Wisconsin Books

The point of any great story is not just entertainment, but the hope that it will invoke, on some level, a curiosity, an interest, in those things that make up the world in which we live. That interest may be in human affairs, society, one's own situation, and the like. If nothing else, Paul Weidner's MEMOIRS OF A DWARF: AT THE SUN KING'S COURT definitely accomplishes this.

Hugues, an uneducated, orphaned dwarf who begins his impoverished days in a squalid Versailles, is the story's narrator and protagonist. Throughout the book he recounts the tale of his rise in the court of Louis XIV. As a servant, his penchant for curiosity embroils him in some precarious situations. Appearances are everything as members of society's upper echelon are just as shady as those they look down on. Yet, the one fault of the book may indeed be that which propels it forward--the narrator's voice: How could an individual with no formal education learn to speak and write so ostentatiously? Still, as the tale unfolds, the reader can't help but be held captive by the seamless tapestry of events that blur fiction from historical events.

Upon finishing the book you're left wondering if such a character as Hugues ever existed, and/or if the Royalty's practice of having so many little people around was to hide (shelter) an actual family member born a dwarf.

Such is the curiosity and interest this story Weidner has created. It has been a year since I have read the book, and yet there are those with whom I shared the book who never cease from keeping an eye out for information connecting the fictitious events with the reality of the time.

Say what you will about the book, but should a book be spoken of so long after it has been read is the highest compliment an author can receive. It is, then, an example of a great story.

As I read Weidner's novel of late eighteenth century debauchery, betrayal and revenge, I couldn't help but think of Dangerous Liaisons, the movie. The author, quite the wordsmith, has skillfully depicted the voice of the times as seen from the eyes of a dwarf in the court of King Louis XIV.
However, the reader had best be prepared for some unsettling events. Right away, we witness the shocking sacrifice of a deformed human child in a dark ritual performed by a priest who recites his Latin mass backward while pouring the desanguinated baby's blood onto the belly of a naked female. To top it off, the priest then drinks the remains. The reader can't help but empathize with Hugues, our dwarf protagonist who--having previously gotten into the court's good graces by preventing a fire--is pressed into service as an "altar boy" simply because his ill-shaped proportions are perceived as being attuned to the forces of darkness.
Hugues goes on to become a court favorite and serves as a source of sick amusement while he tends chamber pots, fights small dogs, removes ash from fireplaces, and provides sexual favors beneath the gaming tables. From a waist-high viewpoint, the author creates an eye-opening tapestry of Versailles and the ridiculous entertainment pursued by the rich and depraved. The crux of the story comes when Hugues decides to use (in the author's words) "rumors swarmed and fed and fattened like flies on a soft and vaporous pile of dung" to extort a petition for his own legitimacy and gain an acknowledged position as a human being. When our dwarf's initial attempts fail, revenge becomes part of the equation and a surprising connection between King Louis XIV and Hugues sweetens the pot.
Paul Weidner used to be artistic producer of the Hartford Stage Company and a director in New York University's graduate theater program so he's vested in the arts. Obviously, he tackled a mountain of research, became completely familiar with 18th Century France, and he's done a wonderful job of describing it, setting the scene. In my opinion, he has captured the voice of the times with literary precision. But the real magic of his narrative is the way he sprinkles in dry humor to keep the reader from sinking into the quagmire of moral muck that passes as entertainment for the upper classes. That said, I eventually found the narrative a bit too heavy to be sustained for a whole novel. Entertaining at first, the wordiness of it became tedious, bogging me down, and I found myself speed-reading or skipping long-winded passages in order to get to the point.
Overall, though, I'd say Memoirs of a Dwarf is definitely a good read. --Reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews

I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't drop it once I started it.
I love Weidner's style, he's a great author and I hope he will publish more books.
This is the type of book that you just can't get enough of!
On a trip, in the plane, late at night, whenever you read, this is not the book you buy to help you fall asleep, it will keep you wanting to know more and will keep you interested until the last page. Or at least it kept me interested until the last page!
I am just sad there are only 5 stars ratings, I would give it more than that otherwise!

Like the diminutive heroes of some of my favorite books, Cadence Roth in Maupin's MAYBE THE MOON and John Irving's Owen Meany, Paul Weidner's Hughes from his terrific MEMOIRS OF A DWARF invites us into his world made awful and ridiculous and compelling by the cold fact of scale. It is Hughes' size that decides his fate. However, it is his character that defines his life. In Hughes, Weidner has given us a hapless protagonist who, in the intrigue-riddled world of Louis XIV, stumbles upon his dignity through the most undignified of circumstances. And by peppering his narrative with bursts of unexpected bawdy humor and sobering cruelty, Weidner deftly manages to avoid the traps of sentimentality to give us a mystery that satisfies in its details and in its rendering of a complex and winning hero of contemporary fiction.

I purchased this book because of its rave reviews and because of my predilection for period dramas; I was horribly disappointed.

Contrary to what the other reviewers said, the language was not eloquent and beautiful--it was just pretentious and rambling. There were so many meaningless digressions that, if anything, the author's attempt to create something beautiful detracted from the only sometimes intriguing plot, and instead of enhancing meaning and a sense of the era, only tempted the reader to skip paragraphs. Bad editing.

