Missouri Books

Bakken explores parenthood, marriage, divorce, and the love between sisters in this collection of seven short stories that won the 2006 winner of the G.S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction.

In each of these stories, Bakken proves her keen observational skills as well as an intense attention to craft. In Vigil, one of Bakken's strongest stories, for instance, Bakken gets at the deeply-layered, complexity of love between sisters. "Silence became Kara's means to a new wardrobe, new CD's, later curfews, locked bedrooms. At night, though, I heard her crying, face stuffed into the pillow, and when I crept into bed with her, she sometimes said she was okay, and rubbed my back, and we fell asleep next to each other. Usually she told me to leave her alone and stay out of her life."

She can stop you with a sentence-My sister is dead, by her own hand-and make you wish you had this of love: love is horrifying, holds us hostage, requires us always to answer the phone, to make the drive, to wash the blood from the body, to look at each other clearly under light and not flinch, not look away.

I bought Kerry Bakken's book after reading a news release on the Allegheny College website about it. As an alum of Allegheny College, I was interested in reading a book by one of my former professors. I loved the individual stories in the book. My favorite was "A Renter's Guide to the Hamptons."

I started reading and I could not put it down.I felt like I could feel the caracters and I did not want the stories to end. Each story had me wanting another chapter. I hope the author has a sequel book soon. I know the book has had rave reviews and it deserves them all. We need more from this writer.

This book is a psychological look into modern religious based terrorism.

While it attempts to explain and understand todays Islamic terrorists, it does so with a long history of struggles that have been religious based. Of course the Palestinian/Israeli struggles are discussed, but so is the more general concepts of what happens to any religious based 'government.' The trouble with the 'Rule of God' is that it is administered by mere humans. God's word as handed down in documents from a thousand or two years ago don't reflect everything that can go wrong in today's world. Acid rain, for instance, caused by a power plant a thousand miles away in another country is not to be found in the Bible or the Koran. When men speak, then, with God on their side and no questioning allowed, the result isn't freedom but tyranny. Galileo and the catholics for instance show just one example.

His conclusions are not happy. The situations that created the terrorists in the past continue. The regions of the world from which they come are not improving, and do not seem to have an improving future. He says that heis not directly interested in the 'clash of civilizations' made famous by Sam Huntington, but to me the situations he describe seem to fit Huntington's work very well.

Barry Cooper has a new book this year entitled NEW
POLITICAL RELIGIONS, OR AN ANALYSIS OF MODERN TERRORISM,
(University of Missouri Press, Columbia, 2004). The title puts
the reader in mind of Eric Voegelin's POLITICAL RELIGIONS, which
originally appeared in 1938 and dealt with the murderous mass
political movements of that era. In this work, Dr. Cooper has
brought his understanding of political theory to bear on what he
calls "Islamism," that fraction of Muslim society which
believes it has a God-given task to bring the world under Islamic
control, using murder and suicide as routine instruments for
conquest.

One of the epigrams for the volume is from Graham Greene, "They
won't believe the world they haven't noticed is like that"- and
it was certainly true for this reader! I thought in the years
following 9/11 that I had acquired a good grasp of the problems
faced by the West and particularly the US, but it soon became
evident to me on reading this book that I knew too little.

The book is divided into five chapters. The first, "Context,"
brings in Hannah Arendt and Voegelin on totalitarianism, terror
and spiritual disease in light of 9/11. The second, "Concepts,"
explains "pneumopathology" and "second reality" and discusses
them in relation to the Japanese revolutionary movement Aum
Shinrikyo. This lends needed emotional distance for the analysis
because it is not about 9/11 directly. The third chapter,
"Genealogy of Salafism," explores the history of Islam and the
related topics of Ibn Taymiyya, Wahhabism, the Muslim
Brotherhood, etc. The fourth chapter, "Genesis of a New
Ideology," explores the source of the modern problem in the
writings of Qutb in Egypt, the enshrining of scriptural
ignorance, and the heating of the pot by Khomeini and other
Shiites. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda and the theological problem of
suicide complete the chapter.

