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 #310 Title: The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African ChildhoodAuthor: Helene Cooper Year: 2008 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Country: Liberia 365 pages Cooper's memoir of growing up in, fleeing from, and returning to make her peace with Liberia. Some reviewers have been unhappy that Cooper did not focus more on Liberia's internal conflict, but this is a memoir, not a journalistic appraisal of a country's political and social problems. It's appropriate to her chosen genre that Cooper focuses on her recollections of childhood, preoccupations and relationships, and life experiences, set inextricably in the context of her country's growing strife. There seemed to be plenty of history and commentary on Liberia, with the familial emphasis you would expect in a memoir. Other reviewers have criticized her as lacking emotional expression, which is not what I see. Many memoirs of traumatic events are narrated with a superficial distance but are nonetheless very emotionally evocative, and that is the case for this life story as well. My complaints about the book have nothing to do with the content. There are a few egregiously bad typos ("who's" for "whose" is an example), but this is the editor's oversight, not Cooper's. The typeface in the hardback is a thick, serifed style that is hard on the eye. As a narrative, however, I found it interesting and engaging. Tags: africa, books of the world, memoir
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 #309 Title: Nauru One Hundred Years Ago: 3. Games and SportsAuthor: Alois Kayser, KSCYear: 1921-22/2005 Publisher: University of the South Pacific Centre, Nauru and Institute of Pacific Studies Country: Nauru 84 pages Reading this volume was a little like reading Hoyle's for Natives in that its purpose is to document the many rules of games and sports played in Nauru both before and at the beginning of the 20th century. This historical document, written by a missionary, could be jocularly retitled Throwing Sharp or Heavy Objects at People and Birds, because that is what most of these games and sports entail. At least 80% of the games are merely variants on the idea of throwing a sharp stick at someone/withstanding having a sharp stick thrown at one. Several entries conclude with a statement that the game was banned by the government because there were too many injuries. When I read about games where people routinely lose eyes, I tend to agree with that stance. The elaborateness and length of some of the games suggests both more religious/symbolic underpinnings than those Kayser describes, a lot of time on the community's hands, and perhaps a human compulsion to gain status through dominating another person or animal. No matter which explanation is correct, this was fascinating to read, and I'm glad I was neither an islander nor a frigate bird in Nauru. Tags: books of the world, non-fiction
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 #308 Title: The Girl in the Tangerine ScarfAuthor: Mohja Kahf Year: 2006 Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers Country: Syria 448 pages An awkwardly written novel that becomes more compelling as it gathers steam, The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf is worth reading for content, though not for style. Kahf provides a look at Muslim communities in the Midwest and elsewhere, racism and sexism directed both to and from Muslims, and the immigrant's dislocation. The childhood sections are overly sentimental and do not ring as true as the adolescent and young adult portions. However, Kahf does a relatively good job of depicting the protagonist's stages of religious development, including both extremism and the later recognition of the limitations of her parents' enactment of Islam. The writing was often wooden and self-conscious, at times loosening up in a way that suggests that the novel was constructed in parts, some ultimately more fluidly rendered than others. The first 2/3 would have been better served by editing out around 100-150 pages to tighten the action and lead more compellingly to the last third, which is, though episodic, more emotionally engaging. The use of "girl" in the title is strange since, as is made clear by the cover, she has a tangerine scarf as a woman, not as a girl. It is also odd because one of the book's points is that the protagonist is an adult; though a case could be made for the title as ironic, there is no support for this interpretation in the novel. Future editions would benefit from consistent use of italics (or not) for foreign words, as well as a spelling check for foreign words in languages other than Arabic. Both Spanish and Hebrew words are incorrectly or inconsistently spelled. Tags: books of the world, fiction
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 #307 Title: Don't Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart: The Story of Elvia AlvaradoAuthor: Elvia Alvarado Translator/Editor: Medea Benjamin Year: 1987 Publisher: Harper Perennial Country: Honduras 199 pages A useful and educative first-person story of land reform struggles in Honduras, narrated by a campesina activist. Her story reveals the social justice aspect of Catholicism and serves as a balance to some of the world's narratives of church activities that disenfranchise poor communities. Alvarado's plain, matter of fact account stands in contrast to the government's response he group's actions inspire, which is often violent and repressive. An excellent illustration of how the battle against "communism" is often a battle against community. Tags: books of the world, social science, unions