The plot itself was fine, neither extraordinary nor bland. The basic idea is that there is a dwarf whose life begins and ends in misery, but whose journey takes him from a filthy orphanage to the catacombs of the Notre Dame Cathedral performing satanic rituals, to the court of Louis XIV. Along the way, he is molested, serves the sexual needs of women in the court, helps the aristocracy cheat at cards, and participates in the world of intrigue and gossip to achieve legitimacy and some degree of stature in society. PLOT SPOILER AHEAD. In the end, he does not formally receive this recognition in any way, but does find out he is the actual heir to the throne...to no avail of course because of his appearance, and also because he has his tongue cut out by the same priest with whom he had performed these rituals; worse yet, in the very end he learns to read and produces this very book. That is, more or less, the story.

Because the story had its moments, I am generously giving the book three stars. Maybe you will like it as much as these other reviewers did, and if you end up spending good money on it, I hope you do. I, however, regret having payed for this verbose, self-important, repetitive little drama.

Overall, I didn't enjoy the cookie-cutter characters... All three women are so cut and dry. There is the slutty, outrageous, vixen. The snobby, type-A, miss perfect. Then the shy, low-self-esteem, battered woman. I felt like they were so set in their "type" that they were unrealistic. The basis of the book is these unlikely women end up coming together and realizing they need to be more like the other to heal and grow. The writer seem to try and really add juicyness to this chicklit but it felt forced or unseasoned. The sex and swears lacked a certain skill. Overall I breezed through this chicklit, it was a little subpar to me.

Accused of murder, Lorelei Taylor goes home to Wisconsin and tries to shed her past and become Vivian again. Unfortunately, the town's not excited at the thought of having her home. Vivian begins to find her place...any place but Mike's arms. Can find a way beyond her defenses?

At times, the story made me laugh...at times it really hit my heart. Wonderfully realistic characters, and a fantastic story made for a great read by an amazing author!

I loved living in this world of women who are young, old and in between and who are not all unrealistically rich and/or ultra skinny and model-beautiful....these woman are very real and very fun. I enjoyed Sharpe's witty, observant, and genuine style. I especially liked the little surprises along the way...a character action or comment or situation I hadn't expected. A previous reviewer made a recommendation I'll second: Get this book for you, but also get copies for your friends. It's a great girlfriend book. Looking forward to Sharpe's next book coming up soon!

One of the best books I've read in a long time. It's definitely a keeper. Set in Kettle, Wisconsin, this is the story of three women's struggles and their strenghts. Written with laugh-out-loud dialogue and clever introspection, these women became so real that I wanted to visit Kettle. Well done, Ms. Sharpe. I'm looking forward to your next book.

Accused of electrocuting her abusive and philandering lover, Lorelei Taylor manages to escape prosecution nearly penniless. In need of some down time, she drops her sex kitten former stripper persona and reverts back to her given name, Vivian Harcourt, to relocate to the small Wisconsin town of her deceased grandmother. She has happy memories of Kettle, Wisconsin, unfortunately, the townspeople aren't excited to have someone who they think got away with murder in their midst.

Vivian unwittingly has quite an effect on the town, from Mike the widower she wants to seduce, to the frigid wives like Sarah, who seemingly has the perfect life, but it's a mask of unfulfilled promise. Former childhood playmate, Erin has been a punching bag for her abusive husband, something a fellow victim is able to detect. As she navigates the small mindedness of her adopted small town, Vivian tries valiantly to live up to her image and maintain control her heart, while Mike slowly chips away at her armor.

Sharpe's novel of female empowerment is at times funny, bittersweet, and cathartic, and a lesson in not believing first impressions or gossip. Unfortunately, an abrupt ending and an all too brief epilogue cheats readers of the action surrounding the outcomes of each woman's life.

This is a wonderful book, especially if you're from the Badger state like me! My children love it, it is fun, educational and has wonderful artwork.

A few updates about this book: ABCs of Wisconsin was selected as a CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center) Choices for 2001. Additionally, the readers of Madison Magazine voted Alison as one of the Top Three Artists in Madison for 2001. [...]

This book brought back great memories of my childhood growing up in Wisconsin. Alison Relyea did a wonderful job and look forward to more books illustrated by this talented artist.

If you are looking for serious facts about Wisconsin, don't buy this book. Although the illustrations may be whimsical, most of the facts could pertain to any state--there's poison ivy in North Carolina too. All of the factual information is contained on two text-only pages at the back of the book, and children are not going to sit still while Mom reads these facts to them. Having grown up in Wisconsin, I was looking forward to reading this book. I was extremely disappointed.

Amazing illustrations...great whimsy...interesting facts. And, I even learned a little about Wisconsin that I didn't know about! Of all our ABC books, our kids select this one first to read.

Quiroga (1878-1937) is considered to be one of the finest short-story writers Latin America has produced, and among the writers there with whom the modern short story begins. This anthology was published in 1976 and contains 12 of his best pieces written between 1907 and 1935. It was the first collection in English covering the span of his career.

Quiroga is known for his economy of style and power of dramatic focus, rapid narrative, and dark view of mankind, often showing people motivated by greed, fear, anger, stupidity or a desire for revenge. Most of the stories in this collection involved violence, death, madness or horror. There were also several animal tales featuring dogs and snakes that talked. Many of the pieces were set in the torrid jungle of the Misiones district of northeastern Argentina, and showed man's inability to control nature and fate. Two were set in the city. Just one story in the collection had a conventional hero and happy outcome: a courageous woman rowed for hours against a raging flood to get help for a companion.

For me, the most interesting piece was "The Pursued," an early story containing the narrator's description of the gradual descent into madness of his intellectual acquaintance in the city. The interest came from the gripping description of the descent, and the fact that the narrator's comments suggested that he too was insane and contributed to the other's disintegration. Other good stories included the title piece, which showed children's terrifying powers of imitation in a way that won't soon be forgotten, and "The Dead Man" and "Drifting," about the rage to live against approaching death. The illustrations commissioned for the edition of the book I read were also well done and contributed to the stories' atmosphere.