The last chapter, entitled "Counternetwar," explores the need to
modify traditional military methods in order to deal with the
elusive networking of the enemy, made possible in large part by
modern cyber technology. There is an astonishing appendix on
history and the Koran in which the historiogenesis of Islam is
explored as is the problem arising for fundamentalists that there
are now several varying manuscripts of the Koran which have not
been acknowledged, because while the bible has various texts
which cause problems, this is seen to be impossible for the Koran
since it was handed down directly by God. Both Voegelin and Leo
Strauss are used to set the argument.

Here are a few choice quotations from the book:

". . . societies that are not organized as states do not have
armies; rather, they are armies. In principle, therefore, where
armed force is directed by organizations that are not states,
against organizations that are not armies, by people who are not
soldiers, modern Clausewitzian categories are, if not eclipsed,
then cast into doubt as the only way that conflict can be
understood." p. 28.

"There is, therefore, an inherent friction between commonsense
reality, the common reality of worldly existence, within which
the terrorist like everybody else must live, and the occult
reality within which the terrorist lives imaginatively, an
imaginary reality where killing the innocent to impress others is
understood to be heroic, altruistic self-sacrifice." P.40

Quoting Heimito von Doderer in THE DEMONS: "A revolutionary,
said Doderer, is 'someone who wants to change the general
situation because of the impossibility or untenability of his own
position,' or rather, 'of the fundamentals of life in general.'
In fact, however, 'a person who has been unable to endure himself
becomes a revolutionary; then it is others who have to endure
him'." Here Dr. Cooper expands on Voegelin's Famous essay, "The
Eclipse of Reality."p.44

"The chief practical consequence of taking part in a cosmic
struggle with a satanic enemy is that the enemy must be
extinguished. The sentiments expressed by Hussein Mussawi, the
found of Hezbollah, are typical: 'We are not fighting so that
the enemy recognizes us and offers us something. We are fighting
to wipe out the enemy.'" P.57

Following a lengthy exposition of Voegelin's ISRAEL AND
REVELATION, Dr. Cooper brings the same type of analysis to Muslim
history. He carries the political and spiritual developments
forward to modern times, and along the way, tells us that after
the Mongol destruction of Baghdad in 1258 and killing of the
last Abbasid Caliph, that "the appropriate response to God's
scourge, both then and now according to the Muslim vulgate, has
been to recover the purity of the early companions [Salafs] of
the Prophet [return to origins being a common theme in Judaism
and Christianity as well]. . .Central as well was the importance
of jihad....It was an important constituent element in the
spiritual complex of the terrorist attack of [9/11]." pp 95-96.
Dr. Cooper terms this belief "Salafism" after the term for the
"venerable forefathers," the "early companions."

There is a related discussion of Wahhabism, a kind of militant
Islamic purity unifying politics and religion-Augustine's two
cities becoming one. On its growth and dominance in Saudi
Arabia: "[The British were] powerless to prevent the spread of
sentiments of great approbation for Wahhabi achievements. Chief
among them was the undeniable fact that Saudi Arabia was formally
independent of foreign, and thus infidel rule. Because Saudi
Arabia had experienced neither Western colonization nor rule by a
Westernized elite, the Saudi rulers could easily and genuinely
believe that [Wahhabi] Islam was socially, morally, and
religiously superior." p. 101

After Kemal created a secular state in Turkey and Nasser created
one in Egypt, the Salafists emerged with a doctrinal complex
which included the notion that the Koran is a complete guide to
individual and communal action, abandonment of the pure ways of
the ancestors brought about Western dominance, science can be
used so long as Westernization is not imported and lastly "jihad
is central to the revival of Islam and the conquest of the world
for God and against Satan." P.109.

