• Home
  • About

Jack Shalom

~ Musings, Memories, and Magic

Jack Shalom

Tag Archives: B. Traven

Book Nook (6)

28 Friday Sep 2018

Posted by Jack Shalom in Books, Life, Writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

A Walk in the woods, Anne Tyler, authors, B. Traven, Bill Bryson, book, books, Bruce Kayton, Clock Dance, Government, Jennifer Tepper, novel, Radical Walking Tours of New York City, review, The Untold Stories of Broadway, writing

pile of books

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

***

For the past decade or more, my reading habits have been very cyclical: for months at a time, I can’t seem to pick up a book, and then all of a sudden, something will kick in and I’m reading a lot. So, since it’s been a while since I’ve done a non-magic edition of Book Nook, here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed reading lately:

Government by B. Traven

This is the first of the mysterious B. Traven’s Mexican “Jungle novels” a sharply provocative and humorous set of novels set in Mexico just before the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. This initial book is a masterpiece of dry humor and wry observation. It’s major subject is the petty and not-so-petty corruption of government officials at every level of society. But Traven makes clear that the corruption of the local officials in their drive to exploit every peso and drop of sweat out of the local Indian population is just a reflection of the larger overall exploitative capitalist system happening on the national level. The author pulls no punches and names things for what they are. It’s a system where friends and family catapult you into power, but you must always watch your back or you’ll get stabbed by one of them. The parallels to today couldn’t be more apt or timely. This is a book that shows you the blueprint. Especially remarkable as well is a contrasting passage where Traven describes how the tribe of local Indians choose their leaders democratically, in a way that ascribes grave responsibility and accountability to the chosen one.

***

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

I enjoy Anne Tyler’s novels because when reading her books, I get the sense that she is in no hurry.  She’s a writer who knows that after this one’s finished she’s going to write another one, and the current one is a wave in the larger ocean of her work. She doesn’t feel that she has to put everything she knows in one book. So this story is a small one of a woman’s life viewed at several milestone years. Externally, not a lot happens. But we see how a child of promise slowly has her options closed off as life proceeds and what it might take to find some sense of freedom in the end. Tyler’s characters always feel real enough so that you feel a sense of loss when a book is over, loss for the people who you have met in the course of reading the novel.

***

Radical Walking Tours of New York City by Bruce Kayton

It’s rare that one can read a guide book straight through like a work of fiction, but Radical Walking Tours of NYC is one such book. It takes us on over a dozen walking tours of several neighborhoods of NYC, and vividly depicts the rich labor and political history of this city which has been home and host to so many great figures and stories. Along the way you’ll learn a lot about history they never told you about in school. Whether it’s the location of Allen Ginsberg’s apartment or Emma Goldman’s massage parlor, you’re sure to find out something new here. Bruce Kayton is well qualified for the task as he for many years led such tours through the city.

***

The Untold Stories of Broadway by Jennifer Ashley Tepper

Years ago, Mary Henderson wrote a seminal work on the history of New York City Theater buildings, The City and the Theater, and now Jennifer Ashley Tepper has come out with an oral history of the people who worked and performed in those buildings in The Untold Stories of Broadway.  The multi-volumed series is organized by theater building, and in each chapter the people who worked in each theater on various productions tell what it was like to be part of that experience. The author has interviewed scores of people. The work is valuable in the 360-degree view that the book gives you of theatrical production. So, for example, in a chapter on the Shubert Theatre, you not only get the point of view of the actors who worked on such shows as Spamalot, Rent, and A Chorus Line,  but you also get commentary from the house manager and even the concession stand operators. You’ll also learn a lot about the physical layout of each theatre, and why some theaters are suitable for one kind of show, while other buildings are better for other kinds.These stories are not necessarily juicy remembrances of gossip, but honest, workaday accounts of people’s experiences from the inside. Many books purport to give a “backstage” view–this one really does it. Highly recommended for Broadway Babies.

***

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

For years, my friend Tom has been trying to get me to read Bill Bryson’s books, and now I finally understand why he is such a fan. Bryson is a very entertaining writer and this account of his attempt to walk the Appalachian trail is a fun read. A gentle humorist in the vein of Dave Barry, Bryson takes you along his sometimes grueling hike, and introduces you to a wonderful set of characters, both those who join him to walk the trail, like his unprepared but faithful companion Katz, and the variety of hikers he meets along the way. Bryson is funny, but he also succeeds at communicating the awe-inspiring nature of the path, and the sheer doggedness and courage it takes to accomplish completing the trail. At times, the tale proves unexpectedly touching. For myself, I was very happy to sit in my easy chair and nod my head saying to myself, “Yup, that’s why I’m sitting here.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Google
  • Email
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn

Like this:

Like Loading...

