David Bauer
"Only a Game" -- Edward Bloor
"Gondwanaland" -- Tony DiTerlizzi
"E, A Minor, B7" -- Bruce Brooks
"My Brilliant Invention" -- William G. Brozo
"A Real Guy" -- Michael Cart
"My Life of Crime" -- Peter Cherches
"Triplets" -- Timothy Basil Ering
"The Legend of Tripod" -- Eoin Colfer
"'O' Foods" -- Chris Crutcher
"What I'm Telling You Is the Truth" -- Terry Davis
"The Rules" -- Esquire
"Any Questions, Class?" -- Matt Groening
"Guide for Guys" -- Douglas Florian
"Why Books Are Dangerous" -- Neil Gaiman
Brett Helquist
"The Follower" -- Jack Gantos
"The Red Fire Engine" -- David Macaulay
"There Must Be a Mistake" -- Morris Gleitzman
"Thwacked" -- David Granger
"My Superpowers" -- Dan Greenburg
"My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad" -- Andy Griffiths
Adam McCauley
"Let's Go to the Videotape" -- Dan Gutman
"Boys, Beer, Barf, and Bonding" -- Bruce Hale
"Shooting the Breeze" -- Dave and Liam McKean
"Principals and Principles" -- Daniel Handler
"A Great, Big, Beautiful World" -- Will Hobbs
"My French Teacher Tried to Kill Me" -- Anthony Horowitz
"Learning How to Be a Boy" -- James Howe
"Lightning Man" -- Jarrett J. Krosoczka
"A Casualty of War" -- Brian Jacques
"Wrestling with Reading" -- Patrick Jones
Dav Pilkey
from On Writing -- Stephen King
"Pop" -- David Klass
"Guy Things" -- Gordon Korman
"Role-Playing and Discovery" -- Jerry Pinkney
"Busted" -- Erik P. Kraft
"Copies" -- David Lubar
"When All Bicycles Were Black" -- Vladimir Radunsky
"The Pellet in the Paint Can" -- Chris Lynch
"Unfinished Business" -- Joh Marsden
Sergio Ruzzier
"Daydreams" -- Walter Dean Myers
"Lucky Dave" -- Garth Nix
"Anything Can Happen" -- Kenneth Oppel
"No, David!" -- David Shannon
"Dead Body" -- Jerry Pallotta
"It All Began with Books" -- Christopher Paolini
from How Angel Peterson Got His Name -- Gary Paulsen
"The 1928 Packard" -- Richard Peck
"Lone * Ranger" -- Daniel Pinkwater
David Sheldon
"A Day at the Zoo" -- Jack Prelutsky
"Boys Are Big Experts" -- Jack Prelutsky
"Funny You Should Ask" from The Life of Reilly -- Rick Reilly
Peter Sis
"The Death of a Writer" -- David Rice
"Sweet Dreams" -- Steve Rushin
"Maybe Yeah, Maybe Nah" -- Rene Saldana, Jr.
"Bufos" -- Graham Salisbury
Lane Smith
"Brothers" -- Jon Scieszka
"ManGUYifesto -- Who We Are!" -- Darren Shan
"The Day I Threw the Trivia Bowl" -- Robert Siegel
"Bringing Up 'Saur Subjects" -- Rick Spears
"Roy G. Biv" -- Seymour Simon
"The Hammer and the Bullet" -- Arthur Slade
"The Masque of the Red Death" -- William Sleator
"Reading and Relating" -- Michael W. Smith
"The Dragon in the Big Glommy Castle" -- Mark Teague
"Bombs, Girls" -- Jerry Spinelli
"Conduct" -- Rick Telander
"The Fire Escape" -- Ned Vizzini
"My First Step to the White House" -- Chris Van Allsburg
"Give a Guy a Newspaper" -- Bill Vlasic
"Eat Dirt" -- Rich Wallace
"Training the Bear" -- Will Weaver
"Pals Forever: Me, Bobby Fisher, and the Hardy Boys" -- Jeffrey D. Wilhelm
"Aw, Nuts!" -- Mo Williams
"Puzzle Pieces" from The Lost Garden -- Laurence yep
"Heartbeat" -- David Yoo
"I Was Young in the Old Days" -- Paul O. Zelinsky



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This was a fun collection. There definitely is something in here for any/every boy. Some pieces seemed way too advanced for the average young boy (particularly Will Weaver's piece), and some were darned funny (in particular, Bruce Hale's).



