Reading about the reading life: May 12, 2024 edition

 

Welcome to another edition of "Reading about the reading life" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I collect stories about reading and the reading life. Basically, these are items related to reading, maybe writing and literacy, that I find interesting and think my four readers might find interesting as well with a little commentary. As with other features I do on this blog, I do it when I have time or feel like it. Comments are always welcome (within reason).

• Starting this month with a story in the bad economy. Constance Grady writing for Vox reports on the trash e-books on Amazon. It is perfect storm of problems featuring A.I. generated books, get rich quick scams, and Amazon not giving a shit since they can make money on it from their marks (oops, customers). As the article describes it, it is "a vast, hidden ecosystem centered on the production and distribution of very cheap, low-quality ebooks about increasingly esoteric subjects. Many of them gleefully share misinformation or repackage basic facts from WikiHow behind a title that’s been search-engine-optimized to hell and back again." This kind of development is not exactly helpful to the self-publishing cause by the way.
  
•  At Lit Hub, Maris Kreizman argues that publishers need to focus more on quality of the books they publish rather than the quantity. As a reader, like others out there I am sure, I have more than enough choices for what to read next. Finding the quality stuff is difficult enough without adding things like scam books written by A.I. (see story above) or just books that are not that good because some marketing guru who probably does not read figured a topic might stick, except the book will end up remaindered. Personally, I put a lot of effort on the sources I follow and read to decide what books I am going to read, plus as a librarian I do have access to various professional vetting options. Not everyone can say that, but I will say if you are a reader and need a bit of help figuring out what to read next you can always visit your local library, especially public libraries that tend to have librarians specializing in reader's advisory. On a small disclosure note, I do specialize in reader's advisory, but I don't get to use those skills as often in the academic setting, but that is another story. 
• Ariel Dorfman, writing for Lit Hub, wrote this interesting piece on "What Latin American Literature Can Teach The Current Leaders of Latin America." Dorfman offers some regional recommendations, a bit of reader's advisory, for Latin American autocrats and hombres fuertes. A few of these books would make good selections for any reader to expand their reading repertoire and learn a bit more about Latin America in the process. One of the bonuses of being educated as a youth in Puerto Rico is that I had to read a good number of Latin American authors, including some listed in the article. As an English major later on, studying literature, I did manage to sneak in a few Latin American selections into my electives when I could. Hey, it was literature, even if I had to read some in translation, but I digress. Some of the authors mentioned in the article I have read are Roque Dalton and Mario Vargas Llosa. I need to pick up the pace and read some more. 
• Nicolás Medina Mora, writing for Lit Hub, explores "Why are so many Mexican novels set in cantinas?" I admit this is not something I thought about until now, so it was worth reading. 
• Keith Roysdon, writing for CrimeReads, looks at "The Heyday of Pulp Fiction." This is a brief but nice overview of the genre from the 20s to the 50s or so. The emphasis is on some lesser known pulp fiction works. After all, even today many folks know characters such as The Shadow and Doc Strange, but there are many other characters to discover. 
• Public Domain Review looks at false translations and literary rip offs in "Pseudo-Boccaccio, Yiddish Pulp Fiction, and the Man Who Ripped Off Joyce." I found it interesting just for the fake Boccaccio stuff, but stay for the rest of the tale. 
• In Spanish, Lecturalia has a small article on the advantages and disadvantages of buying second hand books. In my case, I am more than happy to buy books second hand books. I am also happy to buy cartomancy decks used.
   

Book Review: The Mexican Witch Lifestyle

Valeria Ruelas, The Mexican Witch Lifestyle: Brujería, Spells, Tarot, and Crystal Magic. New York: Simon Elemental (imprint of Simon and Schuster), 2022. ISBN: 9781982178147.

