Wisconsin Books

Hadassah Magazine August/Sept 2005

Glimmering Girls: A Novel of the Fifties by Merrill Joan Gerber, The University of Wisconsin Press, 249 pp., $26.95.


Merrill Joan Gerber's Glimmering Girls recreates with cool humor and aching passion what it was like for college-educated young women to grow up at a time when the spirit of the age remained the `50s, even when the decade changed. The story is set in conservative 1959 and ends with Francie's college graduation. Although the feminist, free-wheeling `60s don't explode until the new decade is half over, Francie's not waiting. A good Jewish girl, whose letters home to her parents in Brooklyn are filled with appreciation and updates on her life--from studying hard on a pro forma education major to observing the rules of the heavily chaperoned dorm. Restless to experience life, and unlike her more typical roommate Mary Ella Root, who looks to get a Mrs. degree, Francie falls in with Liz and Amanda. The two propose that they move in together off campus - with three guys. one of whom, though of Francie's "tribe," is in love with Liz. The other two are amiable identical twins in love with cars.

As Francie discovers, however, experiencing life involves secrecy and taking half-understood risks, some of which propel her into anxiety. Having run off for a couple of days with Liz and Amanda and the twins to a lakeside cabin, will she ever get back to finish her term paper? Could she become pregnant if semen leaks through her skirt? Will she ever get back to civilization and her term paper, having run off for a couple of days with Liz and Amanda and the twins to a lakeside cabin? Will she and Joshua, a Jewish boy and fine pianist whom she beds and loves, get together again?

Meanwhile, Francie, a Phi Beta determined to be a writer, is turned down for a graduate school fellowship by a dean who says women are unreliable. Though she is poised on the edge, uncertain, Francie senses that "something is definitely going on here, something shattering and monumental enough to bring tears to her eyes." One thing's for sure, Francie and Liz have escaped from "the innocence of the Garden of Eden, no longer glimmering girls, more like illuminated women.

Gerber movingly captures the ambivalence of the coming of age of bright young women, and of the brave new world in which they will make their way. That Francie is Jewish and far from home gives the tale special resonance. Her path may be rougher than Liz's or Amanda's, but then again, she's burning bright.

--Joan Baum

Although I "went away to school" to what I would have thought was college vastly differernt from the Florida university that is the scene of Gerber's most recent triumph, the similarities among the experiences of her young woman protagonist and mine and those of my friends startled me. I guess that for almost everyone who was a teen in the 1950s in the USA the intense repressiveness made secret-keepers and rule-breakers of us all. Glimmering Girls is both a wonderful novel, beautifully written and absorbing, and an important social document that I hope will be read by many. Gerber successfully recreates a time when women's bodies didn't belong to us, when female sexuality was supposed to be an oxymoron, when the MRS. was a degree more devoutly to be wished for than a PhD, and "true love" and its "inevitable" consequence -- a happy marriage -- was the only legitimate transition to adulthood for a girl. And yet, for all the astute revelations of the repressiveness of life for women in the decade before the Women's Liberation Movement began to stir, there is no hint in this book of the polemic; it's just a wonderful story about a time that is thankfully past (although the current administration seems to be doing its best to revive it) -- or is it?

Mr.Rashid has captured the true essence of the wonderful Wisconsin waters and the serene sport of fishing. What a beautiful and flowing account of the love many of us have for angling activities. Through his lens and brief but appropriate text, Bob has illustrated an everlasting tradition so superbly. I thank him for the memories.

Gwenyth Ann Reilly Sisson

Wisconsin has long been a land of streams, ponds and lakes suitable for fly fishing and the angler's art. In Gone Fishing, photographer Bob Rashid has wonderfully captured and preserved in vivid imagery the pleasures and adventures of men, women and children fishing Wisconsin waters from spearing sturgeon through the ice on Lake Winnebago to pursuing the wily muskie on a quiet night in Vilas County, to trout fishing a farm field stream. Here are memorable scenes of Wisconsin's fishing traditions including fish fries and catfish queens. With Rashid's reader friendly text accompanying his outstanding photography, Gone Fishing is a "must" for anyone who ever picked up rod and reel or tried their luck at spearing in Wisconsin's bountiful waters.

