California Books

For any theatre professional, student or enthusiast. Highly recommend watching "My Dinner With Andre" as well. It's a film by Wallace Shawn.

Comprehending this book is no small feat. Sure, you start with the premise that competing with the technical spectacle of movies and TV is a fruitless pursuit. That's not difficult. Neither is the idea of embracing poverty in theatre and making the human being the only center of performance. That's dead easy. Spare costumes, little or no makeup, no sound effects, as few light effects as possible. Who can argue with that?

But this doesn't mean everybody can embrace Grotowski's vision of Poor Theatre. His is one that involves stripping away all preconceived notions of theatre from the early Modern period on. This will never fly in commercial theatre, dependent as it is on technology, nor will it satisfy many recent playwrights, who depend on technical do-funnies to make their shows work.

Grotowski also takes a funny view of plays, playwrights, and theoreticians who don't agree with him. Among other things, he considers playwrights as hired talent and plays as essentially malleable. He also suggests that the only way the writings of Artaud are useful in theatre is if they are taken elementally rather than globally - a position sure not to sit well with many avant-garde directors.

Because this book isn't a straight-ahead statement of principles, ideas, and practices, it yields its secrets only with difficulty. Parts of it aren't even written by Grotowski, but are interviews by other authors, or even observations that don't include quotes from the man himself. It was basically compiled to provide an overview of the ideas and products of the Polish Laboratory Theatre up to that time, and it encourages experiment and development by the reader.

This isn't to say that it isn't actually useful. There are exercises for actors; there are statements of theory for directors; there are even sketches, diagrams, and photos for designers. However, expect to wrestle with this book if you're going to unlock its secrets. Once you elect to start down this path, you have a long row to hoe

"Towards A Poor Theatre" by Jerzy Grotowski is probably the most important book written on acting since Stainslavsky's three famous character books. There is so little known about Grotowski and many people have tried to fake his work and people need to read the man's original words. Grotowski's vision of theatre has had the greatest effect on me more than any other person in theatre. He saw acting as a Holy experience where both the actor and spectator were transformed after the performance. Grotowski expanded from where Stainslavsky left off and drew his ideas everywhere from modern art to religious rituals to primitive theatre. Any one interested in theatre must read this book somehow and be changed forever like I have.

There is no better book that I have read on the theory and practice of theatre. As Peter Brook says in the preface, "Grotowski is unique. Why? Because no-one else in the world, to my knowledge, no-one since Stanislavsky, has investigated the nature of acting, its phenomenon, its meaning, the nature and science of its mental-physical-emotional processes as deeply and completely as Grotowski."

Grotowski argues effectively that the split of the stage and the screen necessitates that the stage redefine its focus. The screen with its higher budget and countless retakes will always beat the stage in richness. So, Grotowski posits "If it [the stage] cannot be richer than the cinema, then let it be poor." The rest of the book illustrates what such a poor theatre means in practice. Brilliant.

As we begin to see this earth suffer the effects of our presence here, these poems -with roots in every continent- speak together of this planet as a sacred place. One perhaps we might still come to treat well. Read a few aloud, sit in your garden this spring and read a Navajo corn song, stir, stir ... This is well researched, carefully and lovingly translated; it should accompany any studies of native cultures worldwide.

Back in the 1970s I discovered this book. It became my companion. Its rich poetry, its multitudes of rituals and images have inspired my batiks and paintings for the past thirty years. What variety and life!

I was introduced to this book by a fiction writing teacher to whom I'll always be grateful. It's a fresh, ingenious selection of ritual and sacred poetry from around the world, translated with irreverence and raw attitude. If you're used to the vague New Age-isms of what usually gets thought of as "ritual" and "sacred," pick this up and get a jolt--Rothenberg finds incredibly powerful language in places where it wouldn't occur to most people to look, and he's not afraid of crudeness and hilarity. Amazing stuff. A friend of mine has worn out copies of both the first edition and this one, and I don't blame her.

Technicians of the Sacred was compiled by Rothenberg after attending two 1964 readings of "Primitive and Archaic Poetry" at The Poet's Hardware Theater and the Café Metro in New York city. Intrigued with the deep intuition of these works, Rothenberg decided to collect poetry, songs, and chants from around the world.

Rothenberg's intention was not to focus on any one particular aspect of the sacred but merely to compile material that was available in English and the book's organization directly reflects this lack of apparent direction. Works are subdivided into nine sections: Origins & Namings; Visions & Spells; Death & Defeat; The Book of Events (I); The Book of Events (II); Africa; America; Asia; Europe & The Ancient Near East; and Oceana. Having material from the first five sections more or less focused around a specific theme while the remaining five sections reflect a geographic focus the work feeling a little thrown together and disorganized.

