Massachusetts Books

I first read Mong-Lan's "Why is the Edge Always Windy?" before reading "Song of the Cicadas," and I must say that I have seldom encountered a masterly poet such as her. She captures in a few words gracefully what other poets would need ten. You don't need to have travelled to Vietnam or Mexico or San Francisco to understand/feel/intuit the primal exigencies of the land, of history, of the heart, of what she writes. Mong-Lan, apparently, went back to Vietnam in the mid 90's, at a time when very few Viet Kieus have gone back--these experiences form the crux of the book. What she has put into verse is new vital terrority, exploring not just the psychology of displacement, the aftermath of war, but the beauty, both visual and visceral, of experiences striking, commonplace and haunting.

Mong-Lan is also a visual artist and her drawings and cover photo grace the beautiful book. A must have!!

Scarcely with a first book does a young poet approach such a mastery of craft as Mong Lan does here in this poignant, graceful, inimitably organic collection. She achieves those special balances - passion and restraint, lyric and narrative, naivete and wisdom, intelligence and honesty - which are so rare in published contemporary poetry today, which is riddled with flagrantly duplicitous, smarmy, disjunctive, and/or watered down prose, which (of course) passes as the best poetry thanks to the influx of critics whose will is bent by the political pressures of the literati. But enough of that, and back to Mong Lan. Those poems within the sequences such as "Trajectory" and "The Golden Gate Bridge" seem to hang carefully like magnificent stained glass windows; in which intense color, silky texture, and story power are all constantly self-evident and at play; and through which the author's essence yearns to touch your own. I'll admit, I'm a pretty voracious reader, snobbish and not-easily-impressed; "Song of the Cicadas" haunts me for hours afterward; the poems are arrows into the heart. A must read.

I can see war in these pages, but it's more than that. It's also about ordinary people and their lives, not just Vietnamese culture but something universal in all of us. Highly recommend!

This is a very impressive book of poetry. Mong-Lan is a gifted writer who conveys the lyricism of language in the description of diverse experiences in Vietnam. Highly recommended.

Read this beautiful collection of poems. They will move you with their grace, insight and strength. Notice the blank spaces between the words and lines-more is said at these broken places than mere words.

This brilliant little book (71 pages of actual text) records twenty days in which Hawthorne was in effect a single parent for his five year old son, Julian, during August 1851. Hawthorne's wife Sophia, called Phoebe in the book, and two daughters (seven year old Una and newborn Rose) go off to visit Sophia's parents. Hawthorne is with Julian for just about every waking moment of Julian's day, running from six or seven AM to seven or seven thirty PM. He records their days in his notebook; and, despite the brief and informal style of these notes (and they are notes and not a detailed chronicle), succeeds in evoking nearly the totality of a child's day. I doubt that any major writer has ever so completely and carefully focused on what a five year old actually does and what his life is like.

Hawthorne is also direct and frank. He gets exasperated (as all parents do) about the constant demands for attention, the nonstop childish chatter and the endless sometimes inane questions but only rarely rebukes Julian. On the whole, Hawthorne is remarkably patient. He is amused by Julian's battles with the monsters that appear in the form of thistles and weeds which Julian routinely and daily slaughters. He is fascinated by Julian's determined and uniformly unsuccessful fishing. He admires Julian's great good nature and his gusto. Hawthorne takes care of the boy's minor illnesses, injuries and accidents. He feeds, dresses, bathes and clothes him daily. He also tries to curl his hair. Some of these actions he admits are badly or clumsily done but they are all clearly done with love.

The book also contains a few insights into other aspects of the normally reserved Hawthorne. He is positively volcanic about his dislike of Massachusetts's Berkshire region and its weather and his contemptuous and angry references to a neighbor and to (of all things) the Shaker sect are painful to read. Also clear, however, is his deep love for his family and for friends such as Melville and his love of life generally. He goes to considerable lengths to rescue a kitten trapped in a cistern and does what he can for the well-being of Bunny, whom he obviously considers a rather dull creature. There are observations on the daily round of country life in 1851 as well, including the contents of meals (little meat but plentiful milk, vegetables and rice), interactions with others, visitors and other matters.

