| Marquette University | July 2006 |
Celebrate summer @ Raynor Memorial Libraries. This issue of the Libraries' newsletter for readers presents staff favorites for summer reading. Our goal is to identify a broad range of contemporary fiction and nonfiction for the general reader. Staff from throughout the libraries contributed recommendations, plus a selection of recent prizewinners. All readers in the Marquette community are invited to suggest books, or better, to write a brief review for Ex Libris. If you missed an alert, the November and April issues of Ex Libris are available online. Clicking on the title or cover image will take you to the book's MARQCAT record; please note locations carefully as items may be in the Browsing Collection (Raynor 1st level) or in the Memorial stacks. Books that are checked out may be reserved by clicking on the blue button at the top or bottom of the MARQCAT record. |
In Other Words; Artists Talk About Life and Work, by Anthony DeCurtis (Hal Leonard, 2005) Elvis Costello once said that writing
about music is like dancing about architecture--these engaging and substantive interviews
provide a solution to the challenge. I sense that many baby boomers ceased reading Rolling
Stone magazine on a regular basis many years ago. Here's an opportunity to catch up
on what you've missed. Writer and interviewer Anthony DeCurtis also included interviews
conducted for The New York Times and other publications. The revised transcripts
within In Other Words consistently provide a more in-depth conversation than the original
publications, while DeCurtis' introductions provide historical hindsight. While I recommend the
entire book, I anticipate that many casual readers will pick and choose from this eclectic mix, including
Bruce Springsteen, George Harrison, Eminem, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Phil Spector on John Lennon,
and more. Also featured are lively interviews with film directors such as Woody Allen, Robert
Redford, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese, and others. Perhaps the most interesting are six
interviews about Johnny Cash, including the legendary artist, plus Roseanne and June Carter Cash,
Bono, Tom Petty, and Trent Reznor. Recommended by Matt Blessing, Head of Special
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1491, by Charles C. Mann (Knopf, 2005) Science journalist Mann attempts to answer the question “What was the New World like at the time of Columbus?” The last 20-30 years of research in many fields has greatly changed scholarly understanding of this question, but little of it has reached the general public. Mann makes no attempt to be comprehensive; instead, he has three main points, and the material he includes in the book is all in support of them. They are discussions of: how many Indians were here before the Europeans arrived (far more than once thought) and shortly after (far fewer—think smallpox and other diseases); when and how did the Indians get here; and how did the Indians interact with and shape their environment (agriculture and forest management are but two examples). Along the way, Mann also discusses persistent stereotypes about pre-Columbian Indians (Noble Savages vs. primitives vs. innocents in Eden), the academic controversies generated by the research, and what our new understanding of this history could mean for our environmental future. Two highlights of this well-written book are the Pilgrims’ story from the viewpoint of Tisquantum (a.k.a. Squanto) and how to make arable land in the Amazon. Recommended by Valerie Beech, Research & Outreach Librarian
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The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People, by Cathleen Falsani (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006) Holding Masters’ degrees in Theology and Journalism, Cathy Falsani is the religion reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Falsani’s book includes interviews with 25 famous people regarding their religious and spiritual beliefs and how they perceive God and faith in their lives. Among the diverse group she interviewed are authors Laura Esquivel, Sherman Alexie, Anne Rice and Studs Terkel; Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel; movie director David Lynch; Playboy founder Hugh Hefner; and musicians Bono (U2), Melissa Etheridge, and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins). Other public persons from law, science, economics, television, politics and sports are included; and Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim faiths are represented. Some persons did not claim any particular religious affiliation, but classified themselves as simply "religious" or "spiritual." A few described themselves as agnostics, atheists, or secular humanists. Many spoke to the existence of God, believing that there is something more than this physical world. Interviewees also discussed their religious or spiritual upbringings and how these positive/negative experiences influenced them. This book not only provides insight into some of the top public figures who who help shape our world today, but also offers a view into the plurality of religious consciousness in our society as a whole. Believers of all faiths will find this book inspirational and non-believers will find this book gives them something more to consider. Recommended by Rose Trupiano, Research & Outreach Librarian