"For Islamists, the issue is simple: in Muslim terms, the five
pillars of Islam (profession of faith, prayer, the fast of
Ramadan, pilgrimage, and charity) amount to a spiritual
preparation for war against the enemies of God. . . . the
limitations on what can be achieved by worldly action or on what
that worldly action may mean, which is established by the world-
transcendent dimension of Muslim spirituality, tends to be
eclipsed."p 119

The transformation of the prohibitions against suicide in the
hadiths to the granting of the six privileges of martyrdom to
suicides is characterized as a perversion. P138 and, "As with the
question of the black-eyed houris, the simplifiers and
vulgarizers clearly dominated the current popular debate. It is
now dogmatically established and lies beyond question self-
martyrdom, istishad, is not suicide, intihar, but indeed the
highest form of martyrdom." P 141

This book represents a synthesis of enormous historical,
religious, and philosophical scholarship by Dr. Cooper who is a
professor of political science; it is the kind of work Voegelin
did so well. I know of no other political scientist who brings
such a level of philosophical penetration to Islamism as does the
author. Of course Dr. Cooper read voraciously to prepare himself
to write this work and he generously gives tribute in the text
and footnotes to his sources. He particularly thanks Peter von Sivers,
a well known Voegelinian scholar who specializes in Islamic problems,
for guidance through the intricacies of Islamic culture.

A book-length argument can scarcely be reduced to a review and I
didn't attempt it. And an appreciation written by a non-
specialist must be taken with a grain of salt. Nevertheless one
can hope that enough has been shown here to lead the reader to
the original. It must be said too that it is a lively read. My
attention never wandered. Dr. Cooper is also the author of ERIC
VOEGELIN AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN
POLITICAL SCIENCE, (U. of Missouri Press, Columbis, 1999)
and ACTION INTO NATURE, An Essay on the Meaning of
Technology, (U. of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame 1991).

Cooper's book draws on Voegelin's analysis of the ideologically driven movements of the 20th century (Marxism, Nat'l Socialism). He applies this to Islamic terrorism and does a good job of tracing the roots of the movement. He ultimately points to the pneumopathology of the terrorists as the main "cause" of their tactics. This disease of the spirit allows for a second reality to be created, which suppresses common sense reality. This is what allows the terrorists to justify the slaughter of innocents and to ultimately try to "perfect the world." Cooper gets beyond the superficial motivations often attributed to terrorism and shows us why it is impossible to reason with them. I found the book to be very enlightening and easily the best on modern terrorism that I have come across.

No Ordinary Joe: A Life Of Joseph Pulitzer III provides a very fine scholarly biographical survey of the man who created the widely known Pulitzer Prize. Joseph was trained for succession to the Pulitzer media empire and worked hard to maintain his family's paper's liberal philosophy even as competitors began mixing news with entertainment. His many achievements in the newspaper world are detailed alongside interviews with over seventy who knew or worked with him: the result is a study spiced with personal insight and celebrating Pulitzer's impact on the publishing world as a whole.

No Ordinary Joe: A Life Of Joseph Pulitzer III provides a very fine scholarly biographical survey of the man who created the widely known Pulitzer Prize. Joseph was trained for succession to the Pulitzer media empire and worked hard to maintain his family's paper's liberal philosophy even as competitors began mixing news with entertainment. His many achievements in the newspaper world are detailed alongside interviews with over seventy who knew or worked with him: the result is a study spiced with personal insight and celebrating Pulitzer's impact on the publishing world as a whole.

As you watch the national news it is easy to see how the national organizations have blurred news and entertainment. Any attempt on their part to present all sides of a complex story disappears if they can find a blown up vehicle or an injured person. Politicans have learned that the few second sound byte has to convey the message they want or the message isn't getting on the air at all.

Further, there are only a handfull of newspapers that attempt to provide a full story. During the reign of Joseph Pulitzer III, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was one of that handfull. Politically liberal, the paper prospered during the years that other newspapers were failing, merging or converting to tabloid style.