The prose is very direct and clear, a far cry from Hawthorne's complex, allusive and often indirect formal style. This is a record of parenting and of a child's life that is moving and beautiful. There is also a useful if perhaps somewhat overlong introduction by writer Paul Auster.

I had previously thought of Nathaniel Hawthorne as serious, stuffy, reclusive - as indeed many contemporaries thought of him. However, _Twenty Days with Julian_ show another side of the man - and the eternal joy and wonder of childhood.

While his wife and daughters were away, Hawthorne spent three weeks alone with his son, Julian. Chronicling their activities, you get a clear sense of the time and of the person Hawthorne was. But what was most pleasant - and surprising - was how similar 4 year old Julian was to children today. A joyful read that would make an excellent Father's Day present.

This is abrief book, but full of great writing. It's very interesting to see what has changed in 150 years - the food, the activities, the words, and what hasn't - how little kids behave.

Hawthorne really captures the boundless energy and joy of small children, as well as his own sense of bewilderment as a father.

Everything positive said about this book is true. But I would add this: Mr. Auster's introduction is excellent until he reaches a point where he starts divulging some of the best points in the diary. So buy the book and go straight to the diary. Then enjoy Auster's wonderful intro. Bravo to NYRB for publishing this as a stand alone book; what a great gift for a new parent!
CS

From July 28th until August 16th, 1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne's wife Sophia took their daughters on a visit to her relatives, leaving her husband home to care for their 5 year-old son, Julian. Hawthorne kept a record of his time with the little boy in a journal, calling the episode "Twenty Days with Julian & Little Bunny by Papa". Anyone familiar with Hawthorne's exquisite, almost recondite writing style as exemplified by his novels and short stories will hardly recognize him in the guise of babysitter and chronicler of his jet-propelled kid's activities. Driven nearly to distraction by Julian's nonstop chatter and noisemaking (Hawthorne's wife had recently given birth to baby Rose, and the little boy was constantly being told to keep quiet), Hawthorne nevertheless decides to allow the child the freedom to be as noisy as he likes while the baby is away. This proves to be an exercise in forbearance for poor papa, as Julian proves to have no off switch, making it "impossible to read, write, think, or even sleep (in the daytime) so constant are his appeals..." Over the ensuing three weeks, the two take daily walks to fetch the milk, and to the lake where Julian fishes with furious, single-minded determination and catches absolutely nothing. Hawthorne struggles to figure out how his wife curls the kid's hair, and there are several unfortunate events - a bedwetting accident, a pants-peeing incident, the kid gets stung by a wasp, the pet bunny, Hindlegs, dies and is buried in the garden, much to Julian's amusement. (He hopes a Bunny Tree will spring up, covered all over in bunnies hanging by their ears.) Through it all, Hawthorne, in spite of his befuddlement with the finer points of child care, bears up gracefully, proving himself not only a gentle and loving father, but a genius at capturing the essence of childhood and the joy of witnessing,close at hand, his little boy's joie de vivre.

L chose this book because it was featured on a trip to Martha's Vineyard and I love the photograph in it.

Beautiful and insightful book on Martha's Vinyard. A must have book!!!

Peruse this impressive volume and step out of your world and right into the Campground in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. Experience all four seasons there through Betsy Corsiglia's lush photography, and learn it's history and meet it's inhabitants through Mary-Jean Miner's absorbing text. This book is a must-own for anyone who loves the Vineyard.

What a wonderful book about such an inspiring and inspired place. The pictures are bold and bright, and the text is tremendous. Betsy and Mary-Jean have done a great service to the Campground and the Camp-Meeting Association by providing such insight and memories of the Campground experience. A must have book if you've ever been to Martha's Vineyard. Great first book... hoping for many more.

The true flavor of the Campgrounds has been captured in this marvelous book. Photos and script leads the reader through the delightful history of this endearing place. Watching it change over the past fifty years, I can say it never looked better. Although long overdue, the talents of these two gals brings the Campground to life. A book to be cherished.

