No comments about Mary Douglas: An Intellectual Biography.

2 comments about Secret Places: My Life in New York and New Guinea (Living Out: Gay and Lesbian Autobiographies).

1. This book was written by a flagellant. Reading it is a painful experience.



2. In travels through faerie sanctuaries and other exotic lands, I've enjoyed the company of many unusual personalities. One of the most memorable is Tobias Schneebaum. Reading his latest book, Secret Places, has increased my sense of awe at the uniqueness of this man.

   Toby's fame results largely from a brief encounter (an unpleasantly personal encounter) with cannibalism in the 1950s. His free-wheeling explorations of the Amazon region, searching for a life more meaningful than accumulating money and possessions, led to an extended visit with the little-known Akarama tribe. Toby bonded strongly with the indigenous tribal men, who had little or no experience of modern culture. He found himself embraced as a temporary memory of the tribe, and was included both in headhunting expeditions and same-sex celebrations of body and spirit. On one occasion, a traditional ceremony culminated in eating the heart of a captured warrior from a neighboring tribe; it would have been impolite (and probably dangerous) to decline.

   His first book chronicling these and other adventures, Keep The River On Your Right, was published in 1969, and the book soon became a cult classic. Schneebaum became a rather unlikely, and somewhat notorious, celebrity. (Recently, the story has been retold and updated in a fascinating documentary film of the same name, now available on DVD and video - highly recommended.)
   Toby's latest book, Secret Places, is one of a series of gay and Lesbian autobiographies from the University of Wisconsin Press. About half the book consists of detailed and fascinating stories of Toby's adventures with the Asmat people of New Guinea. It is probably no coincidence that he describes Asmat stories and myths as "not following any particular pattern. They do not have a beginning; they do not have an ending." My perception may be colored by the way I met the author a few years ago at a dinner party in New York, but to me, the book reads like a transcribed dinner conversation. Unlike any other autobiography I've read, the style is remarkably non-linear. For example, details are often repeated from prior pages as if brand new, as they might be in casual conversation. I found this loose approach unusual, and most enjoyable.

   Jumping forward and backward in time and space, incorporating stories of his religious Jewish childhood, of New York friends succumbing to mid-80s AIDS, of aboriginal lovers in faraway lands, of missionaries bringing permanent change to ancient cultures, Toby regales the reader with episodes of his remarkable life. He is struck by the similarity between Catholic communion - eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ - and ritual cannibalism - eating the body and drinking the blood of conquered warriors. He chronicles a multinational company's bull-in-china-shop destruction of untouched wilderness among the Asmat, in an oblivious attempt to drill oil where only water exists. And he mourns the inevitable shift in artistic style among Asmat woodcarvers, from subtle hand-tooled techniques passed down from uncountable generations, to pretty but "soulless" items more easily sold to tourists for easy packing in their luggage or shipping home as excess baggage.
   Toby's book is a small but generous gift, offering a glimpse into cultures and climes few will ever experience (and none will experience in the state of preservation that still existed at the time of his youth). It is thrilling to read about Toby's apparently fearless adventures, to enjoy them vicariously through his memoirs. Don't miss this book, and if you ever get the chance to hang out and chat with 80-something Tobias Schneebaum, it will be time well spent.

   Reviewed By Mountaine in
   White Crane Journal
   A Journal on Gay Spirituality

No comments about Georg Simmel and the American Prospect.

No comments about De Tocqueville (Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought).

No comments about Anonymity: The Secret Life of an American Family.

No comments about Schneider on Schneider: The Conversion of the Jews and Other Anthropological Stories.

3 comments about A Place in El Paso: A Mexican-American Childhood.

1. The author titles her story "A Place in El Paso." Nevertheless, any of the following titles, "A Place in My Heart," "A Place in the Sun," "A Place in my Life," would had been appropriate as well. To the careful reader the story will bloom like a flower in his or her heart and soul.
   
   Even though the characters, the places, and the events are necessary to complete the gestalt of the story, the characters, and the events are not restricted to any particular place or to anyone in particular. It can happen anywhere to anyone.
   
   The careful reader will examine the story "A Place in El Paso" by looking below the surface, below the gestalt of the story in order to reach the nuances of Gloria's coming of age and survival. Moreover, the grammatical structure of the story is, symbolically speaking, a ticket for the reader to shadow, follow, and observe her life, and in doing so experience her innocence and get involved in the vicissitudes in Gloria's existence. The reader will witness and feel not only the tragic sad and heartbreaking moments in her existence, but the events that made her strong to endure the various disappointments and disillusionments while trying to find the right place in her life.
   
   I highly recommend this book whether you are Anglo, Black, Hispanic, and so forth; this story can very well be your story as well.



2. Beautifully told story of a young Mexican-American girl growing up in El Paso in the 1940s. Ms. Lopez-Stafford shares her recollections of her barrio and all it's colorful characters.



3. Great book, I read it for a Chicano Studies class but I enjoyed every moment of it. A good memoir for anyone interested in the daily life experiences of Chicanas in the U.S.

5 comments about Very Special People: The Struggles, Loves and Triumphs of Human Oddities.

1. I bought my paperback in 1976 or thereabouts, and have re-read it several times over the years. I teach middle school science and believe several of the chapters would make appropriate reading for youngsters especially since they address the issue of being different and still finding happiness and success.
   
   I was a kid myself when I first read this. And it's still good reading even though I'm now in my 40s.



