Books
Books
Book note: Harry Boyte's "Citizen Solution," democracy at its driest
Harry C. Boyte’s The Citizen Solution: How You Can Make a Difference is not light reading by any means. Better suited for a morning in the library than a lazy afternoon in the garden or on the couch, it is written intelligently enough: the problem is, it’s dry. As sand. Fortunately, Boyte makes a world of sense, so it is well worth slogging through this vast, cerebral landscape to get to the point he’s bringing home. MORE »
Summer reads
Do you have a definition for “summer reading”? Some seem to suggest it is a quick, pulls-you-in, you-can’t-put-it-down read. Others might indicate it’s the time of year when a favorite author’s novel or a current 2008 book is waiting to be picked up for a relaxed read. MORE »
Book note: Wang Ping spans cultural chasm with "Last Communist Virgin"
Coffee House Press, based in Minneapolis, has an enviable track record for being a publisher where quality holds sway. May not sound all that remarkable on the face of it, but look at just how much inanity and vapidity makes it to market these days. CHP authors include the likes of iconic novelist John A. Williams (Clifford’s Blues), celebrated poet Patricia Smith (Teahouse of the Almighty), award-winning essayist Clarence Major (Necessary Distance), and more. The idea, says the Coffee House Press Web site, is to “[produce] books that present the dreams and ambitions of people who have been underrepresented in published literature, books that shape our national consciousness while strengthening a larger sense of community.” Accordingly, presented for your consideration is The Last Communist Virgin, a collection of stories by Minnesota Book Award winner Wang Ping. MORE »
Book note: Pious parable parses presidential politics
Recent political events have shown us that Americans are open to more than just the status quo. Minnesota elected the first Muslim to Congress, the Democratic primaries saw a woman and an African-American competing to be the presidential nominee, and environmental concerns have shown up on the political and corporate radar. With all this progress, the storyline in Minneapolis author Lisa Venable’s new book might not be all that far-fetched. The title? God For President: A Parable About the Power of Love. MORE »
