(#27) / The Far Side Observer / by Gary Larson / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

The Far Side Observer / by Gary Larson

ISBN-13: 978-0836220988 / Andrews McMeel Publishing

p. 104/ $9.99 (Amazon)

1987

Body of Content 

Summary: The Far Side is a comic strip that features one-box, one-off entries – as opposed to multi-box, serialized comics like Garfield or Peanuts.  Often, the premise of the cartoon resides below the picture, which helps the reader understand the basic notions, setting, occasion of the humorous attempt.  Larson’s content contains references to pop culture, anthropomorphic assertions, historical do-overs, along with themes of psychology and science. Cartoonist Larson contains his own unique artistic style – particularly with human characters that visually represent an unpolished uniformity to them.  Some cartoons contain only a handful of words; other entries contain a brief paragraph of dialogue.  This particular volume of work is a collection of early comics (more accurately, the eighth collection) from the syndicated series – totaling a little over a hundred individual entries.     

Critique: Many of the comic entries have anthropomorphic notions and dialogue attached to them.  Larson draws animals in human settings – and then he points out the absurd parallels.  One entry has a group of penguins standing around a dead penguin (like at a crime scene) – with a penguin plainly stating, “He’s dead, all right – beaked in the back … and, you know, this won’t be easy to solve” (1987, p. 11).  As a premise, Larson points out the uniformity of penguins (i.e. the indistinguishableness of their black-and-white appearances) and he does so in other comics, too (cf. 1987, p. 53). 

Often, the humor draws parallels between human and animal kingdoms.  For instance, one entry shows a woodchuck staring into an open refrigerator – staring at various sizes of sticks and logs (1987, p. 36) – thus showing the commonality of late-night meals between the species. 

Virtually any animal (snake, shark, chicken, etc.) can serve Larson’s musing.  One cartoon shows chickens standing in a circle around a cooked turkey – with the chickens wearing hoods, only beaks visible – then contains just two words for a premise: “Chicken cults” (1987, p. 91).  In this way, Larson alludes to animals having religious capacities – clearly a human activity – thus an example of anthropomorphism.      

Teaser: “A collection of comics – random and humorous – one The Far Side comic demonstrates that even penguins need their C.S.I. skills – if they’re going to solve this fowl murder.”

Information about the Author: The Far Side is the brain child of Gary Larson – who, now retired, wrote the comic syndicated strip in the 1980s and 1990s.  Over the years, Larson generated enough material for 23 compilation books – selling over 45 million copies.  Although the series ended in 1995, Larson released a compilation calendar (one-comic-per-day) in 2006 that accumulated 3 million in total sold units.  Larson is an animal enthusiast – and contains a fervent belief in the conservation and protection of endangered species – leading him to donate $2 million dollars from the calendar project to a like-minded charity – Conservation International – which protects endangered tigers, elephants, crocodiles, etc. throughout southeastern Asian countries (Weise, 2006).        

Supplemental Material

Genre: Humor

Curriculum Ties: Art – drawing, humor, dialogue  

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Looking for random, cerebral, and/or comic musings? The Far Side really does come from the far side of reality.

Reading Level: The jokes have a certain cerebral quality to them – requiring older teens as an audience – to begin to appreciate them. Best for latter ages (16-19).

Challenge Issues and Defense: Challenges are always possible for humor genre – as a joke may not lend itself to everyone’s social mores, etc.  The comic strip does contain some sexual innuendo – but the language is pretty safe.  The humor genre also protects the work – since works involving satire are often viewed more generously.  

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: A thoroughly funny comic strip, The Far Side is a cult classic.  

