Caribou Island by David Vann

This is a gorgeous book.  The cover shot shows a lake, water lapping the pebble-covered shore, and the title in an intriguing font.  Seriously, a beautiful book.

One that I couldn't even begin to get through.  I tried to read it to my age in pages...barely made that.  Jumped around a bit trying to find a thread to pull me into it, but it was impossible.  I'm sure it probably has some literary significance, but it was too depressing and bleak.  Unlikable characters behaving badly.  All human interaction seemed filled with hostility, and a feeling of dread just weighed it down too much.  (Somehow it made me think of Franzen's The Corrections, another book I couldn't finish).

I can't accurately say it was a terrible book because I couldn't read enough to be fair.  But, you know, life is rough enough.  And not to sound all Pollyanna about it, but I really didn't need to dive into the lives of these awful people.  Sure, I've read my share of Cormac McCarthy, which are plenty bleak, but there's something about those that feel like they relate to a bigger picture or message.  I didn't get that feeling from what I've read here.

But seriously, gorgeous cover! 

Special thanks to Harper for the Review Copy.

Signs & Wonders, Poems by Charles Martin

As you begin this new book of poetry by Charles Martin, you’re given the direction to look at the words “signs” and “wonders” in a particular light: signs being used as a noun, while “wonders” is to be used as a verb. A small detail, but one that makes a significant impact on the reading. The implication is that Martin is offering, not complete and finished expressions, but little riffs on which to ponder and reflect upon.

My first impression was how varied the poems are-some are short, almost just an observation rather than a poem. Others have a limerick quality, while a few extend to pages of rhymed couplets. For some reason, I was predisposed to think of this as “serious” poetry, but in fact, I giggled uncontrollably at a few of them (“The Spaniard”, for one).

His topics also vary, and yet the whole remains cohesive. One example is “Brooklyn in the Seventies”, where at first it appears he’s waxing nostalgic about thriving real estate and restoring brownstones, and then it pivots to discuss the variations in marriage-the times of tearing down and renewal. The parallels are uncanny and truly lead you to wonder:

Yes, selves were in a frenzy of commotion,
And those beyond their expiration dates
Were being tossed despite years of devotion
So whether by one’s doing or by fate’s
One found oneself in an unlikely place…


My favorite is “Ovid to His Book”, in which the ancient poet imagines sending to one of his books Rome to somehow regain his entry to the city from which he’s exiled. In the poem he counsels the tangible book as to proper decorum and strategy:

Go on your way now, book, and speak for me
In places that I love, but cannot be,
Saluting those whom I have come to meet
On metrical, if on no other, feet…


When biting words offend you, just recall
The best defense is often none at all,
And if you’d really have my exile end,
Go find us both an influential friend…

“After 9/11” is likely to be the most moving of the poetry in the book, as Martin relays the emotions and actions of New Yorkers at the moment of the tragedy and in the aftermath, searching for loved ones. Yet he goes in a different direction, noting that at one time, Manhattan was the site of a battle of George Washington, and that buried bones are not uncommon. Rather, they form the foundation of the island historically and culturally, and create “a sublime alignment of the present with the past.”

Against the need to hold them all in thought,
Time is what places them beyond recall,
Against the need of the falling to be caught,


Against the woman who’s begun to fall,
Against the woman who is watching from below,
Time is the photo peeling from the wall.


In total, Martin covers a dramatic amount of subjects: George W. Bush, art, the “unreal” pain of a poet, endangered animals, and suicide. In doing so, he makes thematic comparisons that are never cliché or trite. Only one title, “Poem for the Millennium,” left me lost-I didn’t know what to make of the style and phrasing that was evoking the events of the year 2000.  I sense a meaning too deep for me to ascertain!  Perhaps if I pick it up again at a later date it'll make sense to me!

It must be added that the cover of this book is one of the loveliest I’ve seen…I hope the picture shown expresses just how beautiful the physical book is.

Special thanks to Kathy Alexander of Johns Hopkins University Press for the Review Copy.

Making Rounds with Oscar by Dr. David Dosa

See that face?  Adorable, right?  Fancy a snuggle with this sweet little kitty?  Think twice.  For this is no ordinary cat.  It's Oscar...the death cat.  Remember last fall on the news, about the cat that predicted the impending deaths of rest home patients?  This is he.

The phenomenon appears to be that in the last twelve hours of life, for a patient who is visibly weakening or else perfectly fine, Oscar appears and cuddles them in their bed.  He is not affectionate at any other times.  Infallibly, it seems, he's accurate, and the patient dies.

Dr. Dosa really didn't fall for the idea at first, and took some convincing.  In terms of evidence, they simply kept track and noted that for the most part, there is no preceding signs that would tell Oscar something was up.  No catnip-scented medical equipment or anything else that would lure him to the bedside. Some patients were unconscious, others were speaking and behaving normally. No one can explain how his intuition works, or if it's just a fluke.

Aside from the fascinating but creepy details, the book details the ins and outs of rest home life (um, not appealing in any way).  Apparently cats are a typical accoutrement of rest homes, as they provide comfort and a homey feeling that residents appreciate.  Obviously, my cats would not likely be hired because of their surly attitude. 

I expected the book to be rather light-weight, and hesitated before reading it.  I'd received piles of 'dogs of note' books over the last year that were cutesy and saccharine sweet.  It was odd to actually see a cat book by a doctor.  Once I began reading, I did find it an interesting subject to analyze.  Just how much do animals understand?  How keen are their senses?  We take for granted dogs can sniff out drugs, but cats?  What can they do?

I think my only complaint is that the portions of the narrative that contain dialogue sound forced and unnatural-people don't speak in full sentences, and the back and forth exchanges of conversation didn't feel real at all.  Other than this, and the depressing nature of rest homes in general, this was a satisfying read.

Special thanks to Hyperion for the Advanced Review Copy.

Making Writing Matter by Ann M. Feldman

Composition in the Engaged University

Ann M. Feldman is an esteemed professor of English at the University of Illinois in Chicago.  This book is focused on the role of teaching essay writing in the primary levels of university, with the goal of creating meaningful and motivated writing rather than simply acquiring grammatical and argumentative skills.