Some of the pieces had some affinities with magic realism, if that means the use merely of the bizarre or supernatural. His works weren't magic realism in the sense of use of nonlinear, parallel plots, unusual shifts in time and space, creation of a mythical place, or heavy borrowing from myth, legend and dream. The stories included in the collection were very linear in narrative and didn't distort reality in intensifying it. His work may be related to magic realism in the same distant way as an author like Ambrose Bierce or many writers of horror stories are related to it.

A minor criticism of this anthology might be that the atmosphere of virtually unrelieved doom and darkness got a bit oppressive after awhile. I would've liked to read additional stories by this author in this short, 160-page collection to see whether he was capable of a greater range. Within the fictional territory included in this short book, he was powerful. I'd agree with other readers that his writing is important for readers interested in Latin American fiction, particularly the short story.

Another collection in English of the writer's work is The Exiles and Other Stories, produced in 1987 by the same publisher. It focuses more on the atmosphere of the Misiones jungle and the various characters who inhabited it, and less on the intense atmosphere of dread, the supernatural and the bizarre.

The Great German poet Hersonlog Breich said of this work, "One of the most stunning arts of _expression in modern times". Of course he was writing in 1941, but the statement still stands the test of time...

For those of you curious about which stories this book includes:

The Feather Pillow, Sunstroke, The Pursued, The Decapitated Chicken, Drifting, A Slap in the Face, In the Middle of the Night, Juan Darien, The Dead Man, Anaconda, The Incense Tree Roof, & The Son

anyone who calls marquez and allende gentle should be decapitated themselves. read quiroga.

If _The Decapitated Chicken_ were a new work by a US author, it would probably be marketed in the "horror" genre. Its status as an older classic by a Latin American writer means it is instead marketed as "magic realism." Do not, however, confuse this with the gentle works of such writers as Marquez and Allende.

Almost every story ends with at least one gruesome death. Many stories are entirely devoted to anticipating that death. The protagonist gets bitten by a viper or slashes himself with a machete at the beginning, then dies for the next several pages. There's not actually much "magic realism" in these stories, aside from a few talking animals.

The prose is certainly vivid, even in translation. If you like horror, I recommend this book. I'll stick to Marquez and Allende.

Originally published in 1970, this first of twelve books to feature insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter takes place in the late '60s California. Popular small-town radio personality Fox Olson appears to have crashed his car into a storm-swollen arroyo -- however his body hasn't been found, and Medallion Life Insurance doesn't pay up without a body. So Brandstetter drives from L.A. out to Pima to take a look at the accident scene and talk to Olson's friends and family. Of course, all is not what it seems, and beneath Olson's seemingly happy life (pretty wife, plenty of money, dream house) lie a less happy past and a secret or two. One of the bigger secrets is telegraphed pretty early on with some pretty obvious clues, but Brandstetter has to figure what it means.

Much of the book is taken up with the mystery of whether or not Olson is alive or dead, and if dead, whether by his own hand or that of an enemy. The threads of this mystery get awfully tangled, and by the end the real culprit's identity comes as a bit of a surprise. Meanwhile, a running subplot is Brandstetter's grief over the recent death of his longtime lover and his attempt to grapple with moving on. (Part of this includes a romantic interlude involving a Hispanic teenager that adds absolutely nothing to the story or to Brandstetter's character development and feels quite totally superfluous.) Brandstetter is gay, an anomaly for crime fiction of the time, but this never feels false or gimmicky. Hansen makes him a completely normal guy, a classic rugged, tough, cynic with a heart of gold genre detective who gets the job done by patience and persistence, rather than genius.

The story is pretty solid and fits well into the tradition of California noir (Chandler, Hammett, MacDonald). What makes it stand out is the writing -- most of the time it's clipped and straightforward, and then every now and then it diverges into a more lyrical moment, such as this: "Windows were broken. Where not broken they were boarded up, had been for years: the rust from nailheads had written long, sad farewells down the salt-slivered planks." On the whole, a solid series debut that whets the appetite for more of Brandstetter.

The insight and human empathy of Joseph Hansen's sleuth Dave Brandstetter equals that of sam spade. There's a deepness of thought seldom found in the epigonesof hard-boiled genre. Dave is a warm,gentle soul, understanding human frailty, even when it leads to unsavoury cinseqyuences, And he's justly severe to real miscreants. A refreshing read in mystery literature. He was also a pionieer, in a genre whhere, thanks to Chandlers, homosexuals were less more than effete degenerates. Hansen restored homosexual people's dignity.

Have seen many reviews of books that were supposed to be great and entertaining. This book was excellent, to the point where I could not put it down. Can't wait to read the next in his series.

Can you imagine the impact of a gay tough guy detective in 1972, that was thirteen years before Rock Hudson. Indeed, can you imagine a gay tough guy detective even today with all the attacks on Sponge Bob and and other stupidities.

But it's true. In 1972 Joseph Hansen published the first of what would grow to twenty five novels, twelve of which featured Dave Brandstetter the openly, contentedly gay thinking man's tough guy.

Dave is an insurance company investigator in charge of looking into false claims. In Fadeout, pop star Fox Olson's white convertible plunged off a narrow wooden bride and killed him. But where's the body.

That's enough of the story, you can guess what happens from there. It's a good story, well written as any novel that starts a series of twelve mysteries has to be. Highly Recommended.

