The United States of Cryptids by J.W. Ocker

 The United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters by J.W. Ocker

The United States of Cryptids book cover

Author J.W. Ocker

Ocker’s The United States of Cryptids isn’t quite an encyclopedia, but it is a great reference book and a fun travelogue of Ocker’s quest to document Cyptids in each state/region in the US. I read this along with my son, thinking that he might want to read more about myths and monsters. After riding on the Jersey Devil roller coaster, both of my kids became interested in learning more about the Jersey Devil, and Ocker documents a good amount about the history and cultural legacy of NJ’s most famous cryptid. Each chapter for the book was relatively brief, and I really enjoyed reading about Ocker’s ideas to honor and promote each state’s cryptid. He frequently mentions statues or plaques that would identify sightings, legacy, or other important information about these cryptids. Beyond these recommendations, Ocker’s book can also serve as a great road trip guide for adventurous families and cryptid hunters. He shares where he found more information about these cryptids, as well as some of the annual traditions that might involve honoring the legacies of these mythological creatures. I loved learning about some of the towns and their festivals, parades, or even ceremonies to honor cryptids. One town in Minnesota had an annual gnome festival that made gnomes from the likenesses of townspeople they wanted to fete for the year. It was a really nice way to recognize the contributions of a town. I was surprised to learn that a fair amount of the cryptids stories are created to drum up tourism or promote visiting these towns, and this practice even goes back to the 1800s, when a sea serpent was manufactured to attract visitors to the town’s hotel. Although many of the stories are unbelievable and some are blatantly false or rumors, it is still fun to read about these creates and wonder what some of the more unexplained phenomena might be. Despite these concise chapters, Ocker manages to convey enough information about the origins and history of these, and frequently makes connections to other cryptids in other states or regions. My e-book also had links back to the other cryptids. I’m looking forward to reading some of Ocker’s other books—I have the cursed objects book and read that he has a book about cults coming out, which I really can’t wait to read. Overall, this was a fun and easy read that gave me plenty of ideas about possible road trips or places to visit. 

 Hip-Hop Is History by Questlove

Hip-Hop Is History book cover

Drummer, author, and hip-hop historian Questlove

Questlove’s phenomenal new book Hip-Hop Is History is a must read for any hip-hop fans and music fans in general. Questlove starts by discussing the 50^th anniversary of Hip-Hop’s start, and how he was tasked with organizing the celebration for the Grammy Awards. It is an interesting story that begins to give readers who may be unfamiliar about the scope and depth of Hip-Hop, trying to organize all the different styles and contributors, as well as their egos and personalities, into a short, allotted time frame. I really enjoyed reading about the stress involved in this process, and this story provided an effective set up for the history of Hip-Hop, according to Questlove. While I don’t dispute that Questlove is one of the strongest advocates and most knowledgeable people about Hip-Hop, I did find some places where there were some omissions in his chapters. Thankfully, his list at the end of the book incorporated more artists and groups that I felt were deserving of more time. It’s also just a great snapshot of different eras in Hip-Hop. Interestingly, Questlove organizes the book chronologically, but also pairs each era in Hip-Hop with its drug of choice. I thought this was an interesting choice, but he makes a compelling point showing not necessarily how the drugs themselves, but the social impacts and influences from the drugs (including legality, police enforcement, prison, etc) have impacted the music. It’s why he spends some time discussing PE’s “Night of the Living Bassheads” in the “Back in the Incredible” chapter detailing the golden age of Hip-Hop from 1987-1992, and then exploring the influence of The Chronic, both album and drug, on the “While I Get My Proper Swerve On” (1992-1997). While I loved how Questlove discusses these albums and singles and how he conveys his own personal connection with much of the music in these chapters, he goes beyond just being a fan (or musical contributor) and delves into critical analysis of the music, the styles, and the rhymes. He brings in not just a historical perspective, but also a sociological perspective, examining issues happening in society and relating these events to styles and innovations in Hip-Hop. I was especially surprised to hear how critical and honest Questlove was in this book. He not only discusses calling out certain MCs (Da Baby), but also discusses not initially liking some music and questioning the work of other artists he looked up to (1991 albums from PE and Prince). I really appreciated his candor and honesty in discussing this music, but also appreciated how he sometimes revisited certain songs or music and gained a new appreciation. I think that this book not only provides a history and sociology of Hip-Hop, but also provides new ways to listen to music across different eras. I think that my favorite chapters were those dealing with the early to golden age of Hip-Hop from about 1979-1997. I related to a lot of Questlove’s experiences, remembering the first time I hear Wu-Tang or PE and feeling a kind of transformation—although he mentioned not liking the production values of Enter the 36 Chambers, I felt like it was the varied styles of the MCs that really drew my interest. I also remember having to sneak Hip-Hop into my house since my parents held certain assumptions about it. Now, my mom knows Snoop Dog from his work with Martha Stewart and my kids know Snoop Dog from his cartoon work. I was wondering where DITC fits into some of these chapters- especially Showbiz & AG, but for the most part, Questlove is a completist, and I know that he was trying to keep his list focused and representative of the best Hip-Hop. Although as the book progresses into more recent times and the chapters become shorter, Questlove provided me with some great points of entry for accessing today’s Hip-Hop. I loved how Questlove references artists like Kendrick Lamar who are going back to other eras from Hip-Hop to represent. It’s reassuring to know. This book is not just for music fans, but I could see teachers making excellent use of this book for their students. I would love to use this book to have students develop their analytical skills, researching different eras and identifying and explaining the differences between the eras of Hip-Hop—or taking the historical events and seeing how songs and artists from those eras dealt with or addressed some of the events. There’s so much to consider in this book. Highly recommended.