There were a fair number of authors with which I was not familiar, and at least one glaring omission (in my mind) -- Bruce Coville.



Too many to address here individually, but over-all a book worth reading through, especially for every boy wondering what guys go through as they grow up.



Recommended.

THE A.I. GANG: OPERATION SHERLOCK -- Bruce Coville

A Minstrel Book -- tpb
New York -- ©1986,1995 --210pp
ISBN: 0-671-89249-5
autographed by the author

A group of brilliant youngsters are thrown together on a remote island while their parents work on a super, secret computer. The kids become aware of threats to the security of the program and take matters into their own hands when the adults don't believe them.

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I really enjoy Bruce Coville novels. This man knows how to write for youngsters. He doesn't write down to them, he challenges them, but manages to keep it within their own reading ability.

I just finished reading this aloud to my boys at bedtime. As one might expect, they love the action and adventure, giggle still at the humor, and totally wish they were part of the gang of kids. Everything you want in a book for young boys.

The book reminds me of the classic Tom Swift, or Tom Corbett, or Hardy Boys types of books, with modern theme and plot and characters.

My one complaint would be that there isn't a true conclusion to the book. There is an obvious need for at least a second book (it's billed as a trilogy) since only one of the criminals involved was apprehended. I suppose, like those other classics series' that I just mentioned, in which the villian often got away to be the heroes' foil another time, this book is simply following suit. However, I do dislike what is to me a ploy to sell more books.

Even so, like nearly any Bruce Coville book I read, this is highly recommended.

THEIR FATHERS' GOD -- O.E. Rölvaag

University of Nebraska Press -- tpb
Lincoln and London -- ©1931, 1955, 1983 -- 338pp
ISBN: 0-8032-8911-1
translated by Trygve M. Ager

A Nowegian Lutheran man marries an Irish Catholic girl in 1890's South Dakota. Their marriage is tested by drought, depression, and family.

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This is a remarkable book.

Certainly this appeals to me on many levels. As a person of Scandinavian descent, I'm enjoying reading books which appeal to my heritage. As a Scandinavian Lutheran who has married an Irish Catholic, I was able to view the relationship, particularly the religious discussions, with understanding and empathy. Certainly the times are different now, and more such 'mixed' marriages have taken place, but it was not particularly common among the immigrants of the 19th century.

What struck me most was the incredible passion that Susie and Peder had for each other. They did, indeed love one another deeply, but it was their respective faiths that kept interfering in their lives.

I got indignant when the priest interfered and created one of the larger rifts in the marriage. I was angry with Peder's stubbornness and his audacity to teach all things religion. Their problem was obvious to the casual, modern reader ... their lack of talking. Rather than discuss religion, they avoided the subject or Peder took a know-it-all tone. The instances when they were able to talk about religion congenially, and when Peder told Susie that she should take the carriage in to go to her church, showed glimpses of promise between them.

Though Susie seemed to slide into a depression that become a mental illness, at the heart of their problems was religion. The change in farming, the political ring, the illness and death in family ... it was all solveable. The religion brought back deeper, long-term harm that would not be overcome.

A fascinating read. Highly recommended. Reminds me of Cather's O Pioneers (for the immigrant problems) and Flaubert's Madame Bovary (for the lack of communication in a marriage) with dogma.