    I recently completed the novel and found it a most compelling work.  I believe that it successfully assimilated historical characters and events with fictional accounts while exploring some of the challenges we face under the human condition.  I believe that this work illustrates the significance of the the choices we make and the impact our actions, for good or for worse, may have on others, our families, our communities and our world.     Gertrude's choice never to love again or  be happy again affected Dr. Flagg and his family into the next generation (his nephew) as they held on to anger, sadness and disappointment due the rejection of Dr. Flagg's unyielding, all encompassing, and nurturing love.   Eleanor, caught in the same web of self-distruction learned from the Gertrude/Flagg experience, to gain a new lease on life and emerge from the ashes like the mythical phoenix.  It was pleasurable, clear, and concise reading which left the reader wanting more.   It provided an opportunity to expand knowledge on, and an appreciation for the  works of a renowned nineteenth century American Artist.  This work effortlessly captivated and aroused intellectual curiosity, a desire for greater self-awareness, the penchant to unmask and overcome deep fears and inhibitions, and one's mind's eye.     In summary, the clarity of the writing, the descriptive detail, the simplicity of the characters, and the complexity of the circumstances seamlessly worked together to give us a glimpse into lives which inspired artistic paintings, an unceasing love and devotion;  yet, still gives us cause to re-invent ourselves through self-inspection and the realization that a single life is intertwined and interdependent upon other lives.  The choices we make in how we face life and death are not choices we can make in a vacuum.

"Walking Through Time" is one of those rare books that you simply do not want to put down. Its two storylines run parallel, often intersecting and ultimately merging into one very satisfying, engaging tale.

Alternately written in the form of letters and prose, the book blends art historical fiction and a bit of suspense. The novel intertwines the lives of two women born a century apart who share little, but nevertheless sustain a deep connection. Eleanor, who lives in the present, discovers a packet of Gertrude's letters which lead her on a journey of self-discovery. At the same time, Gertrude's life unfolds, transporting the reader into the nineteenth century and the art world of the day.

After reading the book, I was not surprised to find that the author is, in fact, compiling the definitive text on the artist William Lamb Picknell -- who is Gertrude's husband in the novel! Rabb richly weaves her knowledge of the artist and the time period throughout the text, providing the reader with lots of historical reference. The history greatly enhances the novel and serves as a spiritual complement to the collective memory that generations seem to share.

I absolutely love this book! I felt like I was Eleanor. I, too, was eager to read the next letter from Gertrude. The reader can tell that the author put her heart and soul into this book. There is a lot of factual information that I find fascinating. I cannot wait to read the next book that Lauren Walden Rabb publishes! I definitely recommend others to read this heart-touching book!!!

A 20th century widow becomes open to love and experience through her infatuation with the letters of a 19th century woman, found in the attic. The author shares her philosophy of life through the protagonist's pondering on her relationship with her 14 year old son, a friend of the dead husband (the love interest), and a young woman from the local historical society who helps her answer questions about the author of the old letters. Flawlessly written and flowing.

I didn't believe I could be so enhanced and engrossed by a story of two different very generations. All the characters involved me, and I could not wait to know what happened to all of them. I want to write the author and find out more! I feel so much truth in the story. I am going to look into the artist since I saw where his art is now exhibited. This was a lovely reading experience. Thanks Lauren Walden Rabb!

There are many great words to describe this book (and many others) by David Grayson. I can't believe there are so few reviews either, the last ones were in 1998! I think it's high time to spread the word about this man and his beautiful observations of who we are and how the simple things in life are what really matter.

This is the first in a series of around eight books by David Grayson (actually this is Ray Stannard Baker writing as Grayson).
The title of the work says it all. If you are looking for a very, very mellow read, simply stuffed with wonderful observations, then this is one for you. The style/syntax, while admittedly archaic, is great and it takes only a couple of pages for you to fall into it's rythm. This book was written in the early part of the last century. This work reflects a time long past in this country, but that being said, this work still
touches many aspects of our lives we often overlook in one way or another. If you can find this work, and the rest of the series, I strongly recommend you purchase them as you will want to read them over and over again. It is a shame we seem to have lost such books.