 

A Prequel- Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

 Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Wandering Stars book cover

Author Tommy Orange

“Here now doing it, I’m already regretting that I hadn’t before, while also regretting that I’m doing it now. Feelings are always so twinned, with opposite meaning.” (305).

Tommy Orange’s magnificent follow-up (and prequel) to There There traces the history of the Bear Shield and Red Feather families, where we find out how they arrived in California, as well as much of the generational trauma that they have experienced being Native Americans where land, culture, history, language, identity, hair and dress, and even voice were systematically removed. The book starts with Jude Star and Victor Bear Shield, and how their experiences being transported from the Sand Creek Massacre to Fort Marion in Florida, where the goals were to civilize the Indians. These chapters also trace the experiences of Charles Star, Jude’s son, who ends up in the Carlisle Indian School. Much of this early part, told in stream of consciousness from various characters’ perspectives, reminded me of Toni Morrison’s Beloved. Orange has this way with his sentences where he uses chiasmus, using parallelisms and reversals. I loved following these twisty devices as we get into some of the absurdity these characters’ experiences trying to maintain a sense of identity, amidst the systematic destruction of their culture and community. Orange starts the second part, dealing with more of the present situation and following Opal, Jacquie, and the boys Orvil, Loother, and Lony, with a quote from Beloved that emphasizes the importance of stories and legacy, especially oral legacy. I really love that quote, and it was amazing to see how Orange finds relevance in Beloved’s story of redemption and redefinition after trauma and horror.

One of the other strengths of this book is the way that Orange melds his characters’ stories and lives with historical events, just like There There, bringing a sense of reality to these characters. He expertly weaves in historical events and incidents. Whether from the Sand Creek Massacre, the Carlisle School, or and other historical events, we see how Indians were a part of this history, but also how this history is frequently told from one perspective, failing to acknowledge either the destruction and devastation it has caused or how other people participated in these events. This aspect also reminded of a quote from Beloved where Schoolteacher says something along the lines of “definitions belong to the definers.” Wandering Stars seeks to redefine the role of Native Americans in American History by acknowledging where they have been and where they are now. Orange’s realistic characters help to provide a means to further discover this hidden history and unearth the contributions and wrongs experienced by Native Americans, while also helping to maintain some of their identity and culture.

