Voyager / by Srikanth Reddy

In one of the more creative concepts for a book ever (even poetry), author Srikanth Reddy explores the realms of material consciousness even as the object of his examination probes the physical boundaries of creation itself. In Voyager, the very concepts of life and matter are embodied, reawakened in a spiritual and figurative catharsis involving past transgressions, present distortions and a clever amalgamation of time and 'space'. The original source of his content, a print message and memoir authored by former U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, is currently (at this moment) traveling on an interplanetary journey out of Earth's solar system aboard the Voyager I satellite. The spacecraft, launched back in 1977, is now the furthest man-made object from Earth. The irony of the situation is that, post-1977, Waldheim was indicted and partially proven guilty of Nazi war crimes--as an SS Intelligence Officer, evidence showed he at least knew about certain intricate aspects of the Final Solution--and was party to further anti-Semitic political maneuverings during his tenure as the Austrian president. Reddy literally dissects, inter-cuts, rearranges and subliminally alters Waldheim's own words to reflect the paradoxical truth of an object intended to confront phenomenon beyond our terrestrial means, but which conceals crucial truths, explicit and otherwise, about our own world underneath its veneer.

Without knowing the context, it might be hard not to judge Reddy's carefully crafted, abstract exposition as too dense. The quirky alliteration ("Is is./The self is a suffering form./War is a failure of form") intro's the three part book in sparse, minimalistic fashion before the middle section segues into more direct territory ("This is the universal journey/the gravest proclaimed/in a universal language."). At times the narration overtly renders the author himself as the speaker, an individual with only a conceptual knowledge of his subject ("In my office a globe was set up/less a world than a history of imperialism and corruption"). Other portions speak in another voice, projections of a seemingly nebulous entity, which grasp out at the very substance of consciousness ("creation and fall,/I found fences/all laid down in blood.") Reddy, a literature professor at the University of Chicago, certainly has a gift for nuance and his range in wordplay is unquestionably superior. This is only his second published work of poetry. (811.6 REDDY)

The Lafitte Project

Local news affiliate The Bay Area Observer has been chronicling updates on The Lafitte Project, a documentary undertaking on the life and legend of (in)famous privateer Jean Lafitte, the "Gentleman Pirate". An independent effort spearheaded by Charles and Cody Hix of Baytown, the film is still in production though updates and previews are regularly released on he website. It's an intriguing piece both for its tenacious undertaking of the privateer's actual travels and adventures as well as its investigation into Lafitte's indeterminate roots--much of he and brother Pierre's actual family history remains a mystery. It's worth noting that the integral role one of Texas City's pioneering founders, Capt. James Campbell, played during Lafitte's stay in Galveston, a factoid the documentary hasn't failed to elaborate on.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

This book was first published in 1931, yet it still retains the qualities for readers today that made it a worldwide best seller for so many years. Pearl Buck was born in the United States but raised in China by missionary parents, so she identified with the Chinese and spoke the language fluently.

The story concerns Wang Lung the farmer, and traces his life from early marriage on, encompassing his rise to prosperity through hard work and trusting in the land, the source of his livelihood. He lives through famine and times of social upheaval. We are with him throughout his struggles, sympathizing with his willingness to endure as long as he has his connection with the earth, with the rhythm of its seasons and harvests. Events encountered later have more to do with his family and their relationships. Buck’s portrayal of these situations is both skillful and sparing, letting the reader imagine what is left unsaid from his or her own life experience.

Pearl Buck won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1938, and this award caused some controversy. Some critics of the award citied the author's tendency to give too much prominence to her message, which often resulted in a more superficial treatment of her characters. She wrote profusely, producing two or three books a year. Many of these are not memorable, but some of them are, and The Good Earth is one of her best efforts.

