THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE -- Philip Pullman

The Sally Lockheart Trilogy -- Book One
Alfred A. Knopf -- pb
New York -- ©1985 -- 230pp
ISBN: 0-394-89589-4

A young girl, in Victorian England, learns of her father's death and a rare, cursed ruby that seems to be a the center of a murderous mystery.

I like the way Pullman weaves his tale, and I often enjoyed reading this book, though it's certainly not one of his better books. There were plot points and character movements which seemed to have no purpose.

While I feel that a weak Philip Pullman book is probably better than many others' best, this is not one I'd recommend, and I'm while I'll likely read the other books in the trilogy at some time, I'm not eactly eager to get in to the next book.

CHILDREN PLAYING BEFORE A STATUE OF HERCULES -- David Sedaris, editor

Simon and Schuster paperbacks -- tpb
New York -- ©2005 -- 344pp
ISBN: 0-7432-7394-X

A collection of short stories. Sales of the book support 826NYC, a non-profit tutoring center in Brooklyn, NY. Contents of the book are:

"Introduction" -- David Sedaris
"Oh, Joseph, I'm So Tired" -- Richard Yates
"Gryphon" -- Charles Baxter
"Interpreter of Maladies" -- Jhumpa Lahiri
"The Garden Party" -- Katherine Mansfield
"Half a Grapefruit" -- Alice Munro
"Applause, Applause" -- Jean Thompson
"I Know What I'm Doing About All the Attention I've Been Getting" -- Frank Gannon
"Where the Door Is Always Open and the Welcome Mat Is Out" -- Patricia Highsmith
"The Best of Betty" -- Jincy Willett
"Song of the Shirt, 1941" -- Dorothy Parker
"The Girl With the Blackened Eye" -- Joyce Carol Oates
"People Like That Are the Only People Here: Canonical Babbling in Peed Onk" -- Lorrie Moore
"Revelation" -- Flannery O'Connor
"In the Cemetery Where Al Jolsen Is Buried" -- Amy Hempel
"Cosmopolitan" -- Akhil Sharma
"Irish Girl" -- Tim Johnston
"Bullet in the Brain" -- Tobias Wolff
"Epilogue: About 826NYC" -- Sarah Vowell

I like reading short stories, and I like collections such as this to expose me to the works of other authors I might not normally look for. Unforunately, while most (if not all) these stories are well told and interesting in some way, none of them has made a lasting impression with me. Never did I go back to double check an author's name because I wanted more by that person. And some of these authors are "big name" writers!

A worthy cause and a decent collection make this a worthwhile purchase, but the forgettable nature of the works suggest that I don't recommend it.

A NEW THEATRE -- Tyrone Guthrie

McGraw-Hill Book Company -- hc
New York -- ©1964 -- 188pp
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 64-22458

An exploration of the reasons behind Guthrie's building of a new theatre in Minneapolis, MN, and his reflections of the first season.

I am very impressed with Guthrie's thoughts and reflections on theatre in general.

"Great drama," he writes, "always adds... some philosophical comment or allegorical overtone, not necessarily -- or even frequently -- with a conscious didactic purpose, but always with didactic possibilities."

Twice he defines "drama," both accurate and succinct. "Drama is...the re-creation by actors of a group of persons and a series of events." And, "Drama is the telling of a story in the most vivid possible manner."

And here he seems to put his finger on what is precisely right...and wrong...with theatre today (the today of forty years ago and still the today of now):"The theatre exists to entertain. Entertainment can be educative; but it is a regrettable fallacy that a serious theatre must be consciously instructive. The fallacy has been fostered by theatre people, because we have learnt, by bitter experience, that public bodies will give you funds if they can be persuaded that you aim to Educate. But if, more truthfully, you admit that your first aim is to Entertain then you won't get a cent."

This certainly hasn't changed one iota. In fact, as the arts continue to struggle to survive, the "education factor" for each project seems more and more vital. When do we get to play?

Guthrie wraps up his book with this thought:"The three greatest periods in the history of the theatre -- the Athenian stage of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; the Elizabethan stage in England which produced Marlowe, Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and half a dozen lesser but significant poets; the French stage of Racine, Corneille and Moliere -- all these could not have happened if the writers, actors and craftsmen had not been fortunate enough to live in an age and place where a highly intelligent, lively and demanding audience had helped to create a theatre which was far more than a commercial business and far more than a frivolous pastime. Neither the artists and craftsmen nor the audience can do this alone. It is a shared process of creation, a fruitful union."