Just like Beloved, this is a book about family and love in spite of difficult, often violent opposition and refusal of culture/identity. I won’t give the ending away, but I loved how the family (for the most part) comes together to find their strength within each other. Furthermore, the book deals with topics that many people experience including violence, addiction, loss, and identity. Tommy Orange is one of the most skilled writers in exploring the language of teens and young adults and how communication online has shifted things for everyone. The sections focusing on Orvill and Sean are interesting. I really liked reading about Sean’s discovery of his identity, and how it almost creates more confusion than certainty with him since he has no Native American friends to turn to. These sections were some of the most fun to deal with. I also felt like the parts that dealt with music were well-written and thoughtful. I remember reading that Tommy Orange studied engineering, and the way he writes about music combines both some technical knowledge with a passion for sound and music. This was an amazing book, and one that I am sure will be taught in many classrooms. I also think it is an engaging book for students as well as adults. I would love to see this book in more book groups. Highly recommended

Paradise of the Damned by Keith Thomson

 Paradise of the Damned: The True Story of an Obsessive Quest for El Dorado by Keith Thomson

Paradise of the Damned book cover

Author Keith Thomson

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Keith Thomson’s Paradise of the Damned: The True Story of an Obsessive Quest for El Dorado. Thomson’s book was a well-researched and detailed story of Sir Walter Raleigh’s lifelong quest to find El Dorado, starting from Elizabethan England and moving to Colombia, Venezuela, Guiana and the Orinoco River in South America. The book primarily follows Raleigh, tracing his early years spent in Elizabeth’s court and how he came to exploration and sailing. Thomson’s book features much adventure and many mishaps, especially around the war for the New World in the Americas between Spain and England. The book’s best parts are when Raleigh is in South America, looking for El Dorado while also navigating uncharted rivers, streams, waterfalls, and avoiding unknown predators like anacondas, alligators, and piranhas. It was fascinating to gain a deeper insight into how dangerous the new world was, mostly because of how unknown the terrain was. I also enjoyed learning more about Raleigh’s earlier approaches to diplomacy and finding ways to ensure that the Spanish would not beat him to El Dorado and how he sought out indigenous support from existing tribes. The other parts of the book that took place in England were not as exciting to me. I did not know much about Sir Walter Raleigh, so this book provided an engaging biography, but I was surprised to learn that in England at the time, the rule of law, especially things like evidence and due process were not really part of the society. Thus, reading about Raleigh’s years in prison for a kind of hearsay association with a plot to overthrow King James was important to know about. This also somewhat mirrored Raleigh’s earlier experiences with Queen Elizabeth when he was imprisoned for having a child with his future wife without informing the Queen. Thomson’s sharing of these events and the injustices that Raleigh faced helped to illustrate the kind of whims of the crown that many people, especially prominent people, faced. Although these parts dealing with the legal practices of England were important, I found them to be not as exciting as the chapters set in South America and dealing with the quest for El Dorado. It was also surprising that King James let Raleigh return to find El Dorado, despite being imprisoned for pretty much treason (even if the charges were never really tried). Raleigh’s second campaign, when he was in his 60s, did not go well. Like his initial quest to El Dorado, the hope was to bring money back to England in the form of gold. However, with a strong Spanish presence in the areas in Venezuela, Colombia, and Guiana he struggled to return to some of the areas he visited in 1590s (about 20 years prior). I won’t spoil the ending, but Raleigh does return to England without any gold, failing once again to find El Dorado and dealing with a hungry, tired, and mutinous crew. This leads Raleigh to face King James’s wrath and power. Most of this book was exciting, and I loved the images that Thomson selected to accompany these chapters. They really helped to illustrate the challenges and individuals involved in Raleigh’s various quests. While the book primarily focused on Raleigh’s quest, there were some other chapters that dealt with English and Spanish relations during this time, as well as Raleigh’s time spent imprisoned. These were necessary to understand some of Raleigh’s motivations for seeking out El Dorado once again, and the consequences of his failure to find it and bring home any gold. These sections were not as exciting but helped understand the broader perspective of this society. 

Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar by Cynthia Carr

 

