smiteme's reviews from LibraryThing

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:58:38 -0500

smiteme's review: "Sarah Palin in a Corset Though I’m not what you’d call a seasoned history buff – French history, in particular – I can confidently say that Antonia Fraser’s MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE JOURNEY is the definitive biography of Marie Antoinette. It’s hard to imagine that any historian can top this exhaustive look at the life and death of France’s most infamous Queen. Fraser traces Marie Antoinette’s life, from privileged birth to tragic death, in great detail. (The story actually begins well before Antoinette’s birth, with a look back at the Princess’s ancestors, and ends not with the Queen’s beheading, but with the fate of her daughter, Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte.) Fraser makes extensive use of contemporary documents, most notably correspondence between Marie Antoinette and her friends and relatives, including her mother, the politically ambitious Maria Theresa. She also cites – sometimes critically – the work of historians before her. The result is a keen, nuanced examination of the life and legacy of Marie Antoinette, to whom history has not been kind. While Antoine was, like all people, a flawed individual, she was far from the she-devil caricature drawn by her opponents. The Queen did waste the taxpayers’ money on all manner of frivolities; but then, so did her husband and other assorted members of their royal circle. (Indeed, much of this expense went towards “traditional” or “customary” labor and favors; had she tried to do away with these French traditions, the Austrian-born Queen would have been vilified just the same.) Born into privilege, she knew little of poverty, famine, or hard labor – the lot of most of her subjects. Most damningly, she actively defended France’s monarchy, positioning herself directly opposite freedom and democracy. Even so, Marie Antoinette was a scapegoat, a receptacle for the political unrest, violence and hatred of the time. Much of the criticism directed at the Queen was predictably gender-based: she was at once stupid and frivolous – and a political mastermind capable of manipulating and cuckolding the King; a cold, frigid lover, the source of her husband’s impotence and/or asexuality – and a ravenous, insatiable whore, who either engaged in orgies with men or women, depending on whom you believe. (At her trial, she was even accused – along with her sister-in-law – of sexually abusing her own son!) Pamphlets of the time depicted the Queen in all states of undress and sexual positions, and her physical appearance was often a topic of discussion. Naturally, her body – or rather, the contents of her womb – was also a point of public interest, as her primary “job” was to bear France the next King. Sound vaguely familiar? (Hence the title of this review, which could just as easily read “Hillary Clinton in muslin.”) Marie Antoinette was the victim not just of misogyny, but of xenophobia as well. Prior to Princess Antoine’s marriage to the Dauphin, Austria and France were rivals. The future King Louis XV had been raised on tales of “those evil Austrians,” a factor perhaps contributing to his initial indifference towards his new wife. The Princess drew no small amount of suspicion as an Austrian upon her marriage to the Dauphin, and the hatred and discrimination only grew with her unpopularity. The Queen’s loyalties were often called into question, despite the many sacrifices she made in order to become the “Mother” of France. (Imagine being forced from your family and homeland, thrust into a strange place with no friends or allies, and treated like the state’s baby machine. The Queen may have been privileged, but she was also very much oppressed.) At 544 pages, MARIE ANTOINETTE is a hefty book; so much so, in fact, that I probably wouldn’t have “read” it had it not been available in audiobook format. Even so, it took me also a month to finish the audiobook, which clocks in at over 20 hours. Fraser’s take on Marie Antoinette is astute, informed and fascinating. Even so, I don’t think I would have made it through the print book. English is my primary language, and with no training in French, I’m certain that I would have found the French (and Austrian) names, places, words and phrases difficult to enunciate and follow. Donanda Peters makes for an engaging and charming narrator, transitioning from French to Scottish accent with ease. My only real complaint is in Fraser’s coverage of France’s political climate during Marie Antoinette’s reign. Fraser does talk politics, but these discussions are usually framed and presented in terms of Marie Antoinette’s life, as a sort of backdrop. With no real foundation in French history, I found this rather confusing and choppy, but again, I’m a novice – history buffs will probably come to the table with all the background knowledge they need. That said, I think hardcore history buffs and novices alike will enjoy MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE JOURNEY. The book is rife with feminist undertones (Fraser seems no stranger to patriarchy blaming!), so methinks it might make great leisure reading for feminist-minded women, as well. I look forward to devouring more of Antonia Fraser’s political biographies! (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1N7I57V3UUG7W/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Crossposted on Amazon.</a>)"
RH Audio (2006), Edition: Unabridged, Audio CD

How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America: Sex, Virtue, and the Way We Live Now by Christina Page

Mon, 25 May 2009 19:32:55 -0400

smiteme's review: "“Pro-life”? More like “anti-sex,” “anti-woman” and “anti-human.” If HOW THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT SAVED AMERICA – the title of Cristina Page’s 2006 exposé of the religious right/pro-life movement’s true agenda – sounds like liberal hyperbole, chances are that Page wrote this book just for you! While the “pro-life” movement professes to respect “all life,” to the point of holding it sacred, the movement’s actions belie this all-too-common assumption. Since the days of Roe v. Wade, pro-lifers have been hammering away at women’s – and men’s – reproductive rights. In addition to abortion (whether it occurs before the fertilized egg implants in the womb, the point at which those in the medical field consider that a pregnancy has begun, or in the later stages of pregnancy, which is very rare and usually done in order to save the mother’s life), the pro-life movement opposes contraception, and not just Plan B (which is not an abortifacient, but rather a high dose of The Pill). Whether the method is hormonal (The Pill, the patch, Plan B, NuvaRing, etc.) or barrier (the condom, the sponge, the cervical cap, the diaphragm, spermicide), pro-lifers oppose it. The only contraceptive method explicitly endorsed by pro-life groups, in fact, is one with dubious efficacy: natural family planning, also called the rhythm method. The pro-life groups’ anti-contraceptive stances – which oftentimes translate into political lobbying and policymaking – expose the “pro-life” movement for what it really is, namely, anti-sex and anti-woman. Sex is a natural and healthy part of (adult) life, Page argues, as is the ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies, i.e., contraception. Absent contraception, women are faced with a tough choice: undergo abortion after abortion; birth more children than they want and can reasonably care for; or forgo sex unless the sole intent is procreation (whether married or not). It’s these latter two options that the pro-life movement wishes to force on women – and not just those living in the U.S. Meanwhile, the former two scenarios represent the reality for many women: research shows that abstinence education simply doesn’t work. Women and men will continue to engage in sex, and when contraception isn’t readily available and affordable, unwanted pregnancies and abortion will result. The single best way to prevent abortion, then, is to prevent unwanted and unintended pregnancies - and yet, the pro-life movement crusades against strategies that will do just this, including comprehensive sex ed and contraception. Like I said, “Pro-life”? More like “anti-sex,” “anti-woman” and “anti-human.” Armed with a volume of research and statistics, Page demonstrates just how at odds the pro-life movement’s views are with those of mainstream America. In particular, she examines the hoopla over Plan B and the HPV vaccine; pro-life groups’ anti-condom activities; the defunding by President G.W. Bush of UNFPA; and American life pre- and post-Roe (the latter reads like a precursor to Margaret Atwood’s THE HANDMAID’S TALE). Little in HOW THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT SAVED AMERICA will surprise readers who are engaged in the struggle for reproductive rights. At just 238 pages (minus 70 pages of notes and indices), this is a slim tome, especially given the subject matter. On the flip side, had Page made her review of anti-choice activities more exhaustive, HOW THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT SAVED AMERICA could have easily exceeded 500+ pages – thus narrowing her audience considerably. As such, I think the author strikes a nice balance between insight and brevity. It’s a quick, easy and informative read; I polished it off in a weekend, and even learned a few new factoids, even though I’ve been following feminist blogs and organizations for years. Some of the information is by now out of date; hopefully, Page will soon release an updated paperback edition. Still, the book is a good starting point for those new to the politics of reproduction, sexuality and Constitutional rights vis-à-vis bodily privacy. Other reviewers have accused Page of “cherry-picking” quotes from pro-life websites, press releases and interviews, further arguing that these views do not represent the majority of pro-lifers’ views. A laughable observation, as this is precisely Page’s point. In the opening pages, Page points out that many laypeople who describe themselves as “pro-life” and donate money to pro-life organizations actually haven’t a clue as to these organizations’ – and thus the movement’s – true beliefs and aims, which go well beyond outlaying abortion. Thus, it’s those who oppose abortion – but respect women, men and children and enjoy sex and the right to privacy - who most need to read HOW THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT SAVED AMERICA. Put simply, to be truly “pro-life” is to be “pro-choice.” (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TFESLA3T2GZR/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Crossposted on Amazon.</a>)"
Basic Books (2006), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 256 pages

Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:38:45 -0500

smiteme's review: "“Your religion is crazy!” Growing up the daughter of an infamous Mormon apologist can’t be easy; doubly so when you’re raised in a cloistered, uber-evangelical conservative Mormon community in Provo, Utah. Just ask Martha Nibley Beck, whose now-deceased father Hugh Nibley made a career out of twisting (and sometimes even fudging) the facts for the Mormon church. In LEAVING THE SAINTS, Beck remembers her child- and young adulthood. One of eight children, Beck and her siblings lived in near-poverty. Though her father was well-respected in Mormon circles, an academic job at Brigham Young University (BYU) is considered “God’s work” – and thus is its own reward, with an appropriately paltry salary. Beck married her husband John at a young age (twenty-one – that’s old maid in Mormon years!), and the two left Provo so that Beck could attend Harvard, where she eventually earned a PhD in sociology. The two returned to Provo after the birth of their second child, Adam, who has Down Syndrome; Beck felt that her choice to have Adam would be met with greater support in Provo. While living in Provo, Beck finished her thesis at Harvard, gave birth to her third child, and took a part-time teaching job at BYU. Within three years, Beck experienced repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse; soldiered through academic repression and intellectual purges at BYU; and, along with her husband, resigned from BYU, left the Mormon church, and fled from Provo. (Though it’s not revealed in LEAVING THE SAINTS, both Mr. and Mrs. Beck later divorced and “came out” as homosexuals.) Beck’s most contentious claim is that her father sexually abused her from the ages of five to eight. The feminist in me tends to believe women when they say they were sexually assaulted, abused or raped: the rate of false reports of sexual assault are no higher than that of other crimes; the rates of report, investigation, prosecution and conviction in sexual assault cases are notoriously low, i.e., victims are unlikely to report such crimes and, when they do, the likelihood that they’ll find justice is nil; and, finally, such cases are rife with victim-blaming, such that women who report sexual assault are put on trial themselves. Given these circumstances, I find it highly improbable that most women would simply “make up” stories of sexual assault, for whatever reason. However, I also find recovered memories suspect, particularly if they’re recovered during psychotherapy. Elsewhere, Beck says that, while she did undergo psychotherapy, this was only after her repressed memories began to resurface. Additionally, physical evidence (including extensive vaginal scarring) does point to past trauma. Beck also claims to have elicited a confession of sorts from her mother when she initially told her of the abuse. Unlike the childhood memories of sexual abuse, it’s unlikely that Beck’s mind manufactured this memory; so either she’s lying or she isn’t. Though her mother later recanted, this might be easily explained both by Mormon culture and the fact that Mrs. Nibley is wholly dependent on her husband for support. Whether you believe Beck’s recovered memories to be real or not, LEAVING THE SAINTS is nevertheless a fascinating look at the Mormon religion and culture. Unlike older religions like Christianity and Islam, Mormonism is so young that it’s been documented – extensively - in modern history. Contemporary news reports reveal founder Joseph Smith as a con artist and fraud, and his own accounts of church teachings and personal revelations show that he was also an egotist and philanderer. For this reason, I find Mormonism (and similar “young” “religions” like Scientology) remarkably interesting. (Full disclosure: I’m a heathen vegan feminist.) Most of the exposes I’ve read previously have focused on fundamentalist, breakaway Mormon sects which still practice plural marriages (see, for example, Jon Krakauer’s UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN). In contrast, LEAVING THE SAINTS looks at mainstream Mormonism – and reveals it to be just as wacky, dysfunctional and misogynist as the excommunicated cults. For example, Beck’s account of a women’s forum held at BYU, which she moderated shortly before leaving the church, is jaw-dropping – and actually has one Mormon scholar blaming children for their own sexual abuse! Beck recounts her journey – leaving the saints and finding her faith – in a series of flashbacks, interspersed with a conversation/confrontation she had with her elderly father in a hotel room shortly before writing LEAVING THE SAINTS. Beck is a master story teller, and though the reader can posit a guess early on as to the source of Beck’s trauma, the details are no less surprising once Beck’s repressed memories come flooding back with ferocity. As an atheist, I had some trouble relating to Beck’s spiritual journey, but these sections are written beautifully, and non-practicing religious/New Age readers will no doubt enjoy Beck’s quest for a more intrinsic, less prescribed sort of faith. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3RZ4OG00IBI0E/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Crossposted on Amazon</a>.)"
RH Audio (2005), Edition: Abridged, Audio CD

Monster Rally by S. Michael Wilson

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:26:42 -0400

smiteme's review: "A Monster Mashup S. Michael Wilson’s MONSTER RALLY is an eclectic anthology of pop culture essays (new and old) which share one common thread: namely, monster movies! The “monsters” highlighted in this fun volume run the gamut, from Mutants (EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS, INVADERS FROM MARS, THE ANGRY RED PLANET) to Monsters (KING KONG, GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE, Mexican horror films, Yeti/Abominable Snowman monster movies) to Madness (Jason, SCREAMING MIMI, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, FREAKS, THE BLACK CAT, Jim Jones, Charles Manson). While novice fans will mostly enjoy this collection, monster movie geeks will get more out of MONSTER RALLY, as some of the references are more obscure than others. Likewise, the bulk of the films discussed are “retro”/B movies, with little culled from the 21st century. As is usually the case with anthologies, some of the essays are stronger than others, and of course personal favorites may vary according to taste. As a Kong fan, I quite enjoyed editor S. Michael Wilson’s contribution, “A Giant Falls: A Critical Looks at Peter Jackson’s KING KONG,” but perhaps you might prefer Patrick O’Donnell’s “Curse of the Abominable Snowmen: A Bigfoot Researcher Sheds Light on Three Yeti Films.” To each her own! What’s certain is that these geeks (primarily S. Michael Wilson, Patrick O’Donnell and David Jacobs, who penned most of the essays in MONSTER RALLY) know their stuff. (Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2XNHJTHZ4HDK6/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon</a>.)"
BookSurge Publishing (2008), Paperback, 232 pages

The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:57:06 -0500

smiteme's review: "768 pages in 6 hours: What was lost in narration? I initially “read” the audiobook version of Douglas Brinkley’s The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a chronicling of the events leading up to and following Hurricane Katrina’s landfall(s) on the Gulf Coast in August 2005. Brinkley, a historian and New Orleans resident, offers a level-headed assessment of the local, state and federal government’s preparations for and response to what would ultimately be the single deadliest (and one of the costliest) hurricane in the United States’ history. There’s plenty of blame to go around, and Brinkley serves up slices of humble pie to everyone from President George W. Bush, to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Director Michael Brown, with an extra-heaping plate of fail saved especially for NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin. Brinkley also points out the failings of local police officers, government bureaucracy at the local, state and federal levels – he even finds fault with city founder Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, who initially chose the site of New Orleans and refused to abandon the city, even after a hurricane destroyed most of the existing structures, only four years into the city’s brief existence. Brinkley also praises those who rose to the occasion: meteorologists who tried in vain to alert local and state officials to the impending disaster; police and military officers who performed their duties with bravery and compassion; neighbors who rescued one another when the government would not (or could not); and citizens the world over who rushed in to help displaced Gulf Coast residents. As infuriating as are the tales of government incompetence and corruption, these individual narratives of goodwill are equally inspiring. As I mentioned previously, I “read” The Great Deluge in audiobook format. My chief complaint with the book is that Brinkley makes little mention of nonhuman animal companions – “pets” – and the role they played in the disaster. As ill-prepared as New Orleans was to evacuate the city’s poor, elderly and disabled residents, less still were they equipped to care for the animal companions of these marginalized groups. While some New Orleans residents were offered evacuation at the last minute, neither the government-supplied buses nor shelters allowed non-human animals – so residents were forced to leave their beloved animals behind, to certain death (sometimes reportedly at gunpoint). More than a few residents chose to stay put and ride out the storm with their non-human family members – and, as result, many human and non-human animals died needlessly. (It was because of the fault lines revealed by Katrina that the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) was born; the law, which was signed by Bush in 2006, requires the inclusion of animal companions in state and local disaster planning.) Likewise, individual animal rescuers and animal advocacy organizations displayed unparalleled foresight, courage, tenacity and efficiency in the face of the storm. These were some of the first responders on the scene, searching out gutted homes and sewage-filled streets in hopes of finding surviving animals. Truly, the folks at the Louisiana SPCA, Muttshack, Noah’s Wish, the Humane Society of Louisiana, Best Friends, Farm Sanctuary, Kinship Circle, et al, are Katrina’s heroes. Given that the fate of the Gulf Coast’s non-human animals were (and still are) an integral part of the story, I was more than a little disappointed that Brinkley gave them scant mention – hence the 4/5 star rating. However, upon browsing Amazon’s listing for the print version of The Great Deluge, it seems that much was omitted from the abridged audio version. Indeed, 768 pages were condensed into a mere five discs, totaling slightly less than 6 hours of running time! Judging from reviewer responses to the unabridged hardcover and paperback versions of the book, Brinkley does indeed discuss the plight of non-human animals, as well as the efforts of their rescuers. The highlighted review from PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, for example, says: “Historian Brinkley (Tour of Duty, etc.) opens his detailed examination of the awful events that took place on the Gulf Coast late last summer by describing how a New Orleans animal shelter began evacuating its charges at the first notice of the impending storm. The Louisiana SPCA, Brinkley none too coyly points out, was better prepared for Katrina than the city of New Orleans. It's groups like the SPCA, as well as compassionate citizens who used their own resources to help others, whom Brinkley hails as heroes in his heavy, powerful account.” Thus, the fault seems to lie not with Brinkley, but with whoever decided to cut any discussion of animal-related issues from the audio version of the book (thus implying that they’re expendable). The same goes for first-person, survivor accounts, as the audiobook contains precious few of these. I imagine that, should I ever get around to reading the huge tome that is The Great Deluge, I’ll find it worthy of a full five stars. For the reasons discussed above, however, the audiobook falls a little short of my expectations. (Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1RZXQJL3PU1FP/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/05/12/book-review-the-great-deluge-by-douglas-brinkley-2006/">easyVegan-dot-info</a>.)"
HarperAudio (2006), Edition: Abridged, Audio CD

Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? by Morgan Spurlock

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:26:30 -0500

smiteme's review: "A surprisingly weighty read. With the tongue-in-cheek goal of tracking down Osama bin Laden, award-winning filmmaker (SUPERSIZE ME, 30 DAYS) and expectant dad Morgan Spurlock travels through the Middle East in search of the FBI’s most wanted terrorist, in this book based on a film of the same name. Far from serious, the “Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?” angle serves as the vehicle through which Spurlock examines some pretty weighty issues. Naturally, Spurlock begins with a biography of bin Laden, detailing his transformation from trust fund baby to radical Islamic jihadist. He then traces bin Laden’s steps through much of the Middle East, including Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, learning about the man’s life and influence throughout the region in the process. During his quest, Spurlock converses with a variety of people, such as religious and political scholars, government and military personnel, teachers and students, relatives of terrorists and former terrorists, and secularized Saudi youths. Taken together, these voices speak (oftentimes contradictory) volumes about life in the Middle East. From cover to marketing copy, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? appears on its face to be a somewhat flippant look at a deadly serious subject, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth: Spurlock’s written a mighty weighty read here. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? presents an accessible, empathetic and cogent look at the long-running conflict(s) in the Middle East, as well as the U.S.’s changing role in the region. Topics covered run the gamut: the nature of terrorism, religious fundamentalism and fervor, the spread of secularism and attendant clashes with theocracy, past and present Palestinian/Israeli conflicts, how best to “spread” democracy, ethnic and religious intolerance – Spurlock packs quite a bit into only 300 pages. The author/filmmaker weaves his tale against the backdrop of his impending fatherhood; throughout his travels, for example, Spurlock solicits advice on parenting from his sundry interview subjects. While this grows a little tiresome about halfway through the book, the payoff is well worth it: Papa Spurlock concludes his search for bin Laden, not with the apprehension of the fugitive, but with a tear-jerking call to peace, tolerance and an end to the “othering” of our fellow humans, hopefully beginning/continuing with his own little “Sponge Bob.” (It’d be nice if he’d extend this consideration to non-human animals, especially in light of his baby mama’s veganism – I mean, WTF is up with eating foie gras in front of your pregnant vegan girlfriend, dude!? – but hey, you can’t win ‘em all!) Spurlock knocks not just Islamophobia among Westerners, but also anti-Westernism, anti-Semitism and misogyny amongst religious fundamentalists in the Middle East. My only real complaint is that Spurlock’s trademark smartass humor – which I found so charming in SUPERSIZE ME and DON’T EAT THIS BOOK – falls a little flat in WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?. It’s hard to pinpoint why, exactly; I’m not sure the weightiness of the subject quite explains it, as SUPERSIZE ME’s material is just as heavy (pun intended). Perhaps it’s because, in cracking jokes in war-torn countries, Spurlock sometimes comes off as a caricature of that obnoxious Yankee that bin Laden & Co. have so successfully traded on. Even so, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? is an entertaining, moving and delightfully informative read – and much more hopeful in tone and feeling than similar books about “The War on Terra,” to boot. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1H5JD664NOS3D/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Crossposted on Amazon</a>.)"
Random House Audio (2008), Edition: Abridged, Audio CD

Dying to Cross CD: The Worst Immigrant Tragedy in American History by Jorge Ramos

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:12:06 -0500

smiteme's review: "Surprisingly boring. On May 14, 2003, nineteen people died while en route from a small Mexico/Texas border town to Houston, Texas, in what at the time was called the "greatest illegal immigrant tragedy in modern history." An estimated 73-84+ undocumented immigrants – most of them Mexican citizens, with a small minority hailing from other Latin American countries, such as Honduras – were packed into the back of a hermetically-sealed, locked-from-the-outside tractor trailer, without water, air conditioning or fresh air. Over the course of four hours, 17 people asphyxiated to death before the truck's driver finally pulled over to rest. When Tyrone Williams – who was contracted by coyotes to transport the immigrants to Houston, on what should have been the final leg of their trip - opened the trailer and discovered the dead, he fled from the scene. Most (if not all) of the immigrants were apprehended by local police and ICE, and were given temporary work visas so that they could remain in the U.S. and testify against their human traffickers. Two more immigrants died at the hospital, bringing the death toll to 19. The coyotes were charged with a variety of offenses, including murder. Jorge Ramos, a native of Mexico and anchor for Noticiero Univision, weaves survivor, witness and official accounts of the tragedy together in DYING TO CROSS. The bulk of the story is told from the perspective of the half dozen or so survivors who were willing to speak to Ramos. The account of the perilous four hours spent in the trailer, for example, are primarily survivor accounts, with liberal use of direct quotations interspersed with medical explanations of what the victims' bodies and minds would have been going through, given the circumstances. Ramos also offers brief biographies of a few of the immigrants, as well as accounts of how they came to buy a spot on that fateful trailer. The book concludes with a description of the aftermath, however, as there was no real trial to speak of, this section of the report is almost anti-climactic. Ramos attempts to use this tragedy to illustrate failings in U.S. immigration policy as well as U.S./Mexican political relations, but his analysis seems a little scattered and superficial. (It's not that I necessarily disagree with his conclusions, rather, I don't feel as though he made a very comprehensive argument in favor of a more open and humane border policy.) Given the book's subject matter, DYING TO CROSS is surprisingly boring, and I can't really pinpoint why. It seems as though the survivors' accounts of the trailer ride should have been more nail-bitingly suspenseful – but, not so much. There was a lot of talk about prayer, Satan worship, God-begging, etc., which got really tiresome, really fast. Case in point: all of the women passengers survived; one of the surviving men attributed this to the fact that the women started praying to God immediately, while the men "wasted" their energy on "frivolous" activities – like banging on and rocking the trailer, in a failed attempt to get the driver's attention. Um, yeah. Trying to stop the truck – what *were* they thinking!? Plus, the women's 100% survival rate couldn't possibly be due to the fact that women's bodies tend to retain more water than men's, for a variety of reasons including menstruation and oral contraception, right? (Ramos loses major cred for failing to counter these superstitious claims with scientific explanations.) Naturally, the survivors all thanked God for sparing them, proclaiming it a "miracle," etc., which begs the question of why God favored them and not the nineteen who died – one of which included a 5-year-old boy. But hey, maybe that's just the cantankerous ole atheist in me. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3EMK3CQ96X80C/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Crossposted on Amazon</a>)"
HarperAudio (2005), Edition: Unabridged, Audio CD

The Myth of Lost: Solving the Mysteries and Understanding the Wisdom by Marc Oromaner

