Park Books

Similar in format though somewhat more academic in tone and interest than the popular and appealing Seven Seasons of Buffy, Undead TV is a rewarding and worthwhile addition to the shelves of the dedicated Buffy fan. Yes, these are academic essays, but they are also for the most part provocative and perceptive, too. Though the book's subtitle does not mention the Angel series, everybody's favorite Vampire gets his share of critical analysis as well. The eight essays here (whose titles reflect the well-nigh irresistible love of punning and colons that academic prose and Buffy studies in particular seem to arouse in writers) include "The Changing Face of Teen Television, or Why We All Love Buffy" by Mary Celeste Kearney; "I Know What You Did Last Summer: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Crossover Teen Stardom" by Susan Murray; "Vampire Hunters: The Scheduling and Reception of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel in the United Kingdom" by Annette Hill and Ian Calcutt; Amelie Hastie's "The Epistemological Stakes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Television Criticism and Marketing Demands"; Cynthia Fuchs' "`Did Anyone Ever Explain to You What "Secret Identity" Means?' Race and Displacement in Buffy and Dark Angel"; "At Stake: Angel's Body, Fantasy Masculinity and Queer Desire in Teen Television" by Allison McCracken; Jason Middleton's "Buffy as Femme Fatale: The Cult Heroine and the Male Spectator"; and "Buffy and the `New Girl Order': Defining Feminism and Femininity" by Elana Levine. Editors Levine and Parks' fine Introduction (which deserves a more descriptive title in keeping with its companion pieces) sets the tone and makes insightful points about the nature of TV and the self-awareness of the Buffy series. The ultimate test of the good academic essay is whether it deserves re-reading, and most of these eight pieces pass with flying colors.

I'd like to preface my review with a comment about the changing nature of academic writing about television. Until very recently -- probably the 1990s, certainly no earlier than the 1980s -- virtually all academic writing about television concerned the medium rather than individual series and shows. To the extent that individual shows were written about, academics seemed more concerned about their reception and their audiences rather than the narrative and thematic content. One might see essay after essay on the fandom of STAR TREK, but no analyses of the actual content of the show. Some exceptions to this could be found in the 1980s, but it was only in the 1990s that those involved in TV Studies began writing about the actual content of the shows. I suspect that TWIN PEAKS was the turning point. It was the first series that brought a new level of intelligence to television, instilling cinematic qualities to a previously "lowest common denominator" medium. The nineties saw an increasing number of shows that assumed that its viewers were more intelligent, that assumed that TV could transcend its "idiot box" characterization. I believe that the kind of textual analysis of TV that is so common today resulted from the increasingly intelligent series that emerged in the nineties.

Still, though a few individual shows attracted the attention of TV scholars -- TWIN PEAKS, ALLY MCBEAL, THE X-FILES -- none of them produced anything even remotely resembling the reaction to BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Though other series have also inspired scholars (LOST and especially BATTLESTAR GALACTICA are two recent examples), none compare to BUFFY. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that there were more pages written on BUFFY and ANGEL than the next 3 or 4 series combined. Why this fascination about the adventures of a blonde California cheerleader who suddenly discovers that she is The Chosen One, the one girl in the world to fight the vampires and demons and powers of darkness? Joss Whedon has said of watching his creation, "Bring your own subtext." More than any series that I can think of (with the possible exception of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, which interestingly is Joss Whedon's favorite television series), BUFFY and its spin off ANGEL is a show that demands the exploration of subtexts. BUFFY is not about any one or two or even three things. In any given episode or arc, multiple themes coexist. Contrast this with, say LOST, a show I dearly love, but which almost resists subtexts. BUFFY is, therefore, a treasure trove of themes and narratives that can be teased and brought to the surface. Although on the surface it is pure popular entertainment, beneath the surface it is one of the densest, richest shows in television history.