Candy Darling book cover

Author Cynthia Carr

Big thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Publishers for allowing me to read Cynthia Carr’s brilliant biography of Candy Darling, Dreamer, Icon, Superstar. This book was incredible and moving, thanks to Carr’s ability to utilize the interviews and experiences of Jeremiah Newton, who was one of Candy’s closest confidants and friends in NYC in the late 60s and early 70s. I didn’t know much about Candy Darling. What I knew was mostly from music—especially the Velvet Underground’s excellent and sad song “Candy Says”, which I still think is one of their most moving songs. I remember hearing it for the first song and being so struck. It was so different than a lot of their other songs that I knew, and it also spoke to that feeling of questioning your identity, being unsure, unhappy, and looking for some kind of validation or answer to the question of who you are. Hearing that song in my early 20s was resonant, although I didn’t experience any kind of body dysmorphia, the song really speaks to that kind of uncertainty most people go through in late adolescence and early adulthood. Carr’s book Candy Darling explores Candy’s experience throughout her whole life of struggling with the lack of acceptance of who she really was. Although the entire book is engaging, entertaining and moving, reading about Candy’s early life growing up in Long Island as James Slattery was fascinating and important for others to read, especially as there are issues in other states about access to gender care, access to bathrooms and facilities, and movements to prevent equity and fair treatment for individuals who identify as LGBTQ. It was heartbreaking to see how the treatment of Candy at home, in her neighborhood and at school really made her just want to escape. Yet it was clear that she identified as a girl, and that people frequently assumed she was a woman later in life. I wondered how different her life would have been had she experienced more acceptance and acknowledgement of who she really was, both by friends and family. These experiences pushed her out of school, frequently truant, and into studying beauty. It was good to see how happy she became as a result of this. It was amazing to learn how Candy’s experiences, struggles, and challenges remain today for many people in the Trans community. However, it was also fascinating to see how identifying as a woman pushed Candy away from the LGB community as well as the feminist community. Candy’s story is amazing. It was incredible to see how she eventually created this superstar persona and found work on stage and screen. Beyond reading about Candy’s relationships, friendships, and adventures in 60s-early 70s NYC, I loved learning more about the Off Off Broadway scene and the Underground Film movement that Warhol and Paul Morrisey participated in. While not a huge fan of Warhol’s films, it was interesting to read more about how Candy became a part of the Superstar scene, and how despite Warhol’s frequent shedding of Superstars, he kind of stuck with Candy and gave her a place and opportunities. I found reading Candy’s diary entries to be the most affecting part of the book since they provide a real insight into her thoughts and struggles with who she was, what she wanted, and how society and communities frequently rejected her. Yet, it was amazing to see how she created this identity and frequently created these stories (or maybe lies) to shape her status and place in the NY scene in the 1970s. Although the book is primarily about the short and brilliant life of Candy Darling, it is also about the gay rights movement, establishing a visible place for Trans people, who still remain greatly misunderstood, persecuted and unfairly treated, and the Art, Theater, and Film scenes of 1970s NY. This was a great book, and I’m looking forward to reading Carr’s other biography of David Wojnarowicz.
 

 

The Beauty of Friendship in Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

 Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Beautyland book cover

Author and Philly Native Marie-Helene Bertino

This was an incredible book. I recently saw that it was listed as one of the best books of the year so far. When I read the description about the life of a alien-girl who is activated to send messages to her alien friends (whom she has never met) through a fax machine, I thought it sounded interesting; however, this description in no way captures the beauty and emotion in this book. I found myself wanting to read through as Adina (the self-identified alien) gradually moves through life, navigating school, friendships, work, and love. Her mother and friend, Toni, are consistently with her, as is her dog Butternut. I really enjoyed the book’s narration and it was interesting to see how later in Adina’s life, the book took more of a reporter approach (or at least I noticed it more towards the end of the book, when Adina seems more desperate to contact her alien home). Beyond just being a creative and lovely story about a person who struggles to find herself, I loved that this book was about someone who grew up around the same time I did and could share some of the same music loves (frequent mentions of Black Sheep, A Tribe Called Quest) and challenges experienced with navigating adolescence and adulthood. I felt like I could relate to a lot of Adina’s experiences, and I loved how kept her reports and observations to share with her alien family through the fax machine. I also loved how her observations became more astute and philosophical as she grew older. It was also great to see how Adina frequently faced challenges, and despite desiring consistency and a kind of uniformity, she still pushed herself for change when it was necessary. When she revists Beautyland (the store) to see how it has changed, the clerk mentions that it only recently changed, but was time for an update. I’m not sure if Adina expected things to remain the same, as this was a site of one of her first instances of a kind of awareness of her class, but I think this was a signal for her. The ending of the book gets a little bleak and sad. I found myself growing sad while reading along, but I think this was one of the great strengths of Bertino’s writing—it elicited such emotion and empathy with a unique character. I also loved her mother’s words to her about her perceptions and how Adina’s kind of fantasy world seemed to protect her, but also isolate her. This is one of those books that I will recommend to friends and give as a gift since I think many people, especially people my age, should read this. Especially if you grew up in Philly around the 80s and 90s and shopped at House of Bargains. While my mom took me to the one at Ivy Ridge Shopping Center, I totally could relate to the dim lights and overstuffed racks with Oshkosh and rainbow striped long-sleeve polos. I really can’t wait to read more from Bertino. 