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Digging to America: A Novel by Anne Tyler (Knopf, 2006) Tyler’s seventeenth novel will not disappoint her fans. Two couples meet in the Baltimore airport as they claim their adoptive Korean infants: the Yazdans are Iranian immigrants and parents of Susan; and the all-American Donaldsons are parents of Jin-Ho. Tyler follows the couples and their extended families through annual Arrival Day parties, exploring what it means to be American; how outsiders experience being caught between cultures; and how immigrants come to feel at home. Digging to America has less of the quirkiness found in some of Tyler’s novels and more genuinely interesting characters that reach out to the reader. Recommended by Susan Hopwood, Outreach Librarian |
In The Devil in the White City, author Erik Larson intertwines the stories of two dramatically different men. Daniel Burnham, the brilliant architect (he built New York’s famed Flatiron building among many others), constructed the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair despite tragedy, incredibly bad luck, and seemingly insurmountable odds. At the same time, H.H. Holmes, the serial killer, built The World’s Fair Hotel to hide a chamber of horrors (including a gas chamber and crematorium), and charmed young female victims drawn to Chicago by the fair. Fast and fascinating, Larson's book combines great reporting seamlessly with a style that makes readers feel they’re deeply entrenched in a mystery novel. But it’s completely true, completely unforgettable, and a fantastic read. Recommended by Leslie Quade, Bindery Preparation Supervisor, Serials Department
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The Good Life, by Jay McInerney (Knopf, 2006) Jay McInerney, author of Bright Lights, Big City (1984) is back with another tale set in New York. The Good Life begins in the evening of September 10, 2001, and is the story of Corrine Calloway, who has taken a break from her career after the birth of her twin children, and Luke McGavock, who has left the world of high finance in order to "find himself" and spend more time with his out-of-control teenage daughter. Corinne and her husband, Russell, first appeared in McInerney's novel Brightness Falls (1992). Corrine and Luke meet on the morning of September 12th, when both volunteer at a Ground Zero soup kitchen. The story focuses on the aftermath of 9/11, including the feelings of fear and anxiety, the anguish of not knowing what happened to missing loved ones, and the desire for normalcy. McInerney delivers a highly readable novel and vivid description of life in New York immediately following September 11th. What defines a good life, and are we living it? For Luke and Corrine, that horrific day does not provide any definitive answers but gives them the ability to see their lives with a new perspective and gives the reader much food for thought as the five year anniversary of the tragedy approaches. Recommended by Jean Zanoni, Head, Bibliographic Control
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A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka (Penguin, 2005) The title gives the appearance of an obscure technical manual of little interest to the reading public. In actuality Marina Lewycka's novel exposes the depths of estrangement and distrust between two sisters, then documents the transformative power of unbridled hatred of "other" that reunites the feuding siblings. In this case, the "other" is a buxom Ukrainian gold digger who threatens to bankrupt and destroy the sisters' eccentric, ailing father, who is a farm equipment engineer. Through intriguing subplots and bewildering missteps, the siblings recount their family history and realize the reasons behind their simmering feud. Though the conclusion might be "too Hollywood” for some tastes, the reader can’t help but be enthralled by the machinations, passions, and history that are evoked by the family's legacy of conflict. Recommended by Adam Brisk, Library Intern
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Play Dead by Michael A. Arnzen (Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2005) Not since Tim Powers' World Fantasy Award-winning Last Call has a novel of Las Vegas created such a vibrant portrait of a city poised on destiny's precipice. Johnny Frieze is a gambler whose luck has come crashing to an end. Destitute, he lands in a homeless shelter with a cadre of strange, down-on-their-luck gamblers. Here, desperation, sweat, and greasy food are balanced by an aura of sacred and profane opportunity in the form of a bizarre game of Butcher Boy being assembled by the enigmatic Winston. If only Johnny can deal himself in, he knows his luck will change. But the players are already selected, and only an early "folding" gives Johnny his chance. Each player must create his own suit of cards using escalating violence and a Polaroid camera, forming the deck to be used in the actual game. Will the game make a killer out of Johnny? Everything is symbolic in this vaguely Faustian tale that also recalls aspects of William Hjortsberg's classic Falling Angel. Award-winning poet and novelist (100 Jolts, Grave Markings) Michael Arnzen's language is suavely, subversively poetic, recalling the best of the hard-boiled tradition and still telling a story that bobs and weaves to a climactic Seventh Seal face-off. Buried in this striking Vegas noir is a meditation on chance, fate, destiny and fortune. Recommended by Bill Gagliani, Stacks Supervisor |
