Review of "Stitches: A Handbook On Meaning, Hope and Repair," by Anne Lamott

 Review of

Stitches: A Handbook On Meaning, Hope and Repair, by Anne Lamott ISBN 9781594632587

Four out of five stars

Making the best of time passages

 While time goes slow when you are young, it seems to fly when you are a busy adult. To nearly everyone, it seems that decades pass before you realize it. This book is about taking a few pauses in your life in order to properly process what has taken place.

 One specific item mentioned several times is a top worn by a dear friend of the author. It was an attractive top that the author began wearing when the friend grew seriously ill, and she kept it after the friend died. Since she wore it frequently, it began to wear out and rather than throw it away, she stitched it up. Hence, the name of the book. There is also mention of the curtains that the author’s dog managed to rip up with its claws.

 This is a fast, yet purposeful book. It is about dealing with loss, how we manage or fail to cope with the consequences of the expression of mortality in the people around us. It would be incorrect to call it uplifting, the best word is that it is a sturdy prop as you continue to live through what are the normal crises of life.

Review of "A Season of Comebacks," by Kathy Mackel

 Review of

A Season of Comebacks, by Kathy Mackel ISBN 0698116372

Four out of five stars

Sibling rivalry when one is the best

 Allie Burrows is the best softball pitcher in the state and her team is expected to win the state championship in their division. Allie is twelve and her sister Molly is ten and a good player in her own right. They play on teams in different divisions, so at the start there is no direct on-field rivalry. Yet, from Molly’s perspective, Allie gets all the attention, from paternal to the news media.

 Their father is the coach of Allie’s team and is demanding of Allie and her teammates. While the other members of Allie’s team are themselves high quality players, the focus is always on Allie. Molly is of course jealous, but she has her best friend Christopher, who keeps  Molly as level as possible.

 Things decline when Allie gets braces and is very self-conscious of that fact. The situation continues to get worse when players are injured, and Allie’s team cannot find a catcher capable of handling Allie’s deliveries. The solution presents itself and while Allie’s team does not make it to the championship, all involved discover bonds and aspects of themselves that they were unaware of.

 This is not an instance of the standard “win the big game at the end” sports story. While it is about youth sports, it is more about keeping familial relationships intact. Although there is a clear message that “wait until next year” is not simply an idle boast. It is a good story about not letting sports dictate your entire life, especially when your age is barely into the double digits.

Review of "A Short Guide to a Happy Life," by Anna Quindlen

 Review of

A Short Guide to a Happy Life, by Anna Quindlen ISBN 9780375504617

Four out of five stars

Simple advice that never ages

 Quindlen divides her life into two parts, before and after, where the dividing line is the death of her mother when Quindlen was 19. She states that before that fateful time, she saw the world in black and white, and after it appeared in Technicolor. She states that knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest fact in our existence. For it means that we are all on a one-way street to the end.

 Using this as a fundamental premise, Quindlen puts forward what is standard advice, expressed in the simple adage, “get a life.” By this she means that a hard driving focus is often good, but taken too far, can be detrimental in the long run. A recapitulation of the old adage of stopping to smell the roses.

 Quindlen is not radical in her position, her milder version can be expressed as, “at least notice the roses as you pass through life.” She also discusses how life and the joys found in life should not be taken for granted.

 While there is nothing new in this short book, the advice contained within it is timeless and all humans should re-experience it on a regular basis.

Review of "Poke the Box," by Seth Godin

 Review of

Poke the Box, by Seth Godin ISBN 9781591848257

Four out of five stars

The essential first step in innovation

 This short book is essentially an expansion of what could be a motivational speech. It has a rah-rah tone and consists of the repeated message, “You can’t accomplish if you don’t try.” With the try focused on new things. The days of the static business where you can do the same thing for decades and make slow and steady increases in your level of business and profits are largely gone.

 Reading the book does give you a motivational buzz to put forward new ideas for products and tactics and the buzz does last for some time after you read the last page. It is a good book, one that should be placed on the table in the break room for employees to scan while taking a break from their routine.

Review of "Worlds of Fear: Stories of Weird Adventure, Volume 1"

 Review of

Worlds of Fear: Stories of Weird Adventure, Volume 1, ISBN 9781786360588

Five out of five stars

Comics before the Wertham slam

 In 1954, there was a sea change in the publication of comics. Dr. Frederic Wertham, now dismissed as a crank that falsified data, published his book “Seduction of the Innocent,” in 1954. In his book he reached the conclusion that comic books promoted delinquency and a lack of respect for authority in children. In response to the genuine fear that they would be censored by the government, the publishers enacted what was called the comics code authority.

 There were 41 provisions to the code and the words “terror” and “fear” were banned from the titles. Nudity and any references to sex or drugs were also forbidden. Violence was toned down to the point where it was minimal and the previous depictions of gore, where humans were severely damaged or killed, disappeared.

 This book contains the “Worlds of Fear” issues from November 1951 through June 1953. By modern standards, the artwork is weak and the dialog rather stilted, yet the horror stories remain horror stories. Not really different from the B movie horror stories that were so popular at the time.

 This book is a historical look back and when one considers what is fairly standard fare in modern entertainment, even that which is available to children, it comes across as rather tame.

Review of "Cartoon Cavalcade," edited by Thomas Craven

 Review of

Cartoon Cavalcade, edited by Thomas Craven

Five out of five stars

Newspaper humor from the first half of the 20^th century

 Published in 1945, this book is a collection of cartoons that appeared in mass media publication such as newspapers and magazines. While some of the cartoons feature people in the public eye at the time and so are somewhat dated, most of them are about human situations and so are relatively timeless. They do reflect the social customs of the times, although there were many changes during the first half of the twentieth century.

 Several of the cartoons reflect the social stratification of the times, specifically during the Depression years. The cartoons are American, so there is little material dealing with what was happening in other countries. Almost nothing about the aftermath of World War I in Europe and how the entire continent struggled to cope with so much loss of blood and treasure.

  If you are a fan of cartoons that deal with social, political and economic issues, then these cartoons are timeless.

Review of "Bone: The Great Cow Race," by Jeff Smith

 Review of

Bone: The Great Cow Race, by Jeff Smith ISBN 9780007244775

Four out of five stars

Silly adventure set in a medieval context

Bone is one of three white creatures, the others are Phoney and Smiley, that are living with humans. The level of economic development is that of the late medieval time and the social setting is a village of modest size. The three white creatures are treated as if they are human, and Phoney is a big-time con artist.

 His first major scam is to enter a mystery cow in the great cow race. That cow is in fact Smiley in a ridiculous cow suit. His major competition is Gran’Ma Ben, a powerful woman that has won many times in the past. Hence, the title of the book.

 There are also appearances by dragons and giant rat-like creatures with long horns like a gazelle. The story is a bit silly as the three white creatures navigate their way through get-rich-quick schemes, a love interest and just working within a society where all others are humans. Many of the characteristics of the humans are exaggerated for comic effect. It is a book that is largely nonsensical, yet fun. One would need a great deal of imagination in order to find a significant social message in this book.