FEBRUARY 2020 READS

FEBRUARY

TALLY: 71 Books -- 6 Autobiography/Memoir/Biography; 3 Art; 13 Children’s Literature; 1 History; 1 Journalism; 13 Nonfiction; 1 Novel; 22 Poetry; 2 Religion; 8 Short Stories; and 1 cookbook.

An Ongoing Read: The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook by Tisha Gondo Domingo, Jorell Domngo, Jeannie E. Celestial, Art Swenson, Romeo Roque-Nido, and Jaymar Cabebe (Rocketships and Wonderment, 2019). So far, I've made arroz caldo once, putong puti once and kutsinta six times :)

EZRA POUND and his world by Peter Ackroyd (biography with illustrations, Scribners, New York, 1980). Biography. Finished reading Feb. 12. Peter Ackroyd's treatment is outstanding, both well-considered and accessible. Reminded me of how, once, I found Pound's Cantos powerful enough to inspire one of my own "cantos" series.

In Praise of Fragments by Meena Alexander (Nightboat Books, 2020). Poetry. Read Feb. 13. The pang of reading Meena's last and posthumously-published book! Contains poems but also ink drawings: "when words flee from me / the light takes over // says the woman with tattoos." Unlike blurb-provider Kimiko, I don't find myself "whole and renewed" upon reading Meena's book. I find myself in renewed, including new, fragments. R.I.P. Poet.

A Catalog of The Miniature Book Competition compiled and edited by Frank J. Anderson (The Miniature Book Society, 1988). Size: 3” x 3”. Book Catalog. Read Feb. 14. Illuminating as regards miniature books. Also nifty to have a miniature catalog about miniature books.

AUDUBON’S BIRDS by John James Audubon (Running Press, 1992). Size: 2.75” x 3.25”. Excerpt--60 illustrated birds and observations--from Audubon's seminal gift, The Birds of America. Read Feb. 18. Grateful.

VARIATIONS ON PAINTING A ROOM: POEMS 2000-2010 by Alan Baker (Sky Sill Press, 2011). Poetry. Read Feb. 10. Fresh, vivacious, lyrical. Provides so much pleasure!

Wobble Factory by Anselm Berrigan (Absolute Slab Editions, 2019). Poetry. Read Feb. 10. Stellar poeticizing, as ever from Anselm.

A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce (Black Cat Press, Skokie, IL, 1983). Size: 2-1/8” x 2-5/8”. Fiction. Read Feb. 5. I was most impressed by G. Harvey Petty's Foreword which suggested the short story would have been improved if Bierce had deleted the last two lines -- I have never seen that type of editorializing before in a book's official intro. By the way, I agree.

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL by L.W. Bondy (Tabula Rasa Press/Miniature Book Society, 1987. Edition of 400). Size: 2-3/8” x 2.5”. History. Read Feb. 14. Reprint of speech delivered by then the world expert on miniature books at the 1987 MBS Conclave. I learned, among other things, of a gold bracelet decorated with 7 miniature books -- WANT!

Brown’s Best Bread Series—story booklets packed with each loaf of bread. A Dec. 11, 1926 drawing held for giving an automobile to the child holding the largest number of these booklets. Sizes: 2.25” x 3.25”. Children's Literature. Read Feb. 7. I appreciate the inclusion of literature in these types of commercial promotions.

Mrs. Tabby’s Noisy Children

The Bear Family at Home

In Fairy Land

All About Buster and Mowie

The Well-Versed Cat (Running Press, 1993). Size: 2-7/8” x 3.25”. Poetry. Read Feb. 27. It's genius, of course, this well-deserved homage :)

COLLECTED POEMS by Joseph Ceravolo, Edited by Rosemary Ceravolo and Parker Smathers (Wesleyan University Press, 2013). Poetry. Read Feb. 25. Talented and admirably went his own way:

AWAKENING and Other Poems by Frank Marshall Davis (Black Cat Press, Skokie, IL, 1978). Size: 2.25" x 2.75". Poetry. Read Feb. 6.

POEMS, 1957-1967 by James Dickey (Wesleyan University Press, 1958-1967). Poetry. Read Feb. 5. Skimmed most poems.