The first difference I saw in her methods from the university that I attend is that she resists the use of such textbooks as Signs of Life in the USA or The Conscious Reader, which are compilations of essays and excerpts of excellent writing.  In many schools, these serve as a jumping off point for students to write response essays to the subjects addressed.  Her opinion is that in forming a response, the learning writer is too passive and is limited by the subject matter in the textbook.

Her response is to instead involve students directly in the community, writing about topics that are controversial and actively being debated;  thus, their writing is less passive and has a purpose to convince and relate to active social issues.  Feeling that this will both inspire the writer as well as sharpen their reasoning and logic skills, she gives many anecdotal findings that demonstrate more commitment on the part of students to be involved in their writing.  Upon completion of various essays in this regard, she encourages her students to present their work publicly, pushing them out into 'the real world' and establishing a conversation with experts and bureaucrats about the subjects they write about.  Then, at this point, she feels that then the feedback the students get is more valuable than simply a response to a textbook essay.

She calls this "engaging with...context".  One example she gives is the "emphasis on lived experience injects more energy into the participatory side" and creates a "community of practice".    She then goes on to explain her ideal: 

"Communities of practice thrive on the tension between participation and reification.  Even though participation is sometimes given insufficient attention in the educational process, it is easy to understand.  It includes the experiential side of negotiating meaning-living in the world, participating, acting and interacting, defining one's identity through membership in communities; and recognizing the mutual engagement of participants in any given situation."

Thus, she encourages students to address social issues that involve their community, everything from race to the propagation of food carts and unlicensed vendors.  Her evidence relies on many success stories of students transformed from merely reacting to a reading to actively participating in a cause through their writing.

Personally, I loved the Signs of Life in the USA series of textbooks and the readings on popular culture and current topics.  I saw a great deal of discussion in classrooms with students challenging each other's opinions and reactions, and I can't help but think dismissing these textbooks is not the answer. 

Her insight on the writing process is fascinating, but at times I noticed that she seemed to want to remind the reader of her success and her position, lest we forget that she is an expert in her field.  This became wearying, almost as if she was too eager to justify her assertions over what is more commonly taught.  And at times, her explanations of her schedule and her curriculum felt like she was proving to the reader just how busy she was-a subject that was never in doubt in the first place.

All in all, this text is more appropriate for academics in a university setting who may wish to experiment with the styles of composition that best engage the student.  There is no lack of references or cited evidence, and she builds a good case for her beliefs.

Special thanks to State University of New York Press (SUNY) for the Review Copy.

Giveaway: West of Here by Jonathan Evison

                      Jonathan Evison, Algonquin, $24.95 (496p) ISBN 978-1-56512-952-8



A new contest is in order, and it's for a brand new hardcover copy of Algonquin's best-seller, West of Here.  Sorry to say, it's a US only giveaway, and it's limited to blog followers.  Anyone interested must leave a comment to this post, and a random generator will select a winner on May 1, 2011. 

Please leave a way to contact you in your comment, so I can notify you if you win.  Special thanks to Algonquin for the extra giveaway copy.  My review is forthcoming....

BTW, it has one of the most beautiful cover designs I've seen in years.

An Apple a Day by Caroline Taggart

This is the latest in the series of non-fiction books by Reader's Digest that explain everything from the origin of famous sayings, foreign phrases used in English, and brief explanations of classic historical figures and texts.

This one in particular focuses on old-fashioned proverbs; "timeless words to live by."

Ever wonder where "strike while the iron is hot" came from?  Or, "there's no smoke without fire?"  This explains the origin as well as the proper use of such phrases, because many get twisted in usage or misapplied.  The author did extensive research in the works of Malcolm Gladwell, Lao-Tzu, PJ O'Rourke, and other notable writers. 

It's sectioned via index and glossary, and the design of the book fits into the others in the series:  A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi and Easy as Pi, to name two that dealt with foreign phrases and math.  I believe there are at least six books in the series, and these would make an ideal collection for a student as well as someone simply curious about the etymology of words and axioms in both popular culture and classic literature.

Thanks to FSB Associates for the Review Copy.

Prose by Thomas Bernhard

Translated from the German by Martin Chalmers

It's really tough to be brilliant.  In fact, for the men in these seven short stories, their unimaginable intelligence seems to cause them more confusion than triumph.  While successful in their fields, they barely manage to exist in the real world.  This leads to all sorts of issues:  mostly amusing, often strange, but quite atypical to what one would expect from a genius.

With these stories, Bernhard exposes a part of human nature that goes beyond intelligence.  The confusion that comes from being set apart as different, the difficulties of doing something new when everyone else thinks you already know the drill, and what to do when things don't make sense.  It's subtle but it's apparent that these guys are almost defective because of their genius.  They seem unable to understand sarcasm or even affection.

Much of their time is spent dealing with insomnia (apparently sleep can seem impossible with all those big thoughts spinning around), pacing miles of streets each day, and second-guessing their every action as they try to fit into the world.

The stories are at times heartbreaking or alternatively, riotously funny.  One man finds a hat, a trivial piece of nothing, and makes it the course of every waking moment to find the owner, in a small town where everyone owns that same damn hat.  Yet to him, it must have value because it exists.  Another story finds two men, both deformed from birth and subject to the hatred of their families, who try to develop an existence that is normal;  yet when you meet their family, you truly begin to wonder who actually is deformed.  The emotionally deformed parent who abuses their helpless child, or the scorned child himself?

This is not a downer book-the stories are short and the play on words is unique.  The humor is dry, and the situations reveal the confusion that can happen in an ordinary interaction when one person prejudges the other.  Additionally, the book has achieved major buzz in literary circles already by the concise story lines and unexpected details.

Special thanks to Seagull Books of London for the Review Copy.

Back in Business, Sort of!

currently reading

I'm pleased to say that I'm back and ready to get back into gear with the website, the reviews, and the freelance work.  It's been just over six weeks since everything went crazy, when a mass was discovered in my liver.  As of last week, it was removed at USC Hospital in Los Angeles, and I'm on the road to recovery.  They still don't know what it was as pathology is out still (sort of a scary thing to wait on!), but with the mass (the size of a loaf of bread) gone I already feel much, much better.

