How to Become a Scandal
by Laura Kipnis
[Book]
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Who doesn’t love a scandal? In this book, Kipnis explores the how and why of scandalous behavior, including what makes the rest of us such eager consumers of other’s downfalls. She focuses on four juicy tales from the recent past at some depth , but always with a light touch: Lisa Nowak, the lovelorn astronaut; disgraced New York judge Sol Wachtler; “memoir” writer James Frey; and Linda Tripp, Monica Lewinsky’s confidant who encouraged her pursuit of President Clinton and then betrayed her. If you’ve ever wondered, “What were they thinking?” How to Become a Scandal attempts to answer that question.
Reviewed by Forbes Library Staff
Tagged: Celebrities, Non-fiction, Psychology
Juliet, Naked
by Nick Hornby
[Book]
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No one writes about the extremes of being a fan like Nick Hornby. Juliet, Naked tells the story of Tucker Crow, an obscure American rock musician who hasn’t been heard from in 20 years, his obsessive English fan, Duncan, who maintains a “Crowology” website and Annie, Duncan’s girlfriend, who has gone along for the ride. All of their worlds are turned around when a long-lost demo of Tucker’s original hit is released and Annie posts some opinions of her own.
The
audiobook version is especially enjoyable, with Bill Irwin and Jennifer Wiltsie reading alternating chapters, with music by Ben Miles.
Reviewed by Forbes Library Staff
Tagged: Fiction, Music
Let the Great World Spin
by Colum McCann
[Book]
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A tale of Manhattan in the 70’s, of a remarkable man who walked on a wire strung between the top of the two trade center towers, and of some of the various and sundry people who watched him from below. An anguished Irish monk, a black hooker and her prostitute daughter, a Park Avenue matron mourning her son who died in Vietnam, a twenty-something artist, and a Guatemalan nurse, interact and come together in unpredictable ways. The characters are engaging and real; and the story, written beautifully, won the National Book Award.
Reviewed by Sara
Tagged: Fiction, Irish monks, Manhattan, World Trade Center towers
Now
by Bhagavan Das
[Music CD]
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This is a very interesting recording. Bhagavan Das sings traditional kirtans and bhajans, or devotional songs, from India, and his performance shows his deep familiarity with these traditions while simultaneously embracing a very modern sound. This is in part due to Das’ collaboration with the album’s producer, Mike D of the Beastie Boys, who contributed samples and loops which give the album a very modern feel, but don’t, perhaps surprisingly, feel the least bit out of place. In addition, Das is accompanied by a wide range of musicains playing instruments from the east and from the west, traditional and modern. We hear guitars and ektar, drum sets and tabla, sarangi and synthesizers, harmoniums, organs, and conch shells. We can also hear the influence of the blues, the Beatles, and traditional Indian singing styles.
Every track on this album is powerful, energetic, and alive. Every word is heartfelt. I’ve only had a chance to listen to this album once so far—but I’m very much looking forward to listening to it again.
Reviewed by Ben
Tagged: Hip-Hop, Religion, Yoga
Nonviolent Communication
by Marshall Rosenberg
[Audiobook]
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Nonviolent communication, also known as compassionate communication, is a language of empathy, respect and connection. Dr. Rosenberg developed the program based on his long experience in conflict resolution. The underlying concept is that emotions are based on needs, and that seeking to understand your own and the other’s true needs and feelings leads to peaceful interactions where everyone is more likely to get their needs met. Appropriate on any scale, it’s been helpful to me so far in personal, professional and business relationships, and Rosenberg has used it to mediate and resolve conflicts between ethnic groups and governments throughout the world. It is a truly idealistic vision of how every one of us can create a more compassionate world through learning and applying caring communication.
Also available as a
book.
Reviewed by Faith
Tagged: Communication, Non-fiction, Psychology
While Mortals Sleep
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
[Book]
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In his touching preface, writer Dave Eggars refers to Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as a “hippie Mark Twain”. Never has Vonnegut’s appeal been described so accurately. While Mortals Sleep features unpublished, short fiction pieces by the Slaughterhouse- Five, Breakfast of Champions and Cats Cradle author. This is the second posthumously released collection (the first being Look At the Birdie) and it focuses solely on the author’s early work before receiving literary notoriety. In these stories, we get a preview of themes and tones that will exist later in his most famous writings: mainly bizarro science fiction and his select brand of acerbic wit and humor (this is where we mostly relate his Twain influence).
In these rich stories, we encounter the mother and widow of a fallen World War II soldier, a restless newspaper man who has no time for Christmas and a scientist who falls in love with a talking refrigerator he’s modeled after his ex-wife. These tales from the young author manage to succeed as classic Vonnegut.