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Jack Shalom on WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • Dar Williams: When I Was A Boy February 22, 2019
  • School Of Rock February 21, 2019
  • Aqua Vitae February 20, 2019
  • Standing Rock February 19, 2019
  • “And The Walls Came Tumbling Down” February 18, 2019
  • “That Was Not A Compliment”: The Smothers Brothers February 17, 2019
  • Online Ordering February 16, 2019
  • (Un)Acceptable Losses February 15, 2019
  • All I Want February 14, 2019
  • That’s What They’d Like You To Believe February 13, 2019
  • Just Deserts February 12, 2019
  • Gold Dust At My Feet February 11, 2019
  • Sunset February 10, 2019
  • Shin Lim Meets Larry King: Hilarity Ensues February 9, 2019
  • The Times They Are A-Changin’ February 8, 2019
  • Star Wars Subway Car February 7, 2019
  • Texting For Godot February 6, 2019
  • Royal Flush February 5, 2019
  • Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes February 4, 2019
  • Fourth World Problems February 3, 2019
  • “A Wise Word…” Sholom Aleichem February 2, 2019
  • A Trip Through New York City: 1911 February 1, 2019
  • Watch Dog January 31, 2019
  • The Psycho Psychiatrists January 30, 2019
  • Round The Bend January 29, 2019
  • I’ll Follow The Sun January 28, 2019
  • The Stooge January 27, 2019
  • The Scorpion And The Tortoise January 26, 2019
  • Essential Non-Essentials January 25, 2019
  • “We Think You’re Just Sensational” January 24, 2019
  • Hit Or Myth January 23, 2019
  • A Hole In The Fabric Of Time And Space January 22, 2019
  • Musical Seasons January 21, 2019
  • “They All Want To Play Hamlet” January 20, 2019
  • Brother Theodore Vs Jerry Lewis January 19, 2019
  • A Face In The Jar By The Door January 18, 2019
  • Dish Engaged January 17, 2019
  • Learning French: Eddie Izzard January 16, 2019
  • Eco-Shakespeare January 15, 2019
  • “So Hoist Up The John B. Sails” January 14, 2019

Blogroll

  • (Roughly) Daily Everyday, two linked ideas, sure to fascinate
  • Alec Nevala-Lee Daily thoughtful literary essays
  • Anatomy of Teaching Reflections on teaching–practice, research and bureaucracy. John S. Macnab
  • Asylum Reviews of contemporary literature from around the world
  • Devoted to Movies Literate film review site
  • Diane Ravitch's Blog Indefatigable blogger re education issues. Takes on the charter school vultures, champions public education
  • Flavorwire Always something interesting here
  • Good Music Speaks a tasteful classical music blog
  • Great Reads
  • Learn Fun Facts Everyday, a new funny quote, puzzle, wordplay, or mathematical curiousity
  • Marilyn Vogt-Downey Radical Politics
  • maryxo music, art, sex & nerd culture from omaha
  • O at the edge Photography, poetry, language
  • RhysTranter.com Essays everyday on film, writing, and art
  • Scribblings Writing, Classics, Theatre, Books, Reviews
  • Street Photography Wonderful photography site. Consistently takes the photos I wish I had taken!
  • Systemic Disorder Brilliant economic analyses in everyday language
  • The Houdini File Excellent weekly magic blog by David Saltman
  • The Immortal Jukebox Music and Popular Culture
  • The Improvised Life One of my favorite blogs ever. Every day a new post on living spontaneously.
  • thepowerofwonder Magic, science, wonder
  • Wild About Harry Everything Houdini, including original historical investigations

Categories

  • About the Blog
  • Books
  • Comedy
  • Life
  • Magic
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Photography
  • Theatre
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing

Archives

  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014

Categories

  • About the Blog
  • Books
  • Comedy
  • Life
  • Magic
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Photography
  • Theatre
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing

Tags

acting animals art Arts Express birds Bob and Ray Bob Dylan book books cabaret card magic cards cartoon cartoons Central Park Christmas comedy comic contest dance education Everything Old is New Again film folk interview jazz Johnny Carson life Lynda Barry magic magician magicians Marlys MonaLisa Twins movie mural music nature New Yorker novel painting Paul Simon performance Phil Ochs photography poem poetry politics production radio review revision rock Roz Chast satire school sculpture Shakespeare sign sleight of hand song songwriting sonnet street life street photography subway teaching television theater theatre The Beatles The New Yorker Union Square WBAI writing

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: