5 comments about Lessons in Becoming Myself.

1. I picked up "Lessons" on the way to a summer vacation simply because I like memoirs and there it was. I expected nothing more than a white suburban girl makes good story while clawing her way to Hollywood. Instead, you are off on a tour of world religions, meetings with great intellectuals, spirit quests, horrifying abuse, and relentless self examination. To paraphrase Emerson "the examined life makes great reading"! What a wonderful read; so sad when you have to put it down. Here's wishing for a sequel -- and soon.



2. Ellen Burstyn has always been one of my favorite actresses. Her warmth and sensitivity has always illuminated her performances, and her bravery in tackling difficult material such as Requiem for a Dream has been impressive. This book tells why she is able to let herself go in roles that other actors would soft pedal.



3. In these times when our culture is focusing on so many lost souls in Hollywood, Ellen Burstyn's book emerges with honesty, insight and lessons for all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life and how she overcame an extremely unloving and abusive childhood to emerge as a strong and powerful woman and incredible actress. As a 45 year old woman it is people like Ellen Burstyn that inspire me on this journey of life. She is an incredibly wise soul and I am very grateful she shared her life with us in such a frank and open way.



4. Down in the basement of my house, there is a room where I store my archives: every script I've ever worked on, photos taken of me and photos I've taken, diaries, journals, appointment books, calendars, and notebooks from all the way back to my beginnings. (p. 3)
   
   So begins the life story of Ellen Burstyn, as told by Ellen Burstyn in free-flowing narrative. The reader is given a glimpse into the most private parts of Burstyn's life, starting with her earliest memories. Burstyn actually began what became this book in 1980. As her opening remarks tell us, she had a lot of documentation with which to work. Just as important as her physical records, though, are those she finds in her "inner archive."
   
   When I need to access a particular emotion for a role, I imagine taking an elevator down to my inner archive, where I quietly flip through the files until some memory rises up and offers itself. Then I move into that event and it comes alive in me. (p. 3)
   
   Burstyn also has a remarkable memory for conversations and many of these find their way into her writing. She claims to have trained her memory--a good trait for an actress and also for a memoirist.
   
   This is a searching, self-introspective account. One might liken it to reading someone's journal or diary, so intimate are the glimpses into her most private experiences. She "speaks" to her audience (her readers), but just as often seems to be addressing herself, questioning a choice she made, second-guessing her reaction to an event, or wondering aloud why some things have been so hard to learn. She gives a great deal of attention to presenting and explaining the various faith beliefs and credos which she encountered and studied throughout her life. She identified herself as a Sufi, a searcher for truth in its purest form. "I learn from all traditions without being restricted to just one way," she says. "Truth has no boundaries." (p. 403) Burstyn has little use for organized religion, whose dogma and rules she finds confining.
   
   Having seen Ellen Burstyn in a wide variety of movie roles, I would have thought she was a confident, secure, strong woman. Now in her seventy-seventh year, she may be strong, but that was not always the case. Becoming herself has been a life-long process, and often a grueling journey.
   
   It would be impossible in a short time to present all of the life issues Burstyn addresses in her memoir. However, there is one which I believe played a huge part in not only who she became, but also how she got there. From her earliest days, she identified truth, or the lack of it, as a major issue with her mother, Coriene. Dishonesty was a huge factor for young Edna Rae Gillooly/Ellen. While demanding absolute honesty from her children, Coriene then perversely demanded that they lie for her. Coriene also lied about them, even denying their existence if it seemed expedient, going so far as to introduce Edna to a gentleman friend as her "neighbor down the street." Coriene thought that acknowledging her children might adversely affect her chances of getting a marriage proposal. Of these practices, Ellen said, "Her deceit did so much harm. It created a negative atmosphere of anger, resentment and hostility that pervaded our home and had abiding repercussions for all of us." (pg. 18)
   
   Indeed, much of Burstyn's searching throughout her life centered on finding truth in many manifestations. She attributes the early and constant honesty issues with her mother as one of the main reasons she chose to be a Sufi.
   
   Burstyn does not glamorize her life. She shares her failures as well as her fame. She is open about the abuses she suffered both as a child and as an adult. On one hand, she knew how destructive it was, but on the other, she couldn't seem to break away from it. It's a continuing theme of her life story. At one point, she acknowledged, "it would take many years before I stopped seeking out the pattern of relating to men that I learned at home...we just keep repeating it because that's what we know." Her relationship with Neil Burstyn caused trauma for years; she actually feared for her life at times. She admitted to being in denial over the severity of his condition.
   
