A clever and sarcastic tour de force eviscerating artists and art critics from 1945 to 1975. In Wolfe's tracing of the line of art criticism in this p...moreA clever and sarcastic tour de force eviscerating artists and art critics from 1945 to 1975. In Wolfe's tracing of the line of art criticism in this period, the art object disappears entirely to become replaced by the conception. (less)
Although I am not interested in the history of clothing, I have to say that Tim Gunn and his co-writer did a good job of recounting this history. As f...moreAlthough I am not interested in the history of clothing, I have to say that Tim Gunn and his co-writer did a good job of recounting this history. As far as fashion advice, Tim Gunn is weak, weak, weak, and has always been so both in his previous book and in his short-lived fashion make-over tv series. Thus, to me, this is a 2 star book.(less)
This book was a little boring, but, like the novel Arcadia, it revisits the 1960s/70s hippie commune from a child's perspective.Sandra Eugster is arou...moreThis book was a little boring, but, like the novel Arcadia, it revisits the 1960s/70s hippie commune from a child's perspective.Sandra Eugster is around eight when her divorced mother Carla establishes a commune inspired by Marxist principles. Her children have no choice but to become part of an alternative lifestyle. Sensitive Sandra is Carla's youngest daughter and has a hard time finding herself in the family's crowded living arrangements. Although Sandra does not exactly blame her mother for the difficulties of her childhood, I did on Sandra's behalf. This book also reminded me of what social misfits the 1960s commune dwellers were. To me, hip meant rock and roll, not organic groats.(less)
Well done. Perhaps this survey of modern art from the impressionists (late 1800s)to the present packed too much in, but that was perhaps unavoidable....moreWell done. Perhaps this survey of modern art from the impressionists (late 1800s)to the present packed too much in, but that was perhaps unavoidable. As it is Gompertz has limited the number of artists he profiles but tries to fit in those that are not household names. He shows how each artist fit into and advanced art history, and he displays an even-handed appreciation for the achievements of each. Interestingly, thinking of figures like Hirst, WeiWei, Emin, and Banksey, he names the merry prankster Marcel Duchamp as the strongest influence on artists working today. Is painting finally dead?
As reviewer Vivian Blacksell says, this is a humdrum treatment of the Clintons and their relationship, offering little that is new. But this is also a...moreAs reviewer Vivian Blacksell says, this is a humdrum treatment of the Clintons and their relationship, offering little that is new. But this is also a pretty dramatic story. If Hillary Clinton runs for president in 2016, it would be a good idea to revisit her behavior during the first part of her husband's presidency. She seems to have reclaimed her integrity since then, but this story does give one pause.(less)
Jason Chin is unbelievably talented in that he provides stunning illustrations for his story of the Galapagos Islands - their birth, death, and the un...moreJason Chin is unbelievably talented in that he provides stunning illustrations for his story of the Galapagos Islands - their birth, death, and the unique animal life they shelter. And the story itself conveys a strong sense of excitement about this aspect of natural history. I would have loved this as a child except I wouldn't have read it because I rarely read non-fiction.(less)
This was an amazingly compelling read given that I really couldn't follow all the ins and outs about the 2011-12 debt crisis negotiations among the pr...moreThis was an amazingly compelling read given that I really couldn't follow all the ins and outs about the 2011-12 debt crisis negotiations among the president and congress. Woodward's reporting was clearly thorough, balanced and objective. He has to be the best political reporter who ever lived. As a result of this book, I think less that I did of Boehner and Emmanuel, more of Reid, and much more of Biden. I already knew that Cantor was sharp as a whip crack and that Obama was an amateur. (less)
Sidney Guberman, a friend of Stella's since their undergraduate days at Princeton, is lost in admiration of Stella's increasingly complicated works. A...moreSidney Guberman, a friend of Stella's since their undergraduate days at Princeton, is lost in admiration of Stella's increasingly complicated works. As the artist's life goes forward, his paintings, sculptures, and prints become harder to describe and decipher. Guberman's clunky writing style doesn't help in this regard. That said, I learned a lot about Stella's life and work from this book. Strictly as a biographer, Guberman is better on the early life (maybe up to age 25?), but as a critical biographer, he is complete.(less)
I got through nearly 100 pages of this glorified gossip column before giving up. I guess I wanted a critical biography, but this isn't it. DH sounds l...moreI got through nearly 100 pages of this glorified gossip column before giving up. I guess I wanted a critical biography, but this isn't it. DH sounds like a nice, upbeat guy though, bu you can probably tell this much by looking at his work. I wanted more.(less)
There isn't much meat to this story of the Edwardian-era girls who photographed fairies, impressing Arthur Conan Doyle among others. Mary Losure's nar...moreThere isn't much meat to this story of the Edwardian-era girls who photographed fairies, impressing Arthur Conan Doyle among others. Mary Losure's narration is jerky and marred by the type of foreshadowing made popular by Erik Larson in The Devil and the White City, only Losure makes the foreshadows and just drops them, having nothing more. One Goodreads reviewer suggests that this would have been better as a long-form picture book, and I agree. As it is, I think children will be disappointed.