This book is really great! It's extensive coverage of the Golden Era of U of M football should be in every graduate's library. The author has extensive knowledge of this era - his father having played in it. If you want to know some fun facts, this book is for you!

This book has a lot of very useful statistics. It is excellent for report writing, and for "taking a trip down memory lane"

It was in the Old Greenbush Neighborhood that my mother, her 4 brothers and sisters and numerous cousins were raised. I have heard many stories about "the Bush" over the years! I browsed through the cookbook at my mothers cousin's home this weekend. "Grandmothers of the Greenbush" brought me closer to all of those relatives that immagrated from Sicily so many years ago. What a wonderful way to come closer to one's hertitage; through the description of fine food!

Grandmothers Of Greenbush: Recipes And Memories Of The Old Greenbush Neighborhood 1900-1925 by Catherine Tripalin Murray is a blend of anecdotal history and recipes drawn from the women who lived on a 52-acre plate comprising ten blocks which formed a triangular shaped neighborhood called Greenbush, a Madison, Wisconsin ethnic community. A very nice touch is the inclusion of old b/w photographs of the women, along with a brief biographical description including their birthplace, parentage, siblings, spouse, wedding, and children, accompanied by an anecdotal story of their individual lives. This is paired up with these a recipe drawn from their particular culinary expertise. From Nonna Accardo's Bread; Mama C's Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs; Salsa Fresca Di Pomidoro a La Puttancesca; and Conchera's Garlic Sauce; to Italian Roast Loin of Pork with Potatoes; Breaded Sirloin Steak; Ida's Delicious Noodle Pudding; and Grandma Urso's Round Steak, Grandmothers Of Greenbush is a unique and memorable collection, a truly fitting culinary tribute, and simply wonderful just browsing through.

Depicted in early twentieth century rural Norway, this novel is perhaps the most sympathetic and sensitive depiction of a farmer's life that I have read.

Even as a young farm boy our central character, Per, has a life as deeply rooted to the soil as a tree is to the Earth. While other people travel freely from place to place, the routine chores and immeasurable demands of the farm preclude lackadaisical outings. Isolation is measured in the paucity of folks he meets, beyond the odd tramp who wanders by in hopes of spending the night in the hayloft. Reconciling the contradictions of farm life pits Per conscientiously against his father. If dad is so good to animals, as everyone says, how can he so summarily slaughter them? Vessas poignantly lays bare the harsh realities of life and death in the country. Most of us have no contact with the animals we eat, other than jockeing shiny carts through sterile aisles, choosing from the wide assortment of choice cuts, wrapped in their neat cellophane packaging. What it must be like to be affectionately nuzzled by the very creature that will the next day be served up to us on a dinner platter. To Per as a mature adult, the act of killing is always dreaded and pushed-off; it is an act born with a solemn sense of responsiblity---not with a cavalier flippancy, or as a sort of macabre sport!


Beyond a rather condescending suburban attitude I held as a youth that demoted farm culture to the lowest tier, Per's struggles allowed me to empathize with a way of life that was largely foreign and misunderstood by me. It is ironic that we are so removed from a rural heritage that a little more than a century ago most of us found hope and comfort in.

For further information about Tarjei Vesaas see: 'Columbia Dictionary of Modern European Literature' (Second Edition) pgs. 848-849

This is possibly Vesaas' main work, and at least among his 5 best tales. The book is about Per, the farm he is born on, and everything that comes from that. It is simply put the classic European tale of pre-modern rural life. The family is large; their lives revolve around the different seasons and not much decadence at all is to be found. You could call this an epic tale, since it spans Per's entire life; from childhood to old age. He has no desire to take over the farm from his father, but as the time passes by, he realizes that he too is part of the great cycle, hence the title. I can't recommend this enough; the only annoying part I can think of is the fact that I'm unsure if the follow-up novel has been translated to English. Although, don't let that be any reason to keep you away from this book, because if you want to read one of the North's greatest author at his best, then this is the place to start. Two thumbs up!