I know it's corny to say that my attitude is better in the face of fear and suffering, but it really is.  I'm so grateful for my family and friends and so much in life seems completely irrelevant in view of what happened.  I have to thank my friends for the cards, flowers, and the delicious meals that have been arriving nightly (and everyone so generous as to make sure my parents are fed as well!).  The phone calls that were so encouraging even when at times all I could do on my end was cry.  They know who they are-I can never thank you enough!

All that time in the hospital (17 nights at two different times) should have led to some great reading opportunities, but I read virtually nothing but the LA Times towards the end.  It hurt too much to hold up a book.  Now with recovery I'll have some time to play catch up.  My apologies to the publicists who were hoping for certain reviews by release dates-I'll try to catch up eventually.  I did have to drop a few print magazine assignments (BUMMER!) but I hope to recoup those eventually.

So I have a few meaningless observations to share:

• USC doctors all look like hair models, yet they are exceedingly kind
• the view of LA at night is possibly the most gorgeous thing in the world
• moms are great to have around to calm you when you start to panic
• Jello is unfairly maligned-on some days it was the only little thrill to be had
• even the homeless in LA have Blackberry's
• every single nurse was unimaginably nice-I felt like a princess!
• Ambulance drivers don't take tips!  Who knew?

Right now I'm reading Caribou Island by David Vann, and after that I'll have things back in gear.  For the Eastern European Reading Challenge I have Travels in Siberia next.

Eastern European Reading Challenge mascot-Siberian baby!

Brrrr!

The EERC isn't as quiet as it appears, comments are still being left on the main page with reviews and suggested titles by participants!  When I get time I'll do some organizing on the page with updates.  Thanks to everyone for keeping up!  In the meantime, Jesse is practicing his Siberian baby look...

Best Translated Fiction Nominees Announced: here's one of them

Georg Letham, Physican and Murderer, Ernst Weiss


(this is a replay of the original review I posted last year when I read it, and I'm thrilled it may win the Open Letter award).

------------
The classic symptoms of a sociopath are a wanton disregard for right and wrong and an inability to care about the feelings of others or the tenets of law or societal norms. Most sociopaths can be defined fairly early in life by their behavior and attitude.

With this in mind, I began what I thought was a story about a sociopath. In Georg Letham, Physician and Murderer by Ernst Weiss, the main character Letham is a classically trained physician who specializes in research in the distasteful specialization of vivisection. In the initial chapters he confesses his role in the murder of his wife with no apparent remorse. In fact, he only did it because he needed her money and she refused to "voluntarily" die of her own volition. He complains about his wife and his father, both of whom held the key to his financial betterment:



"Neither of them could give me what I yearned for in the depths of my soul, but there was one medicine that they could have given me to ease my suffering: the original medicine, money."





Circumstances after the murder unravel and his perfect plan fails spectacularly. He ends up carted off as a 'common' criminal to a life sentence, a fate made more demeaning by the extremely high opinion he had of himself. As he acclimates to incarceration and is transported to a tropical prison camp, he explains more of his childhood and more of his relationship with his father. He reveals in slow and painful detail exactly what his father did to make him a strong man, and suddenly the diagnosis of classic schizophrenic becomes vague. Because while he clearly was influenced by his father's hateful and moral deficiencies, he never outright blames him or uses him as an excuse. He accepts all responsibility himself for his crime and also acknowledges his own moral failure. A true schizophrenic never accepts blame. Throughout this first half of the book to this point, the reading has been complicated and painful; the details were horrifying and unsettling.



However, in his new location in the tropics, a change occurs in his life that confirms that Georg Letham is no sociopath. He is allowed to work in the medical field again, this time doing research to find a cure for the deadly Yellow Fever that haunts the tropical regions. A parallel is drawn between the rats his father abhorred and tried forever to eliminate with Georg's efforts to find a remedy for this similarly persistent and deadly danger. While his father was led into the depths of moral depravity because of his inability to control the deadly rodents, Georg rises morally by putting himself at risk for the welfare of others by trying to have some effect on the deadly disease. Throughout the second half of the book we see him change, yet he never transforms completely. That would be too easy and too unrealistic.



A fascinating part of the text is the medical aspects of the study of disease, and how diseases like Yellow Fever are transmitted. This is a far more interesting way to learn about biology than high school science! No details are omitted in the search for a cure, and Weiss never dumbs down the medical language. Reading about the treatment of criminals in the early twentieth century as well as the service of military doctors and their dedication in this time period is absorbing.



This is not an easy read. Details of the animal testing are gruesome. His own attitude is obnoxious, but changes to more of a snarky sensibleness as events progress. His father's heartlessness is painful, and many events are described so brutally that you may cringe and have to put the book down for a few minutes. One thing is constant: Georg is honest even when it would suit him to be less so. And despite the difficulties, this book is something you can't put down and certainly won't want to.


Special thanks to Jill at Archipelago Books for this review copy. This translation from the original German text, by Joel Rotenberg, is available at Archipelagobooks.org or Amazon.com.

M.I.A. for now

Just wanted to touch base and apologize for being off the radar for awhile.  Lots of craziness around here and the blog has been neglected.  My apologies.  I've been hospitalized and will be again in the next few weeks awaiting some surgery that will hopefully resolve a sudden health problem.  While in the hospital I tried to do reading for reviews but the painkillers gave me a strange sort of "stoner dyslexia" that made anything I wrote complete nonsense (as opposed to the usual partial nonsense!).

In any case, in fitting with the Eastern European Reading Challenge, I have a Russian doctor! LOL  That has to count somehow....he's adorable too. Igor, can you believe it?

So, good news and bad news:
Bad news:
The blog will be updated less frequently, however, I do have some reviews lined up as I still have to keep to my obligations.  The Eastern European Challenge will be the priority in terms of reviews, so please share any titles, and if anyone would like to guest-host a post, email me and we can chat.  This week should see a few new posts, and I'll stagger some in advance to auto-post.  But yes, the EERC is still a go so please continue to submit titles and remarks.

Good news:
I have about a gazillion giveaways in the future, as many publishers are sending me duplicates of everything, and a few are international.  So check in for those now and then.  Algonquin has been especially generous with their summer and fall catalog titles.

