Azrael & Phoebe's Kitty Critics' Corner Book Reviews

Nonfiction:

Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and The Cult of the Virgin Mary by Marina Warner (Vintage Books, 1983) gives a valuably in-depth history of the development of the Cult of Mary while demonstrating how the venoration of this one chosen woman has condemned other women to perpetual inferiority.

The Death of Common Sense: How Law Is Suffocating America by Pilip K. Howard (Ramdom House, 1994) discusses changes in modern law that are crippling the United States: "The rules, procedures, and rights smothering us are different aspects of a legal technique that promises as permanent fix for human frailty. Dictates are so precise that no one has the chance to think for himself. Procedural layers do away with indiviudal responsibility....This legal experiment, we now learn for ourselves every time we encounter it, hasn't worked out. Modern law has not protected us from stupidity and caprice, but has made stupidity and caprice dominant features of our society." (185) Howard provides example upon example of how legalism has tied the hands of those who would try to make things better, while often making situations worse; such as, keeing Mother Theresa from opening a shelter in New York, forcing factories to spend excessive money on safety and environmental procedures that do not improve safety or clean up the environment, school systems spending exhorbatent sums to provide "normal" education for one handicapped child while spending a pittance on the majority of children, etc. Howard has clearly identified a problem that we should all work together to remedy. Order The Death of Common Sense Today!

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams (of Hitchhiker's Guide fame) and zoologist Mark Carwardine (Ballantine Books, 1990) who take us on a trek around the world in search of exotic, endangered creatures. In Göttingen in 1994, Tony and Crystal had the good fortune to hear Douglas Adams read excerpts from this amusing and informative book and tell of his adventures and mishaps while filming these discoveries for the BBC.

Life and How to Survive It by Robin Skynner and John Cleese takes a different approach than most books on mental health - rather than focusing on the approximately 10-20% of the population who at any given time really have problems, this book focuses on the annoying 10-20% who are mentally extremely healthy and discusses what these people have in common. John Cleese's bitter humor makes this useful and informative book enjoyable to read.

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Your Relationships by John Graham, PhD is a book everyone should read (who hasn't read it already) - since you just can't avoid having to deal with those aliens of the oposite sex at some point in your life. Order Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Today!

Pole To Pole With Michael Palin (BBC Books, 1992) is the companion book to the BBC/A&E TV series of the same title. After the success of Around the World in 80 Days, the BBC decided to send Palin on another world journey -- this time from the North Pole to the South Pole along the 30 degree east line of longitude, neccesitating that Palin and his crew cross 17 countries on trains, trucks, ships, rafts, ski-doos, buses, barges, bicycles, balloons and occasionally aircraft as needed. Although Monty Python alum Palin claims to be "too happy to be truly funny" you'll find his humor-filled record of the joys and misfortunes of international travel entertaining and will einjoy Basil Pao's illustrations as well.

Secrets of the Jeopardy! Champions by Chuck Forrest and Mark Lowenthal (Warner Books, 1992) provides some of the secrets these two high-winning champions used to prepare for the show. For more books of triva and information go to the trivia and humor page.

Mike Chunn's Stranger Than Fiction: The Life and Times of Split Enz (GP Publications: Wellington, 1992). This is a must read for all fans of the Split Enz, Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Crowded House, etc. But it is also offers fascinating insights to the ins and outs of the music industry from the perspective of this New Zealand band. It would also be of interest to those who'd like to know more about what it was like to grow up in New Zealand in the age of rock n roll. Stranger Than Fiction is Azrael's "boo award" winner for April 1999! [To get this book in North America, contact Pandora's Music Box - the only distributor of Chunn's books here]

To this we have to add now the second part of the story, so to speak, Crowded House: Something So Strong by New Zealand journalist Chris Bourke also available from Pandora's Music Box.

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