This biography of Joseph Pulitzer III covers his life, but his life was never far removed from the newspaper. This book presents the story of a man not seen so often. Trained by his father from birth to run the paper he had the problems of employees not liking his style, of friction within the rest of the family, and more. It is a fascinating story, well researched, and well told.

Off The Rim is, in my opinion, better than last years's "To Hate Like This Is To Love Forever." Both the author and I grew up in small towns in North Carolina in the fifties, and I could see my town and my friends on every page.

I recommend this book to anyone who grew up playing basketball in the 1950s and 1960s. This is a fascinating story of the rural south and the fervent culture that developed around college basketball.

Is there anything stranger than the psychology of the sports fan? Are there human beings other than religious martyrs that endure more suffering for such ephemeral, fleeting rewards? Before we had Nick Hornsby's Fever Pitch; now, in Fred Hobson's immensely entertaining new memoir, we have an American version of the lifelong sports fan. Even Hobson's title, Off the Rim, suggests the pain of it all - the near-miss that in the end may count more than the perfect shot, the swish. This is truly a guy's book--a book by and about a guy. Indeed, allow me to confess that, in this age of gender equality, I for one find it difficult to imagine a female version of the inveterate, die-hard fan that Hobson so painstakingly paints, maybe because I think too highly of women. Nonetheless, this is also a tale for women readers--a cautionary tale in which they can gain a glimpse into the interior life of the men in their lives, those fans whose love of sports is part of an elaborate strategy to protect their inner boy. It also seems not to matter that Hobson has been a lifelong fan of a team, the University of North Carolina Tarheels, with an incredible winning record. Maybe that's why Cubs fans seem so patient--do they already know the evanescent nature of the pleasure of victory, compared to the deep, lingering angst (the joy?) of losing?

Hobson's book is a great read, even in the middle of summer and hence as far from the winter season of college basketball as one can get, for as Hobson informs us, for the true fan, there is no off-season, no time without dread. Basketball, like life, is all about getting ready as a youngster . . . and then enjoying a lifetime of reminiscing. Put a stethoscope to Hobson's heart, and what would one expect to hear if not the echoing bounce of a basketball in a musty summer gym?

I bought this book because I was taking my son to St. Louis, a town I lived in for seven years. but I had no idea St. louis had so much to offer for kids (I didn't have children when I lived there). This book shows you thngs that are not just the zoo and museums. It also shows factories, historical places and kids friendly restraunts. And gives age recommendations so the whole family can enjoy the trip. I highly recommend this book if you are planning a trip with children of any age.

This book is for anyone who is living in or visiting the St. Louis area. It is like a guided tour without even being there. The book is very well organized, with loads of personal anecdotes that make the reader feel like he or she is visitng the area with someone. You really get a feel for the diversity and culture of the area. Information is clear, directions help with planning, and the reader will be prepared for all that St. Louis has to offer. To tell you the truth, the book is great fun even if you never visit St. Louis.

I'm the Office Manager of our facility and it's my job to make sure our new employees receive a warm welcome. We recently had a manager and his wife move here from Wisconsin with their twin 12-year-old sons, and I thought it would be a nice gesture to give them a book about the area. I almost didn't buy this particular book, because it only had one previous review; but it seemed interesting, so I thought, "Why Not" and went ahead with the purchase.

Several months later, after settling in to the neighborhood (and me forgetting about the book altogether!), the manager approached me to express how much him and his wife had enjoyed reading through the book. He said it was very interesting, packed full of information and extremely helpful for them as newcomers to the St. Louis area. I am pleased to hear how much the book was appreciated and I will definitely be adding it to my "Must Give" list of gifts.