Especially good news is I've been offered some more paying gigs to write and do reviews for some print magazines, so that's going to be a financial boost (helpful!), but I will not be allowed to use them on the website (magazine gets exclusive rights).  But, I'll let you know what they are if they are especially excellent.  This last month saw a number of print reviews in a variety of places, as well as a few feature articles on literary topics.  Yes, a byline!  Woo-hoo!

Publicists and publishers:
Per my contact tab above, I'm not able to accept any more review titles until things settle down.  Just put me on hold, and don't write me off yet!  Any books I have already rec'd are still in the lineup according to date of receipt.

And in terms of some great other stuff to look at, in case you've missed it, check out HTMLGiant and Daniel Casey's Gentlyreadlit, as well as Lisa's Other Bookshelf and A Concise Blog for some great titles to explore.

This week should feature a review of Thomas Bernhard's Prose, possibly later today.  It's about what happens when you think too much.

If you have any questions, e-me at amy at theblacksheepdances dot com.

Winner of $50 Gift Certificate

Congrats to BookSync, who won the $50 Cafepress merchandise and free ship.  I'll email her tonight and give her 48 hours to respond.

Sorry for the delay in announcing a winner, just got out of hospital after long stretch (eight sleepless nights!).  More on that later,

Also, will announce new international giveaway tomorrow!

Last Day to Enter Cafe Press Int'l Giveaway...East Europe Challenge info!

Just a note to remind you that today is the last day to enter the Cafe Press giveaway, wherein the winner selects $50 worth of merchandise, and gets free international shipping as well!

 

Please note:  Eastern European Reading Challenge participants are NOT automatically entered, you must still leave a comment to enter. 

 

A few book recommendations:

 

The Birds by Tarjei Vesaas, a Scandinavian literary fiction title that is really amazing.  I hesitated to review it here, as it's difficult to find; however, if you are up for a search for a subtle, quiet, yet tension-filled character study, it's well worth your efforts.  The title was recommended to me by Peter Geye, author of Safe From The Sea. 

 

The gist of the story is a competent but lonely woman caring for her mentally-challenged younger brother in rural Norway.  The story is told through his eyes, and how he interprets events that occur in their life is fascinating.  As a stranger enters the scene, things change that he cannot understand, leading to a disturbing and compelling conflict.  An excellent novel....

 

I'm currently reading Thomas Bernhard's Prose, which could be subtitled, Really Smart Guys Who Think Far Too Much.  It's a German translation that has been mentioned on numerous literary sites...I find myself giggling and grieving for the people in this complicated little collection of seven short stories.  As far as I can tell, they aren't linked, but I'm only half way through it.  A great read so far, with lots of word play and symbolism throughout. 

 

Additionally, two great giveaways coming up in March...stay tuned for an international giveaway of Wave of Terror from Theodore Odrach, and a new US-only giveaway for Algonquin's latest title, West of Here.

 

By the way, are you nerdy enough to have a favorite font?  Prefer a sans-serif font?  Do you even know what a serif is?  If you fit that geeky description (as I do), you might find this article to be particularly interesting in regard to how you retain information based on what font you are reading---
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/the-benefit-of-ugly-fonts/

 

Lastly, for a laugh, check out the fake trailer for a fake British movie from last week's Saturday Night Live...as a fan of British crime shoes, this one killed us:
http://collider.com/bill-hader-russell-brand-fake-british-trailer/76128/

Oops!  One more thing....came across a list of "Rules" for a college art department:  Corita Kent's Rules and Hints for Students and Teachers.  An excellent set of ideas that could be beneficial to just about anyone...the best:

• find a place you trust and then try trusting it awhile
• consider everything an experiment
• nothing is a mistake, there's no win and no fail, there's only make
• don't try to create and analyze at the same time, they are different processes
• be happy whenever you can, manage it.  Enjoy yourself, it's lighter than you think.

Bye Bye Birdie-Hello CAFO!

Bye Bye Birdie

Reuters reported in January that the thousands of starlings found dead near South Yankton, SD were the result of poisoning by the USDA. The original news link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70J7KU20110120

Naturally, I found the idea of poisoning the birds appalling, and was disgusted that a government agency supported by tax dollars would not only condone the action but provide the poison and apply it on behalf of the feedlot owner. Of course, the recent spate of mass bird deaths (in AK) and other dramatic animal deaths worldwide came to mind. In the case of South Dakota, the first thing that concerned me was the poison that might remain in the dead birds could conceivably be eaten by a pet or another animal, or worse, pollute a nearby river. Thus, the last few weeks I spent time investigating the practice, and the anger I felt was replaced by confusion. It appears that the problem is far more complex.



Starling. Image:  http://www.sciencewithmsseitz.blogspot.com/

First, the problem. European Starlings were the specifically targeted birds. There doesn’t appear to be a fan-club for Starlings, as even avid bird lovers agree that they are an invasive species known to overwhelm a habitat, force other birds (included endangered species) from nests to take them over, and leave extreme amounts of excrement wherever they congregate. Their flocks range from the hundreds to hundreds of thousands, and their evening ritual formations can darken the sky. Starlings also carry diseases (as do most birds) that can be spread to humans by direct contact or through the meat of animals that have eaten feed contaminated by the excrement.
In this case, a feedlot in Nebraska reported to the USDA that Starlings were indeed contaminating their cattle feed. However, while the Reuters report notes that the cattle lot operator was concerned with disease, my interview with Ricky Woods, the APHIS/USDA worker who was cited in the original article and who handled the abatement procedure, revealed another aspect of the problem. While he agreed that the operator was concerned about excessive feces on farm equipment, he added that the more pressing issue that led to the poisoning was that the Starlings, a flock of 5000 who had begun roosting on the feedlot, were eating massive quantities of grain. Woods stated that on average, 1000 starlings will eat 40 pounds of cattle feed per day, meaning that the operator was losing 200 pounds of cattle feed onsite in a single day (three tons per month). Admittedly this would be an expensive issue for a feedlot operator (Woods).