Genre: Brujería, withcraft, magic, Mexican, Latino

Subgenre: guides and reference

Format: paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library

 

This book is a basic introductory handbook to Mexican brujería, but it can be practiced by others, especially in Latino communities. The book is divided into three major parts. Each part has chapters covering a broad range of topics. Some of the topics presented are: 

• Build your altar.
• How to do a spell.
• Limpias (cleansings).
• Tarot.
• Candle magic.
• Spells. 
• Santa Muerte.

 

The book also includes two appendices listing crystals and yerbas of brujería. It does not offer any bibliography nor works cited page; the text does not have citations really. The book has positive and negative elements. 

On the positive, it is very basic and easy to read, so it can be very accessible. It offers a large list of spells for various situations, and the instructions are fairly detailed. 

On the negative, for many of the rituals and spells you may need to have a botanica (a brujería supply store) nearby in order to get specific yerbas and other materials. You may or not be able to buy the supplies online. The issue of materials pricing is not discussed nor does the book really mention options for substitutions, say swap an ingredient for a cheaper one. This is a sharp contrast to books like Thrifty Witchery (link to my review). For a book written by someone who presents themselves as part of a common community, a bruja of the people, this seemed a bit of an oversight, especially in the Bad Economy we live in.

The Tarot section is, supposedly, based on the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) system. However, if you are looking to learn Tarot for the first time, this is not the book for you. What you get here are the author's own meanings of the cards, and they differ radically from traditional meanings. If you have studied Tarot, you will be able to see the contrasts. If you are new to Tarot, get yourself one of the various books on RWS available to learn the basics. For some cartomancers, it is fine to add your own meanings, but you should know the basics first in my humble opinion. Given this I do wonder where else the author has gone out of conventions, and I get the impression she does it to be different, which may or not be a good thing. 

The Santa Muerte section does not seem better. The author seems to take a few liberties with Santa Muerte and her concept as well. This is another topic I would suggest getting a specific work, for example Prower's Santa Muerte book (link to my review) or other experts. 

I do need to add that the book at times can get a bit preachy when it comes to leftist politics and activism. If that is an issue for you, then this might not be a book for you. Your craft can be as political or not as you wish to make it. The author here does lay it a bit thick, so I leave it for readers to decide if that is of interest or not. 

Overall, the book has a strong pop witch vibe to it. The material is very basic given it is a book for beginners, and that concept is fine. Still, the book seems to lack some depth and remains at a very superficial level. It feels like a book that witches more into the aesthetic than the hard work would grab. The author bio describes them as a Spotify 'celebrity tarot reader' and a Cosmopolitan influential witch. It shows in the book. 

I'd consider this very optional reading. With some research, you may be able to find better books on the topic. I do not recommend it for libraries, and I am not ordering it for our library. At best, this was just OK. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge: 

Book Review: LEWSER!

G.B. Trudeau, LEWSER! More Doonesbury in the Time of Trump. Kansas City, MO: Andrew McMeel, 2020. ISBN: 9781524859503.

Genre: comics and graphic novels, humor

Subgenre: politics and current events

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library. I did get an e-galley via Netgalley I was unable to access, so was not able to read it at that time. 

This is a collection of Doonesbury comics during the time of Trump.; many of the strips feature Trump as the protagonist. The volume then also looks at the regular Doonesbury characters living their lives and trying to cope and live in these Hard Times. 

This book is part of a Doonesbury Trump trilogy. I read the first volume, Yuge! (link to my review). The second volume is #Sad, and this book is the third volume.

On the one hand, there are some amusing moments in this volume. When the humor works, it works well. On the other hand, it can be painful to go read about the Trump administration. Those times may seem like a dark joke at times, but by now this book is a painful reminder of what was (and what could be again if Americans don't get their act together). To be honest, the best parts are the strips with the regular characters. A strength of the book is that it really captures the essence and mood of the time. 

Overall I liked this one. It is an easy read, relatively quick getting through it. I do always like the art in this series, especially when the author turns objects into people like the cigarette and now the Juul vape stick. Doonesbury does have a way to keep up with the times, but it does not always age well though.