Although BUFFY has inspired a surprising number of academic essays, books, and anthologies, this is easily one of the best that I have read. Even the essays that I found least helpful were written on a very high level. The book is broken roughly into two parts. The first part engages in something more akin to old school TV writing, in that the "text" of BUFFY is passed over in favor of media criticism. For instance, there are articles about Sarah Michelle Gellar and the nature of crossover stardom and various issues arising in Great Britain from the scheduling of BUFFY and ANGEL on broadcast and cable channels. The second part deals with analyses of BUFFY from the standpoint of gender studies. I generally don't care for gender studies analyses of TV shows. I'm interested in BUFFY and in what BUFFY has to say about gender, but far less interested in a metanarrative that is imposed upon the show. I'm especially uninterested in Queer Studies, which I think is an academic fad that will soon pass, much like Derrida (and for the record, unlike Foucault -- and I am aware of the irony of thinking that Foucault is someone whose work has deep merit and will not fade away as Derrida is in the process of doing, given that Foucault is one of the inspirations for practitioners of Queer Theory). Yet, even the essay from that standpoint was several cuts above most that I've read.

My major complaint with the collection is that very few essays really delve into the show itself. There is little of the in depth textual analysis that represents the best of TV Studies of the past twenty years. I am currently rewatching all of BUFFY and ANGEL and I find that almost nothing in this collection has helped me understand the show in greater depth. The essays are more self-referential than BUFFY-referential. They take you into themselves instead of into BUFFY. Still, I nonetheless enjoyed every essay in the collection.

One last comment. This book apparently took years to see the light of day. I believe it is the same collection that I saw advertised around the end of BUFFY's seven year run edited by Lisa Parks (one of the co-editors of the current collection) and to be published by Duke University Press. I even added the book to my shopping cart. The book then disappeared from my shopping cart. Then a couple of years later this collection was published by Duke. Many of the essays refer BUFFY as something that had only recently ended. So, for some reason, this collection seems to have taken about five years to see the light of day. I can only add that I'm glad that it did.

(for the record...before I go any further...if you have read the awesome review before this...it was stated that the little girl on the cover is Hannah; actually it was meant to be a representation of Hannah...and her spirit that I remember her as when she was young) This is her brother -writing under my wife's account.
If you have stopped by to take a look at the reviews of this book then it is only because something caught your attention. Don't stop now! This book of inspiration will grab you, set you down, and wrap you up in its arms.
My sister for years has taken time and soul and poured it upon page after page. Many kept telling her she should publish, but she was so modest about what she wrote. Finally...so many years have gone by, and we have been able to convince her, and even then all the profits she is giving away.
I have known my sister for 32 years, and I can tell you that my life is only as rich as it is today because she has been apart of it. Do not miss this chance to experience the tenderness and encouragment that I have witnessed for 32 years. There will be poems in here that will make you cry, laugh, hold someone you love tight, and even realize that hope is always there.
My sister has struggled with her health for so long, but never have I heard her complain or be angry at God. Times when it seemed that my life was rough, and yet her health made her's even harder; I would catch myself wanting to get angry, but sister was there with a smile. She is the true picture of courage in the face of a storm.
I did design the cover, and it is a picture of a beautiful young girl full of spirit. My sister has always been and will always be (in my eyes) that young beautiful girl ready to take on the world.
Get your copy today. You will not want to miss this chance.

Nathan Parks
Author of The Nephelium
[...]

I get bragging rights twice over, but it's not for myself that I brag. I can brag on behalf of Hanna Parks because she's too modest to do it herself, and she passes all credit right on to God Himself, because she knows and properly understands where her gift of writing comes from. I know Hannah personally. She goes to our church, Trinity Christian Center. It's considered in Lakeland, Florida although it's actually in Highland City city limits. I tell her I like to see her on Sundays and get my "smile fix" for the week. Regardless of how she feels from one day to the next, she makes a determined effort to be there every Sunday and every Sunday night, and she always has that infectious smile. Knowing her for a little more than a year has been a tremendous blessing and an inspiration. I know these poems come from deep down in her sweet heart. They, too, are each a blessing to read. God has given this incredible young lady a gift worthy of sharing. She takes no credit for it but gives all credit to The Lord. You will notice as you read through this collection that many of the poems are dialogue directly to God, prayers, psalms that you have the honor of "listening" in on. This is not a complete collection of her works, either. She has many more poems and has already received requests to put the others in a sequel book. You must give this book a read. Be sure to open your mind first and just soak in the blessings as they soothe your soul.