AMERICAN VENUS -- Diane Rozas and Anita Bourne Gottehrer

AMERICAN VENUS: The Extraordinary Life of Audrey Munson Model and Muse
Balcony Press -- hc
Los Angeles -- ©1999 -- 144pp
ISBN: 1-890449-04-0



A brief biography of one of the most celebrated models of her time, Audrey Munson.


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As someone with some interest in art, I have, on occassion, looked at a sculpture and wondered who would have posed for such piece. This book brings brings into focus the life of one such model. And not any model, but one who, by all accounts, was the most in-demand, most-requested, and most sculpted model of her time. Sculptures of this woman, Audrey Munson, still stand atop buildings in cities all over the world.

In some senses, this book is disappointing. There is really so very little of Audrey and her life in here. We know that she posed nude at age 16, was possibly the first person to take her clothes off on film, was highly sought by some of the top artists in the world, seemed to have a mental breakdown and was instituionalized in her mid-thirties, and lived to be 105. But we don't know if she every had any love-affairs. Did any of the artists take advantage of her (or at least try) -- considered to be one of the most beautiful women of her day, posing nude ... seems like a recipe for artistic affairs.

What we do learn, though is quite fascinating. That she was indeed considered to be not only beautiful, but an incredibly talented model ... someone who could find the right pose and bring to it, not only the physical features, but the attitude as well. Her four, silent movies were essentially about her ... a model for artists. A model who disrobes.

Certainly I can't help but look at sculpture differently now. I'll wonder who might have posed and what might they have been thinking. And if it's a scultpure of Munson's era, could it have been she?

A very interesting book and a recommended read. At only 144 pages, and packed full of photos, it only takes a long afternoon to get through this book.

IRON MAN: ARMOR WARS -- David Michelinie and Bob Layton

Marvel Publishing, Inc. -- tpb
New York -- ©2007 -- 208pp
ISBN: 0-7851-2506-X
Graphic Novel reprinting Iron Man comic issues #225-232 from 1987 and 1988
art by: Mark D. Bright, Bob Layton, Barry Winsor-Smith

Tony Stark discovers that his secret technology has been stolen and sold to various sources. Upset that the technology he created could be used to injure or kill innocent people he goes on a quest as his alter ego, Iron Man, to destroy anything using that technology.

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I have very much enjoyed the Iron Man comics as I was growing up, but I can't remember the last time I actually read a book or two, so this was a nice return to the old days for me. And 'old days' is appropriate as the comics in this graphic novel were first published in 1987/88. Compared to the comics of today, everything about these seemed ... simple.

I actually really liked the simplicity of the artwork. Today's comic artwork seems to be so heavy and full of shading and darkness. Each panel looks like a miniature, complex work of art, which is nice, in some ways, but it can make looking through the book quite onerous. I appreciated being able to look at a page/panel and being able to take in what was going on at a glance.

The story for this particular graphic novel was strained. That Tony Stark took it so personally that his technology was being used in such a way that innocents lives might be harmed, seemed far-fetched. I understand the premise and that there is evidence that people have suffered this kind of reaction when something they've made is used for violent purposes, but this didn't work for me. Stark was reacting to technology ... an idea ... not an actual, physical item.

I also didn't care for the fact that each "issue" of the graphic novel had him commenting on this crusade of his. Again, I understand that each issue needs to recreate some of a character's mission, but when combined in book form, this just got much too repetitive.

Over-all, though, this was a fun, enjoyable few hours away from the real world.

FREAKONOMICS -- Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

FREAKONOMICS: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
William Morrow -- hc
New York -- 2005 -- 242pp
ISBN: 0-06-073132-X

The simple, logical answers to economics may not always be correct. Levitt and Dubner explore some complex issues behind some mighty big questions.

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I'd heard quite a bit about this book and was looking forward to giving it a read. I wasn't necessarily disappointed, but I wasn't tremendously impressed, either.

What Levitt and Dubner have done seems all too obvious to me. That some of these issues haven't been researched in the way that Levitt has dug into them, is what seems more astonishing. To me, this is a 'common sense' book. Nothing seems 'far out there' but rather it seems logical.