3 out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenges: 

Short book review: Infernal Parade

Clive Barker, with illustrations by Bob Eggleton, Infernal Parade. Burton, MI: Subterranean Press, 2017. ISBN: 9781596068070.
 

Genre: horror and fantasy

Subgenre: short stories

Format: hardback

Source: Berea branch, Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

This is a small collection of stories that make up a novella. Clive Barker introduces Tom Requiem, who is spared from death and given a mission. His task is to bring back fear and awe to a complacent world. To do so, he leads the Infernal Parade. He goes around finding various characters who will be the entertainments of the parade. Each character gets a story. The book includes six stories. 

The stories are short and relatively easy reads. The settings range from the U.S. to fantastical long gone cities. The stories are a bit macabre but on the light side. They often feature some twist at the end. Overall, I liked the book, and it makes for an easy read during the Halloween season. Of course, you can read it at any time. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Media Notes: Roundup for April 2024

 

  

 

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during  April 2024.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available):

• The Batman (2022. Action. Crime. Drama. Comic books adaptation). Plot description: "When a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement." The latest, as of this post, take on the Batman character. The reviews I've seen of this have been mixed, so going in with low expectations. This is another story of Batman's early days, where he is still learning the ropes. We get a reference this is his second year on the job. Anyhow this is one seriously slow movie. In a nutshell, you could consider it as Emo Batman; to be honest, Pattison, who portrays Bruce Wayne/Batman is just as mopey as his character in the Twilight films, and not in a good way. One thing the movie does is pay some service to some of the comic book elements. Fans will recognize the details such as Bruce's father saving Falcone's life. In addition, it does play a bit more on Batman as a detective rather than just a larger than life hero. Also some of Batman's tech, such as the contact lens thing, is pretty cool, but otherwise the movie does not have much other than trying to be dark, edgy, and seriously moody. So it does a couple of things right, but overall, the movie just seriously drags. The film has some good ideas, but the execution is just too long, too pretentious. Not to mention at times the acting is just stiff, especially Pattison. An emerging pattern seems to be over time Hollywood tries to make Batman even darker and edgier, and the films keep getting worse as a result. This movie could have been better, but it just falls so very short. Not the worst I've seen, but gets close to one of the worst. You are definitely better off reading the comics. On a side note, the casting of Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman was nice, but not enough to make this film worth it. By the way, this is an almost 3 hours movie (clocks in at 2:56), and the story does not really justify the long running time. The melodrama is seriously excessive. On a side note, given all the plots they are trying to squeeze into the movie, this could have been two separate movies easily, at least, but that is another story. Naturally, they give hints for possible sequel, but I am not sure we will get one, and if we do, I am likely to skip it based on this mess. It feels barely OK, so 1.5 out of 5 stars barely. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/6.
• Mars Attacks! (1996. Comedy. Science Fiction. Spoof). Plot description: "Earth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor." I saw this around the time it came out, and I thought it was amusing. It has been a while, so decided to revisit.   I will say upfront part of the reason the film works well is the casting. It has some very serious actors doing some very funny things including Jack Nicholson (who does a double role, the president and briefly the character of Art Land in Las Vegas), Glenn Close, Rod Steiger, Michael J. Fox and others. The movie as a whole is amusing,  but it is not a big deal. It has some good humor, and some fairly slow parts. It is OK to watch late at night on cable. 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/6.
  
• The film is based on a trading cards series, Mars Attacks! 
• The Delta Force (1986. Action. Adventure. Drama). Plot description: "After a plane is hijacked by terrorists, The Delta Force is sent in to resolve the crisis." Chuck Norris along with Lee Marvin, always good in a movie, lead the Delta Force to the rescue along with a pretty good cast including George Kennedy, Robert Vaughn, and Susan Strasberg. Oh, Steve James is also in this, which adds another good reason to watch this. This is a Cannon film made by Golan Globus, so if you are a fan or familiar with Cannon, you have an idea what we are getting. A detail I find interesting in these 80s movies is the serious lack of security in airports and aircraft; such an innocent time when if anything the worse you had to worry about was being hijacked, the fear this movie plays on. Boy have things gotten worse. Also, there are only two hijackers on the plane initially; today the passengers would have rushed them (and no need for Delta Force, but if they did, no movie). The movie is a pretty good action film, though a bit slow initially, then really picks up the pace. In addition, they do play up the melodrama quite a bit. A pretty good feature of the film is the soundtrack; they do a good job using music for certain moments and moods. An issue is, at least for this print, when they talk in Arabic there are no English subtitles. You can sort of tell from context but no subtitles. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/13.
  

 Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• C.O.P.S. (1988-1989. Animated series. Police. Action. Humor. Children and Young Adult).  See my comment on this in the May 2019 roundup. I've been watching this in and out. I start this month on episode 52 (out of 65) as I continue catching up on watching the series this month.  
• This stage in the series there are some new cops in the rotation including Taser (a cop that flies with a flight pack) and Inferno (a fire specialist).
  
• Ice Road Truckers (2007-2017. Reality. Documentary). Plot description: "It features the activities of drivers who operate trucks on ice roads crossing frozen lakes and rivers, in remote territories in Canada and Alaska. Seasons three to six also featured Alaska's improved but still remote Dalton Highway, which is mainly snow-covered solid ground." Tubi brought in the History Channel series, all 11 seasons, and I started watching this month. Often what I find fascinating is not so much the drivers but the other details such as how the ice roads are built and maintained or other elements of the trade such as the diamond mining in Canada. Still, it can be entertaining overall. Started this month on Season 1. Finished Seasons 1 and 2.
  
• In Season 1, Episode 7, TJ, one of the truckers, has to be med-evacuated out of the ice road due to an injury that basically inflamed causing serious pain. As if that was not bad enough though, later as he is released from the local hospital, they explain how he lacks insurance, and now has a $12,000 medical bill, including the emergency air ambulance, so he is anxious to get back on the road to make up some of the money. That detail of lacking insurance really caught my eye. 
• Season 1 has 13 episodes, though the story of the season really takes 10 episodes. The last three episodes are a bit of filler looking at the history of the ice roads in episode 11 and then the truckers looking back in episodes 12 and 13. Episode 11 for me was interesting being a history episode; kind of television episode makes me want to find a book or two on the topic. 
• Had forgotten how this show at times likes a little navel gazing. Aside from the two last episodes of Season 1, which were looking back, Season 2 starts with another "let's look back at our first season." It is OK, but I am wanting to get on with it. After the looking back time, season 2 starts. They are further north than the first season now, so more dangerous. They are up in the Arctic Ocean now hauling supplies for energy exploration and natural gas drilling operations, and it is even colder; they were supplying diamond mines in the first season. 
• Hugh, Alex, Rick, and Drew return in the second season. Eric and Jerry are the two new guys this season. In Season 2 they are now up in the Canadian Arctic supplying oil and natural gas rigs while driving over parts of a frozen Arctic Ocean. 
• In Season 3, Alex and Hugh return to take on Alaska's North Slope with four new drivers. One of the new drivers is Lisa, introducing a female trucker to the regular cast. The show briefly highlighted a female trucker in the previous season for an episode, but Lisa is the first woman to be a regular on the show.
  
• NYPD Blue (1995-2003. Police procedural. Drama). I finished Season 5 and started Season 6.
• In Season 6 is when Detective Simone gets sick (spoiler: Simone dies), and Sipowicz gets another loss in the series that refuses to cut the man a break. Sipowicz will be getting now a third partner. The dream sequences others have of Simone when he is in the hospital, I realized the others are basically being prepared for the coming loss. A bit surreal and mystical even. Simone passes on at end of Season 6 Episode 5.
  
• Rick Schroeder (no longer Ricky) joins the squad in Season 6, Episode 6 as Detective Danny Sorenson to replace Detective Simone.
  
• Once more, in actors you may know from somewhere else. Danny Trejo makes an appearance as a suspect in Season 6, Episode 3.