Joseph Hansen manages to fit a remarkable amount of storytelling in this relatively short novel. Fadeout is the story of an intriguing investigation. Yet it is so much more than that. Seemingly without effort, Hansen also succeeds in giving the reader a very revealing look into the inner life of the investigator.

Fox Olson of Pima, California has disappeared and is presumed dead. Mr. Olson is many things. Husband, father, local radio personality, writer, painter and erstwhile politician. He also owns a $150,000 insurance policy from a company known as Medallion Life.
Dave Brandstetter is a claims investigator for Medallion Life and it is his job to find out what really has happened to Fox Olson. As Brandstetter interviews the policyholder's family and acquaintances he learns that things are not as they appear. The ostensibly happy life Fox Olson seemed to be enjoying was anything but that.

All is not well with Dave Brandstetter either. You see, Dave is a homosexual and his life partner of more than 20 years has recently died of cancer. Dave is just now trying to learn how to live again.
In giving us the Dave Brandstetter character, Hansen has done a very remarkable thing, at least as far as detective fiction is concerned. Though proudly gay, there is nothing about Dave that would lead anyone meeting him in a professional setting to suspect he is anything other than heterosexual. His speech, his clothes, his mannerisms, everything about him speaks to a mainstream orientation. But since the reader is aware of Dave's homosexuality, the way in which Hansen has him relate to women, other gays and homophobic individuals he encounters in the course of his work is quite interesting indeed. Moreover, Hansen includes a number of scenes between Dave and the people in his own life which very tellingly expose the pain and anguish he carries within.

One cannot help but notice the similarities of Hansen's writing style in Fadeout to much of the work of Ross Macdonald. Both writers use a highly descriptive type of prose that is very effective. Both delight in exploring the geographic and sociologic diversity California has to offer. Both make use of long held family secrets to provide key plot twists. And both feature toughminded protagonists who steadfastly seek out the truth.

Fadeout is truly an impressive literary effort. Word for word, this book delivers as much value to the reader as any work of fiction out there.

I agree with our reader friend from McCutcheon; the book is a tad on the short side. It strikes me that there is a lot going on in the text, maybe more than Magnuson was fully prepared to handle. Some of the thematic elements could have used a little more development. Overall, however, I believe that this story, a story about a couple facing marital issues and a town possesed and lead by a charismatic weather man who attains televangelist-style esteem, is one of a gothic and primeval nature set in a land sterotypically seen as a place of ham, cheese, and beer, hey.

The pending naturtal disaster which carries the story is, in concept, much like the work of main-stream novelists such as King or Chrichton. The difference is that Magnuson knows how to write -- and well. His treatment of the craft, on a level defined by the enjoyability of each individual sentence, is one which shows that the text itself is only a cloudy hint at the literary genius he could one day unleash on us.

Largely, this book is one that you could read quickly and enjoy, but is one worth reading slightly more slowly and marvelling at the time put into the formation of each line of text.

If it had been polished and fleshed out a little, it would have been a much better read. With its short length, I was able to take in the whole thing in a single sitting, and I wanted more. There is so much more life and detail that the characters in this story are give. I casn tell that there is a lo of thought behind this story, which raises it up a notch. It is a good book, but ends much too soon.

Having had Mike Magnuson as a prof @ Mankato State for the Comp 102 class, I had the opportunity to read a segment of "The Right Man for the Job" back when it was still entitled "The Cheese Stands Alone"...bought myself a copy as soon as it hit shelves. I picked up "The Fire Gospels" last night and read, literally, until I fell asleep. I'm only through the first 5 chapters, and I can't wait to get the f--k out of the office today and get back to this book. (Hey Mike! I wound up switching from Computer Science to Creative Writing!)

In Mike Magnuson's second book, he takes on the subjects of God, adultery, drunkenness, and smalltown celebrity--blasheming all four in the process. There is much in this book to offend; but much more to entertain, consider, and read over and over. Again, his images and language are the freshest and most vivid of any writer working today. When book burnings become fashionable again, the holier than thou powers that be will likely soak Fire Gospels in kerosene, torch it, and fling it into the pile of imitations to get the rest going. Magnuson would burn there with D.H. Lawrence, Henry Miller and Erica Jong. I am sure the author would glorify in the prominence, and he would likely lug in a keg a Leinenkugels and crate of marshmallows to light up the crowd.

I'd remarked one or two chapters in that THE FIRE GOSPELS was 'very pro-Christian.' I didn't mean that in a derogatory or sardonic sense, but boy did I eat my words anyway.

In some ways, it reminded me very much of Sheri Reynolds' THE RAPTURE OF CANAAN as well as THE SCHOOL OF BEAUTY AND CHARM (whose author currently escapes me). Similar veins of middle class Christians struggling with harsh dosages of reality.

Mike Magnuson's THE FIRE GOSPELS is very harsh indeed, and lambasts any assumption I made (and shouldn't have made) judging by the first few chapters that it had anything to do with belief. Rather, it slaps you in the face with the degradation of belief, the destruction of faith. I am left, having just finished the book, feeling empty and raw.

THE FIRE GOSPELS is quite thought-provoking and may not be exactly what you first think.

The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Company F, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers. William Ray was a enlisted man of the Famed Iron Brigade. His story told in his own words from a journal he kept, is an amazing story as told by some one who is there. I will let him tell about a few minutes on the 1st of July 1863 at a place called Gettysburg. His unit having been heavily engaged for most of the day were ordered to fall back though the town.