Shichinin No Samurai (Seven Samurai) DVD (1954) / a film by Akira Kurosawa; starring Takashi Shimura & Toshiro Mifune

In sixteenth-century feudal Japan, a small village is at the mercy of marauding bandits who roam the countryside on horseback, the armed thieves basically pillaging at will against the defenseless peasants. After learning in advance of a planned raid set to take place during the peak of harvest season, the villagers decide protection is needed. The men they need are samurai warriors, specially skilled swordsmen known as Ronin distinguished for their prowess in hand-to-hand combat and bravery in battle. There's the problem of expense of course; the samurai are essentially mercenary soldiers normally well-paid for their services. But the villagers, feeling that no alternatives are left to them, travel to the local town to try and persuade some of the warriors to fight for their cause.
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Initially, all the men deemed worthy promptly scoff at the villager's request and meager compensatory offer. But one warrior, Kambei, takes pity on the humble peasants, all of which will no doubt perish without the provisional aid, and soon enlists six other Ronin toward the cause. Working fast to build up the battlements of the farming compound and prepare the peasants for combat, the seven samurai foster a mutual kinship with their civilian counterparts, further fortifying the village for the trouble ahead. But as the impending raid approaches, fear and anxiety creep in as loyalties are crossed and the tenuous ties between warriors and farmers are strained to the breaking point.
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In the 1950's, nothing in America or elsewhere had prepared the world for a film quite like Seven Samurai, likely the Japanese equivalent of Gone With The Wind, Casablanca or Citizen Kane (and some will argue of its superiority to these). Not only was it Kurosawa's most well-known film--as well as his most ambitious and most expensive up to that point--but it would become the most well-regarded and esteemed Japanese (and arguably Asian) film ever made. Regardless, the movie will forever be known as a milestone in motion picture history, a beautific film of powerful meaning, cinematic richness, and lasting significance (Steve McQueen in The Magnificent Seven was the successful American remake). One thing is incontestably certain, world cinema has never been the same since its breathtaking debut. (DVD SEVEN)

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History / by Penny Le Coeur & Jay Burreson

In 1812, Napoleon and his Grande Armée boldly, albeit naievely embarked on the most illustrious, most daunting and most elongated military expedition the European continent had ever seen. The campaign proved a disastrous failure as the stark, bitter elements of the Russian winter decimated much of the emperor's army. But what if something else, something smaller indirectly contributed to the deaths of so many soldiers and, subsequently, the demise of the French Empire? Say, like the buttons on the greatcoats worn by all members of the army, buttons made of tin, which is now known to be comprised of properties which disintegrate in extremely low temperatures. It's no mystery that the French soldiers were noticeably worse off than their conquered counterparts, many of them serfs or peasants who'd never worn any kind of buttoned apparel yet were more adapted to the elements dressed more layered, better fastened garments of wool and sheepskin.

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Authors Le Couteur and Burreson, both chemists, not only believe in the seemingly somewhat far-flung correlation, but back up their hypothesis with hard scientific evidence, highlighting certain key groups of molecular compounds, particularly several very suspect alkaloids, which did the most damage. But 1812 wasn't the only time or place where molecules may have largely determined some pretty fascinating events. The book takes a very up-close look at some instances like the unlikely synthesis of heroin from Bayer Aspirin, or the inception of rubber used for tires from a combination of sulfur atoms and nitric acid, as well as numerous other interesting historical anecdotes. With short manageable sections, it involves chemistry at a practical level. So for people who may shrivel at the thought of having to learn any hard facts, it's not quite as foreboding. Uniquely, it shows, both visually and narratively, how a change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance--which, in turn, can influence and even change dramatically the course of history. (540.9 LECOUTEU)

New Books on the NFL

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More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL / by Brian Billick; with Michael McCambridge

Former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick explains the NFL from the top down, first detailing the increasingly complex infrastructure of each team's corporate makeup, the heavily weighted financial stipulations and the impending collective-bargaining crisis which threatens the game as we know it. He also explains player acquisition and salary cap designation in very easy-to-understand terms, detailing the inner-workings of the annual April draft, how each prospect is analyzed and evaluated and, additionally, how the free agency market has essentially made for a far more unpredictable scenario than other sports.

