Artists Books

What a wonderful book. Patti Smith's poetry is full with an intense personal feeling. I can only echo the comments of previous reviewers; this book shines a bright and pellucid beauty, both in its poetry and in the sublime photographs. Spending an afternoon with The Coral Sea took me into a serene, meditative, dreamy state. It has that quality. Something of it reminded me of Visconti's film, Death in Venice. This is a book I shall always have.

This slim volume is sprinkled with photographs primarily by Robert Mapplethorpe. They are well chosen to grace the poetic prose elegy by Patti Smith. The prose reminds me in a strange way of the writings of H.D. - the story of facing death is told in mythic terms - in terms of the sea, the search for the Hercules moth, the sighting of the Southern Cross as his uncle had promised, of Greek gods. Its strength is in the description of Mapplethrope as artist - fascinated by arranging, estranged from nature. The writing is not without flaws but it is interesting and telling.

Patti Smith his come aways since HORSES. Or maybe not very far at all. Lurking beneath the poet/punk of the famous mapplethorp cover was a woman of profoundly mystical bent. In this, a fable and an elegy , for Robert as she writes in the dedication, Patti smith imagines a man searching for the southern cross, and a man dying. Each of the very short capters are accompanied by a mapplethorpe photograph. Profound, wrenching prose, which caused me to wince in pain and recognition, and ultimately, which delivers a coda to a life. This is amazing stuff, the kind of book that should be passed to loved ones wrapped in a ribbon of silk,, cherished as a gift. It is that good. It moved me like few books have in my life.Nothing in Patti smiths work had prepared me for the overwhelming beauty of this book. A staggering book of wonder.

when i first heard 'horses' by patti smith,i thoght it was the most sublime artwork to inwade my little pretentious arty world;i thought it was better than sex, masturbation,writing or even drinking - my whole life had been transposed. yet, in years that came, patti had found away to transcend even the beauty of the actual physical existence she so celebrated w/ her life, her art, the people she loved;the little girl of vivid dreams growing into a youg poetess,into a visionary artist, a wife, a mother - the seclusion embraced by chosing domesticy only proppeling her to mature as an artist and a person; robbert mapplethorpe had been a dear friend who helped her to find her true calling - art;his gift had been taken from us all too soon by aids. she could not weep so she wrote her sorrow : about passenger m who, terminally ill, sets on his last journey, a pilgrimage to see the southern cross;in his last days he questions his life which had been beautiful and which he adorned w/ his gift of the perfect placement of things; it had not been a perfect life however- he was unable to find a balance beetween his desire for perfection and the actual life itself; thus he was dying alone, his last wish to see his ideal the southern cross: perhaps in his mind he had failed to be what he wished, but his passing away was beautiful and he left behind his art to light the way of those treading after him, us. pattis work tells us about the inner struggle of the artist, she describes robbert as an artist (no matter what else he might have been),inducing us to believe in the power and importance of art in our life; her book is a loving elegie to her friend, her beloved compeer, her unfettered joy. leena spite.

By far the most effective writing in this book is that of the introduction. Patti Smith recalls her first and last meetings with Robert Maplethorpe, whereby she somehow manages -- by drawing upon both the similarities and differences of these two experiences -- to express the anguish and tragedy of his death. If there are any doubts about Smith's poetic ability, this brief, beautiful tribute to her friend should lay them to rest. The following pages contain some of Maplethorpe's most serene work, and Smith's writing is no less inspired. Lacking the pretention of some of her earlier work, these words are lucid, honest, heartfelt, and rewarding.