"I was hit about 1/4 mile out of town by a Ball on the top of the head, come near knocking me down. But I straighted up, went on, another Ball hits sole of my shoe cutting it nearly in two, it ownly making my foot sting a little."

Walking though Gettysburg he stopped at a 2nd Division "hospital" to seek help for his wounds. This "hospital" was soon surrendered to the Confederates (as they took the town), so he walked back to his unit. His story is amazing and detailed. It is a excellent testimony of how life was really like in the Union Army for a regular soldier.

William Ray, a decent, optimistic, industrious, and somewhat priggish Wisconsin farmer survived three battle wounds during the Civil War, lasting long enough to be promoted to what may have been his level of incompetence as an orderly sergeant. Ray regularly sent his notebook diaries back to the homefolks, and perhaps for that reason, the diaries tend to be emotionally flat. Although the 7th Wisconsin suffered some of the heaviest casualties of any unit in the Union Army, Ray does not reflect on his perilous situation, and he refers to the dead and wounded largely as statistics rather than as friends and comrades. Occasional passages do rise above Ray's typically mundane entries--for instance, his description of being lost in the rain during the skirmishing of August 18-21, 1864.

This diary will be largely of interest to Civil War buffs curious about the soldiers' daily life. Although the editors' contributions are adequate, the explanatory notes might have better explained to 21st century readers the realities that Civil War armies took for granted. Comparisons of Ray's journal with similar diaries would also have been helpful.

Private William Ray of Company F, 7th Wisconsin Volunteers, wrote (it seems) nearly everyday for four years of war in his journals. It is a book of journal entries that, from start to finish record a momentous journey. To read this book is to travel with Ray across the countryside and know the ever-present boredom of soldier life, punctuated with hard marches and occasional life threatening danger. One gets a real sense of the soldier's isolated position in the war and constant search and need for information, and the ever present lack of it. The book is packed with amazing detail, and it is always from the perspective of the Private soldier. Often Ray has no idea of the larger scope of events he is moving through. Ray has a wonderfully objective attitude, and relates his thoughts and feelings well. What was it like to be wounded in battle? Journey with Ray from the battlefield, through field hospitals, ultimately to spend about a year in a Philadelphia hospital for soldiers. Returning to the regiment, Ray is soon wounded again. Some of the best of Ray's journal comes in 1864 when he is constantly in the action around Petersburg. This book gives the full experience of the common soldier's life in the Iron Brigade, in rare length and depth. Reading 446 pages of journal entries is not a task lightly undertaken, but it is well worth the journey. I recommend reading this one after being well versed in the big picture of the Brigade's history.

The story of William Ray's is not entirely unique to Civil War history although his personal account brought forth by four years of great diary keeping brings the soldier daily grind to the forefront. Ray's story is seldom full of action and captures the daily life of a young man of Wisconsin heritage fighting for the Union in the Army of the Potomac. What flavors this monotonous story is that it truly brings the hard lifestyle of 19th Century soldiering to 21st Century readers. This is an excellent book for historians looking to understand soldier thinking. Ray writes about camp life, rumors, gossip, money, family, drill, picket duty, sickness, friends and the "hurry up and wait" philosophy of being an infantry soldier for the Union during the Civil War. Ray's coverage of his fighting is brisk although many times his writing may have been tamed by the fact that he may have been writing with family in mind. He may have not wanted his family to know the hard battle details in the event of his death where his diary could be discovered and sent home with his belongings. Injured on several occasions such as the Battle of Gettysburg and The Wilderness, Ray enhances his story to give this book added information. He writes about his wounds, healing, being sick and helping his fellow soldiers. We are lucky to have such a large diary written which covers four years of the war. From his enlisting, re-enlisting and final discharge Ray offers us a priceless look at a common infantry soldier. His diary notes of the Siege of Petersburg and the mine explosion was very interesting. The ugly daily life of trench warfare certainly painted the struggle at hand. Ray also gives us a definitive look at how the South was truly struggling as of 1864 and when 1865 rolls around he writes about Confederate deserters coming across the lines on a daily basis. This information is seldom covered from a soldier's perspective and it is vital for those looking to understand the mentality of an everyday soldier who by 1864 was a proud Veteran of the boys of '61. This book is also an excellent and valuable reference tool for those trying to learn about the Iron Brigade and more importantly the 7th Wisconsin. A true historian could use a greatly documented book such as this in their library. 5 STARS!!!!!

The story of William Ray's is not entirely unique to Civil War history although his personal account brought forth by four years of great diary keeping brings the soldier daily grind to the forefront. Ray's story is seldom full of action and captures the daily life of a young man of Wisconsin heritage fighting for the Union in the Army of the Potomac. What flavors this monotonous story is that it truly brings the hard lifestyle of 19th Century soldiering to 21st Century readers. This is an excellent book for historians looking to understand soldier thinking. Ray writes about camp life, rumors, gossip, money, family, drill, picket duty, sickness, friends and the "hurry up and wait" philosophy of being an infantry soldier for the Union during the Civil War. Ray's coverage of his fighting is brisk although many times his writing may have been tamed by the fact that he may have been writing with family in mind. He may have not wanted his family to know the hard battle details in the event of his death where his diary could be discovered and sent home with his belongings. Injured on several occasions such as the Battle of Gettysburg and The Wilderness, Ray enhances his story to give this book added information. He writes about his wounds, healing, being sick and helping his fellow soldiers. We are lucky to have such a large diary written which covers four years of the war. From his enlisting, re-enlisting and final discharge Ray offers us a priceless look at a common infantry soldier. His diary notes of the Siege of Petersburg and the mine explosion was very interesting. The ugly daily life of trench warfare certainly painted the struggle at hand. Ray also gives us a definitive look at how the South was truly struggling as of 1864 and when 1865 rolls around he writes about Confederate deserters coming across the lines on a daily basis. This information is seldom covered from a soldier's perspective and it is vital for those looking to understand the mentality of an everyday soldier who by 1864 was a proud Veteran of the boys of '61. This book is also an excellent and valuable reference tool for those trying to learn about the Iron Brigade and more importantly the 7th Wisconsin. A true historian could use a greatly documented book such as this in their library. 5 STARS!!!!!