This disorganization is further reflected within each section, where there is everything from modern poetry and prose through traditional songs and chants to ancient pictographs and artwork. Moreover works from individual cultural groups are not placed together but dispersed throughout each section.

That the work only reflects English translations is also somewhat problematic. A Commentary section at the back of the book explains how Rothenberg came across each work offering explanations about the themes and topics within a particular piece. However, more often than not, these notes did not describe how the piece was translated. This lack of information would be particularly useful as Rothenberg states that the translations vary from literal to very free. This book does contain a number of interesting and useful pieces. Rothenberg has chosen a good mixture of poetry from a variety of different sources, not just the most accessible and he illustrates poems from the Paleolithic through to modern times. Moreover, this book contains some very interesting and intriguing transitional pieces reflecting Christian religious teaching modified into traditional forms. Thus, despite some very irritating and distracting organizational problems, this book contains some very valuable information. This information will likely be of use to those wishing to gain insight into aspects of the sacred in general or those wanting insight into the belief systems of particular cultures. Nonetheless, the apparent lack of organization of these pieces make this book an unlikely candidate as a classroom text.

Any who would understand Mexican culture and social issues will find at once poignant, moving, and revealing Guacamole Dip, an expose of daily life in the border town of Tecate. His vignettes are folksy, fun and often provide both a light-hearted and alternately serious look at Mexican and Mexican-American culture and issues, juxtaposing tales with views of changing border life between Mexico and the U.S. Any collection strong in Mexican or Mexican-American immigrant issues will find this an attractive, popular lend whether at the college or general lending library level.

I loved this book...the stories are very touching, funny, sad and very real. I especially enjoyed the last story, and it is that discription of the Mexican culture that makes me love Mexico. Thank you Daniel for sharing these stories from Tecate. I look forward to reading your other books. Hope to see you soon at Bar Diana or perhaps at Rancho Tecate.
Adios,
Kathleen, www.aqualink.org

Many thanks to all of you who have read my books and come on-line to say such nice things.

I'm sitting in the plaza watching the ever-changing pageant of color and listening to the sounds of Tecate.I can hear the silvery notes of a mariachi trumpet coming from somehwere. Little frills on an accordion drift across the plaza from the Bar Diana. Ah, and here comes Antonio with his guitar cradled in his arms singing an old love song.(Jurame.) The song evokes memories of Señorita X. Doña Marcelina predicted that one day Señorita X would come into my life. Doña Marcelina practices scatomancy. In other words she's our local poop psychic. For her purpose she uses a duck! But that's another story.

I'm watching Juanito Aldama pushing his Sno Cone cart over near the kiosko. I notice he has more customers than usual. I'm going to hang around to see if I can find the reason for his sudden increase in trade. I can't believe it! If you know the password (he changes it daily) he'll whip up a Sno Cone margarita!!

Mila is waving to me from her table at the sidewalk cafe. She's in black pants and knitted jersey today. The big splash of red over her heart is the result of a silk scarf. She probably has a good story to tell me so I'll say hasta luego for now.

Daniel Reveles

Or lyrically magical...Both apply, but neither serve completely. This book inspired me to visit Tecate (which I since have done!) and made me so proud of my Mexican heritage!

No need to go into the story, because if you've found this review then chances are you've already seen Jules Dassin's dark classic THIEVES' HIGHWAY which was based on this novel. What you do need to know is A. I. Bezzerides' novel is even better than the movie. So go ahead and buy a copy. It's darker (pretty much pitch black), more violent, there's foul language, it's gritty, brutal, nasty and most importantly Bezzerides is an amazing writer. His naturalist style here is like a mixture of Zola's "Germinal" and Steinbeck's "In Dubious Battle". I can't think of any higher praise than that!

It's a horrible shame that none of Bezzerides' other books are in print. If I was rich I would buy the rights to all of his novels and publish them. I wouldn't care if I made a profit or not.

An absolutely great book about the Bad Old Days of trucking. This work is more than just a dark tale about double dealing and violence in a troubled trade. It just has that ring of truth by an author that lived the life. So many of the scenarios he describes bring to mind stories I personally have heard from the old timers in my chosen profession of trucking. A great read that perfectly recreates a place and time.