By the way, it is my understanding that Hannah's brother did the front cover art. It is also my understanding that the little girl is Hannah at a young age. Sweet then, sweet now, if this book doesn't pull your heartstrings and get you to seriously thinking about God's incredible love for us all, please check to see if you do have a heart. I readily give the book five stars only because that's as high as the rating goes. It should be twelve stars for the book and twelve more for the author.

Jacques Cousteau will forever remain the man who gave the world scuba diving. Whilst both his work and his films are legendary, several of his early books have stood the test of time to provide the reader with a relevant insight into marine creatures - even though the book itself may have been published over 30 years ago.

Three of Cousteau's finest books were; Dolphins, Shark (Splendid Savage of the Sea) and The Whale (Might Monarch of the Sea) and these now come together in this 3 book set.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of Dolphin life and behaviour, the first book is as relevant today as it ever was. There is much here for anyone with an interest in these attractive creatures and I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy.

For many years the Shark was perceived as everything that was evil and frightening as far as the sea was concerned. No book about this splendid creature was complete without that section on Shark Attack. Not even the Lions of Africa or the North American Grizzly Bear got such a fearful press. Today, of course, the Shark is endangered and - suddenly!, we are all worried about the Great White and it's other equally magnificent cousins. Only now do we realise how Cousteau was ahead of his time with that same message.

Finally we come to the Whale. I have often wondered what the great Jacques Cousteau and his team would have achieved had they possessed today's underwater photographic equipment and technology - but then I took another look at some of the photographs in this book. The Humpback Whales, a mother and calf and other examples, are all of a standard which would be described as outstanding - today! This is not just another book about Whales written by an expert. This is a book which also includes all the personal encounters with these might leviathans. It is those personal encounters which give this book the edge over anything written by others.

Not only that, each book is an excellent read.

NM

High quality abundance of color photos, startling B&W shots, and a crisp informative text make this three book set a first rate collection for those wishing more than a cursory view of Whales, Sharks, and Dolphins. Like his National Geographic specials, Cousteau presents his information in a superb and unique manner, peeling back our ignorance of specific phenomena while maintaining an open view on the larger scheme of things.

These are excellent books: informative; educational; and very much alive.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple is an amazingly important work of architecture, completed in 1908 and in need of funding to complete a full restoration. This unparalleled account of the development of the art and architecture of Unity Temple only helps to increase awareness of this essential piece of our cultural heritage. If you have ever visited this building, you know how incredibly beautiful it is. If you love architecture and Wright in particular, you must own this book.

Unity Temple is a National Treasure and it is treated as such by Mr. Siry. His research is unrivlaed in Wright circles and his writing is clear and concise. All aspects of the design and execution are included and discussed in a complete manner.

One only wishes that there were more, large color photographs to parallel the excellent writing. Would there be a second eiition with them? If one is really interested in the subject and not just the images, this is the book for you.

Here's an exploration of the University's two centuries of struggle to achieve state university status; from its initial agricultural college status to its Civil War struggles, its evolution into a tuition-free people's college, and its movement into university status. But The University Of Maryland At College Park: A History isn't just about school politics: within its pages are profiles of student and faculty culture over the decades, social and political atmospheres affecting the college's focus and growth, and how the modern university status is changing the school. A pick for not just University grads and fans; but for any reader of higher education history and politics.

Although I have no particular knowledge or interest in the University of Maryland at College Park, this history is so well written that I still found it an interesting read that was hard to put down until I had finished it. The author goes through the history of the college from its founding as the Maryland Agricultural College through the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the riots of the 1970's to today. An intimate portrait of the college as well as a trip through the history of this part of Maryland it contains many period photographs that add to the charm of the book. "The University of Maryland at College Park, a History, is highly recommended to anyone interested either in the college or the history of Maryland in general.

The book is a great resource and it came in plenty of time tahnk-you!