I have just recieved Cathy Johnson's new book, "Creating Nature in Watercolor, an Artists Guide." I sat down and read it through, and found it felt like an beautifully illustrated letter from a good friend, who is encouraging me to join her in her love of nature and creating. The art work is superb of course, as I expected, since I already own several of her books, and recently took one of her wonderful Online Classes...and she has been drawing and painting for her whole life...but I also found much more in it than artwork. She not only shares many, many, many valuable techniques and tips...but they seem unique to her charming way of helping us out with some of the little things that become big things when you dont know how to deal with them. And she adds so many details and makes them all so interesting!
Her 'personal relationship' with nature pulls the reader and artist into a close connection with creation and creating.
It is a book for everyone...beginning and professional artists as well as all who appreciate nature.
For me this is her best book....so far...:)

I found this newest Cathy Johnson book to be every bit as informative and entertaining as her many previous books. The artist's love of nature shines gloriously within these pages. Not only does she give clear and easily understood instructions to 'capture nature', she also inspires you! This book is both working text and entertainment.

Having used 2 of Ms. Johnson's books before ("Creating
Textures in Watercolor" and "Watercolor Pencil Magic-sadly
out of print") I had great hopes for this new volume, and it
does not disappoint. More than a collection of pretty
watercolor studies to be admired -though it is full of
them! - this book breaks down the process and tells you
how to get the result you're looking for. Ms. Johnson even
gives tips on the practicalities of capturing the
uncooperative moving creatures of nature on paper! I have found something valuable on every page.

Cathy Johnson's newest book, Creating Nature in Watercolor, is a most delightful read and it's filled with tips and techniques on appreciating nature and capturing your interpretation of that observation in watercolor. Whether you want to learn how to document botanical samples in a journal or compose an extensive landscape on a full sheet of watercolor paper, this book is a must have! Cathy has a teaching style that encourages everyone to jump right in and have fun learning. This book contains short exercises as well as step-by-step lessons for painting landscapes. A beginner will find this book to be a tremendous start off point and a professional will find many useful tips and notes to help them progress in their treatment of nature and landscapes.

Cathy Johnson's newest book is a work of art in itself. The inside page design is simply beautiful. The illustrations by Ms. Johnson are very inspiring. And her tone is one of gentle encouragement ("yes, you can do this too"). I just received my copy recently and have already spent hours savoring it. Many of Ms. Johnson's books seem deceptively simple. One could quickly glance over her notes and paintings and then set the book on the shelf. The real value comes from taking her books, page by page, and actually DOING the exercises she provides. Pay attention to her teaching, follow her examples, and wonderful things will happen with your artwork. Creating Nature in Watercolor is a wonderful book and I am thankful that the artist took the time to create it.

When I saw the cover I knew this would be a book I would love. This is a inspiring book, not a "copy me" book.

We are so lucky that a talented artist like Pat Dews reveals her painting techniques to everyone. A beautifully put together book with great action photos and easy to follow directions. I especially love the painting for keemakoo. Highly recommend!!

Pat Dewsbook"Creative Discoveries in Watermedia" is the most informative and comprehensive book in my art library.Her "how to"examples are well defined which is a tremendous help to those who are new to the abstract genre and to many who need inspiration.

I ordered this book without seeing it. The customer reviews that summarize Dews' freedom and enjoyment of painting are true. She writes wonderfully and explains perfectly. When I received the book, I read all of it. She has more fun and coaxes her readers to jump up and run to the paint and, on the way, grab anything that doesn't move to add to the experience. A real fresh look at enjoying art.

This is one of the most informative books I have read on the subject of "How To" in the arts. The author writes in precise language that benefits both the beginner and advanced artists. The way she described her techniques alongside the illustrations made it easy to grasp her instructions. She shares all that she can fit into a book of this size. This book is not only exciting and inspirational but one that I will keep and refer to for many years to come.

This coffee table book is the perfect gift! I bought it for all of my family members. The artist's paintings are exquisite. I know everyone else enjoys it as much as I do.

I would just like to comment on the creativity of Jonathan Knight, He has a talent like no other, there's a sense of awe in each piece, I personally enjoyed "The little flute player", and "Each day I pray", the detail in the miniature's are superb! Not only is he talented in oils, but pastels, water colors, etc. I feel each piece says something personal about the artist,there's also a story behind each one! I would love to own each piece represented in the book, for now I'm happy to be a collector of the Visual Dialogue, this book is a must for all art lovers! BRAVO!

