GOOD READS
Beyond Best-Sellers: What B&ECPL Staff Recommend
The following were recently published titles which were read and recommended by members of our staff in the month indicated. The initials or pen name of the contributing staff member are noted after each review. Click here for more current recommendations.
September 2003
Hoodoo
Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure Catherine Yronwode
Non-Fiction
This is a unique book, well off the beaten path, that captures a special slice
of African American folklore. Hoodoo is a native African American system of
natural magical practice. Because it is often confused with Voodoo, which it
is not connected to at all, it is usually thought to be some kind of odd religious
practice, but Hoodoo itself has no religious base. This book contains detailed
information on the spells and plants used in HooDoo. Those interested in folklore,
herbalism, and African American culture will find it of interest. The writer
is an accomplished herbalist, folklorist, and practitioner of Hoo Doo.
Reviewed by Persia
The
Tenacity of the Cockroach: Conversations with Entertainment's Most Enduring
Outsiders The Onion A.V. Club Stephen Thompson, ed.
Non-Fiction
Mr. T, John Waters, Tom Lehrer, Joss Wedon, Henry Rollins, Pam Grier… these
are just a few of the celebrities who are interviewed in this irreverent collection
from the creators of the satirical news magazine, The Onion. The Tenacity of
the Cockroach examines celebrities who endure in spite of the odds. It is a
hearty and amusing feast for any fan of offbeat pop culture.
Reviewed by Research-n-Destroy
Wish
You were Here Stewart O'Nan
Fiction
Three generations of the Maxwell family face their pasts and their uncertain
futures as they spend one last week together at their summer cottage on Lake
Chautauqua.
Reviewed by CC
Death
Row William Bernhardt
Fiction
Newest in a series of legal thrillers featuring Oklahoma attorney Ben Kincaid.
If you're looking for an author who combines courtroom drama, investigative
action and a cast of likeable characters, William Bernhardt might be just the
author for you.
Reviewed by desdimona
Salt:
a World History Mark Kurlansky
Non-Fiction
Legions died for it, empires rose and fell because of it: salt, the only rock
we eat. This is a fascinating history of a now commonplace pantry item, once
as valued as gold. The Syracuse saltworks are covered, and there is also as
a passing mention of Buffalo's salt lick.
Reviewed by PM
Books
and Islands in Ojibwe Country Louise Erdrich
Non-Fiction
The books and islands of the title refer to rock paintings and land masses
of Minnesota's Lake of the Woods and surrounding areas, where Erdrich travels
with her daughter. Reminiscent of the nature works of Annie Dillard and Maxine
Kumin, novelist Erdrich reflects upon the Ojibwe people, storytelling, and
the Ernest Oberholtzer estate in Rainy Lake, home to thousands of the late
explorer's books and papers. Another gem from this award-winning, German-Ojibwe
writer.
Reviewed by Boo Radley
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