This book is an excellent introduction to young adult (YA) literature for the 7th-12th grade English curriculum. It establishes a valid and informative argument for using YA literature based on the developmental theories of Piaget and Inhelder, Robert Havighurst, and G. Robert Carlsen. Bushman and Haas argue that adolescents are interested in reading stories that relate to their own experiences or involve issues they face. Such interest results in emotional and cognitive responses, which in turn fosters a positive attitude towards reading. YA literature, accordingly, supplies all these needs.

This book's structure and extensive discussions on various topics provide essential foundational information upon which English teachers can assess its value in the classroom. For example, it has a section which discusses the features of YA novels, such as plot, character types, key themes, and points of view. It provides a practical framework for teaching YA literature in that it offers teaching strategies and activities which are designed to develop critical thinking skills. Many different YA novels are discussed in relation to various topics throughout the book and several novels are discussed at length. One important section, of many, discusses the important connection between reading and writing and literature's role in providing the context in which to learn to write. It suggests many writing activities which will aid the students in not only synthesizing their ideas about what they read, but also in developing their writing skills.

In my opinion, the book's weakest section is the one discussing "Young Adult Literature as a Bridge to the Classics" (166). This section has a very limited discussion on integrating YA literature with the classics. Many more suggestions on this topic would be helpful because many districts still require the teaching of classics as part of the curriculum.

This is a beautiful book with color pictures and wonderful detail. This book is worthwhile reading even if you don't hike, you can be an armchair hiker and learn about all the beautiful places Utah has to offer. I bought it for my son and now it is on my want list.

I have been hiking Utah's trails for many years, and I am always looking for new places to explore. I have already looked through most of Utah's other hiking guides, and I have to tell you that this one is without a doubt the best one out there. It is informative, easy to read, the maps are excellent, and, most of all, the color photographs that illustrate the trails will blow you away. It is a little more expensive than the other guides, but definately worth it!

"The stories 'Marred Bliss' and 'Diary of a Fan' had me laughing so hard I almost choked. Wildly original and so smart. O'Donnell is a funny person's funny person." Sparkle Hayter

A great collection of stories and cartoons from one of our best humorists -- to wit, Mark O'Donnell, the co-adaptor of Moliere's Scapin (currently playing on Broadway). Of particular note are pieces like "The Solar Yearbook," which treats the planets like high-school students, and "Marred Bliss," a very short play with almost-right words. And the novella "Vertigo Park" is not only funny, but also sad and tender. Highly recommende

To be able to produce work such as Gerald Hinde has, one should understand the preparation and patience needed. A single image can be days in the making! Glancing through his book , 'African Wildlife', I manage to 'know' the artist and recognize the love he has for his work and the beautiful animals that he has captured on film. The photography shown is amazing, the editing and presentation are excellent, as is the quality of the printing, done by Struik Publishers in South Africa. I highly recommend this book for all who enjoy excellent photography and wildlife.

I collect African wildlife books and this one is the best because this superb photographer captures the glint in the eyes of these gorgeous animals. The character of each individual animal makes this book one to keep within reach for creative inspiration. I love the ways color, line, shape, form, and movement gallop and graze and lull across each page.

For Vol fans the country over, this will bring a transfusion of their "Orange Blood!" Great for anyone who ever haunted the hallowed field of Neyland Stadium. A must for your Vol friend or family for Christmas.

Brings back some very good (and some bad) memories of "Football Time in Tennessee". A delightful collection of photography and anecdotes that shows the VOL fans "doing their thing".

I was particularly fond of the McElroy "Big Orange" Limo (Johnny grew up in my neighborhood). "Tailgating" at it's finest! He may be the "BIGGEST" Vol Fan.

As also enjoyed the "Vol Navy" photos. Having served as a crew member on one of it's vessels many times was an unforgettable experience that "Volmania" helps you relive in your memories.

You can almost hear the band playing "Rocky Top"!

After looking at someone else's copy, I had to have not one, but three copies. I ordered one for each of my two sons (Vol Alums) and one for my wife and I to enjoy. Three Christmas Gift problems solved! (hope they don't read this until after Christmas)

GO VOLS! Get "VOLMANIA"! You'll be glad you did!

A Vol Fan