Last Thoughts

References:

Weise, E. (2006). Larson is drawn to the wild side [Newspaper article]. Retrieved from

http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-11-20-larson-cover-usat_x.htm

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Meredith Andrews / Album – “As Long As It Takes”  

(#26) / “Under the Radar” / (published) by Mark Redfern & Wendy Lynch Redfern/ (Magazine)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Under the Radar / (published) by Mark Redfern & Wendy Lynch Redfern

ISBN: 7447056683 / Under the Radar LLC

p. 97 / $5.99 (Retail)

2011 (July issue)

Body of Content

Summary: The YA magazine covers the music industry – though mostly the indie music scene.  The magazine features a dozen or so interviews with musical bands – mostly short interviews covering one to three pages.  Most of these interviews converse with the chief songwriter/singer – and not necessarily with the entire band.  These shorter entries still have a significant amount of photos (one to five photos) per interview – with the text to photo ratio around an equal 1:1 portion.  Each issue also features a longer, more formal interview – lasting five+ pages.  This July issue, Under the Radar talked to Annie Clark from the band St. Vincent.  The magazine contains a handful of other types of columns – including a section called “Digital Sampler” – which allows readers to digital hear (and/or download) musical tracks online with a magazine-provided password.  At the end of the magazine, over 10 pages are devoted to reviews – mostly music CDs, tracks, etc. – though some books, DVDs, and video games are also reviewed.   

Critique: For such a small production – started by a husband and wife versus a major publication company – the magazine is of good quality.  Under the Radar knows its target demographic – an audience mostly made of late teens and young adults.  The magazine represents a nice, balanced ratio of text to photo – (i.e. narrative to visual).  It is not overwhelmed by ads – nor does it read like a musical version of the Wall St. Journal.

The magazine offers a nice intentionality to its presentation.  It does provide a great deal of personal information about musical acts.  But it also offers an immersive amount of industry information – regarding new releases, album reviews, and sampling venues – making it a great source of functionality for reader advisory purposes.

Overall, magazines as a genre do not reflect the expertise of a journal article – or the comprehensiveness of a printed book – or the artistic aspirations of cinema.  But as a magazine, Under the Radar does a thorough job on providing interesting information.  And as such, looking more closely at the interviews, their feature article – an interview with Annie Clark of St. Vincent fame – demonstrates some interesting information.  The article talks about the process of recording, her song inspirations, the relationship between her third (new) album and her two prior releases, specific song details, and even biographical information including her formal education at Berklee College of Music in Boston and theories regarding the band/project’s name.  Though it may lack (compared to other formats) in particulars – or in scope – or in multimedia – Under the Radar is still a worthwhile read.

Teaser: Did you know that one of the tour musicians for Sujian Stevens also has a solo career?

Information about the Author: The magazine was founded in 2001 by Mark Redfern and Wendy Lynch Redfern – who have since married each other in 2007.  Mark is the senior editor of the publication, while Lynch controls the visual elements – photography, layout, etc.  The magazine mostly covers the American music scene – but special edition have also covered Canadian independent music – along with British pop acts (Wikipedia, 2011).

Supplemental Material

Genre: Indie Music / Popular Culture

Curriculum Ties: Music – industry information, band bios / Journalism – photography, writing styles

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Would you like a music source that provides sampling opportunities to quality bands – bands you might not have heard of – that are Under the Radar? 2) Have you ever wondered what inspired the lyrics to your favorite song – or performed the occasion for the composition of your favorite indie rock song? Under the Radar might just provide those answers.   

Reading Level: Usually teens need a little time to develop more independent music sensibilities – making this magazine more particular to teens 15-19 – than middle-school-aged teens.   

Challenge Issues and Defense: I did detect some language in the ads.  Magazines are hard to generalize – since each issue provides new content – and new opportunities for challenges.  The magazine appears as a lighter-toned “Rolling Stone” magazine – marketed towards teens – and generally should not represent too many challenge concerns.  Further, the advertisements within the magazine did not appear overly sensual or sexual in tone or content.   

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: I wanted a neutral magazine – not target to only boys or only girls – and this magazine helped accomplish this desire.