   Another recurrent theme is that of learning from mistakes. Burstyn freely admits to many of hers. She struggled with giving up to men what she perceived rightly as her power, simply because they were men. "We learn from our mistakes" she says. "This was one of mine that I repeated over and over until I got it right. I've heard it said that when you make a mistake and don't learn from it, the next time you have to repeat that lesson, it will be even harder." (p.295) Later she asks "Who knows what mistakes we need to make in order to learn the lessons we came here to learn?" Who among us cannot relate to that? Likewise, she sees the people in her life as teachers. Her mother may have been harsh and unloving, but she gave young Edna the impetus to leave home and make something of herself. A homeless person teaches her how vital it is that we are seen, that we are acknowledged as fellow humans. The book's dedication simply thanks "all my teachers."
   
   Lessons in Becoming Myself is a good read presented by a woman who has finally come to know herself. The pace of the book is steady and she maintains the reader's interest by being so transparent and open. Few of us, I believe, could read this book and not find some commonality with this icon of film and stage.
   
   She ends this account of her life thus far with these words "I know that becoming conscious is a never-ending process. My prayer is that by the actual end of this life, I will exit wearing my own true face and be completely unmasked. Authenticity has been my aspiration." A fitting and yet ironic commentary on the life of a consummate actress, a woman who has worn many masks so successfully in her chosen profession.
   
   by Susan Ideus
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



5. "Thank you" Ellen Burstyn for writing with such honest, open, brave and detail oriented language. I was able to fully visualize every amazing episode of your life. And what a life!!! I'm exhausted from all the incredible experiences you had! I am truly dumbfounded how you survived it all??? You are a wonderful example of "living life to the fullest" and being a teacher/student all thru one's life.
   
   I've always admired your work as an actress. THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS, THE EXORCIST and ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE have always been at the top of my "favorite films" list. And your performances in these films are sincere, emotional and real. But, to read about what you were going thru behind the scenes is what makes you a truly unique person and humanitarian.
   
   I believe we learn so much about life thru the art of storytelling. You are a gifted storyteller and by passing on the stories of your life you have enhanced mine with a reawakened "spiritual" curiosity about the mystery/meaning of life. Your willingness to share your thoughts concerning your spiritual journey was life-affirming!
   
   "Thank you" Ellen Burstyn for taking this reader on a journey filled with laughter, pain, strength, determination and a desire to connect with all human-beings/animals that came into your life. Your words moved me and your book will hold an honored place on my shelf of "favorite" biographies!

5 comments about The Kids from Nowhere.

1. Since I was a teacher, I could identify with the frustrations and the successes. I also own ivory carvings done by Qay (Boone) so it made the story personal. I recommend the book highly.



2. I picked this book up while visiting my daughter in Alaska. As an educator from a very small midwestern district, I could relate in so many ways to the sutle communication styles and cultural secrets of these students. Many of us teach on "islands" where financial and social poverty play a huge role in our day to day contact with students. I could not put this book down. In so many ways I saw many of my own students in the characters, and quite unfortunately, saw some of my teaching peers in the negativity of certain Gambell staff members. I will share this title with my collegues and intend to reread it myself. It is a wonderful and inspiring novel for all teachers in remote areas.



3. In the 1980s an amazing thing happened. Siberian Yupik kids, who lived on a remote island in the Bering Sea and who spoke English as a second language, won national academic competitions. Their teacher was a writer who took the teaching job in order to support his young family and writing, but the experience turned him into a dedicated teacher as well as award-winning author. The Kids from Nowhere is his story of teaching junior high and high school students in Gambell, Alaska.
   
   George Guthridge went to Gambell to teach in 1982. His students were Siberian Yupiks, who called themselves Eskimos, who got their water from the village's tank, and who missed school to participate in the subsistence activities of their families and community. Located on the northwest corner of St. Lawrence Island, Gambell has a view of nearby Russia on the rare clear day. When he arrived, the Gambell schools had discipline as well as academic problems, and teacher turnover was very high. The school district was considering closing the high school.
   
   Coming from the "outside"--outside of Alaska, Guthridge had much to learn. He learned about Eskimo culture, teaching methods, public school politics, and academic success. His story is also the story of the kids he coached. These kids had the typical Eskimo shyness. Guthridge learned to read the raised eye brow that meant yes, and the lowered brow that meant no. He learned to listen to the silence exchanges among the students--and the discussions in Yupik.
   
