Iowa Books

Visiting Frost: Poems Inspired By The Life And Work Of Robert Frost is an anthology of poems by one hundred different poets in homage to four-time Pulitzer Prize winner poet Robert Frost (1874-1963), known for associating his work with the landscape and life in New England, and whose verse includes such famous works as "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". Each poet is given a one-paragraph biography at the end. The many brief poems assembled speak to different aspects of the character of Frost, who was often dark and intense in mood and writing. A treasury that reflects profoundly upon Frost's contributions to literature and our understanding of the human condition. A Farm in the Green Mountains: Stone upon stone / this weathered wall of stone / was built by men deviled by stone / from poor fields yielding mostly stone. // Stone upon stone / this Vermont wall of stone / was the sure employment of stone / in a place that is shaped by stone. // Stone upon stone / this ragged wall of stone / was a grudging tribute to stone / by farmers making peace with stone.

Roberson weaves his poems out of any number of different voices, all compelling, and with the sort of compelling rhythms that too often seem foreign to contemporary poetry. Frequently his poems play a kind of "touch-and-go" game with the reader, where a voice will make its appearance just long enough for the reader to acknowledge its presence, and then the poem is off again into some other voice, some other perspective. Which makes for exciting reading. And when was the last time you actually Sandpile" and "Elegy for a White Cock."

Some would say that the American Avant-garde is dead, especially in the more academic poets. Yet, Ramke creates a dialogue between the peoms as the poet envisions them, the works that inspired the poems, the language itself, and the reader. Although not as radical or obscure as collage poets like Charles Olson or d.a. levy, Ramke words are sandwiched and juxtaposed by quations and allusions. The result is a center freedom and flow that manifest in his poems, especially in "The Ruined World and "Testimony." Ramke also does what few poets have done well in the past decade or so, write peoms that break three and four pages and still sustain. Although, the shorter lyric of his earlier work still makes a wonderful splash in this collection--see "& the War in France" and "How Light is Spent"--the power of this collection is in the longer poems.

Mack Faith's odyssey, *The Warrior's Gift*, joins others of its kind as a keen example of the hero's search for discovery and redemption. Written with quiet insight and descriptive flair, *The Warrior's Gift* represents both the hero's quest and the longing for truth and forgiveness. Prof. Faith's writing is thoughtful, deliberate, accessible, layered without being overly complex, and rich with fascinating characters. The Colorado setting is particularly effective.

I look forward to reading more works from this author.

Waterloo, Iowa is about 65 Miles from where the movie "Field of Dreams" was filmed. This book tells a story of a town that is trying to hold onto their little piece of the dream.

This is an engrossing, behind the scenes look at a minor-league team struggling to survive in a city that had "pro ball" for 95 years. I found it to be a real page-turner, in the sense that I was rooting for the town of Waterloo to hold on to their piece of the Major Leagues (by the way - the Minor Leagues are "pro-ball", in case you didn't know - I didn't!).

I must confess I could not take the suspense, and searched on Google to see if Waterloo still had a minor-league franchise.

It also provides a great look at the life of a minor-leaguer in the early 90's - gritty Bull Durham style!

Highly recommended!

As a lifelong resident of Iowa and a news junkie I remember very well the attempt by some of the city leaders of Dubuque, Iowa to diversify their city. Their plan was to attract one hundred families of color to Dubuque, but it failed miserably. It led to an increase in hate crimes and the controversy placed the city in the national spotlight. The waves of negative publicity painted a dark mark on the city that took years to erase.
In this book, Chaichian extensively documents and explains the historical background of Dubuque, starting with the founding of the city by Julian Dubuque and proceeding up through the economic turmoil of the 1980s. Until I read Chaichian's account, I was completely unaware of the extent there was Klu Klux Klan activity in the Dubuque area during the first half of the twentieth century.
One of the most impressive points made by Chaichian was his descriptions of how much sympathy there was for the Confederate States in Dubuque during the American Civil War. The modern popular history is that both sides were unified in their opposition to the other, but that is a fiction. There were pockets in the North very sympathetic to the southern cause and areas in the south that were never really part of the Confederacy. This is a historical point that is generally overlooked in the modern historical trend to reduce events to simple causes and consequences.
Chaichian's examination of the racism present in Dubuque from 1800-2000 is complete. There is very little that could be added to his work. He also thoroughly explains the significant class conflicts that were so prevalent in Dubuque. White groups such as Irish and German immigrants were also discriminated against throughout the history of the city. Chaichan is also to be commended for his explanations of this form of discrimination, which is often neglected by the history books.
This is the definitive work on the history of Dubuque as it pertains to the role of discrimination in the creation of the modern city. It starts with the extermination of the Native Americans, proceeds through the mistreatment of European immigrants from "undesirable areas" and stops with the ill-fated attempt to introduce more blacks to the city. Hopefully, this sad tale also ends there.