2. First reading this book in the '70s, this was my introduction to Joseph Merrick; the "Elephant Man". Giants and dwarfs, siamese twins and bearded women, some of the most unique group of individuals you'll ever read about. And what may be surprising to many, is the normal lives most of them led. Romance, marriage and children are the evidence for most. Wonderful biographies reveal the very human side of these "Very Special People". My favorites were those surrounding America's first great showman, P.T. Barnum. Especially Tom Thumb. A fascinating read.



3. For all its faults, "Very Special People" is still a very readable, personable book. Cloyingly sentimental, it still has its charming moments.
   
   Each section gives background on how being very tall, very short, very hairy, or otherwise possessed of an unusual body happens and what it tends to mean to the owner of said body. Drimmer then gives profiles of famous folks who shared that unusual trait.
   
   A good book for youngsters, but able to appeal to adults as well.



4. I stumbled across this title secondhand somewhere, and what a find it is! It covers, with lots of photos, the lives of many famous and lesser-known people. Because it does such a good job of satisfying ordinary human curiosity, I would not recommend it to the very young and/or impressionable, as it could be haunting -- a small caveat, as most young folks who are able to read the engaging and straightforward text will probably be mature enough for the subject matter. There is also an interesting introduction, covering the language and background of the field of "special people" ("Odd Man Out," "The Comprachicos," "Motives for Wonder," "Ugly Words," etc.). The chapter headings include: "Chained for Life," [conjoined twins]; "Armless and Legless Wonders"; "The Hairy People"; "The Little People" [including Tom Thumb & Lavinia Warren]; "There Were Giants in the Earth"; "Fat and Skinny"; "An Odd Lot" [including Zip the Pinhead]; and "Very, Very Special People" [including the Elephant Man]. Truly a fascinating book about real people.



5. I found Very Special People when I was browsing through a book store.....I had to stop and pick it up to look at it. Low and behold one of my ancestors was listed in the book!!!!! What we knew about Matthew Buchinger, was that he was my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great (yes 6 greats) Grandfather, was that he was born without arms, was an excellent draftsman, had a coat of arms, had a daughter named Anne ( who married John Poole), that he was called the 'little man without arms' and that he lived and in Ireland, and died in 1739. Very Special People has a picture of a drawing of Matthew Buchinger on the seventh page from the end of the picture section. It says the he was also legless! (he was called the little man!), married four times and that he had 11 children! I need to learn more about Matthew Buchinger! Where can I find more information? Please e-mail me If you know where or how I could search to locate more.

4 comments about Ten Sisters: A True Story.

1. This is a fabulous book. I happened to see a documentary on PBS about this family. So after watching it, I checked out Amazon to see if there was a book, also. I ordered the book and read it in 1 day. I could not put it down. Highly recommended!!



2. I became interested in "Ten Sisters" when I noticed that the story took place in my home state of Illinois, but specifically central Illinois. I just graduated from EIU which is located in Charleston and just next door to Mattoon. Reading about the Waggoners in those towns was such a joy, but meeting nine of the sisters was an even greater honor. They signed my book at the mall in Mattoon and were extremely gracious at my interest in their stories. I wasn't able to finish the novel before I met them, but even so, reading the chapters after I had met the authors gave the book a personal touch. I was in disbelief at some of the personal trials they went through. It is amazing that any of them survived so much heartache and uncertainty! My favorite aspect of the book is how Jenny and the older sisters wrote about the same period of time, but by the time you get to Vera's, Audrey's, and Doris' chapters, you are set in a completely different timeframe with completely different lifestyles. It is amazing how so many different stories come out of one very close, very special family. They told me that they will be coming out with an audio version of the book and they'll be featured in a popular women's magazine in Nov. or Dec. I'll be sure to check it out, and you should too!



3. I really don't like to read...let alone do a report on something that I have read! I don't know why, but I actually like doing it for this book...... It has some really funny, sad, and just odd things in it. I mean who would have a pet goat as a kid? I am in Highschool and lots of my friends and teachers were all dying to read this book. I would sit in class and read bits and pieces and the kids around me would always want to hear more...it was weird! Stuff like having a boxing ring in the front yard, or ten sisters sleeping in one bed not knowing who wet the bed in the morning...for some reason that sparked their interest???? Then there was the sad stuff in the book that was described in detail. It really made me learn a lot more then I already knew about these ladies, it's like stepping into their shoes (although they didn't wear them too often) I really like the book, after I read it there were just soo many things to tell about it in the report I did for my sophmore English class that it ended up getting an "A"...which is odd for me! :) This book is great...there are just soo many things to like about it, so many stories. The part I really like about the book though was that sometimes the sisters had different view points about the story, it was kinda neat to see what each one said about certain things...if they remembered or included it. And living in Iowa, it was a big highlight of my life...not many things can do that here! thanx-AM



4. Courage comes at an early age... these women had it in 1942 and even today display that same courage. As I know each one of these women personnally, my review may be a bit biased...but anyone that reads this work will see that I am only telling the facts. Each sister is a remarkable work of art. This book is a true "Love story" about "Family" and the meaning it gives to our lives. "Divided" as a family at such an early age has given great meaning to "togetherness" as each sister worked their way from mid 20th Century to present day.... Their style of writing is free and bold as they tell of perceptions and feelings. Just to get ten sisters to sit down and author a book together is almost fiction. Yet again their spirit of "one for all" won out, and I, a reader won too. This book is "true LIFE" at its worst, and best

No comments about Stowaway.