It surprises me that Losure does not acknowledge the film made of this story in 1997, Fairy Tale: A True Story. The film was much better than the book. Oddly another film, which I haven't seen, came out in the same year. Called Photographing Fairies it seems to be a fictional version of this same story with added characters and plot devices.(less)
The Amateur was more convincing than I expected it to be. I don't need to be convinced that the Obama presidency is little short of a disaster, but I...moreThe Amateur was more convincing than I expected it to be. I don't need to be convinced that the Obama presidency is little short of a disaster, but I expected this book to make that point in a trashier way than it did. It was a little gossipy. While I don't find Michelle Obama to be admirable or pleasant, I don't need to read that everyone in the White House including the president is afraid of her. That seemed over the top. But in general the book was well-documented, and if there were lies in it, the interviewees credited would certainly have said so. Klein's points coincide with my observations and with the great deal I know about Chicago politics.(less)
Tina Fey is very funny, clever, and entertaining. I did laugh while reading this. However, like most books of its kind, this one doesn't say much and...moreTina Fey is very funny, clever, and entertaining. I did laugh while reading this. However, like most books of its kind, this one doesn't say much and is pretty slight. Davis Sedaris is better and has more depth.(less)
The editors went all out to find artists who push the boundaries of embroidery. One makes simpy cross-stitched design on rusted metal including object...moreThe editors went all out to find artists who push the boundaries of embroidery. One makes simpy cross-stitched design on rusted metal including objects like car doors; another runs thread through hunks of slate. Others are more conventional, using cloth, but still innovative and inspiring.(less)
A rare popular non-fiction read that isn't stupid. Reads like a novel and gives a balanced portrait of four presidential nomination campaigns in 2006-...moreA rare popular non-fiction read that isn't stupid. Reads like a novel and gives a balanced portrait of four presidential nomination campaigns in 2006-8: Clinton, Obama, Edwards, and McCain. It's gossipy without being salacious. The ins and outs, the angst, and the public reactions described all agree with my memories and impressions of the actual events. What political motivations led the HBO movie makers to focus entirely on the weaknesses of Sarah Palin as a candidate when,in the book, that was practically a footnote? Unbalanced and dishonest? You betcha!(less)
Just as I suspected, this isn't about boring Alison's mother at all. It's all about her boring old self which is even more boring than in the first bo...moreJust as I suspected, this isn't about boring Alison's mother at all. It's all about her boring old self which is even more boring than in the first book because she is heavily into, of all puerile and dated things, Freudianism. She also talks about Winnicott, Jung, and Virginia Wolfe. Does she think this makes her look smart? She is in analysis and is having dreams. The end.(less)
Nice drawings and the fault of most memoirs: boringly self-centered with,in this case, a bit of intellectual pretentiousness. This would have been bet...moreNice drawings and the fault of most memoirs: boringly self-centered with,in this case, a bit of intellectual pretentiousness. This would have been better if the author had re-imagined the story from her father's point of view and experience as a closeted gay man in a small town, getting the focus off of herself. As it is her parents remain somewhat opaque as in a child's viewpoint. I guess it's just an emotionaly immature work. I am curious about the next installment, about her mother. It probably won't really be about her mother. Three stars for artwork, otherwise two.(less)