This is a totally awesome book about the small produce truckers who brought food to market in post-WWII California. In very straigtforward plain prose, the book tells the story of Nick, the son of Greek immigrants. When his father dies after a long life of just squeaking by, Nick is determined he won't fall into the same cycle, and enters the cutthroat world of independent trucking. The bulk of the book concerns the trials he and his mentor Ed encounter in finding and selling their first load. The writing clearly comes from intimate personal knowledge of the life and the swindles that were a constant part of it. It's a brilliant and fascinating piece of noir literature.

After getting burnt out on contemporary fiction and finding no pleasure in my reading, after putting down yet another book that fizzled after 100 pages, I picked this gem off my shelf where it's sat for over a year. The prose, the images, the timeless energy of the story and writing got my reading muscles working again. Since I live in Oakland and work in SF, the images of those cities written 50 years ago give a fresh, vibrant perspective. Characters come alive, flawed and real. A plot that pulsates.

I read this book 15 years ago, so my memory may be getting dim. But it's about the author's experience treating cases of spirit possession. A typical case is a young man who felt the need to run away and go to sea. It turned out, as the author discovered, that he was being strongly influenced by a dead sailor. He asked the sailor to leave the young man alone, and that was the end of that.

Wickland claimed no spiritual powers but used an intermediary (I think it was his wife, who would go into a trance). His method was to interview the spirits hanging around the patient. He would inquire as to how their life had been, and what they are trying to do with the patient. He would then recommend that they leave him alone and go rather with the "Mercy Crew" (a multi-racial group of higher-lever departed spirits who chose to work with the Wicklands).

So he did confidently what Joel Haley Osmont (of "I see dead people" fame) did fearfully in "The Sixth Sense".

Forgive me if my memory deceives me in a few details. I think I'll order a copy and re-read it.

Dr. Carl Wickland MD would not have agreed with the conclusions of Dr. Stevens [...]. He specifically stated that all of the memories observed in such cases were actually originating from the discarnate spirit of the deceased, who was attached to the patient. He did not accept the case of the deceased spirit entering into a new incarnation. Of course Dr. Wickland was dealing with the psychosis of much older patients and did not to my knowledge examine any of the type of patients that Dr. Stevens did.

Dr. Wickland's work is of great importance to the understanding of Origenes' theory of "The Restoration of All Things." [...] But it only addresses one aspect and that is of the `Lost Souls". Early Christians had prayed regularly for the `Lost Souls', and Dr. Wickland gives us many reasons why we should do so today. When discarnate spirits do not accept the divine order and return to where they belong, they are able to `molest' people with whom they have had some sort of special relationship.

What does this have to early Christian teaching? First of all, it gives us a very good lesson in Free Will. As M. C. Steenberg [...] most rightly points out, if all souls were destined to go to heaven, then where does Free Will come in? Dr. Wickland describes in great detail the amount of havoc that these discarnate spirits were allowed to bring to his patients. He also shows how they must choose to stop their activities among humans and accept divine guidance.

Secondly, his work gives a hint of the order that exists in the divine spiritual world and gives us an idea as to how many angels are actually around us, active in the restoration process, guiding us during our life and afterwards.

The discarnate spirits that Dr. Wickland encountered in his work certainly represented only a small subset of the discarnate spirits. When their body dies, the majority submit to the divine order. To find out about these, we must look to different sources.

Shawn Murphy
[...]

This exciting book by Dr. Wickland, M.D., is a tremendous resource regarding spirit activity among those who have passed out of human existence. The book is arranged by categories such as Spirits and Crime, Spirits and Suicide, Psychic Invalidism, Orthodoxy, Christian Science, Theosophy, Philosophy, and so forth. You get the complete feeling of the time through the verbatim records of spirits speaking through Dr. Wickland's wife. There is plenty of spiritual insight throughout, and by the time you finish the book, you are well-versed in the essentials of a well-lived life.

This book shines light on the dark recesses of spirit activity in the insane and obsessed. It is enough to cause you to reconsider the unfortunate and even those you may know who are not themselves, perhaps classed "mentally ill" by the psychiatric profession or warehoused in mental institutions. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I read and reread this book several years ago. It gave great insight into the realms of the spirits and their rather very serious impact on those living. The departed spirits communicated through an intermediary, medium, his wife. The stories told touched my heart and enhanced my understanding of the nature and character of the spirits. That provided wealth of information for my book, Secrets of Life, Beyond...

I would highly recommend this book not only to healthcare providers but the public at large.

Mohinder Goomar, M.D., F.R.C.S. (Ret.), author, Secrets of Life, Beyond...