This book's wonderful clear, color photos make this book an excellent guide for beginners or casual wildflower observers.

"Sylvan T. Runkel, best known as "Sy," is widely respected for his special ability to communicate with young people as well as adults in a warm and sensitive manner.
He has helped plan conservation education programs, develop outdoor classrooms, and lay out nature trails...."

"Alvin F. (Al) Bull, at the time of his sudden and unexpected death in 1982, was vice-president of Farm Progress Companies and editorial director for Indiana Prairie Farmer, Prairie Farmer, Wallaces Farmer, and Wisconsin Agriculturist...."

"This book was designed to HELP THE CASUAL OBSERVER BECOME BETTER ACQUAINTED with the more interesting wildflowers of the state's woodlands....."
[from the book]

Baskets are more than a hobby to Joanna E. Schanz; they're a way of life. The Iowa native apprenticed with one of the last old-time basketmakers. Her baskets have garnered her a regional and a growing national reputation.

Joanna divides her time between basketry and running several family-owned businesses (including furniture and refinishing shops) with her husband Norman. The traditional willow basketry of the Amana Colonies, where Joanna and her family make their home, is the biggest inspiration behind Joanna's work, but she also experiments with new materials and methods of basketmaking. Lecturing and demonstrating basketry techniques at conventions and art fairs are among Joanna's many craft activities.

Her book covers the history of basketmaking in the Amana Colonies with examples shown of the historic baskets. There are about two dozen historic photographs showing baskets in use in the daily lives of the Amana people before the Great Change in 1932. There are no pre-1900 photographs showing the Amana people, let alone their basketry. The elders of the religious community did not at that time approve of photography or the decorative arts.

The Amana people did not consider baskets an art form or collectible, but rather a strictly utilitarian necessity. The photographs in this book from the 1900-32 era show that baskets were used extensively as an aid to gardening, field planting, and harvesting, as well as for picnics.

Basketmakers of today in the Amana Colonies-Joanna, Laura Kleinmeyer and Kathy Kellenberger-are featured with their willow baskets. Illustrated directions show exactly how to make six baskets. They are the round laundry basket, small oval Easter basket, oval community kitchen basket, strawberry picker, apple-picker and the Amana Colony willow basket.

A unique feature of the round basket historically created in the Colonies is the round removable base that can be replaced when worn-a solution of the thrifty German pioneers who came to the Amanas in the1850s seeking religious freedom.

The newly revised and substantially updated seventh edition of Wilson's Practical Meat Inspection by W. G. Wilson is a documented and in-depth descriptive survey of animal processing and the associated dangers of infected and diseased meats. Expertly and methodically guiding readers through comprehensive study of the intricacies of processing meat products, Wilson's Practical Meat Inspection provides an analysis of diseases, disorders, infections, viruses, and other issues damaging or endangering particular meats, while providing readers with a practical and well established reference to meat safety related legislation. As a textbook study of animal produce and the food industry, as well as its cautionary details of the meat processing industry in an age of BSE, foot-and-mouth disease, and other potential meat-related health hazards, Wilson's Practical Meat Inspection is confidently recommended reading for food safety activists, government policy makers, meat quality control inspectors, meat processors, food scientists, and the non-specialist general reader seeking a sound, well written introduction to meat processing, meat inspection, meat safety related issues.