(I read a different edition of the book)

Designed and photographed by relatives of Mel Knoke, the first inductee into the Packers Hall of Fame, Green, Gold, And Proud: Portraits, Stories, And Traditions Of The Greatest Fans In The World is a stunning photo documentary of and tribute to fans of Wisconsin's football team, the Green Bay Packers. Exploring the enthusiasm of fans who come to the Packers' training camp and summer practices, and filled with candid essays and testimonials as well as gorgeous full- page color photography of fans at home or dressed up in pro-Packers regalia, Green, Gold, and Proud is unquestionably a labor of love, revealing the bonds of excitement and enthusiasm that come from cheering the efforts of a beloved home state team. An accompanying 80-minute DVD chronicles the history of Lambeau Field, sharing the players, games, coaches, and moments that have marked the Packer's path to victory. A visually appealing giftbook, perfect for Packers fans.

Green, Gold, and Proud sets new standard for books about Packers fans

Many books have tried to capture what it means to be a Packers fan. Few, if any, have actually succeeded.
Until now.
Green, Gold and Proud: Portraits, Stories, and Traditions of the Greatest Fans in the World by Curt and Kyle Knoke is sure to become the standard by which all future books about Packers fans will be judged.
If it's true that a picture paints a thousand words, then this book with its hundreds of vivid, full-color photographs speaks volumes. Never before has the panorama of fans comprising Packers Nation been captured so colorfully and in such exquisite detail.
This labor of love incorporated the talents of both men on a scale never before attempted. Curt, 65, is the co-founder of Image Studios, Appleton. He retired in 1996 after a long and prosperous photography career spanning more than three decades and now lives in Gresham, Wis. His nephew, Kyle, 38, is a creative director with Allen/James Design, also of Appleton.
Since Curt's retirement, the two have teamed up to produce books that celebrate people, enviroments and community.
One of their joint creations, a composite of "environmental portraits" featuring Shawano County, helped raise more than $50,000 for the Shawano Area Community Foundation. Curt shot the photos while Kyle did the graphic design.
Their second book, The Art of Labor, used high quality black-and-white photos to turn the spotlight on the craftsmen, ironworkers and masons who labored to produce the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
In the fall of 2003, Kyle and Curt began deliberations that would lead to their greatest and most challenging project yet: a book about Packers fans, arguably the greatest fans in the world. Notably, it was Mel Knoke-Curt's uncle and Kyle's great-uncle-who was the first fan to be named to the Packers Fan Hall of Fame.
The project began simply enough in 2003 with a few sample photographs taken during training camp and in the stadium tailgate area. Having inherited Mel's tickets, they also took photographs at two regular season games, capturing an historic moment when the Packers won the divisional title thanks to an improbable come-from-behind victory by the Arizona Cardinals in the final game of the season.
Fortune seemed to be on their side. With a few sample photographs and concept for a book in hand, they approached the Packers' marketing department, which was looking to promote the team's fans now that the stadium construction project was drawing to a close. The Knokes presented their subject matter-the fans-against white, seamless backgrounds that were indeed eye-catching and clearly thought provoking.
"We really wanted to focus and celebrate the fans, their personalities and their enthusiasm," said Kyle in explaining the white, "sweep" backgrounds that comprise perhaps 75 percent of all the photos in the book. "By stripping away the environmental distractions the focus falls squarely on the fans."
The Knokes sold their idea to the first publisher they approached, Triumph Books of Chicago, Ill. Virtually within five minutes of sitting down and explaining their concept to Tom Bast, the company's editorial director, "it was a done deal," said Kyle.
"We felt so good about them (Triumph Books) right from the start," said Kyle. "They were genuine, good people; we didn't look any further."
Having received their marching orders, the Knokes set up shop in a stairwell at section 109 with the start of the 2004 season.
"We started shooting photographs a couple of hours before game time, in the tailgating areas, and continued right through halftime within the stadium," said Curt. "A couple of people helped us by recruiting fans in the parking lot and surrounding area."
More than a hundred subjects were randomly selected at a typical home game. "We were looking for people who could represent the full scale and breadth of the Packers fan base; there were fathers with sons, mothers with daughters, friends and groups of people from every conceivable demographic," said Kyle.
"Although they were randomly selected, it's amazing how many fans came from such places as far away as Australia, Switzerland, Germany and others; probably half of the states are represented as well," said Curt.
The Knokes gathered hundreds and hundreds of exposures per game over the course of an 8-10 hour period. Multiple that by eight home games and, well ... the math speaks for itself. (Curt actually built a foam box complete with a heating pad to protect the photo equipment, as the weather grew cold later in the year.)
"Editing was a challenge but it was really rewarding," said Curt. "I would edit first and Kyle would do the final edit. Every different subject or groups of subjects would invariably bring a smile to my face and Kyle's too.
"They were all there to celebrate the same event and there's a certain commonality among them," Curt continued. " They were all eager to have their photographs taken and extremely cooperative. In 33 years of business, I've never worked on a project where I photographed so many happy people!" (In one shot, a woman can be seen literally doubling over in laughter.)
"It was really a beautiful experience," added Kyle. "I've been in marketing for some time and never seen people so natural and at ease in front of the camera ...there was nowhere else on earth these people wanted to be. These were not professional models and yet it happened so naturally; it's really a testament to Curt's personality and his ability to shoot great portraits, he makes people feel so comfortable."
During road games, the Knokes took their cameras on the road to favorite Packer hot spots and in the homes of Packers fans, many of who are members of Packers Partners. They call these photos "location portraits." Here again they sought fans that were broadly representative of Packer fans worldwide. Some photos were taken in a fan's favorite Packers room or, in one such case, next to a favorite green and gold car in an empty stadium parking lot.
Fans in the location portraits also provided short testimonials in response to an open-ended question: "What does it mean to be a Packers fan?" These are included with the photos and are full of revealing anecdotes.
"The beauty of this book, really, is in the random selection of subjects. Our goal was not to feature the most well-known, eccentric or celebrated fans," said Kyle. "The point of the book is to celebrate fans everywhere. Hopefully, everyone can see a little bit of themselves in these pages."
Words often come up short in explaining the magic of Lambeau Field, for as the poet full knows, the objectification of the subjective is not necessarily achievable with a few well-chosen words. Photographs can come a bit closer, however, to capturing the mystique, the drama and the sheer depth of human experience evident on a Sunday afternoon in Green Bay.
"It's uncanny how much personality is in these photographs; many of these fans wear their personalities on their sleeves. It's a little glimpse of who they are. The stadium is conducive to making people feel comfortable; people can be themselves and it really shows in these photographs.
"Packer fans come together from all walks of life-from every social, economic and ethnic background-and all their differences are sort of stripped away. It's a collective celebration," Kyle said.


