James Hilton meets the Karate Kid in this self-congratulatory account of an arduous trek across the roof of the world in search of a fabled warrior caste. A third-degree black belt in karate and an aerospace scientist, Logan is an able, if self-conscious, diarist who apparently never met a physical challenge she did not embrace. In an epic meander, Logan bicycles, hikes, and hitches rides throughout western China and eastern Tibet in pursuit of the fearsome yet elusive Khampas, formidable bandits who for many years harassed Communist Chinese troops along the Tibetan-Nepalese borders. Alas, happening upon only facsimiles of the real thing, Logan must content herself with the alternate goal of a pilgrimage to the holy city of Lhasa. Here, too, Logan's plans are repeatedly foiled by Chinese-dominated Tibetan officials. Her doomed attempts to outfox the authorities are ultimately exhausting to both writer and reader, as well as to various traveling companions lacking Logan's fierce singlemindedness. Tiring also is a literary contrivance inserted at indefinable intervals in which Logan recalls various karate drills replete with ``plunging punches'' and ``devastating counters.'' Yet Logan is undeniably an intrepid traveler, crossing cold, high, rugged terrain, frequently alone, sometimes in the company of Buddhist pilgrims and, later, Nepalese sherpas, encountering holy men, artists, ubiquitous and troublesome police, and occasional Western tourists who mostly elicit her scorn. Her depiction of this closed and remote region, while not unrivaled, is perceptive and convincing. Likeminded readers may find satisfaction in reading about Logan's mountain adventures, but for many, scaling her self- indulgent prose may prove to be hard work. (16 color photos, 5 maps, not seen) (Author tour)
Pub Date: Nov. 4, 1996
ISBN: 0-87951-643-7
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Overlook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s...
Music journalist and musician Wald (Talking 'Bout Your Mama: The Dozens, Snaps, and the Deep Roots of Rap, 2014, etc.) focuses on one evening in music history to explain the evolution of contemporary music, especially folk, blues, and rock.
The date of that evening is July 25, 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, where there was an unbelievably unexpected occurrence: singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, already a living legend in his early 20s, overriding the acoustic music that made him famous in favor of electronically based music, causing reactions ranging from adoration to intense resentment among other musicians, DJs, and record buyers. Dylan has told his own stories (those stories vary because that’s Dylan’s character), and plenty of other music journalists have explored the Dylan phenomenon. What sets Wald's book apart is his laser focus on that one date. The detailed recounting of what did and did not occur on stage and in the audience that night contains contradictory evidence sorted skillfully by the author. He offers a wealth of context; in fact, his account of Dylan's stage appearance does not arrive until 250 pages in. The author cites dozens of sources, well-known and otherwise, but the key storylines, other than Dylan, involve acoustic folk music guru Pete Seeger and the rich history of the Newport festival, a history that had created expectations smashed by Dylan. Furthermore, the appearances on the pages by other musicians—e.g., Joan Baez, the Weaver, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Dave Van Ronk, and Gordon Lightfoot—give the book enough of an expansive feel. Wald's personal knowledge seems encyclopedic, and his endnotes show how he ranged far beyond personal knowledge to produce the book.
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s personal feelings about Dylan's music or persona.Pub Date: July 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-236668-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dey Street/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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