Thursday, October 29, 2009

“Book Reviews - Deccan Herald” plus 4 more

“Book Reviews - Deccan Herald” plus 4 more

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Book Reviews - Deccan Herald

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 11:37 AM PDT

Deccan Herald

Thursday 29 October 2009

Book reviews: Local, national authors - Green Valley News and Sun

Posted: 26 Oct 2009 10:51 AM PDT

Everyday Evil,

by Marilyn Anne Pate

Wyatt McKenzie Publishing, 2009

$16.95, 301 pages

There are lots of memoirs on the shelves these days, but few stories are told with such unflinching courage as Marilyn Pate's "Everyday Evil." She opens her personal history and her heart — dare I say, a vein — to tell the truth about an abusive childhood that could have rendered her lost and incapable, but in the end did not.

After the premature death of their mother, 5-year-old Marilyn and her younger brother are at the mercy of their narcissistic, controlling and abusive father. He leaves them with his parents while he goes off to build his career. Marilyn is sexually abused by her grandfather, and Teddie, already stigmatized by his inability to live up to his father's harsh expectations, continues to sink deeper into himself. Their father returns with a new wife — their "new mother" — and her daughter. "You love them," he tells his children.

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Zadzooks: Comic book reviews, Marvel Zombies Return, Emily the Strange ... - Washington Times

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 01:55 PM PDT

By Joseph Szadkowski

This chronic feature lets me review what recently has passed my bloodshot eyes. So pull up a chair, break out the sarcasm filter and welcome to Mr. Zad's Halloween comic critique:

Marvel Zombies 4, nos. 1 to 4 and Marvel Zombies Return, nos. 1 and 2 (Marvel Publishing, $3.99 each) - Sequential-art readers' insatiable appetite for the dining habits of the undead continues to fuel a five-year-old zombified Marvel universe.

The latest limited series continue the ghoulish trend of mixing a high level of disgusting visuals with a variety of infected heroes and villains.

Soon to be compiled in hardcover ($19.99) is the fourth limited series starring the new version of the Midnight Sons. The B-list roster of Morbius the vampire, Werewolf by Night Jack Russell, Son of Satan Damion Hellstorm, sorceress Jennifer Kale and the Man-Thing work as a team for A.R.M.O.R. (Alternate Reality Monitoring and Operational Response).

The monstrous squad finds themselves not only battling flesh-eating hordes of Fish-men led by Piranha, but also Dormammu, the Hood and an airborne plague of death unintentionally set loose by Morbius.

Writer Fred Van Lente picks up from his work on Marvel Zombies 3 with a winning story mixing the serious and often complex side of stopping flesh-eaters with plenty of humor. Most of the laughs come from the bodiless, decomposing - but constantly talking - head of Deadpool, carried around by Marvel's original zombie, Simon Garth.

I could, however, do without the some of the heavy-handed dialogue, especially between Son of Satan and his fiery relative Dormammu.

Artist Kev Walker delivers the interior art, not as graphic as that seen in other Marvel Zombie series, but he manages to saturate plenty of panels with blood and entrails.

Much more amusing and repulsive is Marvel Zombies Return. Continuing the story line from the second limited series, we learn about the zombified versions of Spider-Man, Giant Man, Wolverine, Hulk and the Avengers teleported to alternate universes.

Each of the five one-shot issues stars some of the characters with plenty of body-part-munching opportunities.

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"The Book" To Provide A New Voice In Book Reviews - Arts Journal

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 08:40 AM PDT

Forgive me if this has gotten around: as I mention above, I'm in Europe, at meetings, and therefore not seeing much news. But I've received word that The New Republic is starting a new section on its website called The Book. As TNR literary editor Leon Wieseltier wrote in his explanation of it, "the plan was to rush in and fill the vacuum in book criticism that is being left by the carnage in American newspapers" -- only better.

TnrCover.jpgThe Book plans to run a review most days, as well as to aggregate book criticism from not-the-usual suspects. It will also contain "classics" -- reviews of books drawn from the TNR archives -- and other features, like a roundup discussion of books on a particular genre, like thrillers. Some features are yet to be developed.

