AltWeeklies Wire
Saving the U.S. from Its Real Journalismnew
Structured like a parody of a high school history textbook, the book is so often on the mark in its satire of American history, institutions and self-centeredness that it may very well end up being used by some high school teacher this year.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
11-04-2004 |
Nonfiction
Author Looks to Unlock Truth of Houdini's Final Vanishing Actnew
J. Gordon Whitehead visited Houdini backstage and punched the master of escape in the stomach. Houdini died a few days later. Was it murder or a dumb prank gone wrong? Don Bell, one of Montreal's great essayists, spent the last two decades of his life tackling the mystery.
Montreal Mirror |
Kristian Gravenor |
11-04-2004 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Behind the Robesnew
Another book on the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church appears, at first, redundant. What is there left to say? Yet, Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II informs us of new, fascinating stories. One is of a priest who takes on the Vatican on behalf of abuse victims.
Jackson Free Press |
Lawrence Silver |
11-03-2004 |
Nonfiction
God Had a Plannew
Hanson writes, "I've never been one to believe that people could or should blame how they’ve turned out on circumstance, yet Spencer’s story spoke straight to my soul."
Jackson Free Press |
Lynette Hanson |
11-03-2004 |
Nonfiction
New Books Bust Stress, Phobias and Other Evilsnew
Nedd looks at stress from a medical perspective in terms of our physical reaction to it and the possible damage to the central nervous system that ensues. Also reviewed are other books about dealing with difficult people, workaholism and managing fear.
The Georgia Straight |
Gail Johnson |
11-02-2004 |
Nonfiction
Tags: $22.95). Australia-based career counsellor Roberta Cava, $22.95). Toronto clinical psychologist Barbara Killinger, and Annoying Co-Workers (Key Porter, Dealing With Difficult People: How to Deal With Nasty Customers, Demanding Bosses, Kenford Nedd, Michael Clarkson addresses in Quick Fixes for Everyday Fears: How to Manage Everything From Fear of Change to Fear of Flying, Power Over Stress: 35 Quick Prescriptions for Mastering the Stress in Your Life, Workaholics--The Respectable Addicts: A Family Survival Guide (Key Porter, Nonfiction Reviews
Alabama Dreamin'new
Hoffman gives an "Alabama Twist" to the Kleinmans—a compelling drama about a classic Southern family, except that they're Jewish.
Jackson Free Press |
Lynette Hanson |
10-29-2004 |
Fiction
His Velocity: Keeping Up With Dave Eggersnew
While Heartbreaking Work fried Eggers' grief over his parents' death in a vat of irony -- a necessary tic, no doubt, in de-sanctifying the memoir -- these stories do not have their guards up. They are raw, unfiltered and have the quivering texture of lived experience.
Missoula Independent |
John Freeman |
10-29-2004 |
Fiction
Diary of a Pranksternew
His new novel may be his most traditional yet, but Chuck Palahniuk is still keeping the book world off balance.
Metro Silicon Valley |
Gary Singh |
10-28-2004 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Chuck Palahniuk, Diary
Love and Liesnew
Livesey creates characters who quicken a story about the nature of love into a story about the mutability of truth.
Boston Phoenix |
Dana Kletter |
10-28-2004 |
Fiction
Standing Up For the Almost Famousnew
Review of book about nearly successful authors from the southern mountains.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
10-27-2004 |
Nonfiction
Oh, I Could Read a Case of You!new
A book looks at famously drunk writers, their habits, their battles and their very rare recoveries.
Mountain Xpress |
Cecil Bothwell |
10-27-2004 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Give 'em the (Free) Birdnew
How Lynyrd Skynyrd saved the South -- or at least one Southern-rock writer. Memoir of a former Rolling Stone editor.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
10-27-2004 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Dylan's Chronicles: Dropped Chords Just Don't Matternew
Dylan's new memoir carries one along on a tidal surge of storytelling, of memory and scenic detail.
Boston Phoenix |
Jon Garelick |
10-22-2004 |
Nonfiction
Howard Zinn Targets the Next Generationnew
The historian's new book combats the "submersion of nonwhite people" in the writing of history.
Boston Phoenix |
Deirdre Fulton |
10-22-2004 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Author Still Sadistic, Cantankerous and Outrageously Funnynew
Burroughs grew up gay in rural Massachusetts, the son of a depressed mother and a victim of a crackpot psychiatrist and his pedophile son. Now a recovering alcoholic, he works in a successful but soul-stripping career in advertising, with a cleaning lady who scammed him out of $12,000.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Thomas Bell |
10-21-2004 |
Nonfiction