Johann Gutenberg: The First and Greatest Printer (The Press of Traci Ann Schori, Evanston, IL, 1994). Biography. Read Feb. 7. Size: 2.25" x 2-7/8"

GOLDEN TEXTS (E.P. Dutton & Co, nd). Size: 3.25” x 3-5/8”. Religious. Read Feb. 17

TURQUOISE: Some Facts by Robert F. Orr Hanson (Robert Hanson, 2004). Size: 3” x 3”. Essay. Read Feb. 15. The disquisition between "natural" and "stabilized" turquoise was a revelation for which I am grateful. Gorgeous design, too.

Sketches of New Orleans by Lafcadio Hearn (Hillside Press, 1964). Size: 2” x 2-3/8”.  Collection of five diverse Creole stories. Read/skimmed Feb. 18.

A Guide to Animal Tracks by Rick Imes (Running Press, Philadelphia/London, 1995). Size: 2.75" x 3.25". Non-fiction. Read Feb. 26.

The Plum-Stone Game by Kathleen Jesme (Ahsahta Press, 2009). Poetry. Read Feb. 13. Deceptively delicate--well-considered but not didactic, thus enjoyable, poems.

JOHN III, 16 (Philadelphia Tract Society, Philadelphia, PA, nd/vintage). Size: 2.5” x 3-7/8”. Religion. Read Feb. 5. I love this particular verse so ordered it for Miniature Book Library; it's a short story fictionalizing how the verse was applied in a person's life.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN Retold by Olive Jones & Illustrated by Francesca Crespi (Dial, New York, 1983). Size: 3.25” x 4”. Children's Literature. Read Feb. 21.

Andre Kertesz, photography book with text by Karly Borberly (Szentendre, Hungary, 1987). Size: 2.5” x 2.5”. Art. Read/viewed Feb. 4.

Latent Possibilities by David Kjellin (Timglaset Editions, Malmo, Sweden 2018. Visual Poetry. Viewed Feb. 21. I much enjoyed David Kjellin’s Latent Possibilities whose smart straddling of the digital and manual were provocative; I’m glad his Note was presented after and not before the images because I did wonder whether what I thought was digital was actually manual deletions and this wonderment proved he successfully manifested his concept. 

poetics@ edited by Joel Kuszai (Roof Books, New York, 1999). Poetics from the emails of a Listserve. Read Feb. 24. Many wonderfully witty missives before "mansplaining" became a more popular phrase. As I noted on Facebook, posting about it: “This 1999 book is exactly why I embarked on my anti-tsundoku project not to buy new books but spend the year whittling down the To-Read stacks crdammed en mi casa. It begins with Charles Bernstein recalling the days when email was a new thing—the fun of that dissonance does make me glad I had ot wait so long to actually read this old purchase. But boy what fun and great stuff are available in this book, perhaps more fun from decades away from their happening as their innate wisdom remains—here are excerpt sfrom an email by Dodie Bellamy … which remind me, too, as to why I don’t mind wallowing in obscurity. My soul not only is grateful but preens.”

Survival Guide to Rome by John P Lathourakis (signed. Tabula Rasa Press, Seattle, 1980. 215/300). Size: 2-3/8” x 3”. Travel Guide. Read Feb. 5. Forgettable text but gorgeous letterpress design.

THE RUBY published by Leavitt & Allen (New York, 1843). I bought this book when I mistakenly thought it to be a miniature. It cites no author and contains three stories; I read its first story "The Pensioner's Legacy"--nothing wrong with it but passed on reading the other two: "The Peacock" and "The Miller's Daughter."

If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2006). Autobiography. Nothing wrong with it per se but I didn't bother finishing it because, I suspect, I've binged on too many Netflix seasons in Alaska so these tales seemed predictable. To be donated to public library.

NEIGHBOR by Rachel Levitsky (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2020). Poetry. Read Feb. 12. Glad to see this book as I'd heard about and admired Rachel's project long beforehand. Love her premise which she describes as: "I've decided to use my obsession with my neighbor as the context for a discussion of the State."

John Foster and America's First Woodcut: 1670 by Herschel C. Logan (The Lyceum Press, Fullerton, 1988. Edition of 50). Size: 2-1/8” x 2-5/8”. History. Read Feb. 5. Entertaining and educational.

Love Letters (Running Press, Philadelphia/London, 1996). Size: 2.75" x 3.25". Correspondence  (biography). Read Feb. 28. Highlight was Auden's poem: "I'll love you till the ocean / Is folded and hung up to dry..."