   Guthridge was assigned to coach Future Problem Solving at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. Initially, he did not know what Future Problem Solving was. It is a method of solving a problem set in the future, and a program to teach youth problem-solving skills. Given an assigned topic, the students were to identify at least 20 problems that could go wrong, chose one of the problems, solve it at least 20 ways, develop criteria for evaluating the solutions and then evaluate their solutions, identify the best solution, and write an essay about the solution. In competition, all this had to be done in two hours.
   
   Guthridge's challenge was to teach assigned Future Problem Solving topics like nuclear waste and genetic engineering to students who had seen neither a tree nor an escalator. At times teaching was frustrating, very frustrating. Gradually, Guthridge began to apply the tools of writing to teaching. He developed the "what because why" format to focus on the relationships inherent in any topic. He kept repeating to the students, "Original thinking is precise thinking," and he placed emphasis on research. He ignored grade-level complexity, and he borrowed techniques from Superlearning and educational philosophers. He also had to teach competitive strategies to kids in a cooperative culture.
   
   He also remembered that he was coaching and teaching kids for life. He sent a smelly sock home with any student who insulted another student. The kids were to participate as a team and support each other. In the end, both the junior high and high school teams won national championships.
   
   Guthridge tells his story with grace, modesty, cultural sensitivity, and skill. He stayed in Gambell for six years. He now teaches through the University of Alaska's campus in Dillingham, Alaska, and he continues to write short stories and novels. With full respect for cultural differences, Guthridge reminds us that kids can learn--even "the kids from nowhere."



4. You can almost hear the "Rocky" theme as you read the final pages as these Yuupik kids do the impossible!



5. Although these kids are from a remote sub-arctic island most will never travel to, anyone who has worked with youth as a teacher or other group leader will, or should, recognize them. Turned-off kids, trapped in an alien (to them) school system, who need someone who believes in them--we can find them anywhere. Suffering teachers trying to find themselves while unwilling to give up on impossible assignments--we probably know a few of them too. In my case, I have visited that community several times and even know some of the families involved. This is an authentic telling; the kids' victories, with Guthridge's unique facilitation, actually happened.
   As a former high school teacher myself, I couldn't put the story down. Guthridge's remarkable honesty about the task he took on, his sometimes desperate struggle, his empathy, sometimes remorse, for the situation he had put his own children in, and how he painfully learned day-by-day along with the students made it for me. His tragi-comic relations with the other faculty are priceless. Although I have never felt quite that alone, I, like him, have gotten ill over teaching at times, and laughed myself sick over it too. The book made me wish I could go back and give teaching another run. George is a master story teller as well as a master teacher.

5 comments about Blue Blood.

1. Where was the editor? Way, way, way too much detail! the interesting story got lost amidst all of the unnecessary info. Given the author's credentials, he should have known better. This book reads like a minute by minute detail of every day of his career. Great as a diary; lousy as a compelling narrative.



2. This is a one of a kind book and Det. Conlon is to be commended for writing it. As a writer working on a mystery, it gave me a greater feel for the police department and the people working there. It's first rate and one of the best books I've read about the policing world.
   
   Francine Craft



3. While I agree that this book is at times a bit long winded with perhaps too many anecdotes where a few will do, I'll stake my reputation as a New Yorker that Eddie Conlon gets his subject 'right.' This is the real deal. Although Law & Order is entertaining, it's basically fantasy. Eddie Conlon captures the personalities of his characters, the local political and personal politics of the inner workings of New York, and most importantly he writes very well--easily transitioning from capturing New York dialogue to using description in a near Henry Jamesian accuracy. He can convincingly transcribe a police's sergeant's seven-word sentence that contains the f word 4 times and on another occasion can use the verb 'gainsay' as though it were le mot juste. He puts it all together in an interesting if not exactly captivating narrative.



4. I don't follow best seller lists or follow any Oprah type trends, but I love reading crime novels, mafia type stories, true crime, etc.
   
   My neighbor dropped this off as a recommended read so I got to it. I have to agree with the majority of reviews here that it would have been much better had it been shorter.
   
   I enjoyed reading about the history of the Bronx, the corruption, and even his family background, but it was very disjointed. You go from reading about a buy and bust and the next page he's in a graveyard talking about his dead uncle. Then the next page he's talking about 9-11. Its pretty hard to follow.
   
   The part I enjoyed the most were the politics and manpower involved in buy and busts, but it didn't have too many details with this. Every instance was short and small time stuff and usually his take was from a rooftop. There was only 1 case that lasted a few pages where there was actual weight involved with lookouts and door alarms but again ended quickly.
   
   I guess I was expecting more detailed experiences, especially since he worked narcotics in the Bronx, but it just seemed unfulfilling. If it had been shorter and different experiences having their own chapters it would have been a much better read.



5. This book is less about cops and robbers and more about the author's family tree. Not that this is a bad thing, it just was not what I was expecting.

5 comments about A Spy's Journey: A CIA Memoir.

1. The book walks the reader through an officer's career from the highs to the lows. the book outlines the positives and negatives of life as an officer - it also explains that in many instances, taking a step backward in your career many times is how you get forward. Floyd's career was nothing short of stellar.
   
   If you are at all interested in the art or service of espionage - this is aa must read.



2. While certainly a skilled case officer, Mr. Paseman's writing skills leave something to be desired. His memoirs are very entertaining and full of unique experiences, but his lack of skill with the written word means that paragraphs are clunky and flow poorly. Well worth the money for anyone looking to find out exactly what being a CIA case officer is truly like, but don't expect writing skills beyond the level of a high school newspaper editor.



3. Without a doubt Floyd Paseman was a great spy and had a wonderful career in service to our country. But, he is a horrible author and should have had someone else write his memoirs. The book is dull and boring.



4. I thought that the book was poorly written because the writer puts none of his stories in any context of what was going on at the time that the events he writes about were occuring. He could have added a lot about what happened after Carter and Turner with the help of the Church committee wrecked the CIA. A couple of his "hah hah" stories should have gotten somone fired for bad judgement.
   
   A shallow book over all. There are a lot better books written by CIA alums.



5. This book presents a detailed account of one man's life in the CIA, the challenges he had to face and how he went about to resolve these challenges. Its more of a biography rather then an account of what the CIA is really is. Futhermore, the author talks about how his family deals with his working life and thereby giving a 'human' side to the espionage world. All in all, a great read and would reccomend it.

5 comments about The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula.

1. The subject matter is what got me reading. The informative and often hilarious writing of Eric Nuzum is what KEPT me reading. This is one of those rare books that I was sorry to see come to an end. It was that good. From his assorted adventures meeting so-called "vampires" to a stupendously funny account of a Romanian Dracula tour with Eddie Munster himself,to his well-written and informative passages regarding vampire lore and Dracula in book and film, "The Dead Travel Fast:Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula" was a fantastic book from beginning to end. If you want a supremely entertaining and funny book, read this one. You won't be disappointed.



2. Eating his bowl of Count Chocula one morning, author Eric Nuzum was struck by the ubiquity of vampire references in modern culture. He set himself the task of exploring the popularity of vampires, a quest which led to his book The Dead Travel Fast and to the graphic scene with which it begins: Nuzum watching blood drip down his bathroom mirror after an experiment in auto-hematophagy that went badly wrong. No, Nuzum's not a crazy person, but his investigation into vampirism did prompt him to do some wacky things. In addition to trying to drink his own blood, Nuzum watched 216 vampire films--apparently they get pretty bad after the first dozen or so--traveled to Romania on a bus tour with celebrity host Butch Patrick (a.k.a. Eddie Munster), took in a vampire-themed topless show in Vegas, and attempted to turn himself into a vampire in six easy steps. This last project necessitated his ending a meeting early so he could chant over a raw chicken liver. (Nuzum also watched all seven seasons--108 hours' worth--of Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, developing an appropriate regard for it in the process. But that's a sign of good taste rather than wacky obsession!)
   
   Nuzum's account of his modern-day exploration into things vampire is punctuated by the results of more traditional research. Nuzum writes about vampire mythology in antiquity, for example, and the connection between vampirism and disease; he discusses the curious legal history of the 1922 film Nosferatu, the masher note Bram Stoker wrote to Walt Whitman, and the sorts of things Vlad the Impaler got up to to deserve his epithet. Nuzum leads readers to suggest that he's not one to spend his time reading old books in dark libraries, but he's clearly done his homework. The book is also very well put together, Nuzum's more historical discussions woven seamlessly into his present-day narrative. Informative and well-written and, topping it off, quite funny in parts: Nuzum's book is definitely recommended.