Unlocking the Power of Plant Therapy: Trippy by Ernesto Londoño

 Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics by Ernesto Londono

Trippy book cover

Author Ernesto Londoño

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Publishers for sharing this book with me. I was a little surprised to find an email with the opportunity to read this book, but I am glad that I was able to read it. Initially, I thought this might be in the same vein as Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind. And in some ways it was- Londoño explores some medicinal and traditional or ceremonial uses of psychedelics, specifically ayahuasca. However, Londoño also takes a more personal and humanizing approach by exploring his own past and experiences with dealing with trauma, shame and depression, and how psychedelics helped him confront these powerful emotions in his life. He also explores the experiences of others—soldiers experiencing PTSD, queer participants in an LGBTQ only psychedelic ceremony, as well as addicts and others looking to regain a sense of self in the grip of past traumas. I also appreciated that this book looked at the history and current state of Ayahuasca, the sacred vine of the Amazon that has been growing as both a psychedelic therapy and a recreational trip that adventurous psychonauts seek out. It was fascinating to learn more about its use in Brazil and other Amazon areas. I remember reading William S. Burroughs’s The Yage Letters about his quest for Ayahuasca in the 1960s, not realizing that it was the same plant. I think that Burroughs came away somewhat disappointed, but Londoño shares both the benefits and harms in this increasingly popular plant therapy. While it was heartening to learn more about the increasing awareness of this plant’s powers, it was also sad to see the darker side of this plant therapy, where Londoño identifies some so-called shaman and spiritual guides who seemed more intent to take advantage of people’s desire to feel better and find a quick fix to negative emotional states like depression or past trauma. I was really surprised to learn how expensive some of the retreats were, considering that they are in the middle of the jungle and are a means to connect with nature. It was also shocking to learn more about how some of the curanderos, or healers, have also taken advantage of women. Londoño had some uncomfortable experiences with a healer in one retreat and shares the experiences of other women who experienced assault and harassment from another curandero. It seemed like a theme that these curanderos are treated with empathy and seen as fallible yet are still able to engage in the same kinds of behaviors. Londoño’s journalistic background helped to uncover this unsavory side of the Ayahuasca scene. Londoño also shared his own experience as a war correspondent, as well as his own family trauma. While I loved the investigative reporting of the Ayahuasca retreats, I also was enthralled by his fearless recounting of his family’s history of mental illness and his own experiences with past trauma and family of origin issues. Sharing his stories also allowed us to see how Ayahuasca allowed him to confront some of these feelings and come to grips with the unresolved issues that have plagued him. His experiences as a war correspondent were also part of the need to escape and not have strong ties, yet also left him with some incredibly traumatic experiences of violence and death that it seems like were impossible to process in a war zone as a reporter. This was also a common theme of the soldiers, who frequently felt like they undeserving of a PTSD diagnosis or were concerned about the baggage that label might bring. Londoño’s own experiences, as well as those of the soldiers were gripping, yet somewhat graphic. Be warned that while the book often recounts stories of those who overcame mental health and illness struggles, it also depicts some of the past traumas and issues they confronted. The book ends with the exploration of two other psychedelic therapies—ketamine infusion and MDMA. I liked how this part of the book ended on a high note, sharing the positive development of these alternative therapies and the soldiers that the MDMA treatments are helping. It leaves us with a slightly more hopeful look at the potential for psychedelic therapies, and I also think that with sharing some of the bad actors and grifters looking to capitalize on others seeking relief from traumatic emotional issues, the future regulation and clinical use of psychedelics seems necessary as a means to bring about change in both people and society. I really enjoyed Londoño’s book, especially his reporting and use of individuals and his own experiences to present this new and amazing field. This book is such a wonderful combination of many different genres—part investigative journalism, part history, part memoir, and social commentary. Highly recommended read that will hopefully change a lot of minds.