My first exposure to this book was ten years ago, when in the LSU library I stumbled upon some very old, very dusty books. Being intrigued by old books, I found his simple titles (Adventures in Contentment, Adventures in Friendship, Adventures in Solitude, etc.) irresistible. I read 5 David Grayson (Ray Stannard Baker's pseudonym) books in two days. I returned them to the library, then soon afterward moved to California. I could not remember Grayson's name, though I would tell stories about those wonderful books that influenced my life and my writing.

7 years later, I came across a 90 year old copy of Adventures in Contentment, and found that it struck me as even more profound, having tasted a little of the cynical world that drove the main character from the city to the farm. This is the only book I have ever read that made me cry tears of human experience -- and then the very next chapter had me laughing out loud. (I was sitting at a coffee house with my friends when this happened, after which they wanted to borrow the book.)

If you are a person of thought, this book will move you. Grayson will take you on a tour of his farm and his mind. You will give him a voice, and you will hear that voice speak the words as you read. You will quote this book, you will reread this book, you will think of this book with the fondness of a close friend.

The simplicity of the essays will charm you, his masterful vocabulary will force you to grab your dictionary, and his expressive literary patterns will strike you as being as close to poetry as prose could possible come.

A picture may say 1000 words, but David Grayson's simple essays about small town life in the early 1900's will paint more vivid images in your mind than 1,000,000 Michaelangelos ever could. Simply stated, this is the greatest literary work ever written. Unfortunately, modern literary critics refer to this type of work as unimportant, sentimental and preachy. So this book will probably never be placed in its rightful spot in the literary canon.

Still, don't think the author died in obscurity without his talent being discovered. He was a lifelong friend of Woodrow Wilson, and in his old age, Ray Stannard Baker won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of his famous friend.

I wonder why there aren't any reviews on this book? It is the greatest book ever written. This book is about a person who has found a perfect harmony in life. Escaping all the scholastic philosophy and theological quest David Grayson here settles for what I regard the highest wisdom and the true purpose of life, and that is living. The book is potrayal of extra-ordinary experiences of a farmer poet who discovers a world within and without and adds a dream world quality with a sense of humour to our everyday experiences. A return to nature, beauty, simplicity, spontaniety and harmony!

I was apalled to find that my uncle, Michael Boland, was nothing but a con man and a thief. And from what I know about his perosonal life, a child molester too.

Great book, but embarrassing...................

Got so wrapped-up in the story of the book I finished it in one weekend. This should be a movie (w/ Richard Dreyfuss as Vevel. Heck; I've got the whole cast in my head...).

I got Debbie Hagan's book not long after I read the first three volumes of Dean Lawrence Velvel's account of his own experience with the legal profession in the United States over the past half-century. I knew that Velvel's stories were true to life - the names changed to protect the guilty, so to speak. However, in Hagan's book, one sees in true-life form the same institution that is formed by Velvel, and the kinds of difficulties that arose because of this.

There is a near-monopoly in the United States on legal education and accreditation by the American Bar Association. Most recently, the ABA was in the news as it traditionally gives a rating, a blessing or imprimatur if you will, to Supreme Court nominees. At first, the current Bush administration said that they didn't care about the ABA rating; when it became a favourable rating, however, it then mattered to them (we shall have to see what becomes of the next nominee and whether or not that person gets a favourable rating). The ABA is a powerful fraternity, one that includes as its members not only the attorneys who argue the cases, but also the judges who try them, the Departments of Justice that administrate legal issues, and, for the most part, the schools and training programmes that produced the people who fill these positions.

The story that Hagan recounts in 'Against the Tide' is the story of Dean Velvel and others who had a vision of a law school specifically devoted to pluralism and accessibility, one that focused more closely upon useful law and legal issues, and one that more adequately reflected the diversity present in the American population. Velvel and the Massachusetts School of Law was not the first place to attempt this - in the introduction, Hagan discusses other similar attempts (Antioch in Washington DC, Laclede in St. Louis) that failed, in large part because of lack of ABA recognition.