3. The Dead Travel Fast offers a fresh look at the fascination of vampire lore, remarkably lacking in cliches, and an honest yet humane look at the people who obssess over it. Author Eric Nuzum cheerfully undertakes experiments that would daunt the casual vampire fan (i.e. sampling his own blood, watching every vampire movie ever made). He visits Romania on a tour of vampire history with uncomfortable conditions and limited appeal. He spends months trying to contact a real vampire. Nuzum journeys to the very outskirts of accepted culture to find source of the undead's universal appeal. He attempts to reconcile the equal strength of the mainstream's fascination and the fringe's obsession with vampires and he does so with wit, spunk and an open mind.



4. I bought this book on the recommendation of Dave Mrozek, and he was dead on. This is a funny, informative book for anyone who's ever had even a passing interest in vampire lore and Stoker's Dracula. The author is easy to read and comes across more as a buddy of yours telling you about his trails and tribulations than a distant author you know nothing about. This book was the perfect summer read for me, something I could pick up and read in 15-20 minute increments outside in the shade or at night before bed. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that some people might be looking for more substance and this is definitely a light, humorous read.



5. Fabulous-- even if you haven't met a Vampire or Eric - you'll feel like you know both afterwards and found an old friend.

5 comments about The Bookmaker: A Memoir of Money, Luck, and Family from the Utopian Outskirts of New York City.

1. This memoir is at once delightful and poignant, which is, come to think of it, appropriate for accounts of most anyone's life. I found myself easily loving the narrator and his family, complete with their undeniable (but endearing) weaknesses. And the details of the Bronx setting are rich, evocative and colorful. Overall, it was absolutely refreshing and effective as a memoir. Other such "growing up urban" autobiographies (e.g., Dalton Cromley's HONKY) are lacking in warmth, somehow. Agovino's work is actually full of love and leaves the reader feeling inspired. As a writer, too, Agovino is exceptionally talented, and -- as another reviewer pointed out -- his story reads like a novel. I look forward to reading more of his work.



2. I've driven past Co-Op City on I-95. I always wondered what it was like in there. It seems like a mystery. When I saw the cover of the book, I recognized those big, depressing buildings and wanted to read it. The author of the book does a very good job of bringing his neighborhood to life. He doesn't live there now ( I don't think) but grew up there and lived there for a long time. It's not about how he had a horrible childhood. It sounded like he had a good childhood and played a lot of sports with the neighborhood kids. I always thought it was a place for poor people but now I see it is much more than that. The writer Agovino makes it a very three-dimensional place. His father liked it but his mother hated it. Not all bad, not all good like Robert Moses and politicians expected it to be. There's a lot of "gray" area. It's a well-written book about this guy and his family. Lots of good stories, and non-sterotypical characters.



3. With so many memoirs out there, it's hard to imagine a fresh or enlivening take on the genre. But in "The Bookmaker" Michael Agovino bring searing honesty and a novelist's observational powers to the telling of his family's story. The characters are so rich and complex, and the storyline so riveting, that in fact, I felt like I was reading a literary novel. That the story is true makes it all the more compelling. I felt like I grew to
   truly know these people, and to care deeply about what happened to them. "The Bookmaker" is funny, moving, intense, sad, and, ultimately, redemptive. Agovino has
   written an amazing story that many people will relate to, even if they're not Italian-Americans, New Yorkers, of the sons of bookies. A genuine achievement!



4. The book was just OK. It was a slow read and difficult to get to know the characters. He refers to Louie I and Louie II and Louie III. It gets confusing keeping track of his Dad, his Grandfather and their friends; much less his friends. I thought that there was too much editorializing (he uses italics when he does this). Thus, he jumps around. While in a chapter in 1986, for example, he will jump back and spend several pages talking about 1977.
   
   I finished the book - actually forced myself to do so. I would not recommend it to anyone to read.



5. I grew up in Co-Op City during the exact same time Agovino did, so reading this story was fascinating and nostalgic for me. Gun Hill Road, the QBX1, Truman High School, the demographic expansion and then ultimate contraction of the neighborhood were all vividly described.
   
   This book, in many ways, is similar to Al Lubrano's "Limbo." I recommend it to anyone who grew up in a blue-collar family in the outer boroughs of New York City during the 1970's and 1980's. Great job Michael, the first one is always the hardest and you nailed it! Way to go.

5 comments about Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes.

1. WHAT A PLEASURE NOT TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER BAD MOUTHING HIM.
   SHE TELLS IT HOW IT WAS.
   FAST GREAT READING



2. Memories Are Made of This, well she's not a pullitzer prize author but it was good reading for the summer, or I guess anytime, nostalgic and fun to read if you remember the rat pack era...