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:04 -0500

smiteme's review: "Fun theory - but could we lose the sexism, please? Spoiler alert: This review contains spoilers for LOST through Season 5, as well as a brief description of the theory set forward by Marc Oromaner in THE MYTH OF LOST. Like many diehard LOST fans, Marc Oromaner is convinced that he's found the answer to LOST's mysteries. In THE MYTH OF LOST, Oromaner shares his theory about the island and its supernatural properties. He also explains how and why the Losties, the Others and the DHARMA Initiative found their way to such a strange world. The crux of Oromaner's theory is that the island isn't a "real" place at all. Rather, it's virtual world, and most of what the audience sees on LOST is actually a computer simulation. The Losties, the Others and the DHARMA Initiative are actual people in the "real" world, who have entered the computer simulation for various reasons. Some are psychologists, scientists and computer programmers (the Others, the DHARMA Initiative), who "live" on the island in order to ensure that the program runs as intended and/or perform research. Meanwhile, other individuals (the Losties and the Tailies) have either been committed to the program, for example, to serve a prison sentence (Sawyer, Kate) or have voluntarily entered the simulation in order to work out their "issues" (Jack, Sun, Jin, Claire, Rose, Bernard) – for a hefty fee, of course. Still others have been thrown into the program against their will; Desmond, for instance, might have been placed on the island by Mr. Widmore in order to keep him away from Penny. Once the castaways' issues have been solved, they're "killed off" by the program, after which they reawaken in the "real" world. Naturally, the scientists and researchers realize that they're part of a simulation, whereas the castaways truly believe that they've landed on a mysterious island. To this end, their memories of the crash are false, programmed into their minds by the makers of the simulation. Many of the castaways' "flashbacks" may be similarly implanted. Oromaner incorporates many of the larger pieces of LOST's puzzle into his computer simulation theory, including the numbers, the Black Rock, the four-toed statue, the whispers, Walt's seeming astral projection, the smoke monster/security system, time travel, the Adam and Eve skeletons found in the cave, the island's fertility/pregnancy issues, etc. Oromaner wrote THE MYTH OF LOST during Season 3, and published it in September '08. As such, his theory only covers LOST through Season 3 – and he does a pretty good job of incorporating and explaining the various aspects of the show up to this point. However, throughout Seasons 4 and 5, you can see his theory unravel, particularly vis-à-vis the flashforwards in Season 4, and the real-time action in Season 5. Even so, THE MYTH OF LOST is a fun exercise, if you can take the book for what it is – namely, a slightly out-of-date book on LOST. (Which is a BIG IF, considering some of the other reviews posted on Amazon.) Oromaner's theory itself deserve five stars, however, he loses major points for engaging in casual sexism. For example, he constantly refers to the women actors' bodies in juvenile, beer commercial-esque terms. Sure, this might not *seem* like a big deal, but as a woman, I encounter this type of objectification everywhere: in television shows, tv commercials, ad campaigns, at the movies, in the grocery store, at work, online – everywhere. One of the many reasons why I love LOST is because Abrams & Co. treat the women just like the men – namely, like human beings. As a woman and a LOST fan, listening to some fanboy drool over Kate, Claire and Juliet is the last thing I want to do when reading a book about LOST theory. Secondly, Oromaner offers his opinions on what "issues" the castaways might be "working out" in the computer simulation. In Kate's case, he surmises that she needs to "embrace her femininity" and stop trying to act like "one of the guys." The best way for her to do this, Oromaner says, is to have a baby and submit to authority. Um, 'scuse me!? Does Oromaner actually mean to suggest that women who aren't sufficiently "feminine" – i.e., donning frilly dresses and makeup, mothering children, obeying male authority, etc. – are somehow defective and in need of treatment? Seriously!? What is this, 1945? Finally, and most insultingly, Oromaner discusses mythological archetypes and categorizes each of the characters accordingly. His breakdown includes Heroes (Jack, Locke, Sayid, Desmond and…Boone!?); Damsels in Distress (Kate, Claire, Sun, Penelope, and possibly Rousseau); Wizards (Boone and Eko in their spirit forms; Walt's doppelganger); Tricksters (Hurley, Charlie and Walt); and Mavericks (Sawyer, Jin, Michael, Shannon and Juliet). That's right: Oromaner defines useless idiot Boone as a Hero, while kick-ass Kate, Sun, Penelope and Rousseau are all silly lil' damsels in distress. Remember, Oromaner's analysis includes events through Season 3 of the show. At this point, Jack had been forced to rescue Boone from drowning in the ocean, thus resulting in another castaway's death – even though Boone is supposedly a lifeguard. Boone also proved useless in retrieving his sisters' asthma medication, whereas Kate was at least able to eke out the truth from Sawyer. The same sister who, in the "real world," conned Boone repeatedly. Ultimately, Boone died of stupidity, blindly following Locke's instructions to climb into a plane dangling, headfirst and by vines, 25 feet off the ground. Meanwhile, Damsel Sun accompanied Heroes Jin and Sayid to the Others' camp by sailboat, in order to save Jack, Sawyer, Kate and Hurley – and shoots and kills Other Colleen in the process. We also learn through flashbacks that Sun isn't the diminutive little wallflower that she appears to be; in fact, she's somewhat conniving and manipulative, and had a hand in her husband's corruption. Penelope, another so-called Damsel, spent years tracking down her lost love Desmond, defying her father's wishes. (Ultimately, Penelope rescues Desmond and the other survivors, though this doesn't happen until after Oromaner penned THE MYTH OF LOST.) Rousseau has done a mighty fine job of protecting herself over the past 16 years, evidenced by the fact that she's the sole survivor of her research group (the rest of which were men). And then there was Kate. Even though Kate's gotten herself into more than a few pickles, oftentimes this is due in part to Jack's stubbornness and (sometimes misguided) attempts to protect her. Kate is athletic, tough, smart, cunning, strong-willed; she doesn't need a man to look out for her. Kate's "issue" isn't that she bucks authority, rather, it's that men keep trying to impose their will on her. On more than one occasion, Jack commanded Kate to stay put, even though she could have been of great use on the mission at hand. Placing the blame squarely on Kate for tagging along against Jack's orders misses the point – namely, that he wouldn't give such orders to Kate if her name was Kevin. Either way, in what world/computer simulation does Oromaner justify classifying BOONE as a HERO and KATE (et al) as a DAMSEL!? Does not compute - unless you add a healthy dose of misogyny to the equation. There's also the little problem of gender distribution – no men are classified as Damsels, even though a few are in need of rescue at various times (Boone, Charlie, Walt, Desmond; of these, Charlie and Desmond are rescued by women, so-called Damsels!). Of the seven women mentioned, five are categorized as Damsels. Men are somewhat equally distributed among all of the archetypes, save for Damsel, while women only fit into two of the categories. Taken together, these three issues are quite offensive to this female LOST fan. As an atheist, I also found Oromaner's New Age God-talk eye-rollingly and mind-numbingly silly and boring, but most of this is confined to the first and last 10-15 pages, and thus is fairly easy to avoid. Oromaner's arrogance is another drawback; he continually asserts that this is how the show "should be" or "must play out" in order to "stay true" to mythology. Sorry, but I've loved the show thus far, and will trust LOST's writers and producers – the same writers and producers who have created a mystery so stunning that it's inspired so much fan speculation, ahem – to dream up a satisfying ending. These complaints aside, I quite enjoyed Oromaner's theory, even though it's been discredited by the subsequent two seasons. In fact, I think it speaks to the theory that I only knocked off one star for some extremely unfortunate and off-putting issues evident in THE MYTH OF LOST. (A slightly shorter version of this review is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1Z7W5L3RICLSY/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">crossposted on Amazon</a>.)"
iUniverse Star (2008), Paperback, 184 pages