...As a collector of fine art, I highly recommend this book. It is a masterpiece among many of Mr. Knight's work. An excellent example of one of the many gifts that God provides for us all, which most truly reflects in this book. The beautiful full-colored paintings are so creative that they will attract an influential vision to even the inexperienced collector.

When you turn each page of "The Creativity of Jonathan Knight A Visual Dialogue", you will be enlightened as Mr. Knight takes you into the spirituality of his inner artistic mind; As he distinctively transforms normal scenes into beautiful creative scenery. His work influenced me to depict the excellent qualities that contributes to beauty. IF YOU LOVE FINE ART AS WELL AS I DO, THEN THIS BOOK IS A MUST BUY!

For all of you who don't know Jonathan Knight, you will become delightfully aquainted with him and his work through this wonderful book. It gives you glimpses into the heart and soul of this talented artist. I highly recommend it for anyone who has a passion for fine art.

The artwork displayed in the book "The Creativity of Jonathan Knight, A Visual Dialogue" presents pieces of everyday life at the most delicate moments. The paintings, colorful but soft, offer a refreshing look at nature, still life, and the natural beauty of humans through the artist's eyes. A consistent variety of breathtaking images keep you thumbing through the pages. It is definitely a book to keep on the coffee table when entertaining guests, especially those who appreciate quality artwork.

I looked forward to getting this book because I wanted to know more about Leonardo--the man. I had read the book, The Da Vinci Code, and that piqued my interest about him. But Dan Brown's book didn't explore the depth of Leonardo's contributions beyond his art. Da Vinci for Dummies was perfect for me because it explored a wide range of his interests such as dissecting human bodies and designing his flying machines. As is typical of the dummies series, the table of contents is very helpful if you want to jump around between chapters to focus on specific aspects of his life. There is also great effort to describe the times during which he lived and what/who were his influences. At first glance, you may consider these dummies books frivolous. But I found this book to be a useful, comprehensive, and fascinating biography of an amazing man.

I've always wondered who Leonardo Da Vinci really was. Sure, I slept though most of my Renaissance and Art History classes - but when the subject would turn to Da Vinci, I would always perk up. Did he really invent all of those wacky things? Was he the founder of modern medicine and anatomy? Was he a heretic? Was he the really the consummate Renaissance man? Now, after recently reading the Da Vinci Code - many of those old curiosities have resurfaced.

Da Vinci for Dummies tackles the complex subject of Da Vinci in the time-honored fashion I've come to expect from the Dummies series. If only this book had been around when I was studying Da Vinci in high school! It is written with a deep sense of respect, if not admiration, for its subject. As with other books in this series, Da Vinci for Dummies is both very fun and extremely easy to read, and it is organized in a format that makes finding answers to specific questions a breeze without having to search through the entire book. But, don't be deceived by its outward appearance and ease of use. I found this book to be as scholarly researched as it is easy to read. So, I would highly recommend it to anyone who is studying Da Vinci or preparing a report on the subject. (Shhhh - don't tell your teachers I said this!) However - I would also recommend it to anyone who has the slightest interest in this curious and profoundly important individual. If you've read the Da Vinci code, as I have, and wanted to know more - consider this book a quick and easy, yet surprisingly scholarly refresher, in the subject!

For those of you who don't know Leonardo's fascinating story, this book is for you! It reads like a novel, weaving the intricacies of Leonardo's life together in a well-written, suspenseful and integrated novel. A definite read for art aficionados, scientists and humanists alike.