3. I read this book as well as That's Amore by Ricci Martin. I have written a review of both books. For me, it was often like I was reading two very different perspectives on Dean, one that was bittersweet and full of yearning for a father's love (Deana) and one that was more adoring, although still open about some of Dean's flaws and secrets (Ricci).
   
   Of course, Deana was the daughter of Dean's first wife, a woman he left to marry Jeanne. People judged him harshly for that but even Deana notes the various emotional and other challenges faced by her mother -even before Jeanne entered the picture.
   
   Deana was then put in the very difficult position of having to deal with her biological mother as well as try to find a place in the home of Jeanne and Dean Martin. I don't want to include too many spoilers here but I do want to add that I think she expresses the pain, confusion and anguish of a lifetime of challenges - as well as GREAT JOY AND PRIDE in being Dean Martin's daughter. This book is remarkably open and honest. It was a revelation to read.
   
   Also, the foreword to this book is written by Jerry Lewis, a fact that is significant. I was a bit surprised by this because Deana is not always glowing when she writes of Jerry. However, Jerry is definitely very proud of her and this book (or appears to be, in his intro).
   
   I would recommend that people read That's Amore because both books share similarities but also some significant differences about key parts of Dean's life. Two children, each going through watershed moments (the Martin divorce from Jeanne) and seeing some of them very differently. Each gives a slightly altered perspective on Dean and I do feel that Deana felt more outside the family than Ricci for a good part of her life.
   
   Anyway, read the book and see what you think. In case you think I sound too negative, I'd like to end this by noting that I felt in awe of Deana's resilience and honesty as she wrote her memoirs of her father. I didn't expect the book to be so revealing so it was quite riveting to read it.



4. This is an excellent book revealing to the people who love Dean Martin the husband and father who happened to be a great performer and entertainer through the eyes of one of his children. Well done.



5. This was a gift for my husband. He loves the book and has read me some of the passages. He also loves the pictures.

5 comments about Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States (P.S.).

1. 
   What, I am asking myself, am I doing reviewing a lowbrow search-for-onself travelogue through America's dishrooms? Could it be that I too have spent so many countless shifts in these steamy and thankless rooms?
   
   Well, sure, but I didn't know I could possibly write about it like Pete Jordan has done in this semi-interesting book. Is this offbeat writing? Sure it is ... Is it entertaining? Mmmm ... not so sure on that. It's not bad for lowbrow narrative and a first book; however, there is a distinct lack of cohesiveness about this ten year odyssey as Dishwasher Pete does his ON THE ROAD thing, to-ing and fro-ing like a pinball across the many states of this dishwashing republic.
   
   Pete Jordan had his dishwashing epiphany while working in a Jack-in-the-Box one day - and yep, he never looked back. We follow Mr. Jordan as he throws on his apron, busts suds, and runs the Hobart machines full of dishracks throughout the greasy spoons, summer camps, retreat centers, and anywhere else he can find dishing work. Some of these episodes are mildly entertaining; the rest are just boring narrations that could use a ghostwriter I suppose.
   
   Is Dishwasher Pete a slacker and unethical bum as some have indicated? I would say no; he's not really lazy, but rather just non-motivated. He does tend to ditch a job when the b.s. level gets too much for him. But that's spelled out early on in the book - Dishwashing Rule #1: Never work at a place you can't just up and leave. And at least he's honest about this laisse-faire attitude, as well as his thieving tendencies to make off with food, beer, and other items, as well as his penchant for drinking on the job. But he never collects his pay on the jobs he walks away from either, so go figure.
   
   As page fillers, we learn about other famous dishwashers, like Gerald Ford, Woody Guthrie, Little Richard, and George Orwell (who wrote about his adventures in DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND LONDON - please see my review). We find out that out of 740 ranked occupations, dishwashing ranks #735, right above drug dealing, fortune-telling, prostitution, and panhandling. And other trivia too trivial to pursue ...
   
   So, if you're looking for a good literary read, this nice try cuts the suds but doesn't really cut the mustard ...
   
   Parataxis
   
   The Cloud Reckoner
   
   Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts



2. Brings back a lot of memories. Quirky, easy read, nothing cerebral about this read. Not terribly funny, but still, interesting enough to keep me from baling out.



3. this book reminds me of a cab drive in the city that told me he was writing a book. about being a caucasian cab-driver in new york.
   
   he say it would be about picking up celebrities. and normal people.