Lillian Faderman writes an autobiography with an engaging and compelling style that easily pulls in the reader. She is technically the child of a Holocaust survivor, although her mother and aunt arrived before WWII, sent ahead to America (one presumes this is the Promised Land in Faderman's book title) by the family, to find work in America, sending money home, preparing the way for the rest of the family to eventually settle in America.

Only that reunion never happened: all of Faderman's relatives perished in the Holocaust, and the rest of her mother's life was defined by survivor's guilt, a legacy of conflicting emotions that were inevitably passed on to the first generation of children born after the Holocaust. Lillian Faderman and others of her generation carried the burdens of the ghosts of the slaughtered, the relatives and loved ones who were killed before they were even born.

Faderman's story goes beyond being Jewish: as the first-generation American child born to an immigrant, her experience is one that will speak to many, Jewish or otherwise, and it really is a classic story. The child of an immigrant garment worker, she grew up to live the American dream, getting a college education, eventually becoming a noted historian, textbook author and researcher. True life stories don't get any better than this one.

I savored every bit of this memoir. There are, sadly, so few really well-written lesbian memoirs. "Naked" is a terrific book and an engaging reading experience. I highly recommend it.

By far, Lillian's best yet. Her previous writings were way too heady for me, but this one held my attention. For those looking for the juicy tidbits of Faderman's personal life, this book pretty much hits the spot. I am looking forward to the sequel -- this woman has much more to tell.

Ms. Faderman has always been an outstanding scholar, giving the academic and Lesbian worlds her well researched, and highly informative books about Lesbians and Lesbianism. She has also written other scholarly works that are highly recommended, if not a little heavy for most readers. In her latest venture, her memoir " Naked in the Promise Land", Ms. Faderman shows her readers another side of her makeup, her personal side. The Memoir is as interesting for what it reveled about Ms. Faderman's past life as well as what has been carefully left out. Readers may well have to wait for a bioghapher to tell the complete story of Lillian Faderman's life for it appears that she is willing to go only so far in its telling.
What is also a point to note is the muse that Ms. Faderman has chosen to use. It defiantly is not the carefully structured formal English she used for her academic books, nor should it be. However, as a memoir it reads more like an Ann Bannon or Clair Morgan novel, and this, perhaps, is part of its charm as well as its draw.
Finally, in the telling of part of her life story the reader is made aware that Ms. Faderman is a consummate actress. After all she studied hard to learn the techiques. As such, one has to wonder if what she has presented to the world after her "Sunset Strip" life, is nothing more than another act in one more carefully constructed costume.

I wonder if other men love this book like I do. I loaned this book to someone then forgot whom I loaned it to. Doesn't matter. I've thought about this story a thousand times.

I love my own mother deeply, tenderly, but if I could have chosen my own mother, notwithstanding some very tempting candidates out there, Lillian Faderman would have been numero uno. I'll say it. I'm a softie for strong character; people who have been dragged through the muck and not only survived, but emerged from the pure hell of life to bring honor to themselves and to those who have struggled for the right to their own dignity.

I bought this book the first day it hit the shelf and read it from cover to cover and wished it would not end. I wanted to read it and I didn't want to read it because I've spent maybe two decades sculpting and perfecting this pedastal I've had Lillian Faderman on and I was worried that she would demolish it by turning out to be a prep school and legacy brat from the suburbs. No danger here.

Everything I know about the real lives of lesbians I learned from Dr. Faderman and, I'll be honest, I didn't think I'd enjoy anything else after Maya Angelou's "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings." I read Radclyffe Hall's "The Well of Lonliness" and was sickened by it's twisted logic and it stamp of approval from kook psychologist Havelock Ellis. I thought Gertude Stein's "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas" merited points for chutzpah. But Stein, Hall and Angelou are no Lillian Faderman.

This book is rich with terror, heartbreak, despair, grief and finally - triumph. It's what "Brokeback Mountain" should have been rather than another story about how a homosexual dies or gets murdered in the end.

I've changed my mind. It does matter. Whoever has my copy of this book - GIVE IT BACK !

I was looking for a dad's point of view and this is a good one. This dad is in tune with himself and his children. He is not letting the oppurtunity to be a father pass him by. More parents should try to be more aware of how short the time really is before they are headed out the door.

A nice laid-back approach to a father-son memoir, offering interesting insights into the lives of Dads of sons - and the sons of Dads.

Shaving Lessons offers more descriptions of actual Dad-son activities and less of the author's thoughts and reflections on their meaning and importance for the relationship (but, then, this is a guy writing after all). After my initial surprise, I found that it makes for a easier, less imposing read - it allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions, inferring the emotions evoked from the events described.

There's a nice, cozy, fireplace-in-a-log-cabin and well-worn-Volvo feel about the book, and while not all Dad's can be as accomplished as Mr. Chandler (playing rock-tunes with a live band to impress a teenage son), most of us can instantly relate to his down-to-earth struggle with a real, honest family life.