Holt once again brings invaluable information about Bactria. In this book he uses mumismatics extensively. The first two chapters are very interesting. The end of the book is mostly about technical details of the coins and what they can tell us. Thundering Zeus is the figure of Zeus on coins issued by Macedonian kings in Bactria. Holt shows us the importance of the details for placing a date on the coins and for knowing who issued them. For those who are intrigued by Diodotus, I and II, this is a great book. If it is the first book you read by Holt and if you are intested in the history of Bactria, which now covers most part of Afghanistan, you can form for yourself a good idea of what other books by Holt can hold as surprises for you. It could be the gate opened to a new horizon, or just a very enjoyable way to learn about the subject. Holt writes in a simple manner so as to be accessible to all readers and I do appreciate that. Even scholars sometimes need simplicity. In any case, his simple and clear way is still carrying a lot of serious information with notes, bibliography, index, all items History students need. I would recommend this book for research as well as for readers who like to learn more.

A full effort employing a variety of source materials, good methodology, and inviting prose.

Holt does an excellent job of updating the Beginnings of the Hellenistic Bactrian kingdom. His book is a much needed repair of the misinformation spread in the beginning of Tarn's otherwise enjoyable book The Greeks in Bactria and India. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Frank Holt continues his assault on the deity of Alexander in this well-researched followup to "Alexander the Great and Bactria." Holt looks at the foundation and early history of Hellenistic Bactria, starting with the Diadochi. His analysis of the data - including a careful reappraisal of the oft misleading numistics - is fairly convincing. A good book for anyone interested in Central Asia in antiquity, ancient India, and modern historiography of Alexander of Macedon.

I highly recommend this book. It has opened a door for me. I need to read more about native people and their relationships to Africans. The story of the Shoeboot family is very interesting.

I use to be annoyed with obviously African looking folks proclaiming to have "some Indian in me", though these same people never claim such pride in being of AFrican descent. They still annoy me. I do think it has it basic in self hatred. However, this is my humble opinion.

First, let me say how much I enjoyed this book. It is a work of tremendous research informed by a mature mind which deeply understands the roles of history and story in creating self-identity.

I was alerted to its existence by Ilene Shepard Smiddy, author of DAUGHTER OF SHILOH, also a splendid narrative/adventure retelling a part of the Shoeboots story, but centering on Clarinda Allington and her children.

Dr. Miles provides us with a helpful family tree in the front of the book, and inside there are maps that help orient the story. The historical asides and reflections using Toni Morrison's BELOVED are treasures. Inside too are several illustrations and pictures, including one of a Shoeboots descendant. The text is divided into logical chapters. The notes are easy to follow and delicious to read, and they are followed by a full bibliography and a comprehensive index.

I would like to see the notes expanded to include the family of Napoleon Bonaparte, perhaps a grandson of Shoeboots, or of one of the Shoeboots, and who entered the mainstream population in Kentucky as a free black.

As Dr. Miles points out, there was more than one individual who was referred to as the Boot or Shoeboots (and other nicknames, in both English and Cherokee), and I suspect that this was a concept name involving the crow or the rooster--the hero of a Cherokee parable. It is fascinating to read about here, and her arguments are engaging. Highly recommended reading!

This book provides excellent insight into a little known part of American history. Few people realize that some American Indian tribes (particularly the "Five Civilized Tribes") practiced slavery and this text delves into the complex relationships resulting from it. The impact of the practice has repercussions still felt today. Most importantly, it reveals the rarely addressed interaction between African-Americans and Native Americans dating back to the earliest history of the United States.

I recently finished reading Tiya Miles' book. Several things impressed me regarding this work; the first one is the topic. I was surprised to learn that at one time Native Americans owned slaves! I am a college educated retired teacher and I believe this is something I should have learned somewhere in my education. I was also impressed with the research that was used as a basis for Ms. Miles' writing. A reader of her work has more than ample supply of resources to use for further reading. I also believe this book should be required reading for any American history curriculum at the college level.

A great read and full of useful information on alternatives to pesticides and lethal traps for pests of all sizes. Very enjoyable reading and full of experiments to try with kids.

I have the old edition, too. Years ago, I checked that edition book out from the library so much that I decided I needed it. It was out of press, and I couldn't locate a copy. I wrote Adrian Wenner to explain my dilemma, and he mailed me his copy. Very cool.

Tiny game hunting was the only book that covered getting rid of gophers extensively. All other books had one sentence. I tried the tips they suggested and it worked. I felt better reading this book and knowing I am not alone.

I learned a lot about taking care of my front yard and when various pests come onto the scene. This book was suggested to me by the clerk at the library who also had good results in getting rid of a pest.

The book also has some cute drawings of the various pests. This is the book for anyone who wants to follow the healthy and environmentally safe way to keep unwanted pests from their lawns and gardens.

