Literature in Art Books

Before I begin, I have to fess up -- I've been involved with The Offbeat as a writer and on-again-off-again editor since it started as a zine at Michigan State two years ago. The writing and production values have come a long way since then, and now it is an exceptional, not just professional, literary collection. (My five-star rating now has the appropriate double asterisk.)

The book begins with a good, eclectic set of poetry. Some of it requires some wading through, but there are several solid and even excellent pieces here. I think Andrew Hungerford's poems stand out here (there are two), especially "Pining for a Third Millenium." "I am a high priest for the / twenty-first century," Hungerford declares, in a Whitmanesque mood but not without irony. Another treat is the featured author section, with an article and selected poems by Meg McClure, another Michigan (nee Chicago) poet. There's a nice survey of McClure's work (including two new pieces) as well as a brief biographical and critical article. McClure is a very promising young poet, and it's astonishing how precocious she is in an early poem like "Sisterhood Haiku": '"We're a different breed," / you confessed one Tuesday night. / "We know what love is."'

The book also features a prose section, including an essay and four short stories from writers all over the map; MSU undergraduates, native New Yorkers, and young San Francisco writers. The Offbeat/1 is really a unique assemblage of breakthrough talent. I think that anyone interested in poetry or new fiction would be pleasantly surprised by just how good this collection is.

Old Jewish Folk Music comprises the collections and writings of ethnomusicologist Moshe Beregovski as edited and translated into English by Mark Slobin, professor of music at Wesleyan University. Featured are insights into Soviet and Jewish history and musicology surveying the notes and lyrics of three hundred folk songs. Each song is carefully notated exactly as it was sung, and is accompanied by Beregovski's notes on origins and variants. Old Jewish Folk Music is a superb work of impeccable scholarship and highly recommended to students of Judaic and Yiddish traditions in music, Ukrainian musical influence, and klezmer music.

I am using this book as one of my textbooks in my final class in the RN to BSN program at the University of Miami. What an eye-opener. We as nurses must write!! We have so many wonderful, rich, and interesting stories to share with the world. As nurses, we have the unique opportunity to see humanity at its most vulnerable state, this is when wonderful things can occur. We must share these times. This book should be required for nursing programs at all levels.

In this book, Harpham develops his own theory of the grotesque by exploring its history and previous critical works. Since the grotesque is present in many different forms of art it is impossible to present a wholly functional definition. Harpham traces the origins of the grotesque back to our mythic past, as autochthonous mans deal with a reality steeped with myth, in which Nature and Chaos, Will and Logic, Eros and Thanathos, coexist. Harpham applies anthropology, psyhology, religion and literature in his analysis of the essence of the grotesque. The primary references of his own definition are to Leach, Auerbach and Freud. Harpham avoids both the negativity of Kayser and the positivity of Bakhtin that others have related themselves to. Harphams presentation is thorough and interesting and is a logical extention of the traditional views on the grotesque as a dual element of horror/humor. He presents a fresh angle on a difficult subject that has had few serious contributions since Kayser and Bakhtin. This book is an excellent starting point for any study of the theory of the grotesque and should be considered a valuable work in its own right. Harphams own analysis is thoroghly presented and he explores different applications of his theory through the analysis of four literary works: Wuthering Heights, The Masque of the Red Death, Death in Venice and, finally an analysis of Joseph Conrad's works. This also makes it an good tool in further use of the grotesque in other studies.

this book gives a great overview for the non-film buff for it's subject matter. It focuses primaril on meaningful or metaphoric narratives exsisting within each film and it's relationship to sexuality, not the sex scene specifically.

I wish I had this book while studying children's literature! The author, Marjorie N. Allen, takes the reader through the decades of American children's literature by chronologically presenting the books that have continued to haunt us readers, from the nineteenth century to 1996. For example, Allen explains why Stephen Crane's book "The Red Badge of Courage" might be considered the first young adult book and, also, why librarians dislike Baum's "Oz" series. These facts make fascinating reading for us voracious readers who enjoy learning the history of American children's books. Highly recommended for the "child" of any age.

"I would not be surprised if this volume eventually earned the status of a classic in its field . . . . [It] remind[s] us that, given the freedom and generative uncertainty of open-ended conversation, learning is often built on surprises" (Robert Gundlach, from the Foreword)

"Sophisticated in design, powerfully framed in theory, and unique in its scope" (Arthur Applebee, publisher's review)

"Opening Dialogue provides a kind of grounding that I think is extremely important at this point in the course of inquiry for a sociocultural perspective" (James Wertsch, Washington University, publisher's review).

"Opening Dialogue should strongly influence the way educators think about classrooms and learning. . . . The study has much to say to teachers, as well as to researchers and theorists" (Melanie Sperling, publisher's review).

"This little book should have a very big impact. It gives the results of the `largest ever study of classroom discourse and its effects on learning'-112 eighth- and ninth-grade language arts and English classes comprising 1,100 students for each of two years. . . . [Nystrand's] book makes a very big contribution to our understanding of classroom discourse, and to English curriculum. It should be widely read and pondered and heeded by teachers, researchers, curriculum-makers, and teacher educators. That US students should endure another century or two of the English teaching Nystrand found so pervasive is a frightening possibility" (David R. Russell. (1998). Journal of Curriculum Studies, 30, 490-493).

"This study is noteworthy not only for its rich and detailed descriptive findings, but for actually linking the variables of classroom discourse to student learning" (Jo & Susan Sprague, Communication Education, 47, 1998, p. 300).

I read this book for my dissertation lit review and I loved it! It helps you understand how Jews have been seen as both occidental and oriental. Given that Jews historically have played this "middle position" between the oppressed and the ruling classes, it is not surprising that Jews have been "both/and."

Never hesitate with any book by Michael Lafosse. Clear and easy to read directions as well as great designs and models. Well done Michael......buy it!!!!!

Micheal lafosse is a creative genius in the origami world. His books have great models as well as directions that you can follow and enjoy. Never hesitate to buy one of his origami books. Just the best! Bravo to you Michael!