The Myriad (Tour of the Merrimack: Book 1) and Wolf Star (Tour of the Merrimack, Book 2) by R. M. Meluch. (DAW Books, 2005 and 2006) Swords and swordplay on a spaceship? Yes! The scenario: Earth has reluctantly allied with a long-time enemy and former colony, the Palatine Empire (aka the Romans), to combat a new threat from space, the Hive. Apparently a non-sentient group organism, the Hive eats everything organic in its path. The Earth battleship Merrimack and its crew lead the fight, with Captain Farragut at the helm, and with a "technologically enhanced" human, a Roman "patterner," along to help. In The Myriad, they investigate a cluster of worlds marked by the anomaly of interstellar travel without faster-than-light (FTL) technology, and devise ways to fight the Hive. In Wolf Star, the circumstances of the Earth-Roman alliance and first contact with the Hive are explained; and although the details get rewritten, overall destiny is largely unchanged (yes, time travel and alternate history are there!). You’ll want to read both of these together (though which book comes first is debatable, despite the numbers!), or the story will seem unfinished. That said, this is space opera/military science fiction at its best—their characters, subplots, and fast pace will keep you reading. Recommended by Valerie Beech, Research & Outreach Librarian
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Spotlight on the First-Year Reading Selection Hunger; A Novella and Stories by Lan Samantha Chang (W. W. Norton, 1998) The novella that begins this collection, “Hunger,” is the Manresa Project’s choice for the incoming (fall ’06) freshman class. Faculty, staff, and students will want to pick up this easy read (copies are available in the Browsing Collection) before the fall semester so they can participate in activities scheduled around the book’s themes. The story focuses on an immigrant Chinese couple and their two young daughters—each struggling in an individual way to make a life in America. While the novella illuminates the immigrant experience, it explores many themes that are universal to place and ethnicity—the hopes and dreams of parents for their children and the ways young people make choices about their lives. To help readers explore these themes, the Libraries prepared a list of related books. Recommended by Susan Hopwood, Outreach Librarian |
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Broadcasts from the Blitz: How Edward R. Murrow Helped Lead America into War by Philip M. Seib, (Potomac Books, 2006). Seib is Neiman Chair and Professor in the Diederich College of Communication. Besides extensive experience as a print and broadcast journalist, he has taught university-level journalism for 24 years. He is the author of numerous books about politics and media, including Beyond the Front Lines: How the News Media Cover a World Shaped by War (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004). Broadcasts from the Blitz focuses on the impact of Murrow's 1939-41 CBS broadcasts, "This is London." Ex Libris congratulates faculty authors of new books. The Libraries' Department of Special Collections maintains an archive of publications by faculty, staff, and alumni and encourages their donation to the Libraries for future generations. Please alert the Libraries to your new publications by entering the bibliographic information in the MU Writes section of “News From You." See more about the collection or call Archivist Matt Blessing at (414) 288-5901. |
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| Spotlight on Recent Prizewinners | |
On Beauty, by Zadie Smith (Penguin Press, 2005) won the 2006 Orange Prize, given to full-length novels, written by women and published in Britain, that display “excellence, originality, and accessibility.” On Beauty is Ms. Smith’s third work, following White Teeth (Random House, 2001) and The Autograph Man (Random House, 2002). |
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| Pulitzer Prizes in letters, announced in April |
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| March, by Geraldine Brooks (Viking, 2005) won the 2006 prize for distinguished fiction by an American author. | |||
| Polio: An American Story, by David Oshinsky (Oxford University Press, 2005) received the award for a distinguished book upon the history of the United States. | |||
| American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (Knopf, 2005) won the award for distinguished biography by an American author | |||
| Late Wife, by Claudia Emerson (Louisiana State University Press, 2005) won the award for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author. | |||
Ex Libris is published online occasionally Managing Editor: Susan Hopwood Tell us what you think! Want to contribute your recommendation? © 2006 Marquette University -- Last Update: July 18, 2006 |
