Customer Reviews (1)

On The Road To Unity
The book draws you into a world filled with life, views of adult to child, and a mixture of being alive. Each snippet of view reminds the reader of hope and purpose. This combination of stories is well worth time and dollars spent. ... Read more

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As a writer who has been quoted as saying she writes to save her life- that is she couldn't write, she would be a revolutionary- Antiguan novelist Jamaica Kincaid translates this passion into searing, exhilarating prose. Her weaving of history, autobiography, fiction, and polemic has won her a large readership. In this first book-length study of her work, Moira Ferguson examines all of Kincaid's writing up to 1992, focusing especially o their entwinement of personal and political identity. In doing so, she draws a parallel between the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship in Kincaid's fiction and the more political relationship of the colonizer and the colonized. Ferguson calls this effect the "doubled mother"- a conception of motherhood as both colonial and biological.

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"I understand that in my own life, I represented a whole period of American history."

As Laura Ingalls Wilder realized they would, her widely loved stories of her prairie childhood have become much more than a nostalgic blend of myth, memories, and autobiography. Historically, John Miller reveals, they have much to tell us about the realities of day-to-day living and attitudes in the nineteenth century.

History and literature are closely intertwined, Miller contends, and in this book he illustrates how Wilder's novels enhance our understanding of history and how, simultaneously, a historical perspective framed Wilder's fiction. Wilder, he shows, interwove content and form to produce a sentimental and compelling, yet nuanced and believable, picture of family life on the agricultural frontier.

Focusing on Wilder's novels set in and around De Smet, South Dakota, which include By the Shores of Silver Lake and Little Town on the Prairie, Miller compares her fictional world to history recorded in census figures, newspaper accounts, county records, maps, and photographs. He illustrates that, although Wilder sacrificed some historical details for simplicity and drama, she preserved a general accuracy of people, places, events, and customs and depicted many facets of late nineteenth-century life, from food and entertainment to work ethics and education.

Miller also addresses the controversy over the authorship of the eight novels attributed to Wilder--was she the true author or were they ghostwritten by her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane? He contends that while Lane's editorial contribution was of great value, the voice in the book belongs to Wilder. The books are filled with her interpretations of the truth as influenced by the time period in which she grew up and the culture--the institutions, gossip, informal community pressure, media, stories, songs, roles, and stereotypes--that surrounded her.

Providing a glimpse of prairie life through the eyes of a young girl, Wilder's novels are as historically valid as their nonfiction cousins, Miller argues. Hers is a lived history--a sometimes romantic, sometimes observational account of the joys and frustrations of life on the prairie and a reflection of the westward movement in its prime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dr. Miller's Little Town
I expected this book to be of the same quality as Miller's biography of Laura "Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder," which is a first rate work. Unfortunately, this book is substantially inferior in every way.

Thisbook purports to be a history of De Smet as it was when Laura grew up, butis instead a hodge podge of essays ranging from Charles Pierce's theoriesto the paintings of Harvey Dunn. So instead of learning about De Smet, wehave the privilege of learning how educated and erudite the author is.Instead of learning about the town and its characters, we are regaled withthe author's theories of how the plow broke the plains.

Occasionallythere are nuggets of new information about De Smet, and about some of thecharacters who appear in Laura's book or were known to her when she livedthere. But these nuggets tend to be heavily wrapped in Miller's academicjargon and theories. Evidently, there is not much to be said about anysmall town, even De Smet, so you have to talk about others things that youconveniently already happen to know: "Place and Community (and De Smet),""Freedom and Control (and De Smet)," "Fact and Interpretation (and DeSmet)," and so on and on.

"Dreary" and "boring" are adjectives Milleruses more than once to describe life on the prairie: those same adjectivesapply in spades to this book. It is very difficult to get through, so buyit and read it only if you're into self flagellation.

Very historical and scholarly
This book looks at various historical aspects of the world Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about, and focuses especially on one of her books, Little Town on the Prairie, and on the town of De Smet, SD.I found it veryinteresting finding out more about the town that was the focus of Wilder'slater books.This book is done as a series of essays, and at times repeatsinformation from one essay to the next.However, it is well written andobviously very well researched, and adult fans of Wilder who want to findout more about her and more especially the larger world and time she livedin will enjoy this book.

This book talks about the history surrounding LIW's life
I think this book is very interesting and very informative. I am a huge LIW fan and I think that anyfan of her books would definately enjoy this biography on her life.