-by Bill Van Lannen

It doesn't take the Coast Guard to know the Coast Guard, but sometimes the inside knowledge and access helps the cause. Authors Stacy and Virginia Thomas met in the Coast Guard while both serving at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and got married at one of the lighthouse of which they write in Guarding Door County. Their writing style in the book is professional and precise, their words carefully chosend to show respect for their service and the men and women who served before them.
The authors have broken the book down geographically, assigning themselves southern, northern and island blocks of lighthouses. Life-saving stations, as there are only three in the county (Sturgeon Bay Canal, Bailey's Harbor and Plum Island) are covered in one extensive chapter. And as there are only twelve historic lighthouses on the peninsula as well, they also receive lengthy coverage in the book, with multiple images of each lighthouse through time.
An added bonus to this book is the authors' treatment of their final full chapter, a primer on "Current Events: Preservation and Tourism" of Coast Guard heritage on the peninsula. Guarding Door County, therefore, goes beyond the history to the story of the present day, allowing those folks who go to (or in many cases, return to) the peninsula the opportunity to carry this book with them as a travel aid.
(published in Wreck & Rescue Journal, May 2006, V 9, No 1)

Guarding Door County is another wonderful addition to Arcadia's titles. The book gives a very good overview of the U.S. Coast Guard which explains how lighthouses and life-saving stations became part of the organization. Each picture has detailed captions that bring the stories to life. I liked how the authors included a final chapter on preservation and tourism to update the reader on what was currently happening to the structures. Finally, the appendix really helped me understand how Fresnel lenses worked. Overall, I loved looking at the historical photos and learning more about the lighthouses and life-saving stations in Door County.

Leavitt's Healthiest City provides one of the only comprehensive reviews of the history of public health in Milwaukee. While the topic may seem obscure, public health in U.S. cities has played a prominent role in both the formation of political policies and the quality of life in our urban areas. Leavitt's book takes a look at the importance of public health in a city once slated as "America's Healthiest".