I can, however, see where this line of thinking is ground-breaking. If Levitt weren't so 'decorated' with degrees and laurels, his ideas would be summarily dismissed by the academic world, and this book would never have seen the light of day. Fortunately this book is out there and popular, and common sense can regain its place.

An interesting, recommended book.

THE LAST YANKEE & BROKEN GLASS -- Arthur Miller

THE LAST YANKEE
With a new essay
About Theatre language
and
BROKEN GLASS
The Fireside Theatre -- hc
New York -- 1994 -- 180pp
ISBN: 1-56865-104-X

Two short plays with doctors and pschosomatic illnesses and an essay.

THE LAST YANKEE (2m, 3f)
BROKEN GLASS (3m, 3f, cellist)

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Two interesting plays that I was not particularly familiar with. The Last Yankee is a play which explores the illness of depression and how often we ignore this, particularly men if the woman is depressed. There is, of course, more going on here, but ultimately the men in the play don't seem to understand or appreciate their wives' conditions.

Similarly, Broken Glass is more of a mystery, following a woman who suddenly collapses and no longer has the use of her legs, despite the fact that doctors can find no physical reason for the affliction. A clue to the mystery is her obsession with photos of humiliated Jews in Germany (the play takes place circa 1939).

Both plays are quite well written and, being shorter (long one-acts), don't become the soporific, nearly didactic plays that I have sometimes felt Miller's play become.

It's too bad that both don't have more life, but I suspect that being one-acts, there is less desire for them.

The essay was interesting at the time of reading, but otherwise forgettable.

YOU KNOW I CAN'T HEAR YOU WHEN THE WATER'S RUNNING -- Robert Anderson

Random House -- hc
New York -- 1967 -- 92pp
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 67-22664

Four one-act plays:

The Shock of Recognition (3m, 1f)
The Footsteps of Doves (2m, 2f)
I'll Be Home For Christmas (1m, 2f)
I'm Herbert (1m, 1f)


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Is it possible that I've never actually read these plays before? An old professor of mine used to talk about this so much, I felt as though I knew the plays, but once I began reading, I was hooked, and very aware that they were quite new to me.

All four of these short plays are extremely well written and would be incredibly fun to see staged. Though quite humorous, each seems to have an adult edge, making them not quite viable for the high school crowd.

Of the four, I laughed quite a bit while reading "I'm Herbert" and would like very much to see and/or direct this play.

Highly recommended reading.

THE MYSTERIOUS EDGE OF THE HEROIC WORLD -- E. L. Konigsburg

Atheneum Books For Young Readers -- hc
New York -- ©2007 -- 244pp
ISBN-10: 1-4169-4972-0

An unlikely friendship develops between two precocious sixth graders as they unite to sort through the belongings of an eccentric, pretentious, and intriguing neighbor. Through old letters, parts of a memoir,the introduction to an art exhibit, and thumbnail biographies of the artists deemed unfit by the Nazis, readers are educated about this aspect of Nazi repression. Dramatic revelations about the victimization of homosexuals and other figures during the Holocaust also become part of the story. In spite of these necessary intrusions, readers will be eager to discover the truth about the Zenders and the suspicious art treasure. (edited from School Library Journal)

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I admire Konigsburg's writing and plotting, and her willingness to attack unlikely and even uncomfortable issues, but perhaps she's attempted too much with this book.

The art mystery here is intriguing (and much better than that from Chasing Vermeer), and Konigsburg does a wonderful job bringing together the storylines from many different directions. The idea of art stolen by Nazis and recently being rediscovered seems very topical. However, I felt that bringing together two families, from two different sides of the stolen art saga, was not only incredibly coincidental, but maybe had a theme ringing a little deeper than could be handled in even a mature YA book.

One drawback to having won two Newbery Medals is the perceived need to follow up with something, better, stronger, deeper. Yet perhaps rather than focusing on the issues, more attention could be paid to the characters and situations.