4. It's a beautiful, working class bible. A 'f*ck you' to the system. A reminder that we should reassess what is important in life. I will admit that I have known the author for many years. Our history goes back to the mid-1990s when he was still a dish dog and I was scrapping by - by running printing machines. We were both starving zinesters. Pete would drop in to sleep on my floor, spend his days in the library and his nights washing dishes in Brooklyn. He was a bit of blessing in my life. Back then, no matter how many hours I worked, I could not keep up with my bills. My dreams outside my day job seemed so lofty. As a dish dog Pete had perfected the art of living on a dollar a day. Or less. To him it was a challenge. His thriftiness was awh inspiring. He made survival an art form. A messy one, but an art form none the less. He helped me see that poverty could be more than just an obstacle or an embarrassment. His message to me is that money does not make me richer - living well does. Thanks for writing the book Pete.



5. Enjoyable book - you should probably read it. It covers dishwashing, finding jobs as a dishwasher, traveling around, etc. I thought I wouldn't like it when I first picked it up, but I was wrong.

5 comments about The Dog Says How.

1. Kevin Kling is a well-known local writer and performer in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. He recently demonstrated his brilliant narrative talents in Mill City Museum's "Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat".
   
   On a trip to Indiana, I was able to listen to the entire 3-cd set of "The Dog Says How", along with six other family members. There were many moments when Kling's storytelling had our entire family in tears--both from touching moments, and more so, from hilarious ones. He is particularly adept at capturing the mood in telling stories from his childhood, especially the ones recalling his brother. Great for road trips!
   
   Episodes of note are on Disc 1: Accident (2), Dogs (5-6), Beaver in a Box (7-8), Taxidermy (10-11), View from the Card Table (17-19). Disc 2: Mom's purse (1), Marching Band (5-6). The very best of the collection is on Disc 3: My Brother's Bachelor Party (3-4).



2. In a recent episode of How I Met Your Mother - Season Three Ted indicated that he was a midwesterner and he avoids uncomfortable emotoinal scenes and keeps his emotions in check like a good midwesterners. Many online commentators wondered why Ted would be so eager to identify himself as a midwesterner when most of his character could be encapsulated as "Manhattan is awesome! New Jersey blows!" I couldn't explain it but I knew the feeling. For most of us transplanted midwesterners in New York, we identify with the places that we fled to get to New York. Whether its Minnesota or Ohio or Iowa, we took a lot from our homes and we tend to celebrate it, even to the point of getting defensive about the native New Yorker's belief that our homes are flyover zones. And it's POP! Not soda. It's pop that we are drinking out of cans. If you have phosphate and maybe ice cream, it's soda. Otherwise, call it pop.
   
   New Jersey just reminds us of why we fled our homes in the first place. It's like one large working class suburb. I've been lost in suburban Minnesota. I've been lost in New Jersey. The only difference seems to be less snow and more war memorials.
   
   But let's talk about what I love about Minnesota. I love the art community. I love the fact that I can go to a play in Minnesota without maxxing out my credit cards or sending my landlord an apologetic letter. I love the sculpture garden and the way every artist knows each other. I love Uptown and Dinkytown. I also love the blizzards (especially now when I have to deal with rain on the last day of November). I love First Avenue. I love the gourmet ice cream. I also love the way people don't usually try to fake an attitude if they have nothing to show for it.
   
   And Kevin Kling has been part of that art community that I love so much. I once met him backstage at a holiday reading when I was working as an usher. He stopped to make conversation and I didn't even know he was the star until he was called to get on stage. I have not seen nearly as many Kling shows as I would like, but the fact that he's working in the Minnesota theater community and creating new material on a regular basis makes me happy to know that the Minnesota arts community is still in existence.
   
   This CD is a series of vignettes from the story telling version of theater. Many Minnesota artists like to put on one man shows and rather than screech and throw chocolate on themselves (Karen Finley still annoys me), they tell stories. The audience pays to hear them talk about their lives as farm kids, their trips to Checkloslavakia or their dogs. The fun is inversely proportional to the tedium expected. These are great storytellers. They can make even the mundane seem fascinating.
   