I'm not sure that this has been recognized or acknowledged any better than the way Guthrie puts it in this book. It is certainly food for thought for those of us who look to produce Art. We can only do so much without a cooperative audience.

THE BARNUM MUSEUM -- Steven Millhauser

Phoenix - The Guernsey Press Co., Ltd -- tpb
Great Britain -- ©1990 -- 237pp
ISBN: 0-75380-466-2

A collection of short stories by a Pulitzer Prize winning author.

"A Game of Clue"
"Behind the Blue Curtain"
"The Barnum Museum"
"The Sepia Postcard"
"The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad"
"Klassic Komix #1"
"Rain"
"Alice, Falling"
"The Invention of Robert Herendeen"
"Eisenheim the Illusionist"

Mostly these stories are forgettable and in many cases, a struggle to read and enjoy. In fact, I felt that most of these weren't even stories, but rather, long treatise on subject, or location, or mood.

Only the last story, "Eisenheim the Illusionist" struck any chord in me. It was as if all the other pieces were working up to putting the various elements together and producing "Eisenheim" -- though even the story of "Eisenheim" is not worthy of such a long preamble.

I love the short story as a literary form, and Millhauser seemed to be pushing the boundaries of what makes a short story, and for that I give him credit. Unfortunately, most of his attempts seem to fail.

I would not recommend this collection.

THE WHITE ISLE -- Darrell Schweitzer

Owlswick Press
Philadelphia,PA -- ©1989 -- 139pp
ISBN: 0-913896-26-8
illustrated by Stephen Fabian
autogaphed by Darrell Schweitzer

A warrior, wizard, prince challenges the god of the underworld, rescues his unborn daughter from his dead bride, and rules a land where nothing but he and his daughter can live.

I actually quite enjoyed the first half of this book, wherein the prince goes mad upon learning of the death of his bride, throws himself in to the study of wizardry and commences on the journey in to the underworld to steal his bride back. It was exciting and disturbing (this vision of the underworld was well described and unsettling -- a world in which ALL the dead retreat to no matter what god they worshipped in life, and no matter what goods they offer to entice the god of the underworld to provide favor).

The second half of the book, which had the prince, now mad, living on his own island with his daughter whom he held prisoner, fell flat. It was boring and seemed to have no purpose. What was the drive for these last 60+ pages? Where was the story going? Nowhere, it seems.

It felt like an exciting short story that had been extended.

Not a recommended book.

ANNA IN THE TROPICS -- Nilo Cruz

Theatre Communications Group
New York -- ©2003 -- 84pp
ISBN: 1-55936-232-4
Winner of 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Two Act Play

Set in 1929 in a Cuban-American cigar factory, a new lector arrives to read Anna Karenina to the workers. His arrival touches off a debate of the old versus the new as the struggling cigar factory looks for new ways to keep the old ways alive. The passions and longings of the employees come to life under the words of Tolstoy.

A beautifully written play. Poetic and intriguing. However, in a reading there were many more questions asked than answered, and I wonder if a production would hekp smooth that out somewhat.

Recommended.

TRAVEL TEAM -- Mike Lupica

Philomel Books
New York -- ©2004 -- 274pp
ISBN: 0-399-24150-7

A twelve-year-old, gifted basketball player doesn't make the local "travel team" because he's too small, even though he is unquestionably the best passer the league has ever seen. With the help of his father, a divorced, alcoholic, former-pro basketball player, they put together a team of misfits and rejects like himself to make a run for the travel team title.

I was really intrigued with the idea of this book -- short kids can play basketball and be great at it. Unfortunately the writing itself is sub-par.

The actual writing is so clumsy and poor it is almost unreadable at times. Had I turned in even a paragraph of this writing during an undergraduate writing class I would have received low grades and comments such as "Show -- don't tell!"

Unfortunately for readers, this book was published most likely because readers might be familiar with Mike Lupica's name and associate it with sports. But where was the editor? Was the writing so bad that even the editor couldn't make headway with this?

To add insult to writers and readers who know what they are doing, the publisher has done a fair amount of advertising -- more-so, I think, than the average new book.