I have to say that this is one of the best books that I've ever read. Once you start reading the healthiest city, you won't wanna put it down. I enjoy the fact that the author talked about the problems Milwaukee was facing and how the city officials were able to solve those problems. The problems ranged from garbage, smallpox, milk and many others. This book can truly enlighten one's knowledge. I truly recommend it.

Higher Ground: New Hope for the Working Poor and their Children provides a detailed background of the many obstacles encountered by the working poor and how the New Hope program intended and its ability to eradicate these obstacles. The book articulates an important social phenomenon in a way that would intrigue and enlighten social policy makers and well versed academics as well as an interested reader without any previous sociological knowledge. One of the most captivating aspects of the book is the personal interviews that provide the reader an incredible insight into the hardships and the tenacity of low-income working mothers and women and how the New Hope program distinctly touched each of their lives.

Duncan, Huston, and Weisner's Higher Ground evaluates the experimental program New Hope, intended to help Milwaukee's poor lift themselves out of poverty. In 1994, a group of social activists implemented a work-based program they had begun dreaming up in 1979. Calling it a "social contract," rather than welfare, the organizers hoped Proejct New Hope could motivate people to work without forcing them to choose between a job and their family's wellbeing. As Duncan, Huston, and Weisner explain, 23 million American adults were living in families below the official poverty line in 1994. The state of employment and the economy made it incredibly difficult for men and women with little education to escape poverty. New Hope was innovative in that it provided an array of work supports, including healthcare, childcare, and housing subsidies, rather than enforcing a "one-size-fits-all" plan. And unlike traditional welfare programs, New Hope was available to both males and females working full-time. Though the experiment lasted only four years, its organizers hope it might become a model for national policy.

The authors provide a detailed description of the program, as well as a clear explanation of the experiment's outcomes - both positive and negative - in comparison with a control group, and they evaluate its costs and benefits. The book also gives attention to several fascinating indirect consequences of the program. For example, participants in the program saw increased marriage rates and greater marital stability compared with non-participants, as well as decreased levels of domestic violence. Perhaps the most interesting results of the program on participants' families were the surprising improvements in children's grades and behavior at school, even after the program's end. Duncan, Huston, and Weisner's book is informative, interesting, and very readable. They present a compelling analysis of an innovative, exciting, and truly hopeful anti-poverty program.

Extremely well written, I really enjoy reading this book very much. The subject matter is no doubt fascinating, and the author, Mr. Neupert has done a wonderful job in presenting the history of the French New Wave Cinema. Not only does the author include a comprehensive political, cultural and commercial development that lead to the phenomenon, he also manages to present each influential New Wave directors, actors/actresses along with their important works in great detail. The book includes movie story lines in such detail that even if you have not seen the movie, you will appreciate and understand what the author is trying to convey. The author discusses issues on techniques, budgets and distributorship in French cinemas. Most interestingly, pictures from films discussed are liberally peppered throughout the book.

Mr. Neupert's writing style is greatly commendable. The words are straightforward and full of good information it's such a pleasure to read his book. I especially enjoy the title description Mr. Neupert gives for each of the directors. I feel that he's very accurate in describing Chabrol as "the one launching the wave", Varda's success for her "elegance realism" and my favorite Truffaut as "the wave's ringleader".

For a long time, I have always been in love with movies by Rohmer, Godard, Truffaut among others without exactly knowing the reason why. After reading this book, I understand why. The French New Wave Cinema is a complex phenomenon that is impossible to be understood without understanding the political, cultural, commercial as well as psychological (personality) landscapes of Europe/people during that era. If you love watching films by great directors like Truffaut, Rohmer, Chabrol and others, you should read this book. It's highly recommended.

Very well written overview of the films that defined the french New Wave. The first chapter explains the historical, economic, political and cultural context (post-war France) and explains why there was a demand for a new kind of cinema. Remaining chapters presents directors like Melville, Truffaut, Godard, Varda, Resnais, Malle and some more with biographical info and film analysis. Each film analysis is excellent and made me go and buy the movies on DVD. Fortunately, almost every movie presented in the book has been released on high quality DVD from labels like Criterion, Masters of Cinema and BFI. Even early films like Melvilles Silence de la Mer is now available. To sum up: I can really recommend the book to everyone who wants to know more about French Cinema, and understand the New Wave in particular. It's very well written and very clear on a subject that in other cases has been presented in an over-theorized way. Great job!