Happily Ever Ek-Ek by Paolo Manalo (Gacha Press, Philippines, 2020). Poetry. Read Feb 26. Gift from the poet who's a sound artist with wit! Lub it!

PLAY FOR TIME by Paula Mendoza (Gaudy Boy, 2020). Poetry. Read Feb. 26. Such a stellar collection I decided to review it for The Halo-Halo Review. A lush, charismatic debut by this poet I now plan to follow.

Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting by A.A. Milne with illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard (Dutton, New York, 1968). Size: 2-5/8” x 3-7/8”. Children's Literature. Read Feb. 5. Charming.

SATURA 1962-1970 by Eugenio Montale, Trans. by William Arrowsmith (W.W. Norton, New York/London, 1971). Poetry. Read Feb. 19.

Our Native Songs: Choice Scottish Lyrics Edited by William Moodie (Wood Cover, David Bryce and Son, Glasgow, nd but antique). Size: 2.5" x 3-3/8". Music/Songsheets. Read/viewed Feb. 10. Technically, I skimmed vs. read. But I love it as it's my first wood-covered miniature book!

Table of Contents by Bruno Neiva (Timglaset Editions Malmo, Sweden, 2018). Conceptual Poetry. Read/viewed Feb. 21. As a long-time fan of Portuguese text artist Bruno Neiva, I’m so pleased to have a copy of his brilliant Table of Contents that, among other things, interrogates how we categorize each other.

The Story of Noah's Ark, illustrated by Helen Dardik (in box with cutout figurines, Running Press, Philadelphia/London, 2017). Book Size: 2.5" x 3". Religious / Children's Literature. Read Feb. 27.

THE LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orlean (Simon and Schuster, 2018). History/Journalism. Finished reading Feb. 2. The author's patience in conducting research and out-of-the-box thinking made this an extremely enjoyable read.

TRUE STORIES: The Narrative Project Volume II edited by Cami Ostma, Rebecca Mabanglo-Mayor, and Anneliese Kamola (Penchant Press Int'l., 2019). Short stories. Read Feb. 26.

ASTROPOLIS: Songs From A Neo-Futurist Opera by Astra Papachristodoulou (HVTN Press, U.K, 2018). Poetry. Read Feb. 21. I was delighted to see the inaugural release by a young British/Greek poet Astra Papachristodoulou—I found his sci-fi concept both chilling and moving -- as explained by the images I post. The pics presents Papachristodoulou’s premise but where the last page indicates the surfacing of astronoids, what the humans had attempted to bar as “protection”.

Club Without Walls: Selections from the Journals of Philip Pavia, Editor Natalie Edgar (Midmarch Arts Press, New York, 2007). Art/Memoir. Read March 7-10. Unexpectedly disappointed; methinks the writing style fell flat.

Piso's Remedy 1900s-Illustrated Nursery Rhymes (Warren, PA, 19002). Children's Literature. Read Feb 3. I'm somewhat fascinated with Piso from the early 20th century for producing books which serve also as advertisements for "Quack" products. Here, they intersperse testimonials for their products with children's rhymes--how sad if such were the only source of children's literature for many before printing technology made books less expensive. As images attest, more text is devoted to the ads than to the literature:

Queen Mary's Doll House Library (Glennifer Press, Scotland, 1991. 174/265). Size: 2” x 2.75”. Non-fiction. Read Feb. 18. A collectible that interested me most, to be blunt, because as a collector I wanted a book that was accepted for the Queen Mary Dollhouse Library:

Bound in real fine Scottish leather. Includes a tipped on color front illustration and also a printed notice that came with the book indicating that a presentation copy of the book was accepted for the personal collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

The Rolling Stones Book of Respect (Running Press, Philadelphia/London, 1996). Size: 2.75" x 3.25". Non-fiction. Read Feb. 26.

Mishka and the Magic Picture by Suzanne Smith Pruchnicki (signed, Bronte Press, 1984. 37/200). Size: 3” x 2.25”. Children's Literature. Read Feb. 18. Charming.

Letters to a Young Painter by Rainer Maria Rilke, Trans. by Damion Searles and with Introduction by Rachel Corbett (David Zwirner Books, curiously no date of publication is mentioned but known to be 2017). Correspondence. Read Feb. 3. A not-much known Letters book written towards the end of Rilke's life, which dilutes his calls for solitude in his better-known Letters to a Young Poet. Brilliantly conceived--quite educational. Appreciate Rilke's disquisition on the nature of cats and dogs, such that the "feline" character apparently fits the young painter Balthus--Balthus, who recognizes, that "the more you contemplate an object, the stranger it becomes."