Last Thoughts

References:

Wikipedia. (2011). Under the Radar [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Radar_%28magazine%29

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Shaded Red / Album – “Shaded Red”  

(#25) / Around the World the 80 Days / by Jules Verne / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Around the World the 80 Days / by Jules Verne

ISBN-13: 978-1936594610 / Tribeca  

p. 152/ $6.66 (Amazon)

Reprint 2004 / Original 1873

Body of Content

Summary: Phileas Fogg is a well-off Englishman who takes a bet from equally affluent friends.  The bet centers on a recent newspaper article which boldly states that rail improvements in India make it possible for a traveler to circumnavigate the world within 80 days.  His friends respond to the impossibility of the task, while Fogg holds the venture as viable.  After the settling of a handsome wager of 20,000 pounds, Fogg leaves London, England – traveling east.  As the story unfolds, Fogg must take railroad, steamboats, and even pack animals in his attempt to reach his home country within the 80-day wager.  But Fogg does not travel alone – as a personal assistant by the name of Jean Passepartout accompanies him.  As the clock ticks, Fogg must literally race around the world in an adventure that few people will ever attempt.   

Critique: While the novel is somewhat dated – having technology and customs set in the latter half of the 19^th century – the work still is a readable title – and a classic, too.  As the themes of travel, geography, and culture dominate the text, these themes bear interest, though, across a wide demographic.  Currently, CBS contains two reality TV shows – both long-term success over the better part of a decade – in Survivor and The Amazing Race.  The latter title is a modern-day adaption of the Verne’s novel – though with more emphasis on performing various feats, quests, games, tasks along the circumnavigation.  Also, the global contest is a personal contest – not only against the clock – but against other competitors – i.e. other teams.

Great literature embodies universal themes and invites copycats.  While The Amazing Race is a well-run show on its own merits, it does owe homage to the premise of Verne’s older work.  And both titles attempt to explore humanity as much as they explore the natural world – often doing so at the same time.          

Teaser: Phileas Fogg attempts to travel around the world.  But with the deadline looming, can he make good on his adventurous wager?

Information about the Author: Jules Verne was a French author during the 19^th century and early 20^th century – mostly writing in the science fiction genre.  Adam Charles Roberts termed Verne “The Father of Science Fiction” – alongside two other greats (Gernsback and Wells) in his work, The History of Science Fiction (2007, p. 48).   

His notable works include A Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, The Mysterious Island, and The Archipelago on Fire (Wikipedia, 2011).  Many of his works focus on technology and modes of transportation – from balloons – to submarines – even to spaceships.  Overall, the author is heralded as the second most translated author throughout the world – only trailing mystery writer Agatha Christie (Wikipedia, 2011).  

Supplemental Material

Genre: Adventure / Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Sociology/History – culture, travel, transportation modes, imperialism

Booktalking Ideas: 1) If you were to travel around the world, what person(s) would you decide to travel with?

Reading Level: The novel is a shorter work.  It allows more readers into the book given a low entry-level grammar, writing style.  The book is easily appropriate for younger teens (13-16).

Challenge Issues and Defense: The book is not very objectionable – but given the timeframe – as Verne wrote it in the late 19^th century – it represents some cultural and historical assumptions of imperialism.  The classic stature of the book helps a librarian defend it.  Any archive of Western culture likely contains Around the World in Eighty Days.  

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: This is a literary classic – and I included it for the purposes of adding more classics to the project.  The ending to the novel, in particular, represents a must-read experience for any teenager.