Not my favorite Konigsburg book, and not a recommended book.

DOUBT, a parable -- John Patrick Shanley

Theatre Communications Group -- tpb
New York -- ©2005 -- 58pp
ISBN: 1-55936-276-6
A one act play

2005 Pulitzer Prize Winner


A priest and a nun with doubts about the others' sincerity and motives.

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First, I will clearly state that I've never been a fan of John Patrick Shanley. That said, I enjoyed this play. Surprisingly so.

Although the sunject matter of homosexuality and the Catholic church don't particularly pique my interest, the writing on this was crisp.

What I liked the most was that this script seemed to be the archetype script as described in the first chapter of Jeffery Sweet's Solving Your Script ... "The Power of the Unsaid Word." Although not mentioned by name, the audience clearly understands what the older nun is referring to when discussing possible inappropriate meetings between a priest and a young boy. But by not actually saying the words, we are drawn in, waiting for someone to come right out and say it. Very well executed.

Unfortunately, the ending is clearly no ending. And while I've read some discussion about this, I feel cheated at not having a conclusion. I don't feel it's "clever" or "realistic" ... I feel it's a cop-out.

I AM MY OWN WIFE -- Doug Wright

Faber and Faber, Inc. -- tpb
New York -- 2004 -- 80pp
ISBN: 0-571-21174-7
2004 Pulitzer Prize Winner
2004 Tony Award Best Play

Two Act Play
1 actor

A two-act, one person play about the (in)famous German transvestite Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who survived the Nazi regime and the Communist dictatorship of Germany.

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A very interesting play. The research was incredible and the style in which this is written is moderately unique for a popular play (to have a one-person play, but with multiple roles).

The subject is wonderfully dramatic. A transvestite. A transvestite who collects "things." In Nazi Germany.

But then comes the conflict and drama. It is suggested that she actually worked with the Nazis as an informer. Or did she? Ultimately, Charlotte's life becomes more of an enigma rather than less, the more the author gets to know her.

Despire the hollowness of the ending, it rings true, perhaps disappointing the audience.

A very interesting script.

THE UBU PLAYS -- Alfred Jarry

Grove Press, Inc. -- tpb
New York -- ©1969 -- 148pp
ISBN: 0-394-17485-2
Translated from the French by Cyril Connolly and Simon Watson Taylor

Three plays:
UBU REX
UBU CUCKOLDED
UBU ENCHAINED

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I'm doing a little Ubu research and decided to read through these plays again. I don't think I've done so since my college days.

Still off-beat an dunusual, I can better understand now, though, why this is considered to be a pre-cursor to the Theatre of the Aburd, rather than the beginning of the Absurdist movement. There are elements here that perhaps more strongly resemble the commediea del'arte theatre than the absurdist theatre.

I was struck, this time, by the high sense of political mockery here. I see this same type of theatre today.

Worth reading (or even re-reading) to those theatre lovers out there.

THE LAST KINGDOM -- Bernard Cornwell

HarperCollins Publishers -- hc
New York -- ©2005 -- 333pp
ISBN: 0-06-053051-0


With most of Britain conquered by the pagan Danes, only Alfred the Great can save his country.

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Although this book is ostensibly about Alfred the Great, and his managing to save England from the Danes, this particular book (the first of a series) is actually about Uhtred, son of Uhtred (and also son of Ragnar [a Dane]), an English eldorman and inheritor of the city of Bebbanburg.

Captured by the Danes as a youth, Uhtred is taught the Danish ways, including how to fight. As a young man, Uhtred fights for Alfred against his very friends and Danish families.

Uhtred is a character of tremendous strength and cunning. He is not unlike Conan, only written in a best-selling book, rather than in a small-press fantasy series.

I enjoyed the book, as I often enjoy bestsellers for their ease and excitement in reading, but it lacks the meat which makes it "literature" and long remembered. Still, I'll probably read others in the series.