As I read this Young Adult novel I was brought back to my own years in high school with all the angst and emotions that entailed. I was rooting for Leon so strongly that it was painful to see him make the inevitable teenage boy mistakes. I was also constantly reminding myself that it was written by a man. The writer was able to capture the emotions of both the male lead and the female characters which was fascinating to read. This is more than YA fiction. It is a seriously good read for anyone.

I am a teacher of young adults and a YA writer, myself. I ordered the book because I'm also writing a story about a burn victim. When I picked it up, I thought it might provide me some research material that may be useful, but what I got was much more. I literally read it in one evening, because I was dying to know how things turned out with Leon and Melody. Katcher's voice is astounding, and I was instantly rooting for Leon. The empathy and seriousness of the topic regarding burn victims is touching, but the author wrote the book in such an entertaining manner, that I didn't feel preached to.

Katcher understands popular teen culture and language. His use of slang is right on the mark, and he describes the high school experience quite effectively and believably. I am very impressed by Katcher's first novel. I believe he will be a YA writer to watch. Although his protagonist is male, I feel that girls will love this book. In fact, it may be more geared to a female audience because of the romantic elements. This is quite a feat for most male authors--to close in on an opposite gender audience. I feel that males will like the book as well. They will undoubtedly relate to Leon and his dating dilemmas. The sexual tension in the story is also right on the mark for YA. Katcher's voice reveals this tension...the male yearnings for sexual experience and its preoccupation.

The characters are diverse and enjoyable, and the book is a delightful and insightful read. I will definitely encourage my students to read this book, and I'll look forward to more from Brian Katcher. Bravo!

With his debut novel, Brian Katcher has successfully crafted the bittersweet tale of a teenage boy's quest to find love in the tragicomic world of a typical suburban high school.

The novel's protagonist, Leon, is one of a new breed of literary subject: the iconoclastic and self-professed nerd, comfortable in his own skin, but yearning, ultimately, for something more than his circle of male friends can provide. While his long-held crush on the popular cheerleader Amy Green blossoms into something more real (and inconvenient) than he could've ever dared imagine, it is the budding relationship between Leon and Melody Hennon that forms the beating heart of the book. Melody's character is a marvel. Mr. Katcher manages to write a profoundly scarred young woman with such depth that you often forget, as does Leon, that she is scarred at all. While the reality of Melody's disfigurement is always acknowledged, it never overwhelms what is a truly astonishing character. The reader never questions why Leon would be drawn to Melody's wit and warmth, nor do we question her interest in him.

In the end, the plot resists easy answers to the many questions it poses about self-esteem, trust, love, and the great yearning all young people feel for acceptance by their peers. The author mixes laughter and tears in equal measure to produce a nuanced and deeply heartfelt look at young love in all its complex glory. Bravo to Mr. Katcher for a fine debut to his literary career.

I did not grow up in the 1950's (1970's/80's) nor did I grow up in Kansas City, although I lived there for two years. I randomly picked up this book and thought it was excellent. I don't think you need to have any connection to Kansas City or grow up in the time period covered to enjoy this book. I still read it every now and then; it is very good.

Once I began the book I never put it down. Bruce lived five blocks away from me in the same era. I especially remember Shortcake and Roy Beatty. They were friends of mine too. Bruce's recollection of Frank's restaurant was poignant although I didn't remember the dirt, just the heavenly(?) taste of a tenderloin sandwich. As to Old man Pierce, I too was chased from the premises, albeit not for the same reasons. My home was across from Scarrit grade school. Bruce no doubt played baseball there too. I do remember Lykins Square where we played the kids from "south of Independence Avenue" on many occasion, probably losing more than we won. This was a great step back to my own childhood. NE grad 1954.

This memoir of growing up in Kansas City in the 1950s is much more than nostalgia. It is an evocation of the importance of baseball in a young person's life, the ambitions of youth, and the impact of family, friends and neighbors. The characters are wonderful, and the whole book is beautifully written. It's a good read, humorous and poignant.