Last Thoughts

References:

Roberts, A. (2007). The History of Science Fiction. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wikipedia. (2011). Jules Verne [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Jules_Verne

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Live / Album – “Live at the Paradiso (Amsterdam)”  

(#24) / Ordinary People / by Judith Guest / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Ordinary People / by Judith Guest

ISBN-13: 978-0140065176 / Penguin (Non-Classics)

p. 272 / $10.20 (Amazon)

1976

Body of Content

Summary: The Jarretts are the everyday family – typical Americans through-and-through.  But circumstances change for the family, as their older son (Buck) dies in a water accident, while the younger son (Conrad) escapes the drowning fate of his brother.  Filled with survivor’s guilt – as he, the younger, less strong of the two brothers – Conrad struggles to deal with the tragic event.  Ultimately, Conrad attempts to take his own life, cutting his wrists in the family’s bathroom.  His parents – Calvin and Beth – seek out professional counseling services for their son – turning to psychiatrist Dr. Tyrone Berger.  Other friendships develop – Jeannine Pratt as a love interest and Joe Lazenby as a sport buddy on Conrad’s swim team.  But the road to recovery is a long one – as Ordinary People describes how a typical family deals with the unexpected and tragic events that enter their lives.

Critique: The book is a psychological book – well versed from the author’s educational major in college.  One of the reoccurring themes in the book is shame – how Conrad must deal with it and learn to overcome it.  Having attempted to kill himself in the family’s bathroom, that room holds a connotation of shame – as Conrad’s parents discovered him there – bleeding to death.  Conrad bears the physical scars of his suicide attempt – often wearing long shirts to hide the marks.  Dealing with self-esteem and self-identity issues, Conrad doubts his ability to find love, though one character (Jeannine) helps him in this regard.  Still, their relationship is often talked about within sessions with Dr. Berger.   

The novel deals with grief, death, and loss – but given that the main character must strive to find a way to live with the events – with both his brother’s death and his ill-fated attempt – the novel deals with shame.  Through the constant physical reminders and embarrassment, Conrad must overcome the shame that overshadows a person when they fail at suicide – and more questions than answers enter the equation.      

Teaser: “After a family loses their son in a water accident, they must face the prospect of losing their other son who survived.”

Information about the Author: Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Guest studied English and psychology at the University of Michigan.  Shortly thereafter, she married, started teaching a first-grade elementary class, and had her first of three sons.  Guest faced rejection for publishers earlier in her ventures into novel writing – with one publisher rejecting the manuscript for Ordinary People saying, “While the book has some satiric bite, overall the level of writing does not sustain interest and we will have to decline it” (Guest, 2005).

But one publisher did pick up the novel – and Viking Press followed by printing her second novel Second Heaven.  With various publishers, Guest further her writing credits – with the works Killing Time in St. Cloud, Errands, and The Tarnished Eye (Guest, 2005).  

Supplemental Material

Genre: Drama

Curriculum Ties: Psychology – suicide, recovery, self-esteem, survivor’s guilt  

Booktalking Ideas: 1) If your sibling died in the same accident that you survived, how would you react? 2) How do attempted suicides affect surrounding family members?

Reading Level: The main character is a teen – and about survivor’s guilt – and thus, it represents a problem novel dealing with teen suicide.  Teenagers throughout high school (15-19) represent the intended audience.  This book would prove difficult, though, within a lower educational setting – if attempted for educational use in middle school, given the premise.  

Challenge Issues and Defense: The book deals with a teenager’s life – after an attempted suicide effort.  The book, thus, contains a heavy premise.  The main character in the book also talks about his sex life and habits in the novel within discussions with his therapist. The film adaption won the best picture award from the Academy – and overall, the work is known as a novel of merit.  Such supports help defense of the book. 

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: The book is very simple – (i.e not overly dramatized like some problem novels) – but the novel is well-written.  The author portrays a complicated issue – as the reader wants the best for the character, as his story develops.