Hagan has a style not dissimiliar to Velvel's own style, and for those who like a true-life story, this is a book for them. It captures the true spirit of the fight that MSL has had to endure to gain credibility and what recognition it has, while maintain itself in the spirit of the sign that Dean Velvel keeps posted in his office - Ut Veniant Omnes, Let them all come.

Against the Tide is the true story of a law school that dared to buck the American Bar Association's requirements for admitting candidates. In an era when only those who score high enough on LSATs and have the money to attend the most costly colleges can even attempt the bar exam, the dream of becoming a lawyer is open largely to those with money and privilege. The Massachusetts School of Law was not the first law school that attempted to be affordable, accessible to students of all socio-economic groups, and relying on its own admissions standards rather than ABA-dictated criteria, but it put up a fiercer fight than its predecessors. The MSL took the ABA to court more than once after they withdrew their accreditation, accusing the ABA of antitrust violations and anti-competitive tactics, arguing that the MSL attempted to fulfill as many ABA requirements as it could, but the demanding costs of fulfilling them all would have resulted in a tuition spike that would price their courses out of the reach of the very community they were trying to serve. Against the Tide is a courageous David and Goliath story, and even though The Massachusetts School of Law did not gain accreditation from the ABA, it was victorious in other ways - for one, it earns accreditation from the reknowned New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Highly recommended.

I had to read this book slowly, one story at a sitting, to give myself time to fully absorb all of the layers of experience presented in each piece. These are small, complex, multi-faceted gems of writing. The stories drew me in, devasted me, transported me, enlivened me, spit me out. I highly recommend Katherine Arnoldi's work!

"All Things Are Labor" kept me up at night. It's a truly haunting book...the difficult stories are told with an exacting delicacy...like a ballerina who has learned to dance on burning coals. From a renegade mother tracking down deadbeat dads to a woman who allows herself to be abused in order to live in the suburbs, Manhattan to Arkansas...the strength of Arnoldi's disparate voices draw you inside their indelible worlds. She's a Joyce Carol Oates with street cred.; she knows firsthand what it is to be poor, what it is to be alone, what it is to be struggling, surviving, persisting. If you like Dorothy Allison or Sapphire, please read Arnoldi.

The narrator's voice, confident in its vulnerability, is the portal to the reader's intimacy with the related experiences. These are stories that stay with the reader for a long time.

This is a collection of beautifully written short stories. Moving, sometimes humorous--always deeply honest and unpretentious. She gives voice to many who are forgotten or invisible in our society, revealing their strength (and hers and ours); revealing the poignancy of life itself. Its a book to keep and enjoy more than once.

I almost couldn't put the book down. Finished it in three nights. Anyhow, the writing style is fantastic and the story is compelling. Lots of ups and downs. The best part is that the book is about real people. Definately read this book.

This is not just a book about basketball. Ask anyone who ever played a sport, and they can probably tell you how much their coach influenced their life. At a time in life when boys are becoming men, a positive male role model, whether it be a parent, coach or a teacher, can make all the difference. Neil Swidey's insider's view of the lives of the players, their families and Coach O'Brien was both heartwarming and disturbing. But this is not unique to Boston. All over the country, we continue to spend money building more jails instead of improving our schools, after school programs and parks. This is a good read for young or old. And not just men.

This book juxtaposes basketball and real life. In doing so Swidey provides a multiple perspectives.

Sometimes the reader is present almost as a fellow team member during very private times in the coaches and player's lives; both on and off the court. You know what music they are listening to - the complex dynamics that are playing out under the surface - what they are thinking during emotionally charged situations. The author has an uncanny ability to bring the reader into these young adult's lives.

Other times Swidey provides a 360 helicopter vantage point that allows the reader to see all character's points of view at the same time; and an ability to see how relatively small events in the present; have big consequences as events unfold.

From either point of view the story is compelling. While based around a basketball coach and his team's on and off court struggles - it is more accurately about a good but flawed man's attempt to help good but flawed kids navigate their urban maze.

I am not usually a reader, but I had a hard time putting this book down. Swidey does an excellent job capturing what has been an incredible story in Boston over the past few years. It's about basketball but, it is also about so much more. He describes how the aftermath of school desgregation in Boston has left the public schools in crisis, and how having someone who cares can make such a huge diffrence.