Alias #1: Recruited (Alias) by Lynn Mason

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:38:39 -0500

smiteme's review: "Sydney Bristow 90210 When it comes to my favorite tv shows, I'm not really that into novelizations or prequels written by third parties – rarely do they live up to the standards set by the series' writers and production crews. Even so, when I spotted an audiobook version of ALIAS: RECRUITED at a garage sale, I decided to give it a try. As you can probably surmise, ALIAS: RECRUITED is a prequel to ALIAS – essentially, the novel is author Lynn Mason's imagining of how Sydney came to work for SD-6. The story takes place during Syd's freshman year in college, which finds her a shy, nervous wreck. By school year's end, she's been recruited by SD-6, trained in Krav Maga and weaponry, worked her way up from a desk job to field work, successfully completed her first mission, even killing a man – and spurned the hot guy from her English class who spurned her back in September. All in just 192 pages (or two short CDs)! Overall, the writing is so-so. The book's Amazon listing says that it's for grades 8 and up, which might explain some of the juvenile focus on hot dudez (as mentioned above). In addition to the Beverley Hills 90210-like college scenarios, I found Mason's portrait of a younger, less self-assured Sydney to be a stretch – an unbelievable stretch. College freshman Sydney has never dated, never had a boyfriend, is in fact an utter tool around guys, and seems to have no social skills whatsoever. While this is attributed to the stress of losing her mother at a young age, I don't buy it. Certainly, I agree that absentee father Jack Bristow might have deflated her self-esteem – and the loss of Laura/Irina only added to Sydney's stress – but she's also smart (a genius, actually), athletic, and beautiful. She'd be able to get a date wearing nothing but a potato sack and speaking in tongues. I understand why Mason painted such a sorry picture of young Syd – in order to contrast her with secret agent Syd, thus illustrating the changes she undergoes under the tutelage of SD-6 – but still, the whole thing comes off as hackneyed. Meh. I probably wouldn't have wasted my time with ALIAS: RECRUITED had I not been able to find an audio version of the book. It's a fun enough listen – it made my vacuuming fly by, at least. My only complaint with the audiobook is that narrator Amanda Foreman's Francie imitation makes Francie sound like an annoying, idiotic Valley Girl. Seriously, you wonder why Syd would hang out with such a ditz. Ditto the college-age guys – Foreman tries to masculinize her voice, but she just sounds like a dumb surfer, or an even dumber Valley Dude. Quite annoying. I probably won't go out of my way to buy any of the other prequels on CD, but at its best, ALIAS: RECRUITED made me want to break out Season 1 on DVD. Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RM6X6MUFY8WBB/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon</a>."
Imagination Studio (2003), Edition: Unabridged, Audio CD

The Neck Pain Handbook: Your Guide in Understanding and Treating Neck Pain (A DiaMedica Guide to Optimum Wellness) by Grant Cooper

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:43:20 -0400

smiteme's review: "Neck Pain 101 I received an advance review copy of THE NECK PAIN HANDBOOK through Library Thing's Early Reviewer program. At thirty years of age, I've suffered from mild to moderate neck and back pain for about ten years. I attribute the pain to a number of causes, including PMS, long hours spent working in front of the computer, poor posture, stress, and less-than-optimal sleeping conditions. (I'm a guardian to five dogs, three of which like to hem me in under the covers at night. Consequently, my back pain is usually at its worst during the first hour of my day.) Exercise, especially yoga, has helped some, but neck, shoulder and back pain is still an occasional inconvenience. Thus, I was hoping that MDs Grant Cooper and Alex Visco might be able to offer some additional advice for alleviating my neck pain symptoms. THE NECK PAIN HANDBOOK is a nice introduction to the topic of neck pain. Cooper and Visco begin the discussion by outlining the structure and function of the human neck, so that the reader might gain an appreciation of her neck's complex makeup. They then shift focus to the many causes of neck pain, some of which are preventable. They discuss proper posture, and offer ten at-home exercises the reader can employ in order to prevent and/or alleviate neck pain. The authors also discuss more radical treatments for neck pain, including cervical collars (of which they are not big fans), advanced imaging studies, trigger point injections, Botox, topical pain relievers, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, x-ray guided injections and surgery. They also briefly touch upon "alternative" treatments, such as glucosamine/chondroitin supplements (which I give to my two oldest furkids in order to ward off joint paint – a precaution actually recommended by my conservative, small town veterinarian), SAM-E, acupuncture and meditation. While this last batch of remedies might seem like quackery, the doctors are quick to caution that such treatments are experimental, unproven, a last resort and should not be employed unless under the supervision of a trained medical professional. While THE NECK PAIN HANDBOOK is a quick, easy and informative read, I was hoping for more do-it-yourself advice. For example, the authors describe the ten exercises presented in THE NECK PAIN HANDBOOK as "an excellent starting point" – which makes me believe there are additional exercises they could have included, but chose not to. Which is annoying, as they also say that about 80% of neck pain can be attributed to poor posture and weak neck musculature. While the exercises presented are straightforward and relatively easy to understand, not all of them are new to me; indeed, I've already been performing a few for back strength and flexibility. Also, in addition to mentioning meditation for neck pain, the authors might have included a brief section on yoga, which has proven immensely helpful to me. Other than these two small drawbacks, THE NECK PAIN HANDBOOK is a nice overview of neck pain, particularly for those who are just beginning to research the topic. (Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3U289TAO7OM7N/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon</a>.)"
DiaMedica (2009), Paperback, 144 pages

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town by Warren St. John

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:25:11 -0400

smiteme's review: "Sports as a microcosm Warren St. John's OUTCASTS UNITED: A REFUGEE TEAM, AN AMERICAN TOWN is a sweet and inspirational story about newly immigrated families trying to achieve the American Dream (or their interpretation of it) – as reflected through the microcosm of children's soccer. The charmingly named Fugees is a soccer team (three, actually, divided by age group) in the small Georgian town of Clarkston. Comprised of immigrant children from Afghanistan,, Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and other war torn nations, they face a number of hurdles, including a lack of funds, xenophobia, petty small town politics, and opposition from the mayor himself. As St. John reported in a series of articles for THE NEW YORK TIMES, Mayor Lee Swaney objected to their use of the baseball fields for soccer thusly: “There will be nothing but baseball down there as long as I am mayor. Those fields weren’t made for soccer.” He even refers to the immigrant soccer enthusiasts as "the soccer people." Lessons in Othering, anyone? The Fugees are led by Luma Mefleh – "Coach Luma" – a woman immigrant born in Jordan and educated in the United States. In a field dominated by men, her coaching position is no small feat. Mefleh tries to instill in the boys a sense of ethics as well as soccer skills, requiring all team members to sign a "contract" which consists of what you might call rules for "good citizenship." Mefleh, then, makes it her mission to help the boys adjust to their new surroundings, as well as play a good game of soccer. OUTCASTS UNITED is an engaging read, fun and lighthearted one moment, heartbreaking the next – and perfect for both sports enthusiasts and bleeding hearts alike. I'm not really big on sports (watching, anyway; participation is another matter!), but I quite enjoyed following the Fugees over the course of a season. Along the way, St. John also traces the events which led Mefleh and her players to America, offering us a glimpse of the myriad reasons why some people choose (or are forced) to leave their homelands and start anew in foreign countries. Hint: it's not for greed, nor to steal your jobs. If you'd like to learn more, hop on over to THE NEW YORK TIMES' website and search for ' Warren St. John' – the articles which inspired OUTCASTS UNITED are still available online. According to the intro by Chris Jackson, the movie rights were sold in exchange for a sizable donation to the team – so hopefully the Fugees' story will soon be coming to a movie screen near you. Let's hope Hollywood does their story justice. And, if St. John's looking to do a follow up, I bet many girls and women would love to see the story of a similar all-girl's team…I'm sure there are at least several out there. Hint, hint. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DY0AINZVLGI2/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Crossposted on Amazon</a>.)"
Spiegel & Grau (2009), Hardcover, 320 pages

Stupid American History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions by Leland Gregory

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:47:21 -0400

smiteme's review: ""Move over Colbert and Stewart" – are they serious!? I requested a copy of STUPID AMERICAN HISTORY through Library Thing's Early Reviewer program. Based on the book's description, I was hoping that it might be a hybrid of James Loewen's classic, LIES MY TEACHER TOLD ME, and The Daily Show's satirical American history "textbook," AMERICA: THE BOOK. Unfortunately, STUPID AMERICAN HISTORY lacks both the wisdom (not to mention, attention to detail and sources) of LIES MY TEACHER TOLD ME and the snarky humor of AMERICA: THE BOOK. STUPID AMERICAN HISTORY is really more a collection of anecdotes and (unreferenced) factoids than a comprehensive book. As such, it lends itself better to bathroom reading as opposed to a thorough, cover-to-cover reading. It might make for a cute gift or stocking stuffer – the pages are made to resemble faux parchment paper, and there's lots of ornamentation around the text – but it's not really suitable for a history buff. Each "mythconception," for example, is presented on a single page – and most don't even take up the whole page! STUPID AMERICAN HISTORY reminds me of those little paperback books of "odd facts" I used to enjoy…in junior high school. Which is fine, if that's what you're after. But if you're looking for a debunking or reimagining of American history, check out James Loewen's LIES MY TEACHER TOLD ME – or any of his books, for that matter. Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R235ZQ5SJ1AFKO/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon</a>."
Andrews McMeel Publishing (2009), Paperback, 272 pages

Reefer Madness Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market by Eric Schlosser

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:24:08 -0500

smiteme's review: "Reefer Madness, the Brown Scare & Sex Crazed Fascists In REEFER MADNESS, Eric Schlosser looks at the effects of U.S. policy on the underground or "black market" economy. Specifically, he examines three diverse "commodities" – "recreational" or illegal drugs (specifically, marijuana), cheap labor (provided by undocumented workers or "illegal aliens" from Mexico and South America), and "adult" materials (primarily pornography) – and the American "war" on each. Schlosser narrows the scope of his study by focusing on a few key players in each of these underground economies: Mark Young, a recreational pot smoker and middleman who was given a life sentence for brokering a marijuana deal; California strawberry farmers and the migrant workers who pick the finicky fruit; and Reuben Sturman, a "pioneer" of the porn industry (and a jackbooted thug). REEFER MADNESS is an engaging study of what happens when a supposedly free and democratic government attempts to stomp out vices that it deems morally corrupt. The section on U.S. drug policy is especially enlightening – and quite relevant, given the current upsurge in drug-related violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Pornography receives the lion's share of attention, seemingly at the expense of immigration, which is a shame; I felt as though Schlosser barely scratched the surface of the latter, while I grew bored of Reuben Sturman's story by the end of the book. Schlosser concludes REEFER MADNESS by tying all three tales together, thus making a larger statement about civil liberties and the strengths and weaknesses of the "free market" in the U.S. Again, though, he probably could have devoted more pages to this synthesis had he not lingered on Sturman and pornography. Overall, it's a fascinating and engaging read, and vividly demonstrates why all American citizens should be concerned with their government's attempts to regulate individual conduct – even if it's conduct with which you may personally disagree."
Simon & Schuster Audio (2003), Edition: Unabridged, Audio CD

The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals by J. Moussaieff Masson

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:33:37 -0500

smiteme's review: "A beautifully tragic look at “food” animals My first introduction to Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson’s work was in high school, when I read his 1996 book, When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals. At the time, I was a newbie vegetarian, just becoming involved in animal advocacy. When Elephants Weep helped validate my decision to go veg, and reinforced my resolve to stay that way. Fast-forward thirteen years. I picked up Masson’s latest ethology tome, The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals, on a whim. Remembering his earlier work, I expected a beautiful, brilliant, touching look at the inner lives and experiences of farmed animals. I was not disappointed. In The Pig Who Sang to the Moon, Masson lays out the evidence – from the highly scientific to the folksy anecdotal – which points to a wide range of emotional experiences in farmed animals, including love, grief, sorrow, joy, empathy, altruism, fear, trust, friendship, contentment and the like. Far from being unfeeling brutes, the billions of animals bred, farmed and slaughtered for human consumption (10 billion annually in the U.S. alone) have complex emotional and intellectual lives. Some of their emotions – such as the strong maternal instinct – mirror our own, while other emotions and intellectual abilities far surpass those of humans. For example, when suffering egregious cruelties (such as those found on modern factory farms), non-human animals can’t always identify the source of or reason for their pain and abuse. This serves to heighten their fear, such that some species of non-human animals may actually have a greater capacity for suffering than humans. Clearly, this could – should – have profound implications vis-à-vis our treatment of non-human animals, particularly those of the “farmed” variety. Masson structures the book so that each chapter covers a different species of farmed animals: pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, cows and ducks, in that order. He juxtaposes information about the animals’ emotional lives - thoughts, feelings, sentience, capacity for joy and sorrow, etc. - with the brutal reality for the vast majority of these “owned” animals. Treated like milk and meat machines, dehumanized and objectified, their individuality obscured and their needs ignored, farmed animals suffer the worst of humanity’s whims and wants. A theme which threads its way through nearly every chapter is that of female suffering: the extra-special abuses (the collective) we mete out to the female members of the species. With brutal precision, farmers routinely turn the reproductive systems of female animals against them, finding newer and more callous ways in which to exploit them as science and technology allow. This isn’t to suggest that males don’t suffer as well - they do. But their suffering isn’t as prolonged or extensive as that of their female counterparts; veal calves, for example, are tortured for sixteen weeks and then, “mercifully,” (relatively speaking) slaughtered. Their sisters, meanwhile, are exploited as baby and milk machines for three to four years, after which they become ground beef. First, their babies and their babies’ food is stolen from them; and, finally, their lives are snatched away as well. By the mere fact of their sex, sows, hens, ewes, does, nannies, cows and heifers - not to mention mares, bitches, jennies, jills, etc. - are ripe for especially cruel and prolonged exploitation. Oftentimes, this involves a constant cycle of pregnancy, birth, nursing and baby-napping, culminating with the female’s own death when she’s no longer able to breed or “produce” to her “owner’s” satisfaction. Given these parallels – women’s bodies, too, are used as tools of and rationalizations for their own subjugation - it’s a wonder why all Western feminists aren’t also vegans. A beautifully tragic look at food animals, The Pig Who Sang to the Moon should be required reading for all “meat”-eaters. As Masson notes in the book’s conclusion – “On Not Eating Friends” – “What has any of this got to do with you, you might ask? If you eat these animals, if you wear their skins as shoes or belts, then their lives must be of concern to you. It has something to do with you, because you have something to do with them. Our lives, all of our lives, are inextricably intertwined with the lives of farm animals, even when we would prefer that they not be. It would take a very hard-hearted person to say: ‘I don’t care what kind of lives they lead, how much they suffer, how far removed from their ordinary life, it just means nothing to me, holds no interest for me. I will continue to eat them and use them in any way I feel like without taking the slightest responsibility to know what kind of creatures they are, what they feel, what kinds of lives they lead in order to give me the products I want.’” If you enjoy the taste of animal flesh – and dismiss concerns about the well-being of farmed animals with appeals to their emotional, intellectual and/or evolutionary inferiority – then you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of The Pig Who Sang to the Moon and educate yourself. It’s the least you can do. And yes, the book opens with a pig who quite enjoyed serenading the full moon! Note: I “read” the audiobook version of this book. Though the narrator’s voice is disconcerting at first – as it seems to emanate from a family farmer of olden days, like Old MacDonald or somesuch, certainly kinder than the big agribusiness which now dominates farming, but an animal killer just the same – it grew on me rather quickly. Tim Jerrome’s narration has a gentle, lulling quality about it, which lends itself well to Masson’s storytelling style. ----------------- Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T4XF78BE6MOA/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/03/18/book-review-the-pig-who-sang-to-the-moon-by-jeffrey-moussaieff-masson-2003/">easyVegan.info</a>. See also: <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/02/25/horizontal-women/">Horizontal Women</a> <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/03/17/horizontal-women-redux/">Horizontal Women, Redux</a> <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/03/31/a-cow-is-so-much-like-a-woman/">“A cow is so much like a woman”</a> <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/04/04/useless-eaters/">"Useless Eaters"</a> <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/05/21/even-as-a-hen-gathereth-her-chickens-under-her-wings/">“…even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…”</a>"
Sound Library (2003), Edition: Unabridged, Audio CD

How to Eat Like a Vegetarian Even If You Never Want to Be One: More Than 250 Shortcuts, Strategies, and Simple… by Patti Breitman

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:16:19 -0500

smiteme's review: "Being Vegetarian/Vegan 101 The title of this (cook)book pretty much says it all: in just over 200 pages, authors Carol J. Adams (of The Sexual Politics of Meat fame) and Patti Breitman will show you how to eat like a vegetarian - even if you don't want to be (or in fact aren't) one. Since it's kind of a vegetarianism/veganism 101 primer (though categorized as a vegetarian cookbook, all the recipes are vegan), the book's likely target audience strikes me as newbie vegetarians and vegans; omnivores who are interested in eating fewer animal products, whether for health, environmental or animal welfare reasons; and the family and friends of vegetarians and vegans, new and old. The last category seems a particularly suitable audience for How to Eat like a Vegetarian. For example, if you've recently gone veg, and your parents, siblings, partner and/or friends are giving you a hard time - "But where will you get your protein?" "Fish is vegetarian, right?" "You haven't joined a cult, have you!?" - allow Adams and Breitman to set them straight. The information contained in How to Eat like a Vegetarian can help teens and young adults assure their worried parents that, yes, it's not only possible but rather simple to consume enough protein on a veg diet, and help men and women reassure their partners that the household won't lapse into starvation because the primary cook (or taste tester) has banished meat from the kitchen. At its core, How to Eat like a Vegetarian is a cookbook; as such, it features roughly 60 recipes (with a number of additional suggestions, such as quick dinner ideas or suggestions for no-prep, eat-what's-in-the-fridge, snacking-on-the-go eats). It's a rather diverse sample, spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, and includes soups, salads, sweets, dips and spreads, and - of course! - tofu dishes. Depending on your tastes, the selection can be hit-or-miss; while I love vegetable-based soups, for instance, I'm not big on "regular" tofu (though I do like the silken stuff!) - so I haven't yet, and probably won't, try the tofu recipes (although the Mr. and/or doggies probably will). The wide range of dishes can be taken as either a negative or a positive: on the one hand, the lack of a coherent theme binding the recipes together may mean that you only try half of the dishes. But, if you're an adventurous eater and don't know where to start your veg-etarian/-an journey, How to Eat like a Vegetarian might just be the place! In addition to the recipes, Adams and Breitman offer "More than 250 shortcuts, strategies, and simple solutions." These include a number of helpful "top ten" lists, such as "Ten ways to eat more vegetables"; "Ten substitutes for using an egg in baking"; and "Ten different things you can do with chickpeas." You'll also find suggestions for seasonal eating; ideas for vegan appetizers; birthday food ideas; and tips for hosting a cruelty-free reception. In the final chapter, Adams and Brietman sneak in a 30-page discussion about the health, environmental and animal welfare reasons for adopting a vegetarian diet. (Vegan, really, but methinks they didn't want to scare jittery omni's away by using the more radical term "vegan" in their book and chapter titles!) Over the past few months, the husband and I have tried out a number of the recipes in How to Eat like a Vegetarian. Without exception, all were fairly easy to prepare and quite yummy, if not downright delish. Of course, I did some selective sampling; while I loved the Scalloped Potatoes , the mere mention of Carrot Avocado Soup makes my face crumple, and alas we never made it. Chances are you're not as fussy an eater as I, so grain of salt and all. (As an aside, if you've seen <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0871426/">Baby Mama</a>: That scene where Amy Pohler simply cannot bring herself to eat the organic green pea soup? Totally me. "I would rather be shot in the face than eat this food!") I especially liked the "top ten" lists and random tricks - many of these are gems! I've been a vegetarian for 13 years now, vegan for maybe 5, and I'm always looking for shortcuts in the kitch! Adams and Breitman offer some inspired tips for recreating new dishes out of leftovers (something I've kind of been doing, albeit on a smaller scale, for a few years), improvising dishes and the like. Probably nothing new to the more advanced vegan cooks among us (you know the types, always making you drool over their food p0rn blogs!), but a dogsend to us amateur and intermediate chefs. Note: You can read a lengthier version of this review - complete with plenty of gratuitous food p0rn pics - <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/03/13/cookbook-review-how-to-eat-like-a-vegetarian-by-adams-breitman-2008/">here</a>. Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2PMEBV4UHGCZG/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon</a>."
Lantern Books (2008), Paperback, 192 pages

President Obama Election 2008: Collection of Newspaper Front Pages by the Poynter Institute by The Poynter Institute

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:18:03 -0500

smiteme's review: "One for the History Books Let me preface my review of PRESIDENT OBAMA: ELECTION 2008 (A COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES SELECTED BY THE POYNTER INSTITUTE) with a disclosure: I’m not a huge Obama fan. Not because I think he’s a secret Muslim(n), or because I’m afraid that he’ll turn America socialist and make all the heteros gay marry. On the contrary – I am way left of Obama on most issues. I voted for Kucinich in the primaries, McKinney/Clemente in the general election. While I’m relieved that Obama/Biden triumphed over McCain/Palin, I don’t have any delusions that President Obama will usher in a new era of American prosperity, or that he’s really an uber-progressive guy at heart. My review, then, is purely nonpartisan – after all, I’m reviewing an art/photography book, not a politician, right? All that said, I requested a review copy of PRESIDENT OBAMA through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program because the 2008 elections were truly historic, whatever your political affiliations. I thought the book would make a nice keepsake, at best. At worst, I figured could regift it to my conservative, gun-loving father as a gag gift. Turns out, I think I’ll keep my copy of PRESIDENT OBAMA. It’s a gorgeous, full-color book, featuring 78 post-election day newspaper front pages from around the globe. The covers are arranged alphabetically, with local American newspapers grouped first (ordered by state; 42 states are represented), followed by national and then international papers. Placed inconspicuously beside each front page is a brief block of text explaining the paper and why it was chosen. Many of the local American front pages follow the same format, with large, election-night photos of the Obama family (or portraits of Barack Obama) placed front and center. Here, it’s interesting to note how similar many of the headlines are; most feature some variation on the “hope,” “change,” or “yes we can” campaign slogans. Some of the media border eerily on idol worship, depicting Obama’s face on money or working his campaign logo (the red, white and blue “O”) into the text of their headlines. Collectively, the local media appears to have succumbed, more or less, to the cult of personality surrounding Obama: Welcome to Obamanation! Certainly, November 4, 2008 was a historic point in American history; sitting at home, I cried along with much of America as I watched the returns come in. Still, Obama’s staff couldn’t have created more laudatory coverage if they tried. After eight years of capitulation to Bush, I can only hope that this isn’t indicative of the sort of “hard-hitting” reporting we can expect from the mainstream media in the next four years. The international front pages offer a bit more diversity; Vienna’s DIE PRESSE, for example, features a photo of Obama surrounded by smaller pictures of local reaction to the election results, while the word “change” – translated into 24 languages – steals the cover of Belgium’s DE MORGEN. In the post-Bush world, it’s quite refreshing to see global citizens celebrating American events, instead of protesting them! I guess my only complaint is that the Poynter Institute chose not to include any conservative / right-of-center news media in this volume. Granted, dissenting or negative coverage wouldn’t exactly jibe with the laudatory tone of this volume, but still – this was a divisive and polarized election season (what with all the scare-mongering, race baiting, appeals to misogyny and cries of “terra-ist!”), and a few token voices of resistance might make the collection more complete – and historically accurate. While most November 5th coverage was no doubt respectful (if not outright celebratory), the editors did choose to include a few liberal alterna-weeklies – so methinks they could have unearthed one or two unhappy conservative rags, too. Overall, PRESIDENT OBAMA makes for a nice coffee table book – just make sure you go all out and purchase the hardcover edition. My paperback was a tad bent when it arrived. :("
Andrews McMeel Publishing (2008), Paperback, 96 pages

Look Two Ways on a One-Way Street: Food for Thought from the Founder of Candle Cafe and Candle 79 by Bart Potenza

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:15:28 -0500

smiteme's review: "<a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/01/18/daily-aphorisms-for-vegan-days/">Daily Aphorisms for V(eg*n)-Day(s)</a> January 18th, 2009 3:53 pm by Kelly Life is not about being right; it's about doing the right thing. I meant to review Bart Potenza's <a href="http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?session=e711545ff9679e6ad4ca847df9846648&id=978-1-59056-139-3">Look Two Ways on a One-Way Street: Food for Thought from the Founder of Candle Cafe and Candle 79</a> as part of my annual <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2007/12/07/the-easyvegan-guide-to-easy-vegn-holiday-gifts/">easyVegan Guide to Easy, Veg*n Holiday Gifts</a>, but - alas! - I was so preoccupied with FSMas decorations this year, that I plum forgot to even write a guide! Better late than never though, yeah? Look Two Ways on a One-Way Street is a collection of optimistic and inspiring quotes from Bart Potenza of <a href="http://www.candlecafe.com/">Candle Cafe</a> and <a href="http://www.candlecafe.com/candle79.html">Candle 79</a> fame. "The Candles" are two vegan/vegetarian restaurants in New York City. Though I've never been, they look delish - and Candle 79 was voted the Best Vegetarian Restaurant by VegNews in 2007. These "daily aphorisms," as Bart refers to them, have even made cameos on the Candles' "on hold" phone systems. Hey, it sure beats musak, am I right? Look Two Ways would make a cute little <strike>stocking stuffer</strike> V-Day gift - especially if presented over dinner at the Candle Cafe or Candle 79! If you're not lucky enough to live in NYC, though, you can always pick up a copy of <a href="http://www.candlecafe.com/cookbook.html">The Candle Cafe Cookbook</a> and prepare your sweetie an original dish from the restaurant. The adage above is definitely my favorite of the bunch; I'll leave y'all with a few more quotes that I'm totally diggin' on. Oh, and I'm <a href="http://www.easyvegan.info/2008/11/12/cooking-contemplating-with-lanterns-books/">still working</a> through How to Eat like a Vegetarian Even If You Never Want to Be One by Carol J. Adams and Patti Breitman...cookbook reviews are slow going, doubly so when you're not really the gourmet cook type. In the end, only you can make you feel good. Inner conflict never goes away. Stop fighting it. If you want a piece of the pie, you may have to bake it yourself. It's not always a perfect world and you're not always going to have perfect thoughts. Forgive yourself!"
Lantern Books (2008), Perfect Paperback, 128 pages

Waiting for Coyote's Call: An Eco-memoir from the Missouri River Bluff by Jerry Wilson