NUTSHELL LIBRARY by Maurice Sendak (in box, Harper Collins, 1962). Size: 2-5/8” x 3-5/8”. Four books: ALLIGATORS ALL AROUND, PIERRE, ONE WAS JOHNNY, and CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE. Children's Literature. Read Feb. 5. I didn't grow up reading the works of Maurice Sendak so this provided me a chance to figure out his popularity. Well, he deserves his popularity. These were a charming read:

Constellations by Larry Sessions (Running Press, 1993). Size: 2-7/8” x 3.25”. Science and Myths it Inspires. Read Feb. 25.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY TODAY by Jaimie Sharpe (ECW Press, Toronto, 2012). Poetry. Read Feb. 10. Arguably my favorite poem innit happens to be its last "The Dun-dreary Arts."

Without A Net by Ana Maria Shua (Hanging Loose Press, N.Y., 2012). Poetry. Read Feb. 17. My favorite poet discovery of the year; as it's only February, I might include 2019...so, favorite poet discovery for past 14 months. I truly enjoyed this book:

MILK & HONEY by Carmen Gimenez Smith (The University of Arizona Press, 2013). Poetry. Read Feb. 10. I like lists as (auto)biography and she does it well in the poem "Parts of an Autobiography."

Songs of the Earth: A Tribute to Nature In Word and Image (anthology of quotes, Running Press, Philadelphia / London, 1995). Size: 2.75” x 3.25"

The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin (Scribner, New York, 2012). Novel. Read Feb 23. My friend and pastor Audrey Ward calls it "the first witness to a more authentic voice for Mary." I agree and recommend.

The Art of Van Gogh (Ariel Books / Andrews & McMeel, Kansas City, 1992). Size: 4" x 4". Art. Read/viewed Feb. 13.

The Six Swans (no named author, Weaver Piano Co., Inc., advertising book, seller believes it to be vintage 1930s). Size: 2.25” x 2.75”. Fiction. Read Feb. 14. Apt Valentine's Day Read. No named author but this "fairy tale" sounds familiar ...

INGRID JONKER: Poet Under Apartheid by Louise Viljoen (Ohio University Press, 2013). Poetry/Biography. Finished reading Feb. 13.

The Mini Book of SAINTS by Diana von Glahn (Running Press, Philadelphia, 2009). Size: 2.75” x 3.25”. Religion. Read Feb. 27.

BLINDSIGHT by Rosmarie Waldrop (New Directions, New York, 2003). Poetry. Read Feb. 4. An interesting premise.

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION by Rosmarie Waldrop (New Directions, New York, 2010). Poetry. Read Feb. 4. A poetry master ... though I found the book design distracting and wish it had been presented differently.

FDR’S LITTLE BOOKS by Francis J. Weber (Opuscula, Bradenton VT, 1991. Edition of 150. Signed by publisher Robert Hanson). Size: 2.25” x 2.75”. History. Read Feb. 15. Enchanting read of FDR's book collecting which was based mostly on love. It seems he ended up with about 15,000 books, of which about 750 were miniatures. I envy how, when he became President, people would send him mini books from their collections when they learned of his predilection :)

REMME’S GREAT RIDE by Budd Westreich (Signed. Press of Arden Park, Sacramento, 1983. 38/125). Size: 2.25” x 2.75”. Fiction. Read Feb. 7.

SHANGHAIED by Robert White Wirtz with illustrations by Marvin E. Smith (Black Cat Press, 1934. Keepsake volume of 425 copies of which only 75 were available for sale). Fiction. Read Feb. 14. Amusing.

Shanghaied by Robert White Wirtz (Black Cat Press, Skokie, IL, 1981). Size: 2” x 2.5”. Fiction. Read Feb. 27. Acquired miniature book version -- I like combinations of normative size and miniature size in my Miniature Book Library -- and found renowned miniature publisher Norman W. Forgue's Introduction also a fine read.

Catastrophe Theory by Susan Young (Hyacinth Press, 2012). Poetry. Read Feb. 10. I love how several poems incorporate algebraic formulas.

WORLD ATLAS (Running Press, 1995). Size: 2.75” x 3.25”. Atlas. Perused Feb. 18.