   Kevin Kling will be compared to Garrison Keillor, but where Garrison Keillor is a laconic relief for harried New Yorkers selling a version of Minnesota where everything moves at a very slow pace, Kling is all ya sure and youbetcha Minnesota. Think Fargo (Special Edition) but without the murder. He talks about waiting by the radio for snow cancellations to come around to his school (something I remember doing many winter mornings. Sadly, I was living closer to the cities and the snow plows were much better at clearing away the snow than up in Osseo), his motorcycle accident, and seeing Ian McKellan in the traveling production of Richard III. Some stories are universal. SOme are indicative of Minnesota where everyone tries to get by without too much fuss (I tell you, the biggest culture shock in converting to Judaism was the practice of "kvetching". See a problem. Fix a problem. Don't worry about it.) including his comparison of waiting rooms in the North (no one really wants anyone to know what's going on) to waiting rooms in the South(even people who aren't there for anything will tell you their medical history) and some are just strange like his story of the performance artist in Checkloslavakia (a story that he's told many times but it gets funnier every time).
   
   All in all, this is a warm and weird collection of tales by a very decent and likeable individual. I can't recommend it enough. I also can't recommend it without also noting that this is the way many Minnesotans view themselves - direct, friendly and a little strange.



3. This is a very enjoyable audio book. Short tales of humor of a young boy growing up in the Mid West, Minnesota and Iowa. If you're from the Mid West or Mid Atlantic regions and grew up in the pre Vietnam area you will especially find these readings humorus and enjoyable. The auther read it with great expression.
   It's light and the chapters short...great for listing in the car while driving.



4. I wasn't sure what to expect from this CD. These types of books can run the gamut from overly emotional, profane, boring, or delightful.
   
   This audio version is mostly delightful. It's recorded by the author himself, which I always enjoy. While it might not be as polished as a professional narrator, you can hear his joy and familiarity with the story as he tells it.
   
   The stories are mostly about his growing up years in Minnesota, not recorded in any sort of chronological (or topical) order as far as I could tell. None are too light or too syrupy sweet. As I listened, I laughed aloud or grinned in recognition or shook my head in disbelief.
   
   I enjoy audiobooks, but if I listen for a while and then put it aside, I sometimes lose my place. Because it's a series of essays, this book is ideal for listening in short spurts -- before going to bed at night, or while running an errand in the car.



5. Kling has been a contributor to NPR for years now and his wonderful wit and delivery have made me an instant fan. There is an essential understanding of humanity, love and simple nature that gives a sense of truth to his stories. I got the book on cd instead of in the printed version and it was totally worth it. The author's narrative style and art of delivery are what make up so much of the wonder of his work. Like Garrison Keillor much of his stories and warm humor lie in his delivery and I am so glad to have the book-on-cd and have Kling's stories accessibe whenever I feel like it!

2 comments about The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement.

1. After meeting Mr. Zellner at a lecture on the enduring legacy of the Civil Rights Movement [CRM] I was very intrigued by the story of this white son/grandson of former Klansmen, who became one of the biggest advocates of the movement. In this book Bob shows his transition from a very curious and slightly confused college senior, to a full fledged freedom fighter. He does not idealize himself or the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee [SNCC], showing the tensions, fears, and doubts over everything from gender and race relations, to the basic theory of non-violence, as well as the intense brutalization they underwent in their quest for freedom. The story does not end with his departure from SNCC, but continues through his grassroots organizing efforts with GROW, to being abused by the NY State Police, and beyond. This is an amazing story, one that sheds so much new light on one of the most important eras of US history. The book is well written, highly readable, while reflecting the interesting southern sense of humor that seems so characteristic of Zellner. I would recommend this book to anyone, and would call it a must read for anyone with heightened interest in the CRM.



2. Mr Zellner, an early SNCC member, has contributed a wonderful account of the civil rights movement as it entered its post 50's phase seeking to confront southern apartheid in the front-line states of Alabama. Mississippi and Louisiana. As one of the few white SNCC field secretaries from 1961, Mr Zellner endured beatings and even torture in a Louisiana prison alongside his sometimes better-known colleagues. More than a simple narrative, however, the book has relevance especially today for those too young to remember that until only a generation ago, some people were not free in the South and as Mr Zellner reminds us, calling an African American "Mr" could earn a severe beating from the police. Partly because of the sacrifice and commitment of SNCC members working on cooperation with other rights organizations, now, we can proudly say "Mr President".
   
   Written as a memoir, "The Wrong Side of Murder Creek" is lively and informative and brings to life the excitement, hardships and dangers confronted by civil rights activists. It is a book which merits inclusion in US civil rights history as does Mr Zellner himself. His unique perspective as the son and grandson of devote Methodists and Ku Klux Klan members, Mr Zellner reminds us that standing up for what you believe in was and perhaps still is, dangerous but necessary.