For any Son or Dad there is ample food for thought here - not just about male relationships, but about the whole notion of life as the parent of a boy, and as an adult son. Shaving Lessons might even lead some of us to reconsider our relationships with our fathers and/or sons...

Thank you! What a tear jerker! It makes you think about your own relationship with your parents and gives you the opportunity to appreciate them even more. I admire Kurt for opening his heart and sharing his personal thoughts with the readers. That takes courage. Big Kuddos to Ben for letting his Dad write the book;-). Great Job!

Shaving Lessons had me hooked at the very first paragraph in the Prolouge....not to mention had me shedding tears. Kurt Chandler does a wonderful job describing his relationship with his son, as well as examining his relationship with his own father in an honest and sometimes difficult reflection.

I was pleased to hear Chandler on local public radio just after having read his book. The radio show was just a bonus for me-- the book was great. I have struggled for years with thoughts about my father's fathering and mine. Did the old man come up short, and if so, how and why? How can I be more present, more involved, do a better job without overdoing, coddling, spoiling my daughter? Chandler focused his thoughts and gave credibilty to mine. I'm not alone in wanting to do a better job, and, like Chandler, I still love my dad, too.

I read the original paperback edition of 2004. The book contains some 260 regular text pages, plus 31 pages of footnotes (altogether 328 pages). The author, an openly homosexual orthodox rabbi, had appeared in the 1999 documentary Trembling Before G-D.

Speaking in the popular language of separation I am not an Orthodox Jew, but the "original" holy texts which often get interpreted homophobically most certainly are of relevance to me, as their (King James) Bible derivations are used within the RastafarI branch of religion for the downpression of the constructed minority of homosexuals. Theologically, the book is of interest for any branch of religion which knows certain common stories, such as the one of Sodom.

There are advantages and disadvantages of this book being written by an ordained religious official. However, the air of authority is irrelevant to me personally: As a RastafarI I do not know such officials. The advantage is that this book departs from similar ones (of any closely related religion) in that it is less argumentative in a general sense, but is open to reassessing theological concepts. The disadvantage is, that the reasoning of the book has to be restricted to the parameters of (orthodox) Jewish theology. Which of course is again an advantage for the Jewish orthodox reader, but not necessarily on all issues to the reader who seeks more universal answers. I was also looking for some specifics of elsewhere averred alterations/mistranslations of early Jewish texts (e.g. at the time of the Egyptian diaspora), but of course a rabbi can't go into such a notion and I am not complaining as I respect other people's concepts of belief/knowledge.

I am also a mystic and appreciated the few references to the Jewish light on mysticism. In addition, the Ham story is of involuntary importance to RastafarI, as it was used to justify slavery, and I am always all ears of how this story gets interpreted in different ways. I am thankful for the author's elaborations on the Sodom story, as many other non-homophobic interpreters remain rather superficial when it comes to the anti-greed part. (Another advantage of the book having been written by a theologian instead of a scientist- or activist-only.) It was refreshing to read the "anecdote" suggesting that God has given the Torah to the humans and now it is their business to interpret it. In general books about the European Middle Ages, it gets usually forgotten how non-Christian homosexuals were treated. So it was interesting to learn that Jews weren't delivered to Christian courts and their corresponding (capital) punishments.

The theological differentiation between willful transgressors (not for pleasure, but rebellion) and indulgent transgressors (who can't resist temptation) is more for the specifically Jewish reader.

Not all of the author's reasoning I have to agree with. To begin with, it's a persistent myth that women can't get pregnant while nursing. As the opposite is the reality, intercourse by nursing women can't get used as another example of theologically allowed non-procreative sexuality. I agree (of course, what else?!) that holy texts (not only the Torah, but also e.g. the derived Bible) got freely reinterpreted to re-allow money lending with interest. In fact, banking was once termed another example of sodomy (unnatural reproduction of money) by the Church. I even do like the theology better which is against exploitation and classism as put forward in this book. However, I don't agree that it was such a good idea to radically change that prohibition or even to change it at all, taking a look a the local and global system, which is basically an extension of that downturned (overturned) ancient holy law. Ok, it DOES show a precedent for humans freely changing interpretations of holy texts. All I am saying is that it is a bad choice of example. Actually the worst, considering that it is about the original meaning of the Sodom story about greed and pitilessness.

I am flabbergasted to read from THIS author that the Jonathan-and-David-story would make most sense if Jonathan were homosexual, but David not: Though Jonathan "manages in battle, we find him not very aggressive or interested in military prowess. He doesn't think strategically." As a pacifist and draft dodger I would applaud, if being homosexual would automatically equal the same attitude. But isn't talk like that supposed to be foolish prejudice? In any case, in the ancient world, the opposite of that was at least one of the realities. In fact, some Greek city states especially employed and encouraged homosexual warrior couples. Hawaiian warriors bonded sexually before battle. (Make love, then war.) Fascinating concept, even if not my cup of tea, so I just ordered Gay Warriors: A Documentary History from the Ancient World to the Present.

All of that said, the upper line is: This is a great book. Challenging in different ways for both sides of the issue. For that what it is, this book succeeds. It clearly shows that where there's a will there's a way. This book has a heart. Which seems to be the diametrical opposite of the hatemongers - of any branch of religion. And I am not sure wether religion is supposed to be engaged in without a heart.

You may also be interested in Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century and Islamic Homosexualities: Culture, History, and Literature.