It's rare that a writer/editor has the depth of knowledge and confidence in her research to venture to have a little bit of fun with a historical/scientific figure of Leonardo's significance. Fortunately for readers, Jessica Teisch completely pulls it off. She writes this extremely easy to read and entertaining volume as if Leonardo was the next door neighbor she grew up with - In fact, at times, I was so entertained that it escaped my realization that I was actually picking up dozens of facts (i.e.; Leonardo was a lefty, a conplete non-conformist and that he actually didnt enjoy performing his exquisite anatomic dissections). All in all, this is a beautifully researched book that doesnt just educate you about Leonardo, but actually takes you all the way back to the Greeks and gives you a lovely tour up through the Rennaisance to boot. Where was this book when I was trying to impress historians and artists alike? Never mind - it's here now.

This is a fascinating work for those of you who want an overview of Leondardo, but don't have a desire to read an esoteric biography. My favorite part involved a discussion of Leondardo's flying machines. Who knew? I had no idea that he invented the precursor to the helicopter. A must for those who are fascinated by Leondardo!

I confess I was drawn to this book by a)the inside jacket cover photo of the exceptionally attractive young female memoirist who seemed posessed of an enigmatic, almost haunted look, and b) the mysterious suggestiveness of the book title and partially obscured cover photo -- redolent of dark family revelations -- and I was not disappointed. 30-year old Jill Christman writes a searing account of harrowing family traumas, including her own recovered memory of childhood sexual abuse, the tragic auto accident that killed the young man who was the love of her life, her older brother's being nearly scorched to death by a freak shower incident, her near life-long estrangement from her father, and the wretched death in jail of a beloved uncle incarcerated for growing marijuana. All of these dark tales are leavened with ironic humor and described in superb detail. For me, the near 20 page account of Jill's preparation of a melted cheese sandwich for her frail grandmother, the ingestion of which led to her not untimely demise, was the piece de resistance.

If you have not read this book I suggest you do. I laughed out loud, cried, and was at a loss for words with this book. I really liked how the author used the nameless voice to bring out the questions and answers from the inside. I love to read and this is by far the best memoir that I've read.

I laughed out loud, cried, and was at a lost for words while reading this book. The element that sticks out is the second voice that appears throughout the piece. I encourage everyone who loves to read to read this book. I couldn't put it down once I started. I read it in one day. Job well done Professor Christman!

This book is a perfect example of the possibilities of creative nonfiction. Like the originator of the personal essay, Montaigne, Jill Christman chooses her self as her subject-the "I"-yet, in doing so, is really writing about all of us-the "we"-of humanity. Like more modern writers-Woolf, Stein, Eliot and so on-Christman also brings to her work a richness of prose, an understanding of arrangement and construction, and the confidence to employ such techniques as flashbacks, photo collages, and intertextuality. As a teacher of literature, I enjoyed this book for all of the reasons listed above. As a person who simply loves to read, I enjoyed this book because it is a GOOD READ! Sometimes sad, sometimes happy, sometimes terrible, sometimes funny-this book consistently had me turning the pages. I certainly recommend it.

Christman does a remarkably good job of solving the problems of telling about parts of her life and family in a creative new way. Like an outstanding photographic exposure, she brackets her frames by under exposing and over exposing in all the right places until she comes up with that perfect balance between light and dark, with remarkable shadow detail in the final image. She dodges and burns, weaves in and out, and through, the painful events in her life by the use of crisp transitions, and, in many cases, unexpected humor/irony. The accounts of her life experiences are compelling -- almost too much to take in even at proper viewing distances, but her clever use of photographic imagery and her references to technical aspects of the art during some of these transitions seem to require use of both sides of the readers' brain -- making the trauma somewhat easier to allow in. The clear presense of Christman's soul in this book keeps the reader engaged in a way that makes her/him feel as though s/he is there with her. So few people are willing to risk this exposure -- to allow others to see past a seemingly "circle of confusion" to the true image on the other side of the lens without hiding behind "fiction."

Christman, a courageous woman, is also a master of her craft.

Sophisticated and moving debut novel, free of the clumsy missteps commonly found in the work of young authors. Or seasoned authors, for that matter. Krista's a skillful wordsmith, a gifted poet, and either a meticulous editor or a prodigy. She's also a lovely and gracious hostess and dedicated patron of the arts. Stain may well be the most enjoyable and comfortable bar in New York City.