Want to find a great guide for an enjoyable cycling adventure on the Katy Trail across Missouri? While this "escape" is only one of many covered in Gustafson & Jarrett's "Great Escapes from St. Louis", it is worth the price of the book alone. My husband and I have enjoyed several weekend bicycle trips along the trail made more enjoyable by their recommendations for historic sites, restaurants and our favorite experience; staying in a bed & breakfast. Pick up this book if you want to plan a bike trip from beginning to end! It is enjoyable reading while you locate valuable information that takes the guess work out of your travel planning. The authors convince you to travel our part of the country and experience the fun they obviously had while researching this book.

I have lived in Kansas City area for 15 years and had no idea there was so much too see and do here. I had heard about these attractions, but the authors really captured their character and liveliness. Seeing our city through another's eyes made us realize how much we have to offer. We also went to St. Joseph and enjoyed seeing the museums described in the book. We definitely plan on using this book for more "Escapes," especially those to the east. These authors obviously put a lot of time and work into this publication.

I have lived in Kansas City area for 15 years and had no idea there was so much too see and do here. I had heard about these attractions, but the authors really captured their character and liveliness. Seeing our city through another's eyes made us realize how much we have to offer. We also went to St. Joseph and enjoyed seeing the museums described in the book. We definitely plan on using this book for more "Escapes," especially those to the east. These authors obviously put a lot of time and work into this publication.

I'm a hypnotherapist and was just reading this great book when a client told me about rushing her 46 year old husband to the emergency room -- with a heart attack! If she'd read Dr. Turneer's book beforehand, she might have saved her husband the crazed ER visit, and had a better outcome.

Dr. Turner's brain and life saving advice can help everyone!

Most deaths by heart attacks can be prevented with proper medical treatment - but all too often that treatment is not administered in time. "Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks and Strokes: Lifesaving Advice You Need Now" is a compilation of invaluable and vital information for those who are in serious danger of heart attack. Claiming that if one acts on the early signs of the disease, one may escape the heart attack with no long lasting damage, "Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks and Strokes: Lifesaving Advice You Need Now" is a must for anyone in danger and for community library health collections.

Having survived a heart attack in 1998 I must admit that had I read Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks and Strokes by Glen O. Turner, Tim Bade and Mark Bruce Rosin before the event I might have avoided the event altogether. As pointed out, there are significant warning signs well in advance of the attack or stroke that the informed individual can heed and avoid possible death or disability.

Recognizing and Surviving Heart Attacks is written for the layman. Organized with short chapters, the book is easily scanned for specific information. Chapters such as What is a Heart Attack; How a Heart Attack is Treated; Coronary Artery Surgery; Heart Attack Early Warning Signs, You Key to Survival; How to Recognize and Respond to the Early Warning Signs of a Stroke or "Brain Attack"; Brain Hemorrhage Strokes; and the list goes on. Many chapters are only three pages long making the information easy to get at and not overwhelming. "Doctor speak" is kept to a minimum and definitions and illustrations are provided.

If coronary artery disease runs in your family you must check this book out. Ask you library to buy it.

Peace and good luck.

Rose Wilder is the daughter of Laura Ingalles Wilder. Since of the Harsh droughts in South Dakota the family desides to move to Missouri, or the Land of the Bigh Red apples. Crossing the long and lonesome PRAIRE the make it to Missouri and face the hardships of starting a new life. Building all sorts of things this family struggles to make the best living ever. This book is a great one, and is good for everyone. Just buy all the LITTLE HOUSE series and never put one down! =)

This book was so exciting and easy to read. I loved the pictures which are done just like in Laura's books. I liked this book even better than Rose #1.

Rose and her family move to there new house. There Rose helps clean the house , get the hens in the new henhouse, put brown clay into the log house coners intill Papa says Rose is as dirty as mud fence after a rain. Then Rose gets a Rabbit for supper and then the whole family has a barn raising .