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:43:49 -0500

smiteme's review: "In the preface to WAITING FOR COYOTE’S CALL, author Jerry Wilson notes that “It is too late for me to tell a pioneering story of ‘going back to the land’ or of discovering principles by which we might sustain Earth. [Henry David] Thoreau, [Aldo] Leopold, Annie Dillard, Wendell Berry, Candace Savage, and many others have told the story before me.” Indeed, WAITING FOR COYOTE’S CALL - while an obvious descendant of the great American naturalists – is, for better or worse, set firmly in the modern world, complete with scientific advancements and technological wonders as well as environmental degradation and species loss. In this context, Wilson’s memoir of his family’s 25 years spent living on Missouri River in South Dakota is at once inspirational and bittersweet. In a five-part act, Wilson chronicles a quarter century spent living in harmony with nature. With his wife Norma, Wilson tries to live as eco-friendly a life as is possible in post-industrial America: they build a solar home, garden, restore prairie land, etc. Throughout it all, Wilson’s appreciation of the natural world is apparent.* While the text can sometimes tend towards the flowery and rambling, WAITING FOR COYOTE’S CALL is for the most part an engaging look at our natural world: plants, animals, geography, history – and humanity’s place in it all. * Unfortunately, as with many “environmentalists,” this “love” only extends to non-human animals inasmuch as Wilson views them as a natural resource. As a vegan and animal rights advocate, I’m happy that Wilson tackles the issue of factory farming, if only briefly. However, he never gets as far as challenging the necessity of a meat-based diet in Western nations, instead waxing nostalgic for retro ‘50s family farms, which have since given way to abusive, polluting animal factories euphemistically known as “concentrated animal feeding operations,” or CAFOs. This is a shame, as meat consumption is an unnecessary cruelty – billions of animals are slaughtered annually in the United States alone for no reason other than that Americans enjoy the taste of meat. Meanwhile, meat consumption is a major contributor to global warming; animal feces from CAFOs choke rivers and streams; bird flu is an increasingly grave threat; and meat consumption is linked to myriad health problems in humans. Anyone who truly “loves” animals or nature will abstain from eating meat whenever possible: that food you call “meat” is actually the corpse of an animal you claimed to “love.” Of course, I expected as much when I requested WAITING FOR COYOTE’S CALL through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program. After all, only a small percentage of Americans are vegetarians – well below double digits - so naturally I assumed that the author subscribed to the speciesist mindset of our dominant culture. Disappointing, yes, but as this is an eco-memoir (not a vegan memoir), it doesn’t negatively impact my review. Well, not much; Wilson’s characterization of cows as “incurious” creatures irked me a bit, I’ll admit. Ask a Poplar Springs or Farm Sanctuary volunteer, and methinks they’ll disagree. Then again, these folks view “their” cows as sentient beings with individualized personalities, rather than milk machines and sources of income to be exploited. (Crossposted on Amazon.com: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1P7FW12TT0MH9/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">An eco-memoir for the post-industrial world.</a>)"
South Dakota State Historical Society (2008), Hardcover, 284 pages

The American Journey of Barack Obama by The Editors of Life Magazine

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:16:39 -0500

smiteme's review: "I’ve long been a fan of the Time/Life glossy pictorial hardcovers (e.g., the Time Annual Year in Review and Life Album: Pictures of the Year series), so when Life’s THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA became available through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, I jumped at the chance to review a copy. Though I’m not an Obama voter – I supported Kucinch in the primaries, McKinney/Clemente in the general election – I found myself moved by the historic nature of his campaign (and victory) nonetheless. In particular, the photos and speeches which came out of the 2008 campaign cycle have proven poignant and inspirational; considering previous Life volumes, I hoped that this book might capture some of the more memorable campaign moments. Since THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA is largely a work of photojournalism, let’s start with the photographs. TAJOBO is a gorgeous, colorful book, filled to the brim with photos: Obama/Dunham and, later, Obama/Robinson family snapshots; photos of Barack Obama during his college years; pictures taken throughout Obama’s political career; candid shots of Barack and Michelle with children Sasha and Malia; and, of course, a number of photos from the campaign trail, including a few stills of the Obamas working the daytime talk show circuit. If you followed the 2008 elections, no doubt you’ll recognize some of the more iconic photographs, such as the one of Obama, leaning back in an office chair, with a phone nestled snugly between ear and shoulder, feet propped up on a desk - showing two very beaten, worn soles. Sadly, Life only includes a few photos of Obama’s supporters, taken during his speeches and rallies; of the shots they do include, most are of the stadium-sized crowds, rather than of individual supporters. For me, these have been some of the most moving and emotional images from the campaign trail: seeing African American children and adults interact with Obama and react to his speeches. It’s a shame that Life didn’t feature more of these photographs. In regards to the biographical text of TAJOBO, the book is primarily divided into five sections: Roots, Boyhood, A Young Man on the Rise, Chicago and Washington. The biographical section is largely laudatory, as you might expect; after all, one purchases Life pictorials for the photos – the hard hitting journalism, not so much. The final section, Aspects of Obama, features twelve essays from “fine thinkers” (while I probably take in more CSPAN than your average American, none of the names ring a bell), with the goal of examining how Obama is viewed “by the black man and the white, the cultural anthropologist and the historian, the northerner and the southerner, the immigrant and the foreigner, the woman who suffered when Hillary got beat.” While this section practically begs for an essay critical of Obama – just one, mind you! – the editors at Life wouldn’t hear of it. Likewise, the specter of racism is discussed in depth, as it should be – as I noted above, this was a historic election cycle. However, 2008 was notable not just because it saw the first African American presidential candidate on a major party ticket – but because he was competing against the first viable female candidate in the Democratic primaries. Just as race(ism) was at the forefront in 2008, so too was sex(ism) – but the misogyny directed at Hillary Clinton and her supporters (and later, Sarah Palin and her supporters), is barely given a nod. But again, I expected as much when I requested the book from LT; a masterpiece of political journalism, TAJOBO is not. To be fair, THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA doesn’t claim to be a comprehensive biography or exhaustive journalistic endeavor. Rather, it’s a pretty book, meant to commemorate the first African American President of the United States. (I somewhat doubt that Life would have released THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF JOHN MCCAIN, had Obama lost the election, you know?) In this, the editors at Life largely succeed; and yet, because Obama’s American journey is also a journey shared by the many people of color who supported Obama, campaigned on his behalf, braved harsh weather and crushing throngs in order to hear him speak, and celebrated with him when he won the election, I can’t help but feel as though more of the photos in this (photo)essay could have – should have – been dedicated to them: “Yes WE Can.” (Crossposted on Amazon.com: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RQXEZQ25KFLQ2/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">A gorgeous coffee table book; nothing more, nothing less.</a>)"
Little, Brown and Company (2008), Hardcover, 176 pages

Alien Woman: The Making of Lt. Ellen Ripley by Ximena Gallardo C.

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:19:28 -0400

smiteme's review: "“The Making of Lt. Ellen Ripley” In ALIEN WOMAN, authors and pop culture critics Ximena Gallardo-C. and C. Jason Smith examine “The Making of Lt. Ellen Ripley” – a process which is both informed by and reflects the differing sociopolitical landscapes present during the creation of the respective installations of the quadrilogy. While the first ALIEN film was a radical (perhaps even feminist) reimagining of the slasher/horror genre, ALIENS represented a return to retro Reagen-era “family” values. ALIENS 3 joined the “hero” and the “monstrous creature,” and allowed Ripley to subvert the patriarchy by destroying both herself and the alien; ALIEN: RESURRECTION went a step further, creating a sisterhood of two non-human females (alien-human hybrid Ripley and second-gen android Call), which represents the future of humanity – humane, if not necessarily human. Whether you love the ALIEN quadrilogy, yearn for more feminist fare, or simply enjoy watching heroines kick serious ass, ALIEN WOMAN is a must-read for pop culture junkies of all stripes. A background in cultural studies is a plus, but not a prerequisite; though psychoanalytic concepts such as the “monstrous feminine,” the “womb-tomb,” and the “monstrous generative mother” figure heavily into the discussion, the authors gradually unpack their thesis, piece by piece, resulting in an accessible, highly enjoyable volume. ALIEN WOMAN is the rare scholarly work that’s suitable for laypeople and post-grads alike. As a longtime fan of the ALIEN series, now that I’ve read ALIEN WOMAN, I’m eager to re-experience the films through fresh eyes. I don’t think I’ll view Ripley’s probing of Call’s bullet wound the same way again. (Crossposted on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RXH7H2U3UKSV7/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">Amazon.com</a>.)"
Continuum International Publishing Group (2006), Paperback, 241 pages