Wow. This book is really boring and repetitive. In keeping with journalistic stupidity, it has no principle of organization. It just circles around th...moreWow. This book is really boring and repetitive. In keeping with journalistic stupidity, it has no principle of organization. It just circles around the same points over and over again. One of the points is the author's stellar background: rich parents, five fellowships, sports galore, travel to 37 countries, hot-headed, outgoing - do I care? The more I know about this woman the more annoying she becomes. And by the way, she worked one shift a week at The North Face store in a suburban New York mall. And , boo hoo, a customer was mean to her, her co-workers didn't realize what a brilliant journalist she really was, her manager didn't promote her. She liked the job for a while and quit when she felt like quitting. What a horrible experience she had.(less)
Helen Frankenthaler, who died recently, was primarily a painter. But from the 60s into the present century she worked with various print media. Her wo...moreHelen Frankenthaler, who died recently, was primarily a painter. But from the 60s into the present century she worked with various print media. Her woodcut prints were extremely innovative, rendering woodcuts that looked like her abstract canvases. This is the part I don't quite get. Making these prints was a very difficult process. She twisted and tweaked the process to achieve the same effects as in her paintings. Did the effort exceed the results? In some cases I would say yes, although others are amazing. Judith Goldman, the curator of the exhibit reproduced here did a good job of explaining the process and showed the separate blocks uused in two of the prints.(less)
I'm overwhelmed by the erudition shown in this series of lectures. Being the text of lectures, it is quite accessible but so dense with ideas that I m...moreI'm overwhelmed by the erudition shown in this series of lectures. Being the text of lectures, it is quite accessible but so dense with ideas that I might have to go back and make a list of the main ideas and each artist evaluation to reinforce what I've learned. Varnedoe, in his last ever lectures -he died of cancer soon after- at the beginning of this century, recounts the history of abstract art by American artists from Pollock to the present. His arguments are convincing except I might question his evaluation of the pop art period a little. He seems to be misreading one canvas by Andy Warhol (Orange Car Crash 1963), and while he brings forward the ideas of satire and irony in art, he does not seem entirely comfortable with them.
Varnedoe's summary rejects the European spiritual idea that abstract art draws from ideal forms, but finds that in a modern, secular society art constructs symbols for the individual and familiar to make them strange and to "produce our fresh understanding of the world of culture as separate from nature, as separate from the clock of events in the rest of history...." yet eventually to bring us back to the traditions of the past.(less)
A graphic memoir about a Japanese boy, growing up during WWII, who wanted, more than anything, to become an artist, specifically a cartoonist. He is a...moreA graphic memoir about a Japanese boy, growing up during WWII, who wanted, more than anything, to become an artist, specifically a cartoonist. He is able to apprentice to a cartoon master at the age of 13, and goes on to become an artist. His path is fairly clear, and that is partly what makes this such a simple and satisfying story. There are elements of conflict to be sure, but the drawings are sweet and clear, and the artist's life looks sweet and clear as well. Allen Say became a writer and illustrator of children's books, so the beautiful drawings are in that style.(less)
This is the catalog of a 2007 exhibit that was shown at the American Federation of the Arts in New York. These mid-century artists came later, for the...moreThis is the catalog of a 2007 exhibit that was shown at the American Federation of the Arts in New York. These mid-century artists came later, for the most part, than the abstract expressionists of the 1950s. Karen Wilkin, the curator, gives a wonderful exposition and appreciation of this group.
Their reputation has suffered because they were championed by the hated critic Clement Greenberg. Greenberg called their work post-painterly abstraction in contrast with the painterly work of the abstract expressionist. Their work tends to be impersonal, color based, and focused on the qualities intrinsic to the medium. Wilkin notes that one of the beauties of these paintings is their lack of edges, suggesting infinity.