Woods explained the procedure for poisoning the starlings, per USDA regulations. An operator can call out a USDA representative to examine the problem and confirm the issue of the starlings, estimating the flock size and that the damage is a viable concern. Then, on three separate occasions, the USDA rep will do a preliminary bait test with cracked corn (no poison), to observe whether the starlings will accept the bait and to confirm that no endangered species are part of the flock to be poisoned. If it is determined that the flock is made up of starlings and not other birds, a precise amount of the poison DRC-1339 is applied to a specific, confined area (and not in open pasturage). The birds usually die immediately (it affects their nervous system), and in this case, it was an anomaly that they flew away to die near Yankton.

The poison itself is clearly labeled: “high acute toxicity to nontarget birds and aquatic invertebrates”, with the specific direction that its runoff is considered hazardous and the poison should not be applied to or near water (DRC label). However, if it is used within the feedlot, in the tons of waste that form a semi-liquid sludge, couldn’t the poison still spread? After all, what is done with the manure from a CAFO lot? It varies between lagoons that serve as holding basins or liquefied to be sprayed into the air to facilitate evaporation (Imhoff).

In November, 2001, Audubon presented an essay by Ted Williams that explores the role of the USDA and their representatives (APHIS) in baiting birds using DRC-1339. His approach to the matter seems fairly balanced:

"APHIS doesn't casually festoon the American landscape with biocides. In controlled experiments it has been killing blackbirds with rice laced with DRC-1339, a short-lived, rapidly metabolized poison with a long track record of effectiveness, safety, and selectivity. For 30 years DRC-1339 has been successfully used on ravens, crows, pigeons, starlings, cowbirds, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, magpies, and sundry gulls. Because it is quickly metabolized, the possibility of secondary poisoning (in which a bird or mammal dies from eating a stricken blackbird) is remote. Direct mortality of nontargets is probably inevitable but, in this case at least, utterly unacceptable in any quantity because the proposed program is basically a political gesture that is unlikely to succeed…"

In the situation he was describing, sunflower growers were complaining about blackbirds. However, the similarity between situations leads to a similar conclusion: how successful can the abatement of the starlings be if it’s likely that another flock will take their place? Is it worth the risk to nontargeted, and possibly endangered, birds that may be mixed in the flock?

Woods admits that the procedure is not common and it was the only time this year he’s employed the poison bait, having done so twice last year in his designated region. Rather, he said, the USDA instructs feedlots to close doors and take steps to prevent the birds from roosting. However, are they required to implement such a simple solution as covering the cattle feed? In this case, it wasn’t deemed reasonable. Interestingly, he also said that the USDA will respond to any size farm, small or massive, that feels their cattle or crops are in danger. Lost expense and possibility of disease have been used to justify the action so far.

However, one advantage of the APHIS/USDA policy especially warrants mentioning. In their cooperative work with farmers and feedlot operators, their expertise and intervention prevents an operator from taking matters into their own hands, poisoning indiscriminately and “off the record” using more dangerous methods that can’t be tracked.

However, the events can be examined further and lead to an ethical quandary. First, the operator was a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). A CAFO is quite simply, not a farm. It is a factory that processes, in this case, beef. A CAFO normally gets special tax breaks and government subsidies to operate, yet at the same time are not required to meet Clean Air or Safety Requirements as an industrial facility does. In most cases, cattle in a CAFO rarely see the outdoors, instead being penned up and given steroids to ensure fast growth (in some cases, the animals are unable to carry their own weight by the distortion of their genetics).

With disease being cited as a concern for the poisoning, it should be noted what cattle are fed in a CAFO facility. In his new book, CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories, Dan Imhoff quotes two studies, one from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the other from Environmental Health Perspectives that explain exactly what is in some cattle feed: chicken feathers, poultry excrement, and ‘various minerals and metals’. Additionally, ‘poultry litter’, the bedding on which confined chickens reside for six weeks before slaughter, is fed to the cattle. The litter itself can contain “the rendered remains of slaughtered cattle” (CAFO 144). Given the potential for disease implicit in the excrement already, the additional additives of antibiotics and pharmaceutics given to both chickens and cattle to boost their size and prevent illness prior to slaughter seem to make the Starlings potential impact much less than what the CAFO is already sustaining.

Consider too, the feed that the Starlings were said to consume. If a feedlot is losing three tons of feed in a single month due to the birds, just how big is the facility? The amount of feed provided must be exponentially higher, meaning that this CAFO factory is creating tons of its own cattle excrement to deal with. One environmental study based of a proposed moderate-sized CAFO in South Dakota estimated 684 tons of manure per day, a total of 62 million gallons of manure (Weida 11). Woods would not identify the cattle lot, but did confirm it was a moderate-sized CAFO. Comparatively, could the Starlings’ waste possibly come close to what the cattle are putting out? The cattle waste likely contains the same chemicals that went in: antibiotics, steroids, estrogen, as well as any bacteria left from the animals they consumed. Can a CAFO that creates such a vast amount of fecal matter complain about that of a flock of birds? Are workers, already working in crowded and filthy conditions where up to half of the cattle carry E. Coli, really be at risk by the possibility of avian disease from the Starlings? In CAFO, Michael Pollan’s essay “Power Steer: On the Trail of Industrial Beef” traces the very path of a feedlot animal from calf to slaughter, pointing out the various avenues for disease to be transmitted into the food chain.

Incidentally, it should be noted that smaller, traditional farms are less likely to have a need to poison Starlings. By means of their smaller size and pasturing methods, manure is not concentrated as densely. Close contact with farm animals prevents the mass use of antibiotics as a preventive, instead using it discriminately on an animal that is actually sick and can be monitored. With smaller farms, feeding is intensely observed to prevent the loss of expensive feed, and the food is kept covered. A small farm couldn’t sustain the loss of feed, while a CAFO considers it an operating cost and makes no attempt to cover their cattle feed, leaving vast amounts of animal offal and additives outdoors to be mixed by tractor.

In addition, consider that the food placed for the cattle is actually attracting the birds in the first place. SRAP Communications, a nonprofit organization promoting Socially Responsible Agriculture, stated in an email that “this is one more indication that industrial feeding operations are not sustainable--because they are not even compatible with the normal wildlife in semi-urban settings. Rather than incur the cost to responsibly manage their feed, the CAFO operators prefer to kill the birds that are drawn to their irresponsibly stored material” (SRAP).