This could be the most useful book I own. It gets more use than my dictionary. Tiny Game Hunting offers practical and effective methods of capturing or killing common household and garden pests; everying from insects and spiders, to lizards and smakes, and mice and gophers. It focuses on environmentally safe extermination methods. Many of the traps, repellents, and pesticides can be made cheaply with common items found in the kitchen or garage. More than just pest control, the book offers some basic information on the habits and history of the critters. Have a problem with a pest? I bet it's in here. It's honestly one of the best books I'll ever own!

This book was just what I was looking for to keep my medium-sized yard and tiny garden in shape without adding to the chemical burden of my home town. I got accurate, easy advice that turned out in most cases to be more effective and less work than spraying with a chemical cocktail. Now I'm purchasing a copy for my neighbor, in the hopes that he'll see the light.

I could not resist buying this book after seeing the fine film made from it. The book stands perfectly well on its own, but I found it extremely interesting to contemplate how writers converted it to the screen. The events and characters in the book are almost all the same as in the film, but the movie presents scenes in a different order and significantly revises the prominence/roles of various characters.

I wish I had seen the process, which must have involved scores of 3x5 cards showing major scenes from the book, all rearranged and rearranged again to finally arrive at a linear progression for the movie... one just as good as, but totally different from, the book.

It's worth paying a little extra to obtain this rare volume, just to read the original story. What a bunch of sleazy people these characters were!

Better than the Movie an action filled story of LA undercover cops running a drug bust. Proably the best of Petievich's books. His knowledge of law enforcement makes this a real page turner.

To Live and Die in LA is Gerald Petievich's best book by far. A treasury agent "Richard Chance" that will not stop at nothing to catch a top notch "funny money maker", "Rick Masters" Chance's partner agent "John Vukovich" (probobly a personality likeness of Petievich, in my opinion)who comes from a family of police officers torn between backing up his out of control partner and listening to his mentor Veteran Agent "Jim Hart". If you have alreay seen the movie and liked it a lot be sure to have an open mind if you decide to read the book...totally different. Example, in the movie Richard Chance and Jim Hart are best of friends...well in the book they are each others foe.

I have to give credit to the movie. It was very entertaining and unlike anthing else made back in 1985 when I first saw it. The ensamble of cast like Bill Petersen, John Turturro, Dean Stockwell and one of my personal favorites, WILLEM DAFOE (Spiderman 2002). - Read the book. It still one of the best reads. I still have my original paperback which I bought when I was in high school dreaming of becoming a T-Man.

This novel became an equally excellent movie directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist), who then went on to direct an absolute LOSER of a movie entitled PYTHON WOLF. Where has Friedkin been since? This is unknown. . . Gerald Petievich is a former US Treasury agent who has worked the streets and managed to install his brother into not only TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., but the movie SHAKEDOWN as well (which included Dennis Hopper and Viggo Mortensen). -- The bar scene in TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. -- : "Hey, Petievich, get over here!" delivered by William Peterson. Petievich has walked the walk and admirably knows how to talk the talk. His dialogue is some of the finest written, easily on a par with that of Elmore Leonard. His plotting and exposition is terse and spare. There is no overabundance of words. He has not, to my knowledge, written a book since 1991's PARAMOUR. This in itself is a crime. Petievich knows about plot, about characterization, and how to make it all work in a minimal number of words and sentences. GODDAMMIT, PETIEVICH, WHERE ARE YOU?!

Tory Madison is a female protagonist with the courage of a lion and the heart of a hero. In this time when the presence of evil in our lives has become a stark reality, it's satisfying to read a book in which the black-hearted beast is confronted and defeated. In this fast-paced story steeped in the occult, the struggle to triumph over a tragic past is paired with uncovering secrets in the shadowy present. A terrific read for young adults.

In today's world, kids are exposed to a lot of choices in which evil is not always clear. This is a great book for teens, girls especially, and is full of suspense. The characters are well- drawn and the protagonist, Tory, is both believable and likeable.

Tory Madison is a female protagonist with the courage of a lion and the heart of a hero. In this time when the presence of evil in our lives has become a stark reality, it's satisfying to read a book in which the black-hearted beast is confronted and defeated. In this fast-paced story steeped in the occult, the struggle to triumph over a tragic past is paired with uncovering secrets in the shadowy present. A terrific read for young adults.

I first read this book at 11, and saw nothing but a creepy story about the triumph of good over evil. Since then, I've come to realize the more complicated plot involved. This book offers an account of the hereticism in society today. The characters aren't very deep, though they are somewhat realistic. I would recommend this book only because of the information on this particular occult.