The artists represented in this exhibit and book are:
Walter Bannard Jack Bush Gene Davis Ronald Davis Friedel Dzubas Sam Francis Helen Frankenthaler Sam Gilliam Adolph Gottlieb Hans Hofmann Morris Louis Robert Motherwell Barnett Newman Keneth Noland Jules Olitski Larry Poons Mark Rothko Frank Stella Clyfford Still
This is a series of conversations with Hockney by the photographer Paul Joyce over the years 1982-1999. The conversations center around Hockney's phot...moreThis is a series of conversations with Hockney by the photographer Paul Joyce over the years 1982-1999. The conversations center around Hockney's photomontages through which he tried to capture the subject over time (moments)as opposed to the static canvases typical of painting since the Renaissance. Hockney also notes Asian scroll paintings as attempts to capture the experience of a place as you walk through it. Hockney tried some of this when he painted landscapes in a broad view. Pretty interesting and featuring wonderful plates.(less)
What a great idea. Everyone who listens to these two great bands raises the issue of who is greater, the Beatles or the Stones. Jim and Greg give a ba...moreWhat a great idea. Everyone who listens to these two great bands raises the issue of who is greater, the Beatles or the Stones. Jim and Greg give a balanced view which mainly reinforced my own opinion, but educated me a bit and gave me something to think about. I could have used more contention between the authors. My conclusion: the Beatles are great in their way, but are not rock n roll. Stones win!!!!!!(less)
Two stars says it: it was ok, but not all that. For one thing, the author was reluctant to take a firm position on anything: Princesses are bad, but t...moreTwo stars says it: it was ok, but not all that. For one thing, the author was reluctant to take a firm position on anything: Princesses are bad, but they might be good; girls are too sexualizied, but they should experience sex. I thought that her attitude toward young girls' sexuality was especially naive and 1970-ish, expecting a more mature sexuality from teen aged girls than I think most are capable of. Fake it till you make it really works in this context, but teen aged girls acting sexy horrifies the author.
Another fault was the author's heavy reliance on social psychology - that is, 'scientific' experiments that purport to gauge attitudes, like children have more agression after seeing violent films. Having studied this field in graduate school, I know that it is almost complete bullshit. The author is naive in believing this BS as well.
So in summary: well-meaning but naive and uninformative.(less)
I like to categorize the books I read, and I almost put this one on the science fiction shelf. I started out thinking that Scientology was a cultish o...moreI like to categorize the books I read, and I almost put this one on the science fiction shelf. I started out thinking that Scientology was a cultish organization of crazy ideas. and I now think the same thing times 100. If half of the stories in here are true, Miscavige and Hubbard before him need to be locked up. People who are attracted to this cult must feel powerless and out of control to even be interested in this. And then the organization builds on and exploits those feelings by taking all semblance of control away from its insiders.
Anyway, that's the picture of Scientology painted by Reitman. Objective? Not so much. But how objective can you be about a pseudo religion based on evil beings from another solar system. If Scientology is indeed fading as Reitman suggests, the internet which made possible the dissemination of the Xenu story has to be largely responsible. (less)
I should have known better - pop psychology is my least favorite non-fiction. This was actually above average in being well organized and not horribly...moreI should have known better - pop psychology is my least favorite non-fiction. This was actually above average in being well organized and not horribly repetitive, but it was also cliche-ridden and facile. It seemed to me that the descriptions of introvert/extrovert were sometimes accurate, sometimes a little off, sometimes overstated, and sometimes overly polarized, although the author seemed to be trying to avoid this. (less)
I loved this thoughtful and intelligent apologia on fashion, style, and the importance of adornment. I think that these are serious subjects and worth...moreI loved this thoughtful and intelligent apologia on fashion, style, and the importance of adornment. I think that these are serious subjects and worthy of the serious, but lightly written, attention Grant gives to them. I was especially moved by the concentration camp stories and brought to tears to read of the Nazis characterizing camp inmates as Stucke or pieces. Clothes gave back the humanity of these tortured victims.
I would have given it 5 stars except for two things. One, it was repetitive. This is not too bad a fault given that the essays were probably written at different times, but it suggests that this writer has said all that she can about this subject. Two, Grant comments on the events of 9/11. While she characterizes those who blame America and Americans for this atrocity committed by non-American as 'shrill', she still refuses to blame the prepretators of this outrage because of the poverty and humiliation they have suffered. She also very subtly blames Americans. I HATE it when Brits who think they are right about everything but really know nothing talk about American politics.(less)
I'm surprised that Ellen Willis could get her head out of her ass long enough to write these essays.
Actually she's not all bad; she's a fan of some o...moreI'm surprised that Ellen Willis could get her head out of her ass long enough to write these essays.
Actually she's not all bad; she's a fan of some of the same music I love, but her need to pretentiously wring meanings and reverberations out of everything vinyl misses the whole fun part of music. Also a lot of the content seems to be more about Ellen Willis' head than the putative subject. Also she disrespects Bob Dylan, overly respects Mick Jagger, and is unaware of Keith Richards. She does get the Beatles about right.
With due respect to the late Ms Ellis (RIP), I quote:
I wish that for just one time/You could stand inside my shoes/And just for that one moment I could be you./Yes I wish that for just one time/You could stand inside my shoes/Then you'd know what a drag it is/To see you.
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