Category Archives: Non-fiction

You Can’t Win – Jack Black

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “From the day I left my father my lines had been cast, or I cast them myself, among crooked people. I had not spent one hour in the company of an honest person. I had lived … Continue reading

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Reeling Through Life: How I Learned to Live, Love and Die at the Movies – Tara Ison

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Nine months before my fiftieth birthday, I am sexually propositioned by a thirty-three-year-old young man (…he seems so Benjamin-boyish)…The next thing I think, delighted, is “Well, here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson.” I think of martini assignations in … Continue reading

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Men Explain Things to Me – Rebecca Solnit

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The shell of home is a prison of sorts, as much as protection, a casing of familiarity and continuity that can vanish outside. Walking the streets can be a form of social engagement, even of political … Continue reading

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Eddie: The Life and Times of America’s Preeminent Bad Boy – Ken Osmond and Christopher J. Lynch

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…unlike the warriors’ Valkyrie, the Hollywood version didn’t let you know that you were going to die immediately; you were baited, strung along, and then let down to die a slow, lingering death. And like every … Continue reading

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The December Project: An Extraordinary Rabbi and a Skeptical Seeker Confront Life’s Greatest Mystery – Sara Davidson

(Reviewed by JD Jung) A few months ago I attended a Writers Bloc event to see author Sara Davidson promote her new book, The December Project. The evening began with a live video chat with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi from his … Continue reading

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Small Moments: A Child’s Memories of the Civil Rights Movement – Mary M. Barrow

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) I just discovered a treasure that you might not find if you’re depending on the mainstream bestsellers list for reading recommendations. I can’t say enough good things about Small Moments by Mary M. Barrow. Small Moments is … Continue reading

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Hollywood Clown – Jason Lassen

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “What’s worse than an out-of-work actor? An out-of-work actor who dresses up like Santa for a month for Hollywood power players and is reminded he’s a lonely depressed, out-of-work actor dressing up in costumes all year … Continue reading

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The Seer’s Explanation – Larry Gottlieb

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) Dante’s Hell had a sign over the gate: “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” Larry Gottlieb’s book could have a similar sign: “Abandon all ideas of who you are and what the world is, ye … Continue reading

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A Medium’s Guide to the Paranormal – June Lundgren

(Reviewed by Melanie Hamilton) One tricky thing about reviewing a book on the practice of mediums and moving in the circle of the paranormal is recognizing one’s own biases. Another is finding a way to talk about something that is … Continue reading

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French Quarter Drinking Companion – Allison Alsup, Elizabeth Pearce, and Richard Read

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) Imagine hitting every watering hole in New Orleans and soaking in the ambiance and the cocktails! These writers must have had a lot of fun doing research for this book. French Quarter Drinking Companion takes you … Continue reading

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