This book was tremendously wonderful. I absorbed it completely from the time I picked it up. I thought it was so intriguing I could hardly put it down. The writing style was magnificent - I haven't read anything that had visual interest in addition, read this book and you will see what I mean. The book flips between two main characters which I loved, it's like 2 parallel universes! Krista Madsen really thought outside the box here - great read!

Madsen's first-person narrative is more than intense, it is intrepid, a sometimes harsh account of longing/love and how that obsession can spur creative instincts.

The novel also doubles neatly as a mini-travel narrative, expanding beyond the cliche story of a young American abroad and a coming-of-age tale. The subjects are complex: art, love, sex and the mix of European culture with young American ennui.

I read this novel in one night, devouring the prose. Recommend anyone to do the same.

highly recommend this gem to anyone that loves good fiction, can appreciate lyrical language reminiscent of Flaubert (fine chocolate!) and the obsession one carries for their art. It's the story of two ex-pats in Belgium, Adina and Zachary. Adina, in want of fodder for her fiction, heads to Belgium for a year to work as an au pair for a chain-smoking, disillusioned mother, a perpetually drunk father and a child that is wise beyond his years. A chance encounter with a painter, Zachary (who is lead to Belgium by a wealthy cousin who patrons him with a gallery and a premiere exhibition), in a bus in Prague sparks their obsession for one another. A white-haired Adina (her hair mysteriously falls out in the beginning of the novel and grows back white, the absence of color) and a man that can only paint when she is evoked, fall in love with one another or how each other affects their art. Soon, Adina is writing furiously, feverishly. Stories about the body and the mind and their mutual exclusivity and their intricate ties to each other. Zachary murals Adina, his only vision is her. Throughout, Krista is fierce in her philosophy and her prose is never precious, but smart and precise. Each chapter shifts point of view between the two characters and the flow is organic and satisfying. A highly recommended read with an unexpected and climatic ending.

Krista Madsen has a provocative voice on paper. Her work's a pleasure to read. Great debut book.

I must agree with the above reviews. I picked up this memoir on a remainder table a year or so ago. I started it but put it down. I suppose I was not in the mood for it. Thankfully, it turned up in a pile somewhere a few days ago and I find myself absolutely engaged. I studied Frank O'Hara in college and always admired his matter-of-fact attitude toward his being gay (or queer as the term was then). JL's book reconfirms that point. O'Hara never was the doomed queen, a persona so common for that time (Tennessee Williams being the reigning royalty of that court). JL, it appears, had the same attitude toward his homosexuality: it simply was his preference. Beyond the queer studies angle, JL brings a wonderfully engaging voice to his memoir. It is, by turns, poetic, conspiratorial, wistful, humorous. So if you want to know more about O'Hara and his circle, read this book

Joe LeSueur's memoir of his friend and companion, is a truly illuminating portrait of the artist. What makes these digressions so rich and rewarding for the reader, is the unique perspective LeSueur is able to bring to this material. These are LeSueur's memories of experiences and events shared with O'Hara and their myriad of friends and acquaintances. I found this book to be compelling, intimate and inspiring (indeed, "Lunch Poems" and "Selected Poems" were never too far out of reach, and both read from cover to cover). By virtue of having been a participant or, at the very least having been an eye witness to the events depicted, LeSueur has captured not just a time and place, but the essence of a cherished friend. I found myself reading slowly, savoring each passage. By the end of the book I felt I had really gotten to know O'Hara and his circle of friends, and found myself in tears as I read the last few pages. LeSueur's memoir is a tribute to Frank O'Hara as both an artist and a beloved friend.