Another sort of abatement that could potentially be implemented instead of poison is a auditory pest repellent that is “a combination of distress cries and predator bird sounds,” that would succeed in making “starlings, grackles and black birds feel uncomfortable living in the area, driving them to a more friendly location”(Powell). Used in conjunction with visual preventatives (include “terror eyes”) and spike installation to prevent roosting, a CAFO could reduce the appeal of their lot by non-chemical means.

Both sides can make a compelling case: the fear of disease being brought to our dinner tables definitely gets our attention. But at what point is intervention necessary, and can it be avoided? While the USDA’s APHIS department was straightforward in answering my questions, their scope of nuisance-animal and predator abatement is wide. In response to my questions, Imhoff responded via email:

We see this war against nature approach applied by the USDA in other aspects of agriculture. Wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions are killed across the country every year to protect ranchers and their animals. Despite the dubious outcomes, the real irony is that many of those calves that are being protected at the expense of wild predators end their days knee-deep in feces, in a barren lot with only cows and starlings around for companionship and scenery. And there are many livestock rearing cultures around the world that have learned to successfully coexist with predators.

As consumers, how do we decide? Some homeowners regularly use insecticides and poisons to combat weeds, gophers, and other unwanted pests. Does the average person who can purchase Roundup or another common chemical off the shelf first determine a specific bait area, verify that non-target species are protected, and follow up with preventive measures? On the other hand, can an animal factory that produces tons of contaminated fecal matter in an unnaturally dense environment really complain about the consequential activities of the birds drawn to their massive amounts of unprotected feed?

--------------essay by Amy Henry

Works Cited:


DRC 1339 product label, USDA http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/registration/content/56228-10%20DRC%201339%20Feedlot%2001-06%20watermarked.pdf

Imhoff, Daniel. CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories. California: Earth Aware, 2010. Print.

Imhoff, Daniel. Email response. 1/31/2011

Powell, Lani. “Starlings: Information….” Professional Pest Control. Commercial website. http://www.pestproducts.com/starlings.htm

Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. Nonprofit web site. www.sraproject.org Email response. 2/3/2011

Weida, Dr. William J. “Comments on the Potential Regional Economic Effects of Large Feedlots”. Socially Responsible Agricultural Project. Sraproject.org. Aug 24, 2001.

Williams, Ted. “Red Baiting”. Audubon. Nov 2001. New York: National Audubon Society.

Woods, Ricky. APHIS representative. United States Department of Agriculture. Phone interview 1/26/11, 1/31/11

International Giveway from Cafe Press! $50 merchandise and free ship!

The very generous people at Cafe Press have offered a great giveaway...and it's international to boot!

The prize is $50 of merchandise from their website, where you can find all kinds of great gifts, or even personalize some of your own.  Then, they'll even ship it to you for free.  CafePress is the ultimate destination for personalized gifts where you can make a -t-shirt or customize a teddy bear!  For instance, mugs, cool posters, and even cool baby gear is all available, and they have images and phrases from popular tv shows.

They have lots of literary themed shirts and totes, including posters of famous quotes, Tolstoy and Hemingway tote bags, and lots of Russian and Eastern European items (want a shirt with a map from our challenge?).  Their messenger bags are very cool too.

I got a gift from them too (my perk!) and got two cool  t-shirts for my husband and son.  With your $50, you could easily get a tote and t-shirt, or two totes and a mug.  Go there, explore!  Make a wish list!  And come back to enter to win here via easy entry requirements below!

The rules:  Contest ends February 21, 2011 at 9pm PAC time.  Random generator chooses a winner. 

• You must make it possible to contact you because you only get 48 hours to respond. 
• You must be a follower of The Black Sheep Dances
• Enter by leaving a comment below, only one comment per person.
• Important:  in your comment, tell me one item you'd purchase if you could.*

 Thanks to CafePress for letting me host this giveaway....

*You could customize an Eastern European Reading Challenge tote if you were truly devoted!

Black Life by Dorothea Lasky (poetry)

Dorothea Lasky’s new book, Black Life, brims with the chaos of real life and real people, fighting to express themselves when shiny and happy words aren’t sufficient. A unifying component of the poems is frequent references to her father’s battle with dementia, and sprinkled among these are tiny images, made all the more terrifying for their brevity: helpless rest home patients with bald baby heads being beaten by staff. Fire as both purifier and destroyer also makes appearances in unexpected contexts.

Talking about life, she twists around the state of health into the dimensions of inner and outer well-being, with the two often in fierce juxtaposition. She muses on Emily Dickinson’s muse, on anorexia, and refers to pop culture as freely as old boyfriends and husbands. Her voice alters from that of a hyperactive teen, to a stalker, to an overly-kind ghost.  In all of it, she is seldom quiet or sedate.

In frequent references to poetry, she contrasts the kinds of poetry that exist: pretty and intangible or ugly and real. Therein, she makes it appear that it would be worse to be ignored than blasphemed, and that flowery prose often hides an uncertain intent. From “I Am a Politician”,

I am a politician
Just watch:
I will be very nice to you
But when I turn around I will write the creepiest poems about you that
Have ever been written.
Or worse yet,
I will write nothing about you at all
And will instead
Write about the water cascading endlessly in the ocean
Full of flowers and lovers at their very best...

She doesn’t hide from revealing insecurity, such that her poems often appear inspired by it. In “I Just Feel So Bad”, she expresses both loneliness as well as the concept of needing pain in order to function, trying to understand what she has to give and what she can take when thinking “nice” thoughts doesn’t work. Her answer is in the final phrases:

I have no home
No bread
I am destitute
But inside me
Is a little voice
That must speak
It gets louder when you listen

"ARS Poetica” has a kinesthetic energy to it, almost as if it's the adverbs that matter most...being whatever needs being, but in a big way.