It infuriates me when a poorly written book is so heavily promoted, and all because of a celebrity name. In truth, the book does not serve anyone well. Not the youthful reader who won't understand why they don't like the book so much. Not the publisher, who looks like they don't know a quality book. Not the writer, of whom others will not be eager to read again. It does, I suppose, serve the book seller who has nothing to lose. The publisher pays for the promoting and the seller can return the book if it doesn't sell.

Sadly, a book to avoid.

TOOTH IMPRINTS ON A CORN DOG -- Mark Leyner

Harmony Books
New York -- ©1995 -- 216pp
ISBN: 0-517-59384-X

A collection of short stories/essays.

"to merci pinto leyner"
"young bergdorf goodman brown"
"hulk couture"
"just happy to see you, chula"
"bassinet mattress day"
"immoral allure"
"the mary poppins kidnapping"
"the (illustrated) body politic"
"great pretenders"
"the good seed"
"dreams girls usa"
"the making of "tooth imprints on a corn dog""
"thoughts while listening to mahler in the afternoon"
"dangerous dads"
"eat at cosmo's"
"oh, brother"
"mi di"

Mostly the works seemed extremely pretentious. "the good seed" had me laugh out loud, and I was amused by pieces of "eat at cosmo's" and "the making of ...", but the amusement was much to rare in coming and not worth the trip. Here's a random sample of Mr. Leyner's writing (truly, I opened the book and this is the first sentence I read):

"The exemplary dad was an intermittent figure -- a Heroic Evanescence -- disappearing every morning into a mythic world of commerce, leaving behind a vestigial nimbus of aftershave, that ghostly olfactory proxy of the ever-departing father. But no longer. Proportional caretaking and quality time are the rules du jour."

Leyner's prose weighs heavily on the tongue. My university creative writing teachers probably would have written on my paper (if I had written such sentences on an assignment): "Interesting images. Over-written."

SPINNING THE GLOBE: THE RISE AND FALL AND RETURN TO GREATNESS OF THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS -- Ben Green

Amistad (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
New York -- ©2005 -- 397 pp
ISBN: 0-06-055549-1
Uncorrect Proof edition
Foreword by Bill Cosby

A well-researched history of one of the most famous basketball teams of all time.

This history/biography of the Harlem Globetrotters and their more famous players, seems to be very well researched and quite thorough. What's more, Ben Green has managed to keep it exciting. We re-live each of their most important games with nail-biting excitement.

As a white male who grew up in the 1960's, my impression of the Globetrotters was that they were a comedy team that played basketball. What I learned was that they were truly the world's best basketball team that began incorporating comedy routines. Their popularity was such that they often played on a double bill with pro teams to draw crowds to the pro (white) games. The Globetrotters very likely saved basketball as we know it from fading away due to lack of interest.

I was also surprised to learn that Meadowlark Lemon was not thought of very highly by his fellow players. He was not considered a "team" player, was NOT a good basketball player, and his comedy routines were very carefully rehearsed, rather than coming spur of the moment as they did with the great Goose Tatum.

An excellent read. I only wish that this uncorrected proof had photos.

WINDCHASER -- Scott Ciencin

a DINOTOPIA novel
Bullseye Books - Random House
New York -- ©1995 -- 148pp
ISBN: 0-679-86981-6
cover illustration by Michael Welply

After their ship bound for Australia is lost at sea during a storm, two boy (Raymond, the son of the ship's doctor, and Hugh, a petty thief) are brought by dolphins to the island of Dinotopia, where the boys, and a "Skybax," learn the value of friendship and trust.

I remember really enjoying this book when I first read it, about the time that it first came out. It was mostly because of this book that I recommended the Dinotopia series as books for emerging readers.

As I read it out-loud to my sons at bed-time, I felt it lost some of the magic that I had initially felt, and I was even surprised at the apparent lack of dinosaurs included. However, my eldest son thought the book was "awesome" and wants me to read all the books in the series to him, so perhaps it still retains the magic after all.

THE PROMISE OF LIGHT -- Paul Watkins

Picador USA
New York - ©1992 - 271pp
ISBN: 0-312-26766-5

In 1921, Ben Sheridan learns that his Irish-American father is not his real father after he dies from Ben's blood transfusion. Ben seeks out the truth, and his real father, in Ireland and becomes involved in the bloody Irish Republican Army war against the brutal British troops.

I like Watkins' style, reminding me somewhat of Hemingway. His prose seems very laid-back, almost lethargic, yet his action sequences of fighting in the war take your breath away.