At Frank O'Hara's funeral, composer Virgil Thomsom turned to the poet's longtime friend Joe LeSueur and said, "Baby, I hope you kept a journal." Though clearly not drawing upon stale journal entries, LeSueur's memoir of his relationship with O'Hara (which survived the vicissitudes of its ever-changing status...friends to lovers to friends, etc.) is a nice blend of personal memories and feverish impromptu research (Brad Gooch's biography seems to have been ever at his elbow). LeSueur is neither vindictive nor pointlessly benign. He truly understood and appreciated O'Hara's central position in the explosion of art that was happening in New York in the 50s and 60s. Unlike Ginsberg and the Beat poets, O'Hara was equally at ease among literary folk, musicians, and painters (especially the abstract expressionists). To read about O'Hara is to read about the greatness of post-war New York.

DIGRESSIONS is actually helpful, too. Because O'Hara often adopted a casual, off-hand, personal approach when writing his poems, it is great to have someone who was intimate with the poet to explain "who's who" and "what's what." LeSueur, however, is equally comfortable admitting when he's baffled by an O'Hara reference, and explanations (and reminiscences) are never forced.

One other thing--DIGRESSIONS is an enlightening portrait of gay life in New York prior to the Stonewall riots. O'Hara and LeSueur were both openly gay, though they had quite different approaches to meeting their sexual needs. O'Hara seems to have had fewer partners, usually choosing them from his circle of friends and aquaintances. LeSueur seemed to favor one-night stands and casual sex. Perhaps this difference is one reason their friendship continued long after their sexual intimacy ended. If only LeSueur had lived long enough to write DIGRESSIONS ON GAY LIFE BEFORE STONEWALL.

This is a remarkable book. If you ever loved Frank O'Hara's poetry, the book is really a necessity. It gives personal reminiscences about the writing of some of the famous poems: 'The day Lady died', 'A true account of talking to the Sun...', etc. It brings many of the more obscure and personal poems into remarkable focus. It also illumines many of names and references that appear throughout the poems. All of this from probably the closest witness to O'Hara's life, creative and otherwise. For these reasons, it is a quite an unusual treasure.

But beyond its usefulness to O'Hara's poetry, the book is the story of a friendship. And an account of a special time in American arts and letters - told from one of the members at the party. LeSueur's presence in O'Hara's life might have been partly due to charm and good lucks (which he discusses), but that apparently never stopped him from being important to O'Hara. (The famous 'Lunch Poems' is dedicated to him.) We are fortunate that he was a careful observer and was blessed with a remarkable memory. Apparently he died shortly before the book was published, which is poignant, because the book is also a tribute to LeSueur's life, and a celebration.

Joe LeSueur has provided the cultural history of American arts in the mid-20th Century with this seamlessly interesting and informative inside perspective on the important role of Frank O'Hara - poet, art critic, champion of the visual, musical, and literary arts par excellence. DIGRESSIONS ON SOME POEMS BY FRANK O'HARA is not only a clever and viable means to writing a memoir: it provides insights into the growingly important works of O'Hara who some are now ranking as the 20th century version of Walt Whitman as Poet of the City. While many of the poems introducing each chapter are well known to us, it is the window to the world of O'Hara's life and times that is so well served by Joe LeSueur's writing. Frank O'Hara was bonded with such luminaries as Willem de Kooning, Elaine de Kooning, Larry Rivers, Joan Mitchell, Jackson Pollock, Grace Hartigan, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Lincoln Kirsten, WH Auden, Kenneth Koch - the list is endless. O'Hara was a behind the scenes observor, never hogging the limelight and in fact avoiding it, always with his keen eye on good art, good music, good writing, and always turning out poems that only now are being read seriously by the general public. Joe LeSueur live with O'Hara, joining O'Hara in his flagrantly 'Out' gay life, hobnobbing with all the other gay artists of his time in a way that makes him the recorder of that important preStonewall age, a time when even the giants such as Aaron Copeland, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, etc were closeted. At times LeSueur borders on the gossipy side, but that only enhances his subject. What we are left with here is a wonderfully composed tribute to a great artist and supporter of the arts. The overall effect of this book is monumental, and at the same time exceedingly conversational. Very Highly Recommended.

