From Death to Morning by Thomas Wolfe

From Death to Morning
by Thomas Wolfe

Finished: 09/08/10

This is a collection of Thomas Wolfe’s essay about editing a novel and a few of his lesser known short stories. In the stories (I was advised by the giver of the book to not even try, but I did anyway and now agree with my friend), one shouldn’t waste the time on those tales and focus on the fruit, which is the essay called From Death to Morning. The mysticism of being a writer is immediately torn to shreds by Wolfe, replaced by the actual work of writing. From writing comes editing and eventually working with an editor from a publishing house to perfect the themes in the novel to a point where a reader can follow along without too many mishaps. In Wolfe’s case, his novel was gigantic and would have filled several volumes. That had to be reduced, to be rewritten down until one could hold it in a single book. From Death to Morning is also a celebration of Wolfe’s relationship with his cherished editor, who dedicated his life as well to the completion of the work. It is an essay ripping away the silly ideas both writers and readers have about being such an artist and treats us all to some common truths about the publishing industry.

3 stars out of 5
Review Written: 09/26/10, 7:22 PM

The Beats: A Graphic History, Edited by Paul Buhle

The Beats
A Graphic History
Edited by Paul Buhle

Finished: 08/27/10

An incredible introduction to the movers and shapers in the Beat generation done as a graphic novel – served with a side of fries and a lot of insight. Unlike many Beat studies, the influence of women is not shoved to the shadows where they are relegated to second class status of being only girlfriends, lovers, wives, or daughters. Their importance is shared in intelligent writing as well as precise drawings. This is a collection of comic book writers, as in the late Harvey Pekar, and of artists, with a single focus and many creative ways to get there. It is a work of art in itself. Quite inspiring, it will feed an inquiring mind away from the undermining slants of the term Beatnik, to the genuine of Beat with its Jazz influx, its experimentation, and its excitement about being alive. One is also introduced to a venue where mythology is broken down for the underlining element of these writers, artists, or simply Beats, being human, thus flawed, thus far from any legend.

3 ½ stars out of 5
Review written: 09/26/10, 6:47 PM

The Dogs of Riga (a Kurt Wallander Mystery) by Henning Mankell

The Dogs of Riga
(a Kurt Wallander Mystery)
by Henning Mankell

Finished: 7/31/10, PRC

This second book in the Kurt Wallander series is far from the achievement of the first, Faceless Killers. It’s awkward and perhaps hastily written. One gets the feeling, as the Eastern Bloc collapsed with the inability of the Soviet Union to maintain its supremacy, Mankell wanted to write a spy novel. Although similar in style, he should have left Wallander out of this tale, creating a new figure for the story. In fact, it makes me not want to continue to read the Wallander series and be satisfied with the BBC/PBS Mystery series instead. I hope I’m wrong because what Mankell did to flesh out the Wallander character was to get someone who avoids mystery books to enjoy one.

2 ½ stars out of 5
Written: 09/26/10, 5:50 PM

clown girl by Monica Drake

clown girl
by Monica Drake

Finished: 08/18/10

A delightful story I dreaded finishing. That doesn’t happen very often, but it did with Monica Drake’s beloved Clown Girl. Yes, there really is a Clown Girl in it, who has all kinds of misadventures in the bad side of town, also called Baloneytown. The reader is immediately hurdled into a world where balloon tying can be high art and can become the Sistine Chapel before one’s eyes. I admit, I cheered for Clown Girl and was also dumbfounded by her naïve choices, which got her in so much trouble. I would read a sequel if ever one could be hatched. And because of the style in which Monica Drake wrote this tale, the high-spirited, overly creative while also standing square on the ground so as not to lose the reader, I would instantly take up her next book with excitement. She is a weaving sort of writer, a very convincing soothsayer, and an original voice, so appreciated in a world preoccupied by texting and blackberries.

4 stars out of 5
Review written: 09/26/10, 6:18 PM