I love the set up...the father dying because what would seem to be a straightforward blood transfusion fails because Ben is not the real son -- something he never knew.

Becoming involved in the IRA through deception and circumstance works well, but I do feel that Watkins missed out on giving us (and Ben) the information we were looking for about his American father. The meeting between Ben and his real father happens after the book ends, and that works, but without the information that we were off to learn, I feel cheated.

To be fair, information does come about, but it seems (even to Ben, I think) romanticized fondness or jealous anger and I never felt that the truth was anywhere in there.

I like Paul Watkins and will seek out more of his work, but this is not one I'd recommend to a new-comer.

THE LAST RIVER RAT: KENNY SALWEY'S LIFE IN THE WILD -- J. Scott Bestul and Kenny Salwey

Voyageur Press
Stillwater, Minnesota -- ©2001 -- 255pp
ISBN: 0-89658-457-7
Illustrations by Mary Kay Salwey
Autographed by Kenny Salwey (2002) and J. Scott Bestul (2005)

A one-year "diary" of living the life of a "river rat" in the backwaters of the Mississippi River.

Broken down first by month, and then each month having three parts, 1)River Rat Almanac, 2) Scott Bestul's report on what he learns from Kenny during that month, 3) Kenny's Tale. Each is interesting in its own way, but Scott's narration is direct and honest and brings the reader right to the Whitman Swamp with him.

An engaging read, interesting, and dare I say, unique in so many ways. Better, I think than the legendary A Sand County Almanac, and will have a comfortable spot on the bookshelf near my favorite outdoor memoirist, Sigurd F. Olson.

Highly recommended.

CLEMENCY POGUE: FAIRY KILLER -- J.T. Petty

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
New York -- ©2005 -- 120pp
ISBN: 0-689-87236-4
Illustrations by Will Davis

After being pestered by the Fairy of Frequent and Painful Pointless Antagonism, little girl Clemency Pogue vows that she does NOT believe in fairies, killing her attacker...and every other fairy in the world. Realizing that there are plenty of good fairies, Clemency and a hobgoblin set off to make things right.

A quick read that offers plenty of laughs for the adults, perhaps an interesting short story for kids, but nothing really of any substance. It's a quick adventure in the world of fairies, a little bit of action, and a short burst of triumph for the girl.

Certainly this is taking advantage of the popularity of books like Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the awful books of Eoin Colfer. If it weren't for these other books, this probably would never have seen the light of a fairy's wand.

Check it out from your library if you're looking for something quick and light to read, but don't waste your cash.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE -- J. K. Rowling

Arthur A. Levine Books/An Imprint of Scholastic Inc
New York -- ©2005 -- 652pp
ISBN: 0-439-78454-9
Illustrations by Mary Grandpre

In his sixth year at Hogwarts School for budding witches and wizards, Harry Potter learns more about his enemy, Voldemort, and watches a dear friend die.

This book, more than any of the others does NOT stand on it's own as an individual book. The whole purpose of this book seems to be a paving the way for the ultimate show-down between Harry and Voldemort, with a couple of possible surprises thrown in (surprises which are hinted at here).

The story-telling has kept us turning pages here, but the book,on whole, feels empty. The story is not a self-contained story (ala The Sorcerer's Stone), but rather the first part of a larger story.

I would not recommend this as an individual book, but would still recommend the series as an interesting and mostly enjoyable phenomenon.

THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ -- L. Frank Baum

A Signet Classic/New American Library
New York -- ©1984 (introduction and Signet edition) -- 219pp
ISBN: 0-451-51864-0
Introduction by Selma G. Lanes
Original drawing illustrations by W.W.Denslow

A young girl gets taken from her Kansas farmhouse by cyclone to a fantastic world called OZ, where she must face strange creatures and confront a wicked witch and a powerful wizard in order to return home.

So many people think they know this book because they are so familiar with the classic MGM movie. Of course there really is so much more in the book that it might surprise people.

I find the book to be slow at times, sometimes the obstacles in the girl's way just seem so extraneous. However, I read this book aloud twice now. Once to my daughter, and once to my two boys. Each time it managed to hold my childrens' interest. They've all agreed that we should consider reading book two in the series.

I can see where this easily would have/could have been the Harry Potter of it's day. Chock full of fantastic people and places and things. In it's day however, I don't believe it was popular for adults to read a children's book, nor was fantasy as acceptable.

More people ought to read this classic.