I love everything about "At Home in Nantucket" - the pictures were beautiful, it was easy to read and the recipes were delicious! I have never been to Nantucket but would love to check it out now!

I love this book!! I purchased a copy for myself first, and then numerous for friends and colleagues of mine who regularly summer in Nantucket, and some who have only been once, and others who haven't been yet (great way to encourage them!) - the photos are gorgeous and anyone with a bit of home decor interest would be interested in this.

Loved this book - some gorgeous homes that really gave me a lot of inspiration as I love that seaside/cottage look. Not all of the homes are decorated in an expected Nantucket style, however, which kept the pages interesting. It has beautiful photographs and some nice recipes too! If you love Nantucket or that casual, cottage/beachy design style, this is a great book for you.

The book is written in a style that warms the reader to life on Nantucket. The photographs come to life with the descriptive prose that the author uses to provide detail. A true sense of life on the island is conveyed in the book which made me want to rush to Nantucket for some R&R!

This author and this book are great for those who are not Boston fans as well as those who are. I have read this book now 5 times and would never part with it.

The inside information and perspective is amazing. It's like you're along side Seth Mnookin in the Fenway offices and clubhouse talking to players and executives. You get the honest feelings and reactions of the best players and higher ups as well as the opinions of the middle and lower tier players about what they thought was really going on. You get the ultimate Red Sox experience at multiple levels.

"Who was the greatest Boston athlete ever? Russell, Bird or Brady?"

That's one question posed on the back cover of the book by Jim Caple and the Boston Herald's Steve Buckley.

I can't be the only hockey fan to wonder, "What about Bobby?"

Skeptical, I opened the book to scan the table of contents. I would skip non-hockey questions like "Was Freezing Ted Williams All That Crazy? (Number 17), "Boston: Football Town or Baseball Town?" (Number 55), and "Which Celtics Player Had the Most Unique Career After Hangin' `Em Up?"(Number 57)--all intriguing--and focus on more important questions.

For example, "Boston's Greatest Hockey Myth" (Number 18) isn't technically a question but it did compel me to investigate. So did "What Was the Greatest Non-Game Moment in Bruins History?" (Number 22), and "Who Was the Greatest Clutch Performer in Bruins History?" (Number 34).

Baseball and football questions dominated the book, but the material I read was insightful and entertaining, and even uplifting (I won't spoil the discovery for you). I didn't agree with all the "answers," but I learned a lot and laughed a lot. Plus, each section was no longer than three pages. And I got over the Bobby Orr slight on the back cover because Number 4ORR gets his due.

This book is very much in the same vein as the sports arguement books written by WFAN's Mike & the Mad Dog, but with a different author and centered on the Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and New England Patriots. So here you get the best and worst of players, coaches, owners, games, even venues. All of the "discussions" (OK, arguement-starters!) here are great fun to read. Such as;

"What Boston athlete could you never get used to seeing in another teams' uniform?" (The answer will surprise you)
"Who was the best/worst manager of the Red Sox?"
"Who was the most despised opposing player in Patriots history?"
"Should Roger Clemens go in the Hall of Fame as a Red Sox or a Yankee?"
"Which was better, the Red Sox beating the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS or winning the World Series?"
"Which record is better, Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak or Ted Williams hitting .406?"
"Who would've had the better carrear as a Celtic, Len Bias or Reggie Lewis?"
"How good would Ted Williams have been if he hadn't been away from baseball for 5 years due to military service?"
"What was Bobby Orr's greatest goal?" (Surprise! It's NOT his famous leap that won the Stanley Cup for the Bruins)

My favorite is the legendary rumor that longtime Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, in a drunken stupor, supposedly contacted the Yankees about trading Ted Williams for Joe Dimaggio. Of course it never happened but what if it did? Who would've gotten the better deal?

I'd love to see a similar book for Chicago sports buffs. This is a fun read if you're a member of Red Sox nation, as I am, or even part of the "Evil Empire" in New York.

P.S. New York fans, there's a similar book for you too. Unfortunately it doesn't have pictures and the words have more than one syllable!