There is a romantic abandon in me always
I want to feel the dread for others
I only feel it through song
Only through song am I able to sum up so many words into a few
Like when he said I am no good
I am no good
Goodness is not the point anymore
Holding on to things
Now that’s the point

The collection is varied and intense.  Being about a decade older than Lasky, there were moments when I wanted to tell her to relax a bit and slow down.  To realize that not all problems will be resolved as quickly as we'd like, but that it's okay to wait them out.  The vivid descriptions and staccato action at times felt like it was too edgy to get close to, like the wild person at the party who gets the attention and the laughs but who is terrifying to be alone with for more than a moment.  Yet the liveliness prevails and relays an enthusiasm that I hope essentially remains.
 

Special thanks to Wave Books for the Review Copy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep an eye on Friday:  Big Giveaway coming!
CafePress is the ultimate destination for personalized gifts where you can make a shirt or customize a teddy bear!  You can pick out literary tote bags, or design your own Black Sheep Dances tote as well.  Wouldn't you like one?  LOL
www.cafepress.com

"Supermarket in California", Ginsberg reading aloud

Just for a kick, Allen Ginsberg reading his poem "Supermarket in California" and discussing Whitman.
Somehow his monotone delivery feels exactly right.

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15306

(Still not loving Whitman but like this poem, alot.)

How Did I Get Here by Tony Hawk (nonfiction)

The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO, with Pat Hawk

Having two sons who used to watch that awful show, Jackass, I know who Tony Hawk is, and can understand how he’s become such an icon in both sports and entertainment. How can you not like a guy riding a bike through a loop de loop, into the ocean, wearing a chicken suit? Not taking himself too seriously seems to be his attitude, and he explains how that has worked for him in this new book, How Did I Get Here? You can almost hear him laugh as he asks that, as his business smarts and wise choices have made him one of the wealthiest non-mainstream sports personas out there despite his low-key image.

As a franchise, he’s been successful, seeming to catch on to pop culture trends (like Twitter) early on and manipulating them successfully. Raising a family as well as his business hasn’t been easy, but mistakes that were made were usually overshadowed by successes soon after. A team mentality endures in Tony Hawk Inc., which sponsors skate boarding and other sports events as well as designing merchandise to market to fans. Some considered him a sell-out for selling Tony Hawk bedspreads for little kids, but he justifies it expertly, explaining that given the popularity of skateboarding, somebody was going to make little kids bedspreads with skateboards no matter what, so why not do it and make them cool? This justification goes on into his endorsement of numerous other products.

Going beyond the fame though, he also creates the Tony Hawk Foundation that raises money for different nonprofits and assists low-income areas to create community centers for skating as a means of socialization, positive peer influence (yes, but while he hangs out with Bam Margera!), and exercise.

So, does the book offer savvy business advice for other wannabe entrepreneurs? Not really-and it doesn’t intend to. Instead it’s more of a history book of the era of skateboarding, MTV, social networking, and hoodies. A snapshot of the time period, it is enjoyable to read but hardly in-depth. A fan would enjoy it, and he does give some valuable advice (although the generic kind). I found it a pretty light read but did enjoy seeing how a brand name is made and the challenges that come with what is essentially marketing yourself.   He seems a genuinely nice guy with refreshing honesty and candor, and that may be why one of his suggestions for success involves having good lawyers!

Special thanks to Wiley for the Review Copy.

Winners....

Two giveaways ended this weekend, and the $15 Book Depository GC goes to Anna in Poland.  I'll email her and if I don't get a response, the random generator will select another name.  I hope BD delivers in Poland!!!

The winner of the Luis Sepulveda book is Sarah E.-I'm contacting her as well!

The next giveaway is a big one-but it's US only.  More details soon, but you may want to take a look at the book goodies at CafePress.com and imagine having a gift certificate there!  Both of the cool posters shown here are available at their site, as well as tote bags, t-shirts, mugs, etc. 

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

Translated from the Japanese by Alexander O. Smith

Be prepared to get sucked into this new thriller from Keigo Higashino. While he’s already a big name in Japan, this is his first book translated into English. It’s best called a police procedural rather than just a crime novel, because every little detail Higashino includes has a point in the story. What’s most unique is as soon as you begin, the murder of a man occurs, and you know exactly who did it. Straight up, it’s right there, demanding you pay attention!

The mystery of the novel comes into play as the crime is investigated by the police force as well as two academics, one a physicist and the other a mathematician, both former competitors who are eager to prove their superiority to each other as well as the police detectives that they look down upon. Nothing plays out as ordinary, although the characters can be considered regular people. Rather than an all-seeing Hercule Poirot type of solution, the novel is instead about observation of facts and the interpretation of the tiniest details. Because of the amount of intricate details, sometimes the narrative slows down. In fact, at a few points, you may even be distracted and feel as if you are balancing your checkbook. Yet that’s the trick Higasino plays: the monotonous details are the most revealing and ultimately solve the crime.

In addition to the mystery, the author builds credible characters, and makes their motives always remain a bit unclear. At times, while knowing ‘whodunit’, I still found myself questioning what I already knew, and wondering how much I assumed.  Seeing a snapshot of the life of middle-class Japan, with its emphasis on decorum, routine, and reputation, makes a cryptic setting for the murder and its repercussions.

Two factors bear mentioning: one, despite the complexity, the pace of the novel is subtle and quiet. This isn’t an episode of CSI; there are no car chases or explosions. An intellectual challenge for the reader, it’s as quiet as a crossword puzzle and much more complicated. Additionally, despite the initial murder (it was a bad guy, after all), there is no gore or expletives. None of the skin-crawling vulgarity or horrific crime scenes that some crime novels rely on appear in this story.  To be honest, this is a classy crime novel, and I hope more of the series is translated into English, soon.

Special thanks to Minotaur for the Advanced Review Copy.

Tashkent: Forging a Soviet City by Paul Stronski

City planning often seems to be a new concept: a trend towards community-oriented design features that are usually intended to better a neighborhood or development by particular ordinances. For example, in my area, the housing boom of the 1980s led to massive building without much consideration of long-term community cohesiveness. After that bubble burst, a “new” trend arrived, requiring builders to consider small design enhancements to afford a better feel to a city. Encouraging front porches, open space, altering lot layouts, and keeping garage doors from being seen from the main streets were ideas encouraged to prevent the cookie-cutter home styles that arrived with the Baby Boom of the 1950s (think Hicksville, NY).