Last Thoughts

References:

Guest, J. (2005). Bio [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.judithguest.com/bio.htm

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Sara Groves / Album – “Invisible Empires”  

(#23) / I Kissed Dating Goodbye / by Joshua Harris / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

I Kissed Dating Goodbye / by Joshua Harris

ISBN-13: 978-1590521359 / Multnomah Books

p. 238 / $7.23 (Amazon)

1997

Body of Content

Summary: Harris pens a relational book – against the backdrop of secular trends – and offers in its place, a call to traditional courtship.  Harris is attempting to offer something different from cultural one-night-stands – contra the proverbial “hookups”.  In its place – and written with a young, Christian audience in mind – Harris etches out a biblical response to dating.  The book outlines a return to more conservative dating protocols – like group dating – and greater involvement of friends and (particularly) parents in the courtship process.  I Kissed Dating Goodbye attempts to hold purity and holiness as the virtues worth pursuing – over other intentions (and vices) like lust and selfishness.  The book does not call for a cessation from dating – as much as it informs readers the other possibilities that exist while waiting for the right person – such as pursing vocational and educational dreams – and other goals and ministries attached to self-actualization.

Critique: Harris wrote the book as a 21-year-old student.  At some level, other authors – with more counseling and life experiences – could/should write works dealing with relationships.  The book piggybacked on other Christian philosophical movements like Rebecca St. James’ True Love Waits and many of the educational “abstinence” programs started under President Bush.  Harris is not attempting to offer a solution across worldviews – but a very pointed message towards a Christian audience – mostly at the junior/senior levels of high school and early college as well.

While the call for purity – and a focus on God – is an important consideration for a Christian audience – it seems that Harris’ approach is a little too idealistic.  He recommends that Christians not only forgo sexual relations before marriage – but also forgo kissing before the wedding night.  His call for heavier parental involvement is also idealistic – as it assumes that each side of the courtship has two sets of parents who are mature adults themselves.  With geographical differences (parents living away from children) along with marital status (issue of divorced, separated, remarried parents), many young Christians may not want their parents involved in their relationships – particularly in the early stages.

While many of Harris’ recommendations come from a well-intentioned position, many advice points are simplistic and non-practical.  While Harris’ advice may affirm some young people’s purity, it may also encourage social shyness, embodied in the pun True Love Waits Too Long.  Harris’ thoughts may prove difficult to implement – and overall, they do not necessarily offer the Christian response to postmodern dating relationships.  Following Harris’ advice may keep teens from getting pregnant, but it also might keep them from getting married.     

Teaser: “If dating got in the way of personal identity – would you still date?”

Information about the Author: Harris comes from American (Alabama roots) and Japanese lineage.  He works as a full-time pastor.  Born in Dayton, Ohio, Harris and family moved to Gresham, Oregon early in his life.  Now 36 years old, Harris wrote for a magazine as a 17-year-old teen.  The magazine aimed at homeschooled teenagers – and Harris, himself, was homeschooled. Now married, with three children, Harris continues to speak and write on issues within pastoral theology (Harris, 2011).

His works include many dating/relationships books aimed at Christian singles.  Besides I Kissed Dating Goodbye – which sold around a million copies – Harris other books include Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship (2000), Not Even a Hint (2003), Stop Dating the Church! (2004), Dug Down Deep (2010) (Wikipedia, 2011).    

Supplemental Material

Genre: Christian Literature / Self-Help

Curriculum Ties: Health and Science – sexual education, dating, relationships

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Is waiting to kiss your spouse until after marriage a practical possibility? 2) How young is too young to offer dating advice to others?    

Reading Level: The book offers pro-abstinence views of human sexuality – advice more easily adapted by teens than adults.  The book covers anyone of dating age – notably 15-19.

Challenge Issues and Defense: While the book does not contain traditional objectionable material, its overall tone and stance (from a more conservative and Christian background) could make this a challengeable book – if placed in a public school library.  A librarian’s best defense of the book is to have this book among a diversity of books on the same topic – and in that way, I Kissed Dating Goodbye would not monopolize the library, but stand as one of many sources on the topic (i.e. defense by the principle of “coverage”).

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: While I support some of the book’s viewpoints, I also challenge some of its implications.

Last Thoughts

References:

Harris, J. (2011). Bio [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.joshharris.com/bio.php

Wikipedia. (2011). Joshua Harris [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Harris

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Paramore / Album – “Riot!”