If you are a Christian, you may think that an Orthodox Jewish rabbi comes from such a different way of approaching our shared Scripture
that little would result from a lot of effort. Think again! This remarkable book is captivating from beginning to end and filled with
innumberable insights that grace virtually every page. Along the way, you may, as I discovered, come away with a whole new appreciation for Orthodox Judaism.
It s one thing to find a helpful book. It s quite another to find one helpful and delightful to read. Here are a couple of sentences worth mulling over: "Gayness is no more an automatic intentional rejection of procreation than is straightness a sworn promise of it." And, "Nature is a text that can say almost anything we want it to say while appearing to have said nothing but what is evident." Both of these statements
are found on the same page. This man can turn a phrase.
After quoting from a letter from a near-suicidal gay Orthodox Jew, (a feature familiar to many pastors and their gay parishioners) Rabbi Greenberg states his purpose for writing the book. "For the sake of this young man and many men and women very much like him, the first goal of this book is to demonstrate that, contrary to the
assumptions of many liberal and traditional Jews, an argument can be made in defense of gay relatioships from within the canon of traditional Jewish textual resources. What this man needs is not permission to have sex with men. That is hardly enough. What he needs is a way to envision a life of love, intimacy, and commitment with a man in the context of a religiously alive Orthodox community. The task of writing on this topic is to make a path that is responsible to these human realities and deeply
commit to God and Torah."
To reach his goal, Rabbi Greenberg divided his book into four sections. In Sacred Texts, he explores the biblical stories of Adam and Eve, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Leviticus that continue to shape Westen civilization s sexual ethics and gender identities. His discussion of the first not good of creation, Adams lonliness, and how God went about overcoming it, is worth the price of the book.
In Evidence, our rabbi surveys the positive ways in which the stories of Jonathan and David, Ruth and Naomi, and rabinnical stories
associated with gay themes have been treated up through the Middle Ages. He finds within the Jewish conversation what many Christian observers also found in this period, a lack of horror regarding same-sex love that we moderns are so possessed by.
The concluding chapter of this section involves the very unJewish notion that asking Why? is forbidden regarding Leviticus 18 and 20.
To ask is to open up the necessity for justifying one's answer, a slippery slope, indeed.
In Rationales, he returns to the fundamental prohibition posed in Leviticus, and asks the forbidden question, Why? What is
particularly problematic, immoral, or offensive about male-male intercourse in the first place? And why is female-female sex not a
concern? His critiques of arguments based on reproduction, social disruption, category confusion, and humiliation and violence, are
among the best, with original thinking in each case. This slope may be slippery, but it is ultimately freeing; and we are all the better for
sliding down it with him.
The concluding section, Conversations, offers a model for synagogues to welcome gay and lesbian people that is consistent with Orthodoxy and considerate of all concerned. It can almost be taken whole into Christian congregations seeking to find their way into inclusiveness, as well.
Conventional wisdom says that each of us has a book in us. In Rabbi Greenberg s case, I hope there is a library-full to come.

Religion and Gays

Literary Pride--Amos Lassen



Greenberg, Rabbi Steven, Wrestling with God and Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2004.

Being a Jewish gay man, I wanted to know where I stood in terms of my religion--although to be quite honest, it didn't really matter. I had already formulated my dealings with religion and I had chosen the road that having been born a Jew, I would also die one and that was that. If any of you read my thoughts on the matter in my essay, A Piercing Thought then you know what I am talking about.



`Rabbi Steven Greenberg is an orthodox American rabbi who also happens to be gay. His book, Wrestling with God and Man: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition, is a result of his ten year struggle to reconcile self and religion. Greenberg's approach is Biblical in nature and he presents interpretations of the creation, of David and Jonathan, of the tale of Sodom and Gommorah and a new way of looking at the so-called taboos of Leviticus. His way of dealing with the issues is relationship centered and in doing this he draws on other texts to enhance the writings of the holy books. He reaches a conclusion similar to that of Rapoport--that a dialogue must be opened to be followed by debate and discussion, the same type of foundation upon which Judaic law is based.

This is not a book for Jews only. This is a book to be cherished by all who are interested in the topic of faith. What I loved was that it was written together with the author's own personal journey, Greenberg does not hold back--he says it as it is.

This is a valuable book for anyone who wants to attempt an understanding of the nature of God and man. I, personally, feel stronger in my faith for having read it. I believe you will also.

another account of one person's struggle - the problem is that he attempts to justify homosexual acts by ridiculously warping clear verses and traditions.

after first 15 pages, book is BORING and my 6 year old could present a counter-case much more appealing

This book, while it may not be perfect or without some hesitencies and perhaps weaknesses, breaks important ground and is a work of courage. It should be read for that reason alone. It is a start that others can build on.

Just recently, I heard a prominent New Testment scholar speak in a seminar at a church on the vital, indeed pressing need for Christians to revist the entire question of the claimed biblical condemation of same-sex relationships. His arguments were very much anchored - not on theology - but on mistakes in interpretation of biblical words and phrases, based ultimately on flawed linguistic and (a)cultural misinterpretations. The parallels with Rabbi Greenberg's stuggle struck me; and all the more more so, when I saw the host Baptist church has a seminar WITH Rabbi Greenberg scheduled for November!

We must openly and honestly reconsider religious positions on the topic of homsexuality, and never has the time been more ripe for doing so. This is very appropriate to consider from several viewpoints, and yet another fruitful area for open and honest sharing of insights between Jewish and Christian communities. I believe OUR God - our common, one God - is first and foremost a God of infinite love, and that human love, betweeen two people, goes beyond mere or simple sexual orientation, that it is precious (as all love is) to our God.

Read the book; review the questions; and God bless all who do so with honesty and caring.