And though The Book is named in the same way as many TNR blogs, like The Vine (about the environment), it won't be a blog, Wieseltier says.

Some of this sounds similar to Arts & Letters Daily. But not exactly. In any case, I certainly welcome it. Anything of quality that adds to the discussion of books has got to be a godsend to publishers and readers everywhere.

 

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Gone, but not forgotten - Denton Record-Chronicle

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 09:19 PM PDT

Carrying pumpkins, squash, lemons, flowers and candles, teens set up a small altar at the North Branch Library to discuss the significance of Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, on Tuesday night.

The group, part of the library's Teen Advisory Board, decided to talk about the Latin American holiday at its "passport" meeting, when members share information about various countries.

"Passport to Mexico: El Día de los Muertos" covered the predominately Mexican holiday, which is coming up on Sunday and Monday.

"The rituals associated with these days are a mixture of Catholic and native beliefs," read Emily Ray, 17, a senior at Ryan High School, from a book about the holiday celebration.

"Death is seen as part of life in Mexico," she said. "The dead are never forgotten and people believe the dead return for a few days each year to be with the living."

After reading about the Day of the Dead, some of the teens decorated masks, played loteria — a famous Mexican game similar to bingo — and painted their faces.

"People think it is about Halloween, and it is not," said Jennifer Moor, 16, a student from Ryan High School and a member of the teen group that meets monthly to discuss books, movies and other topics of interest.

Juli Gonzalez, teen librarian and group coordinator, said she wanted to do something fun so that the kids could learn about the holiday.

"The teens help with program ideas; we have book reviews and summer readings," Gonzalez said.

Through its passport meetings, the group has learned about the Polynesian Islands and Venice, Italy, and has celebrated Chinese New Year.

"There are different cultures here to learn about and learn from," said Iruna Kharel, 14, who was creating a paper mask along with her brother Imoj, 12.

Jessika Salinas, 32, brought her two young boys to the meeting.

"I wanted them to learn what it is and what it means to our culture," she said. "It is to celebrate the souls of our past ancestors."

Salinas, who was born in Brownwood and has lived in Denton most of her life, said she remembered her grandmother setting up altars at their home.

"My grandmother used to do it and so does my mom. She set up candles and put pictures of the saints like the Virgin of Guadalupe on her altar," Salinas said.

In addition to the altar, the Teen Advisory Board also had a display of Day of the Dead figurines and other art borrowed from a collector.

Next year, the teens will explore aspects of Japan and possibly the United Kingdom.

"So many kids will like that," Gonzalez said.

KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com .

Day of the Dead: www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm

Día de los Muertos (in Spanish): www.diadelosmuertos.us

• W.S. Ryan Elementary School Days of the Dead Celebration

When: 1:45 and 6:30 p.m. today

Where: cafeteria/auditorium, 201 W. Ryan Road

Details: Students from the school's bilingual classes will dress as Mexican artists Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and others, and lead a procession that includes a presentation about the Day of the Dead. Other entertainment includes songs and dance, as well as a mariachi band from the University of North Texas. Call 940-369-4621.

• Día de los Muertos Art Show & Celebration

When: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday

Where: Rose Marine Theater/Galería de la Rosa, 1440 N. Main St., Fort Worth

Details: For more information, call 817-624-8333.

• Día de los Muertos Altar Celebration

When: noon, Monday

Where: Chilton Hall, Room 209, on the University of North Texas campus

Details: Dr. Alicia ReCruz, professor of anthropology at UNT, will explain how the day is celebrated in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. Participants can bring nonreturnable photos and mementos of deceased loved ones to be blessed and placed on the altar. Call 940-565-2663.

• El Día de los Muertos

When: 7 to 9 p.m. Monday

Where: Texas Woman's University Student Union, Room 207

Details: Sponsored by TWU's Office of Intercultural Services and co-sponsored by the following student organizations: Colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma national sorority, Sigma Lambda Alpha sorority and the League of United Latin American Citizens. Call 940-898-3679.

 

 

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