The Billion Dollar Game: The Improbable Collision of Culture, Commerce and Competition on Super Bowl Sunday / by Allen St. John

No one thought at the time of the Super Bowl's inagural game in 1967 that the January championship would become the equivalent of a national holiday--a billion dollar holiday at that. The "game" is now a two-week festival centered in the host city yet ongoing in locales the world over, rivaling the Olympics and World Cup in attention and global popularity. The 14-day build up attracts waves of media conglomerates, party groupies, corporate sponsors, industry bigwhigs and popular entertainers indicating that the actual Sunday event, as St. John so aptly states, has become largely overshadowed by this marketplace atmosphere which crudely detracts from the credibility of the game itself.

In Defense of Food: an eater’s manifesto by Michael Pollan

From the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: an eater’s manifesto looks at the history of Nutritionism and reductive science and their effects on the Western Diet. The first two sections of the book examine how the Western diet developed into a diet based largely on processed foods. Pollan explains the science and the politics behind this journey and the potential devastating effects it can have on our physical health.

The third and final section of the book suggests how we may modify our diet in order to lead a healthier life. Pollan is an advocate for a whole foods diet that limits the amount of processed foods and meat in the diet. He also recommends that people in the Western world, specifically North Americans, need to change their relationship to food. Eating shouldn’t be about eating as much as possible for the lowest cost in the shortest amount of time. Instead, eating should be an experience of preparation, reflection, and socializing like the diets of the French, Japanese, and those living in Mediterranean communities.

Don’t let the “manifesto” in the title deter you from reading or listening to this book. Pollan uses a factual approach to explain his case for adjusting the Western diet. The book does not preach at the reader, but rather suggests adjustments that need to be made to the modern diet in order to sustain a more healthy lifestyle.

In Defense of Food is available at the library in large and regular print, as well as in audio format. The Omnivore’s Dilemma is also available in regular print. These books are shelved in the general non-fiction area of the library. People interested in food and its context in social history may also want to read Paradox of Plenty: a social history of eating in modern America by Harvey Levenstein, Fast Food Nation: the dark side of the all-American meal by Eric Schlosser, and An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage.

Maxed Out on the Half-Pipe: Skateboarding Books

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Scarred for Life: Eleven Stories About Skateboarders / by Keith David Hamm
This book hits the streets with the skaters--both famous and obscure--who've carved their paths on the asphalt, covering over four decades of the thrasher lifestyle from its West Coast origins to its embodiment as a youth movement and on to its glorified X-games status. Complete with pics and personal quotes of real-life street legends like Steve Alba, Tony Caballeros and Jen O'Brien, Scarred for Life gives a authentic history of skateboarding, its cultural impact and the icons who made it what it is today.

Skater Girl: A Girls Guide to Skateboarding / by Patty Segovia & Rebecca Heller
A very all-inclusive guide to skating as it applies to the fairer sex, this book lets you in on everything about female participation in what's predominately considered a male-friendly activity. With advice on choosing the right board to safety gear as well as what shoes to buy, where to skate and pile-driving on the half-pipe, this book tells girls all they need to know about skateboarding and skate culture, striking down any pre-conceived notions on what can and can't be done.

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Stalefish: Skateboard Culture From the Rejects Who Made It / by Sean Mortimer; w/ a foreword by Tony Hawk

Before YouTube, the only way to gauge who could really shred on a board was to attend contests where legends like Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi and Stacy Peralta routinely displayed their skills. As these contests increased in attendance, the events became more celebrated, the tricks more daring and the sport more popular. It was a time when skateboarding bonded with aspects of music and youth culture to become the phenomenon it is today. Through a variety of sources and feedback Stalefish describes the transformation of skateboarding, its emergence from the back alleys and playgrounds, its social trendsetting, tie-ins to popular culture, and legacy as not just a sport but a 'lifestyle'.

Skateboarding: Ramp Tricks / by Evan Goodfellow

A veteran skateboarder and ramp enthusiast, Goodfellow offers a few well-explained tips for beginners, all of which are illustrated with in-action photographs. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that ramp boarding (and pretty much all of skateboarding in general) is potentially dangerous, Goodfellow outlines several helpful hints and guidelines which can limit those inevitable cuts and scrapes. He also offers a few construction techniques which might help any amateur carpenters and novice craftsmen in fabricating their own backyard ramp or half-pipe.