Reviewed by Jason
Tagged: Fiction, Humor, Science fiction
Exit through the Gift Shop
[DVD]
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What starts off somewhat conventionally as a documentary on street art culture and its biggest legend and mystery Banksy, is flipped into an scathing satire of the art world. The film, ostensibly created by and starring Banksy, Shepard Fairey and the ‘amateur documentarian’ Thierry Guetta , is a priceless document/depiction of street art’s journey indoors and its eventual corruption at the hands of those who seek to document, celebrate and endorse it. The films ability to keep the viewer questioning the authenticity and the reliability of the films guide/narrator/director, Thierry, cleverly parallels the art world’s desperate quest to identify Banksy and to own and define his work. In capturing both the rush and excitement of the creation of ‘street art’ and the vacuous dullness of those who seek to commodify and blandly reproduce it, Banksy has created an enthralling portrait of what happens when the lines between art and commerce, public spaces and private property, and documentary and mockumentary are blurred. Highly recommended along with the wonderful and more straightforward “B Movie” which documents much of Banksy’s legendary work.
Reviewed by Dylan
Tagged: Art, Documentary, Feature film, Graffiti
The Union
by Elton John & Leon Russell
[Music CD]
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The Union exists as one of the finest statements of friendship that the recording industry has seen. The origins of this album began when Elton John was listening to a vintage Leon Russell recording and burst into tears. The two hadn’t spoken since they toured together in the early 1970’s when John first came to America. Russell, being an early hero of his, had also become a nearly forgotten footnote in the history of popular music.
Leon Russell, a member of Phil Spector’s infamous Wrecking Crew, the pianist and arranger for the Concert for Bangladesh and critically lauded solo artist of the 1970’s, had been releasing music with little distribution or fanfare from his website for the last couple of decades. Elton saw it as his mission to reintroduce audiences to Leon’s brilliant catalog and release him from obscurity. He approached his childhood idol to work on some material together and also selected T-Bone Burnett to handle the production.
The result is a stunning collaboration drawing influence from New Orleans jazz and blues, gospel, soul, country and the Jerry Lee Lewis brand of rock n’ roll. The two piano men trade licks like they are dueling at a honky-tonk and modestly share vocal duties as much as two legends can. Though Elton certainly hasn’t sounded this good since his classic years, it’s Leon who steals the show. Russell’s “In the Hands of Angels”, a song about dying sung in his withered drawl, is by far the standout track.
I believe the saying is “you can take the man from the Lion King, but you can’t take the Lion King from the man”. Yes, there are those moments where Elton is delivering the soaring power ballad chorus, but these occasions are few. The Union feels at home alongside Elton’s Tumbleweed Connection and Leon’s spectacular self-titled record. It’s the 70’s… just forty years later.
Reviewed by Jason
Tagged: Buddies, Pop music
Outlaw cook
by John Thorne with Matt Lewis Thorne
[Book]
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Outlaw Cook is a great collection of essays by local writer John Thorne. In its chapters you will find memoir, philosophy, social commentary, book reviews, and much else besides, all of it related in one way or another to the world of cooking. Thorne’s interests are wide ranging, and the content collected here is diverse, but the overall theme of the collection is that of cooking not as a means to an end (a meal) but as an experience in of itself. Equally important is Thorne’s emphasis on appetite and how it drives the actions of the cook. Whether writing about potato pancakes, garlic soup, or the search for the perfect pecan pie, Thorne’s enthusiasm is infectious and will leave you eager to get to the kitchen, cook, and experiment.
Reviewed by Ben
Tagged: Food, Non-fiction
Luka and the fire of life
by Salman Rushdie
[Book]
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This wonderful book is a sequel to Haroun and the Sea of Stories, though it stands perfectly well on its own. Luka and the Fire of Life, like Haroun, is a children’s book, and like Haroun it is dedicated to one of Rushdie’s sons. This story is a fast-paced fantasy set in a world made up from bits and pieces of many stories, from ancient myths to Super Mario Brothers and Doctor Who. The writing is wonderfully witty, full of word play and puns and humour of many sorts; it had me chuckling immediately and erupting in belly laughs within the first few pages. Children and adults alike will get great pleasure from this book.
Reviewed by Ben
Tagged: Fantasy, Fiction, India
The Cellist of Sarajevo
by Steven Galloway
[Book]
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A haunting and memorable novel of hope, courage, and the daily struggle to survive that takes place during the 1992 siege of Sarajevo. After a mortar shell kills 22 people who were lined up in the town square to buy bread, a once famous cellist who viewed this from his window vows to pay tribute to each one during the next 22 days. Every afternoon he brings his chair to the spot where the shell had fallen, and plays a beautiful rendition of Albinoni’s Adiagio. Arrow, a gifted female sniper, is assigned to protect him. A powerful depiction of how the human spirit endures and life continues during the heartbreak of war.
Reviewed by Sara
Tagged: Fiction, Historical fiction, Sarajevo, Sieges
Last Child in the Woods
by Richard LouvLouv
[Book]
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Richard LouvLouv’s book discusses a ‘nature-deficit disorder’ and ways to counteract it. He cites a 2002 British study which reported that eight-year-olds could identify Pokémon characters far more easily than they could name “otter, beetle, and oak tree.” Gathering thoughts from parents, teachers, researchers, environmentalists and other concerned parties, Louv argues for a return to an awareness of and appreciation for the natural world.
Reviewed by Molly
Tagged: Children, Nature, Non-fiction, Parenting
