Illinois Books

Walter Polovchak comes from Sambor in the western Ukraine. My parents originate from a nearby town from before World War II, when the region had been part of Poland. Polovchak recounts the struggle he had as a child to stay in the US, although he was a minor and his parents wanted to return to the Soviet Union. Polovchak describes the role of the ACLU in attempting to block his attempt at not only staying in the US but also getting asylum. Polovchak asks why the ACLU never once undertook a defense of human rights in the Soviet Union. Good question. Polovchak summarizes his experience in a nutshell when he calls attention to the fact that it was actually the Soviet Union that was on trial as a result of his whole experience.

Ungar focuses on the human face of immigration in this highly readable but highly slanted survey.
His accounts of the experiences of the new arrivals are illuminating, and occasionally heartrending, but his unfair loading of language becomes tiresome and undermines his position. Opponents of unlimited immigration are repeatedly described as "angry"; they "sneer", exhibit "tirades" or even a "frenzy" of "vulgar...patter", while those who support Ungar's views engage in "philosophical musings" or "meekly protest".
The prospect of large sections of America becoming extensions of the Third World doesn't seem to bother the author, who seems to feel that border crossings cannot and should not be controlled, and "the number officially and legally admitted should more closely approximate the number who actually come each year". He recommends that American border activities concentrate on drug interdiction and public health measures, but it is unclear to this reviewer how those measures could be implemented in the chaos of an undefended border.
(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

Antisemitism in pre WWII Europe has always fascinated me, and Professor Weeks lays an excellent foundation for understanding the seeds of antisemitism in Poland which later came to horrific fruition under the fascists. Professor's Weeks' in-depth knowledge of his subject and familiarity with Polish culture shows, but even the novice history buff will benefit from his detailed and easy to follow presentation of the facts. I would love to see a segue to this book - 1914 up to today!

This book was very well written, very accurate, and an overall excellent study into the subject. One of the few I recommend to friends. Author is sharp as a tack.

I recently used this book as the text for a class on "Media, Communications and Society." Both the class and I found Dan Lacy's book to be a model of clarity. The book kept us fascinated as it traced the development of media from the beginnings of human communication (language, art, etc.), to the present. But the real power of the text was the author's clear expression of media's impact on the development of human culture and society. The depth of Lacy's understanding of human development is belied by his simplicity of expression. After tracing a grand path through the development of writing and printing, the book focuses on the development of the mass media (newspapers, TV, and the information revolution). The effects of these media are especially noted in their effects on US culture. The dangers of the consolidation of our media capabilities in fewer and fewer hands is illustrated and made personally meaningful. For a clear, enjoyable read, I cannot recommend this book too highly.

Any mention of ex-patriate American writers in France evokes the images of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fritzgerald, John Steinbback and other white literary luminaries. Seldom are African-American names mentioned or acknowledged in terms of their presence as well as literary output from France. Michael Fabre, author of "The Unfinished Quest of Richard Wright", who was a Black expatriate from the United States, provides us with a history of Black writers who from 1840 to 1980 came to France as expatriates. Most people are unaware that Blacks from Louisiana were the first handful from the States to come to France for education, freedom and to write. From this small group the tradition continued with Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Du Bois and other great Black intellectuals.

Why did they come? France's tradition of liberty, equality and brotherhood was an attraction. Throughout the early 20th century, Blacks came to escape the racism of America and have the opportunity to work in their craft which was denied them in Europe. France's "lack" of racism was a breath of fresh air to African Americans under the mantle of segregation. France enabled them as writers to be artistically free. Each generation of Black writers who came to France were inspired by its so called liberalism. Yet even in its liberalism Black writers in the 60's began to scrutinize the racism of France that was articulated in its treatment of those colonials from Algeria and Senegal.

Fabre critiques each individual writer who came and gives us a historical context in which we can understand the unique spell that France had over attracting Black writers. The text concentrates on Black males since few Black female writers stayed over for any length of time. Those that did are given an even treatment. From Harlem to Paris gives one an appreciation for the contributions of Black writers in France. It is a book to have in one's library for literary studies of African Americans and expatriate writers.

I just received my copy. It provides an excellent history of museum education in the US, and describes how the role of educators has changed and expanded) as they have become increasingly involved in developing exhibitions. Ms. Roberts uses as her central theme her own experiences as a member of a team developing an exhibition on Linnaeus at the Chicago Botanical Garden. She writes clearly and the chapter headings tell the "narrative: of the book: Education and Entertainment, Education as Empowerment, Education as Experience, Education as Ethics, Conclusion: Education as Narrative. The publisher is Smithsonian Press

I consider Bogue's book to be an excellent research source for people interested in mid-19th century agriculture. It covers every aspect of agriculture during the formative years of Iowa and Illinois, and provides an ample beginning for someone looking to do research in this field.

Elizabeth Aldrich is an expert on the dance and social structure of the 19th century where cotillions, debutante balls, assemblies, etc. were when women set an impression upon possible suitors. Aldrich does an excellent job in explaining everything from manners to dance styles and music performed for the dances. Young women were expected to know the dances, wear white gloves, and act properly among the company of society. This book is great for people interested in dance, social structure, and life in the 19th century. It was not an easy life for women then or now. They were expected to wear oversized dresses, act properly, and get married to right the man. They didn't have the option of being independent. Women became nurses and teachers simply because they have too. Women's dependence on men is clearly important in understanding why women went to such great lengths of preparation and studies to help in securing a life with an eligible bachelor who could provide her future.

We made good use of this walking guide to Chicago, and found the information acurate, informative and fun. There are ten tours: Architecture Tour of the Loop, Sculpture Tour of the Loop, South Michigan Avenue and Grant Park, Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Oak Park and Hyde Park. each tour starts with information about the starting and end points, public transportation, time of the walk, best time to walk and worst time. The walks feature building and places of interest, with stories and eateries along the way. Lots of fun and very useful!