This book has a ton of shortened versions of classic Disney stories, from Lady & the Tramp through Aladdin and they are all just long enough to make a good bedtime story (or two) and short enough that you don't have to slog through an entire novel. Our two kids (2 1/2 and 4 1/2) ask for a story out of this book at least once per day and often 3 times per day. (That is my wife's only complaint, that it gets requested so often!)

My child loves to read the Disney collection books. Instead of forcing him to read he now loves to read.

My daughter loves to pick out the stories by the picture in the table of contents. She knows most of the stories but wants to read them again and again. The stories are a nice length... not too long and not too short. The pictures are nice and help tell the story.

I've become a bit of a connoisseur of preschool kids' books compilations in the last year and this is in my top 3. The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud and an out-of-print Richard Scarry are the others. I have a 3-year-old, and this book makes it efficient to carry just one book in our mom/dad bag. Yes, it's a hardcover and heavier than carrying several paperbacks. But you're also probably carrying crayons and a notebook/coloring book, and you won't get as much bang for the book pound as this book for a longer trip needing distractions/entertainment. Lots of Disney classics and "newer-classics"---Bambi, Snow White, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Lion King, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Aladdin. Each about 15 pages. I'm reading from this book about every 2-3 nights; it's a favorite. It helps that all the "princesses" are represented in this book. It's skimpier on pictures than say, a Golden Book of the same title, but for read-aloud content, it's worth it's weight in, well...

I agree with the first reveiw. This is a fantastic compilation. There are great illustrations on every page (a requirement for a three year old!),
the text is large and fairly simplistic, just right for beginning reading. The stories are long enough to entertain at bedtime but not too long, and the stickers are an extra bonus. All in all this is what I've been waiting for. Another book I received recently that has become a favorite is CLASSIC FAIRY TALES. It's a little more advance in terms of storyline but has absolutley gorgeous illustrations by Scott Gustafson.

you can't please all of the people all of the time, all the Neoist-revolutionaries, Christian-Bible-fundamentalist & the post-structuralist atheist xenomorphologists but Laruocco comes close in her Masterpiece. Laroque is an art of thinking outside the wig, once she calibrates the wig -to- contextual box ratio at 0. ref. Zippo p.159, & `Linguistics 101, meaning & proximity' p.116.

if you can get past all the Ass, & "the crack in the constipated spine of the book," & sustain the Literal & metaphoric overlaps & the `Dantéfication' © 1999 of language into the trinity of the fat, protein & the carbohydrate -- into calorie & the identity complexity... it is an amazing & entertaining journey,
written when La Ruocco used normal sentences & paragraphs which she diverges from in her later Work: "Xero, turn-of-the-millenia."

Zippo is about compulsion, it starts out about an obsession w/ underwear, & bodily functions that includes sex, masturbation & coffee drinking, & writing in the café w/ Gabriel Lockwood who lets her use his typewriter
& ends w/ the escape through the Bowels of the planet when she finally finds a flushing toilet in Morocco.

Document Zippo is a glossy paged book filled with diagrams & drawings & photos that may keep enlightening & refreshing to a mind caught-up in decision & consumerism.

[...]

Miss Ruocco writes as if she is reporting on the demise of sex, and yet manages to turn the subject upside-down and make it more interesting than usual. In her capable hands this book becomes a catalog of taboo secrets and fantasies. Compelling stuff.

Like any great bathroom book, you can start at any point in the book and read as much as time allows. It could turn into a few hours though. Then, spend another hour looking at yourself naked in the mirror.

Ruocco is obsessed with her rear end, to the point of mania. Quite a scatological book -- at least the first third. Recommeded for those interested in the 21st century wave of avant-pop, avant-porn, post-pos-post-modernist writing. Ruocco is the new Kathy Acker.

LA Ruocco is one of the greatest artists of the 20th century