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 #306 Title: The Thin PlaceAuthor: Kathryn Davis Year: 2007 Publisher: Back Bay Books 275 pages I really enjoyed this well-written, darkly humorous and literary novel. I mean "humorous" in the tragic way, not that it is funny, though there are many moments of wit. It is humorous in its brief, matter of fact summations of events both horrific and merely sad, in its choices of focus, in its language, and in its sentiments. It includes both shaggy dog stories and stories told by shaggy dogs. Some reviewers have called it Christian allegory, which is certainly there (in a raw, messy, non-sanitized way), but it is at its center an animist tale of love, loss, and beauty. Some passages remind me of Annie Dillard's ecstatic nature writing, not in tone or structure but in their dizzying and sudden revelations of worlds that constellate with the world that appeared to be the focus of the narrative. Thus, the discourse shifts from the thoughts of a girl to a narration describing rocks, or to the voice of a beaver, or the telling of a character's secret. These secrets, hopes, and vulnerabilities not just of people but of animals and landscapes, are the true "thin places" of this novel, points of congruence and divergence not just between humans but all of the world's constituents. My only complaint about the book is not about the book, but the cover. The cover image is misleading and creates an inaccurate expectation about the book's genre. Take out the man in the funny hat, change the baby for a cat, and the wedding dress for something semi-formal from the LL Bean catalogue for a much better depiction of the novel. Tags: fiction
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 #305 Title: How to See Yourself As You Really AreAuthor: Dalai Lama XIV Translator: Jeffrey Hopkins Year: 2006/2007 Publisher: Atria Country: Tibet 288 pages Well. There's got to be a Buddhist joke in the fact that I read this in February but forgot to write a review. I admire the 14th Dalai Lama's skill at explaining complex concepts by starting with simple, observable phenomena that build to more abstract and seemingly inevitable principles. This book is denser than many of his writings. However, I found his analysis and explanations both clear and clarifying, and appreciated the demonstration of the more rigorous, empirically-grounded expression of Buddhist thought. I now have a better understanding of several concepts that I previously could describe but not explore, notably dependent-arising and its relationship to emptiness. I would recommend others if the reader is looking for a basic volume on Buddhist philosophy or meditation instructions. Tags: asia, books of the world, religion
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 #304 Title: The HostageAuthor: Zayd MuteeÊ» Dammaj Translators: May Jayyusi & Christopher Tingley Year: 1984/1994 Publisher: Interlink Country: Yemen 166 pages A simply told but eloquent coming of age story of a boy kept as a hostage in order to ensure his family's political cooperation. The strategy of imprisoning, forcibly employing, or marrying the adversary's children is reasonably common in the world. Often told from the perspective of the hostage, this genre usually include a critique of the captors' corruption, and Dammaj's account, with its pious boy narrator and decadent ruling class, is no exception. The tale takes place not from the beginning of his captivity, but from his entry into servitude in the governor's palace to his escape. It is framed by his friendship with a helpful and sophisticated duwaydar (boy-servant) who, perhaps as symbolic punishment for his participation in the immorality of the household, dies of tuberculosis. I appreciated Dammaj's use of language, which is a testament to the skill of the translators, and the glimpse of both the political machinations of a now-defunct culture and of the details of daily life in the Yemen of that era. Tags: books of the world, fiction
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#303 Title: Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, Book 1)Authors: Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson Publisher: Disney Editions Year: 2004 463 pages
This Peter Pan prequel/back story should be enjoyable, but I found it a slow, unengaging read. I was abstractly interested in the plot and the illustrations are lovely. It's much better written than, say Inkspell or the Charlie Bone books. It may be how interchangeable and indistinct most of the characters were, especially given that so many were demographically similar--problematic captains with dumb but loyal sidekicks who are both called "idjit," and several boys who can be told apart only because the fat one whines. There were some statements of feelings, but I never felt emotional immediacy or identification with the characters. The plot seemed overly complex for the readers' target age. All that said, however, it was an interesting enough start that I'll probably read the next one.
Tags: children's/young adult, fantasy & science fiction
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 #302 Title: Mugglenet.com's Harry Potter Should Have Died: Controversial Views from the #1 Fan SiteAuthors: Emerson Spartz & Ben Schoen with Jeanne Kimsey Publisher: Ulysses Press Year: 2009 205 pages
It's an interesting idea--debate topics related to the Harry Potter books and films. The reality, however, doesn't live up to the potential of this adequate but ultimately superficial book. Questions of the form "Which is better/worse/more courageous, X or Y?" ultimately polarize rather than lead to a more nuanced exploration of the Potterverse. The "verdicts" rendered are brief and read more as further pronouncements of opinion rather than a weighing of the evidence mustered by the proponents of the opposing perspectives.
Perhaps in an attempt to sound contemporary., or perhaps because the authors are young, much of the text has an annoying attempting-to-sound-cool tone. In addition, there are problems with felicity of expression (such as awkward or ungrammatical sentences and the use of homophones). Some of the factual information is incorrect (for example, Neville's birthday is not June 30 as reported, but July 30).
The most enjoyable way to read the book would be to pose these questions to young (or not-so-young) readers for discussion, including points of comparison as well as contrast. This conversation ultimately may be more satisfying than a passive reading, and will make the book more useful as a conversation starter.