Local True Crime Stories

Death Without Dignity: The Story of the First Nursing Home Corporation Indicted for Murder /
by Steven Long
This is a detailed account of the infamous 'nursing home' scandal involving six executives implicated in the murder of an 87-year-old woman and wrongful deaths of numerous other elderly patients. All of the horrific accounts of abuse and injustice within a corporate chain of Texas nursing homes are described as documented from the original Galveston DA’s investigation.


Sacrifice: The Tragic Cult Murder of Mark Kilroy in Matamoros: A Father’s Determination to Turn Evil into Good / by Jim Kilroy
The Kilroys of Santa Fe, TX enjoyed a fruitful life with their two sons Mark and Keith until Mark’s sudden disappearance shattered their livelihood. Mark was a third year pre-med student in 1989 when he disappeared during a Spring Break trip to South Texas. Nearly a month of searching availed nothing until officials crossed the border into Mexico and unearthed Mark’s dismembered remains. It was later discovered that Mark had been abducted by a drug cult and made the victim of a blood sacrifice ritual along with over 15 other people.


Out of Control: the Clara Harris Murder Case / by Steven Long
In 2002, Clara Harris became so distraught amidst her husband David’s extramarital affair that she ran him over with her car (twice) in the parking lot of a Houston-area Hotel. The case became a focal point for numerous 24/7 news shows. Harris was convicted and sentenced to 20 years pending appeal. An embarassingly deplorable made-for-TV movie aired soon after the trial.



“Are You There Alone?”: The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates / by Suzanne O’Malley
In 2001, the nation was shocked to hear of a Texas woman who drowned her five children in her home’s bathtub and then called the police to confess her crime. Andrea Yates was the wife of a NASA engineer and seemingly happy mother of five boys when the horrendous event occurred in 2001, prompting endless debates over her mental stability during the trial. She was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison.


Without a Trace: [Inside the Robert Durst Case] / by Marion Collins
Robert Durst was the son of a wealthy New York real estate mogul who, together with his brother, continued in the family business amassing a personal wealth into the billions. When Durst was seven, he reportedly witnessed his mother’s suicide; an event doctors later attributed to his bizarre and even schizophrenic behavior. It was his wife Kathleen who first disappeared in 1982 followed by the murder of his longtime friend Susan Berman in 2000 which first led authorities to suspect Durst of criminal behavior. Although questioned, he was acquitted in both cases only to be arrested for the murder of his Galveston neighbor Morris Black in 2001. Despite missing his court date and becoming a fugitive; he was let off again and given probation with a verdict of self-defense.


Mother Love, Deadly Love: The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot / by Anne Maler
Another bizarre criminal case involving a Houston woman which spawned two TV movies, the Texas cheerleader murder plot made headlines across the country and brought the port town of Channelview into the spotlight. Wanda Holloway, the mother of a Texas high school student, wanted so much for her daughter to be head cheerleader that she hired an assassin to 'eliminate' the competition. The formulated plot almost succeeded until police caught and convicted Wanda for attempted murder, sentencing her to 10 years in prison (9.5 of which was served on probation).

The First World War / by John Keegan

Americans seem to view World Wars with more patriotic flare than their overseas counterparts. Fighting on mainly foreign soil and backed by a loyal homefront; reprisal or condemnation of either WWI or WWII is less fervent. Indeed it's hard to imagine any war other than WWII being termed "The Great War". But the First World War (1914-1918) was all that and more. Pitting conventional warfare against brutal artillery, empire versus empire, and absorbing enough resources to impoverish a continent; World War I was at the same time the most lethal and most politically-altering war ever.
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Royal Military Academy lecturer and scholar John Keegan accomplishes the impossible in this equally comprehensive and concise book chronicling each phase, each front, each nation, and every major player of World War I. Discussing in detail the root catalysts and initial conflicts which ultimately led to bloodshed, carnage, and revolution; Keegan provides a fresh and unbiased view on the "War to end all Wars". This is a great and relatively easy read for anyone interested in history or war. The audio version is read by narrator Simon Prebble.