I also believe that anyone who doesn't believethat she really exsited should also read this book as well. ... Read more

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In "Sensual Spirit" Chrystine Julian demonstrates why she has been proclaimedan amazing modern day poet seer.This collection emerges from her shamanic and mystic experiences of blurring the line between body and soul. She sews images of passion,love, longing and social consciousness into a complex quilt of words. As literature, "Sensual Spirit" is well crafted modern verse that is delightful to read aloud. As mysticism it follows the tradition of ancient wisdom keepers, using the carnal to explore the spiritual and the ethereal to understand the down to earth world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Experience love through Chrystine's poetry
Sensual Spirit...poetry and thoughts from the place where body and soul meet

Each poem is a narrative of the human spirit. Each poem has the impact of a play. Each poem is full of rich characters and plots.Chrystine Julian has the capacity of understanding the hidden truths of sexual passion and ambivalent feelings. Enjoy the whimsical and fanciful writings of Chrystine Julian. I have taken the journey many times over and have never been disappointed with my guide. ... Read more

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This rich collection of short fiction depicts the variety of life experiences in Colorado since World War II. The individual writers, chosen for the high quality of their stories, represent a wide range of viewpoints. Each writer, in turn, has written an autobiographical afterword especially for this volume. In keeping with Colorado's diverse landscape, the stories' settings also vary widely; they include southern Colorado, Front Range cities, the Eastern Plains, and the Western Slope. Many of the works selected for this collection first appeared in prestigious literary magazines. All of the stories address a unique feature of Colorado, be it a sense of place, the legacy of the frontier West, or a state of mind. Whether harsh or happy, each selection in Where Past Meets Present will entertain, inform, and undoubtedly enrich one's vision of the American West. ... Read more

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A look back at bohemian life in the 1950s discusses bohemian meccas all over the world--from Paris, to San Francisco, to Tel Aviv--describes such personalities as Burroughs and Ginsberg, and recounts anecdotes of the period. 20,000 first printing. Author tour. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Bohemia: all over the world!
I'll admit, I was a little lost at first because Gold had the tendency to provide long lists of names of writers, musicians, artists, actors, etc. that all contributed to the Bohemian culture; sometimes I didn't know whether they were famous or not. Fortunately, with my computer by my side, this book became a huge learning tool. "Bohemia" doesn't go into extensive detail about one particular place, rather, Gold writes about many places, such as: Paris, North Beach, La Jolla, Greenwich Village/Chelsea, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Cincinnati, Miami.. even Israel, to show that Bohemia is not an ethnicity or class, rather a personal aura or lifestyle that can be carried anywhere in the world. Gold wrote "Bohemia" like a journal providing many of his personal opinions of these people or places in a descriptive language. Much of the text is focused toward California and New York starting from the 1950s; he revisits some of the places in the 90's where he describes how things have changed: people actually had a traditional career change, or died, a new generation of devotees took over the town or a jem of a cafe or bookstore closed down. Overall, Gold has a nice balance in storytelling, dialogue, narrative and facts about Bohemia. If you're really curious, I think it could be used as a guide for future travel or exploration in literature revolving around the Bohemian theme.

An enthralling ride thru cosmic bohemia
Herbert Gold has provided us with a history of Bohemia.He deals with Greenwich Village, San Francisco, Berkeley and any other place where the Bohemia mentality reigns supreme.This is a grand exploration of greatartists, poets, thinkers, anarchists and dreamers.He presents theargument that Bohemia is ultimately a state of mind.You may be in Parisor Chapel Hill or Prague but you can descend into your own private Bohemia. There is discussion of the Beats and hippies, of course, but also of Parisin the twenties.He discusses Israeli bohemain Haim Hefer and Frenchchanteur Serge Gainsbourg.( I obtained a longtime fondness for Gainsbourgmusic from curiosity after reading this book.There are many unheraldedmadmen and women that get their fifteen minutes of fame in this book.Itis a thrilling ride through a state of mind that ought to be more prevalentthan it is.I felt excited to be alive after reading this book.Theexaltation with life intensifies everytime I browse through this book.Itgoes well with ginseng tea, espresso, whiskey or beer.It is a greatcompanion on bus rides and train ventures and it reads well on the beach. Herbert Gold finally gives due credit to the fine art of lazing around anddreaming away. ... Read more