Tags: children's/young adult, fantasy & science fiction, non-fiction
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 #301 Title: James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. SheldonAuthor: Julie Phillips Publisher: Picador Year: 2006 559 pages
A fascinating biography of Alice Sheldon, better known as award-winning science fiction author James Tiptree, Jr. Phillips gives us a great deal of detail but the narrative does not bog down; though most people picking up the book know that Tiptree's identity was eventually revealed, and of her life's distressing ending, I doubt most people knew that she went to Africa as a child, or that she was a talented artist who illustrated two of her mother's books and had an illustration published in The New Yorker. Phillips provides copious life details, tracing Sheldon's moves, careers, and relationships over time. Sheldon's correspondence with Harlan Ellison, Barry Malzberg, Ursula K. Le Guin, Joanna Russ, and others is a great delight to read. Phillips has chosen her excerpts judiciously. Most interesting is Sheldon's psychological state, which seems rarely to have been good. I would have liked to know even more about this; at points this compelling information is presented in a flat, superficial way. This may reflect the fact that many of Phillips' informants are still living and may not have shared some information or given consent to publish. It is quite evident that Sheldon's use of a male pseudonym goes beyond convenience or privacy and has greater symbolic resonance in the context of her many issues and concerns related to sexual identity and gender. Phillips occasionally speculates about Sheldon's psyche. As a psychologist, I can't diagnose from afar. However, I can wonder about a person's life narrative. Based on what Phillips has provided, I don't think the diagnosis of cyclothymia (given by a therapist at some point in Sheldon's life) is a sufficient description of her psychological and interpersonal difficulties. I'm also not sure whether it could be accurately diagnosed given her amphetamine abuse. Sheldon was quite terrified at a number of times during her family's African sojourns. Her mother was flirtatious and at at least one point made a sexual overture to her then-adolescent daughter (reminiscent of Anne Sexton's daughter's description of Anne's behavior toward her). Sheldon is severely depressed and often suicidal, anxious, self-doubting, reckless, conflicted about sexuality, and drawn to abusing substances. Though expressing discontent with it, she manages to spend much of her life in a sexless marriage. Her behavior and emotions often edge into the Borderline Personality Disorder spectrum. For these reasons, I wonder if something sexually traumatic happened to her as a child, either in Africa or within her family of origin. My non-diagnostic speculation is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. This is a better fit than cyclothymia and would, if true, contribute to a more coherent understanding of Sheldon's pervasive discomfort and unhappiness. Tags: biography, fantasy & science fiction, non-fiction
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#300 Title: Some Short Stories from MongoliaCompiler: Ts. Bold Editor: D. Natsagdorj Publisher: State Publishing House, Ulan-Bator Year: 1988 Country: Mongolia 192 pages
Published after the start of the collapse of the Soviet Union, but before Mongolia's Democratic Revolution, this collection serves as a reminder of just how awful nationalistic fiction can be. The look and hand-feel of this Soviet-era volume gives me flashbacks to 10th-grade Russian class, where my dictionaries (Russian-Spanish, Spanish-Russian, and trusty Anglo-Russki Slovar, all purchased from a second-hand bookshop in Washington, D.C.) were printed on the same rough, thin, grey paper with what appears to be hot type. Despite having no illustrations, the book lists an illustrator, as well as the compiler, editor, artistic director, technical director, and corrector. The State Publishing House of Ulan-Bator apparently was not immune to bloated bureaucracies. The skill of the translators, and proofreaders, varies wildly across stories, often causing unintended hilarity.
These technical details aside, the stories in this collection are unified by their themes, structures, and styles. First, the theme of the pastoral Mongolian countryside, which is highly romanticized. Second, the theme of the heroic Mongol soldiers and workers, alongside their Soviet military friends, striding arm in arm to spread communist propaganda (in stories set before the Soviet), fight Soviet wars (if during the Soviet), and, in either case, die heroically for their ideals. Structurally, many of the stories use a framing narrative, along the lines of <<And then, as I dried my boots, I asked the old grandma to tell me how the mountain got its name.>> Like a roach motel, the story gets into this frame, but usually can't get back out. Stylistically, these stories are flat and at times their emotional intent cannot be discerned.
I did learn a great deal about the basic settings and props for writing a Mongolian story of this era: A girl with braids (who is compared to a blade of grass or other natural phenomenon); a ger (yurt), sometimes placed mysteriously in the landscape; fermented milk; an old person; a truck; a cooperative farm, worker's collective, or documentation of same; and sometimes a legend. Assert heroic and noble sentiments toward the state (told, not shown). Run the manuscript through Babelfish a few times, and you will approximate this earnest yet dated collection.
Tags: asia, books of the world, short stories
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