However, in the past, city planning was not considered a trend at all. Especially with the expansion West, cities were, at one point, often planned around where the city buildings, parks, and access roads would lie, and then the housing was built around that. One especially fascinating account of city planning that is unlike anything I’ve read before is Paul Stronski’s book Tashkent: Forging a Soviet City. Stronski compiles the details of how this city was planned from both a civil and structural aspect, right down to an artistic vision of the daily life of its residents. This was not small scale planning! A political endeavor from the beginning, it was an ideological effort to demonstrate Soviet superiority and show the Western world the advancement that the Socialists confidently intended to promote.

While the book covers a great deal of the planning stages, I’m going to focus on two areas that were especially interesting to me. First was the concept of engineering and building codes: apparently even in Soviet Russia, builders wanted to cut corners! The area of Central Asia was already determined to be the site of previous deadly earthquakes, but officials felt that since a 7.0 earthquake hadn’t presumably occurred in a hundred years, they could lower the codes to only deal with the ramifications of a 7.0 earthquake instead of an 8.0 quake (as initially considered). This “small” difference in engineering, combined with hurried construction done on the cheap, with inferior materials, and built in ways that were not common to the builders (tilt-up construction was still something new in the region) left the city vulnerable to earthquake damage. Even when devastating earthquakes occurred nearby, officials were still bent on promoting an image rather than safety.

“Tashkent urban planners still concentrated most of their attention on designing monumental structures….building a compact and beautiful public space was a quicker and easier way to impress and ‘show the state’s care for’ its citizens than building apartments or schools for the population.”


No spoilers, but you can imagine how well that went, and what signaled the end of Tashkent.

Another intention in designing Tashkent was to show that Soviet rule had a cultural side, and that it would be open to permitting ethnic and artistic diversity. In detail, one section discusses how the city tried to incorporate cultural forms that would rival Europe. One woman, Tamara Khanum, was one of the “first Uzbek women to perform unveiled in the 1920s” and became a ‘People’s Artist of the USSR’. She performed in various languages and became a spokesperson for the advanced Tashkent culture. She, along with other women, were used to advance the Soviet cause by appearing to be images of female emancipation, at a time when the West had yet to acknowledge women’s rights.

While the book is heavily detailed in discussing the planning and construction stages of Tashkent, it also sheds light on the Soviet mindset towards propaganda and their intentions. A city that few have ever heard of, Tashkent seems an anomaly in the history of Soviet rule, especially given what was going on in Siberia to the North. I think that is what I liked best about it: it exposes another facet of the era that I hadn’t run across in reading other history books.

Special thanks to Maria Sticco of the University of Pittsburgh Press for the Review Copy.

Chtenia Readings: a periodical featuring writing from Russia

Chtenia is a literary journal published through Russian Life magazine, but its content is entirely different.  Featuring a collection of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and photography, this advertisement-free journal is more like Granta than a typical magazine.  In fact, it's sized similarly to Granta, with a paperback book-like size and feel.

Especially unique is that the contents vary from classic Russian authors, such as Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, and Andreyev as well as newer readings from modern Russian writers:  an excerpt from Marina Tarkovskaya's memoir brings us to the end of the 20th century in her "Shards of a Mirror".  Her brief section reveals both the extreme poverty as well as the blind wealth and ignorance of some families during one of Russia's most complicated times.

The theme for the issue I received to review was Dacha Life, exploring the tradition of upper- and middle-class Russians to have second homes, dachas, in the countryside. Irina Borisova's short story "A Summer's Tale" describes two older women still living the dacha lifestyle while their children have grown up and away. 

A special note must be given to the featured photographer, Alexander Anshukov, whose black and white photos (especially the orange cat framed in an old rustic window above) show an old, rural Russia not often depicted.  This journal is published four times a year and the readings are the perfect size to enjoy.  While the subscription is not inexpensive, the fact that it has no annoying advertisements makes it worthwhile.

Special thanks to Paul for the Review Copy.

The Life & Memoirs of Dr. Pi, Edgar Bayley

Okay, possibly I'm completely off base with this, but I could not connect with this book at all. And I really wanted to!


It features short vignettes of Doctor Pi, sort of a nerdy James Bond man of mystery with a penchant for brunettes. Maybe there is some literary reference I'm missing, but I couldn't even finish this. There was no draw, no pull that made me want to learn more or see where it was headed. In fact, because of the short (a few paragraphs) sections, it was puzzling to try and see if they were linked, and if so, what that meant in terms of a story. I really didn't want to work that hard.

I may keep it around and try another time...but really, given how short the book is (maybe 1/4" thick?) there wasn't much room for it to improve if it was going to.  Just not my thing, and it feels pretty good to admit it!
 
Thanks to Clockroot Books for the Advanced Review Copy.

Another giveaway: Luis Sepulveda's The Shadow of What We Were

Since the last contest was international, this one is for US members only.  It is for Luis Sepulveda's award winning title The Shadow of What We Were, from Europa Editions (somehow they sent me two!).  It won the 2009 Premio Primavera for Spanish Literature award.  This translation has a gorgeous cover and is from one of Chile's most noted authors.

Rules are simple.  Be a follower, leave a comment WITH a way to contact you.  Email, or GFC if it's set up to show an email.  You must respond to my notification email within 48 hours.  Random selection on February 6 of the winner.

Thanks to Europa Editions for the copy.  My review for it is upcoming.

New giveaway, International only!

First off, congrats to LuAnn who won The Last Brother from Graywolf Press. She's been notified and has 48 hours to respond.

Now, since I promised an international giveaway, here goes:

This giveaway is for anyone OUTSIDE the U.S. who lives where Book Depository ships.  Since shipping is so high, I'm not usually able to do international.  So, if you fit the bill, leave a comment with your email OR a way to contact you.  Note:  some GFC members don't have an email address attached.  Make sure I can reach you!  This ends on February 5, 2011.

What do you get?  A $15 Book Depository gift certificate.  I know, it's not piles of book money, but since they offer free shipping you should be able to get a trade paperback of your choice or ???

Contest starts now, followers only please.  As a special perk, if you are already participating in the Eastern European Challenge from out of the US, you are automatically entered, you don't have to leave a comment. 

US followers, don't feel bad.  See the next post!