No comments about Pierre-Esprit Radisson: Merchant Adventurer, 1636-1701.

No comments about Legacy in Wood: The Wahl Family Boat Builders.

No comments about There Never Was a Better Time: Toronto's Yesterdays.

1 comments about Gil Evans: Out of the Cool: His Life and Music.

1. I read the manuscript before the book was published, and Stephanie has done a miraculous job. Gil Evans was an extremely private person, and there were so many things about his life that were unknown or mysterious (nobody is even sure what his name is) until Stepanie started compiling her research. This book is filled with little-known information about his early life, and the photos she has discovered are amazing. She has found long-forgotten correspondense between Evans and his friend Pete Carpenter, and has interviewed people who have never spoken about Gil before in print. If you have any interest in 20th century jazz ensemble music, this book is invaluable.

5 comments about Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould.

1. This is a wonderful biography on one of the world's finest and beloved musicians. The writing is detailed and articulate but never boring. However, if you do not have a background in music, the writings on classical music could be difficult to decipher for the layman. An excellent read!!



2. I can't exactly put a nail on why I have read so many biographies on Gould, but I dare say the story of his reclusiveness, isolation and his pursuit of his art has always intrigued me. Up to this point my favorite biography on Gould had been the Otto Fredrick "A Life in Variations", so I had a pre-conceived notion that this book may just have been be a re-telling of all the stories and interviews I heard in the past.
   
   Bazzana appears to set himself apart here in that he was not asked to write a biography on Gould as he described in the book. There are many snippits of things I've allready knew about Gould here, but Bazzana also tries to put another angle on some of the eccentricities most have heard or read about prior. He encapsulates many different views of Gould, so much so that I feel that I have a bit more insite here. Also, Bazzana appears to set some of the record straight for other biographical sources such as Andrew Kazdin's work called "Glenn Gould At Work, Creative Lying" which is another book I gained knowledge from and did enjoy. It may not be entirely possible to have a true biographical account of Gould, but I still appreciate this additional account of his life although I am only giving it 4 stars because I feel there will never be a complete biography of an individual due to different sources and views, but this one is generally well researched. It does re-hash some of the other interview material, sources etc, but within the book there does appear to be an attempt here to rationalize his behaviour and give a better look beyond the stereotype.



3. What is it about Glenn Gould? He's been the subject of books, dvds, and one odd movie made up of a mosaic of short films. Gould's life and music has captured the attention and imagination of people who otherwise would not venture anywhere near classical performers.
   
   "Wondrous Strange" doesn't delve deeply into opinions, or really attempt to explain why people were (and are) so affected by Gould--it simply lays out Gould's life in block-like sections, marking his attitudes and approaches to both music and life. The result is a thick book full of Gouldian lore, with many fascinating passages, that doesn't cohere quite as well as it could have. Bazzana develops themes, drops them, and then revisits them a few chapters on. Pages could have been trimmed where Bazzana is busy repeating himself. It's as if the book were trying to envelope Gould, like an octopus settling on a lobster.
   
   Does it succeed? Mostly, yes. With repeated gleanings, Gould emerges to the reader as something of a "mutant"--a person slightly ahead of his time. He was a reclusive person, who came to hate concert limelight, and found great comfort in the controlled technology of the studio. He (probably correctly) discerned that an artist usually communicates better, and certainly more intimately, through recordings than through concerts.
   
   Gould's belief in the classical music performer's right to interpret and reimagine great works of music put him at odds with many critics, as did his tendency to "sing" wordlessly as he played. These things only served to reinforce Gould's singularity, and mark him as a modernist. Like James Dean, or the Beatles, Gould transcended his time. He was a dreamer who continues to captivate and to inspire dreams in his legion of followers.



4. This is a very well-balanced, thorough biography of the Canadian pianist/musician/composer Glenn Gould. Very well written, a joy to read (and a lot easier to read then most of the stuff Glenn wrote himself...)
   Having read this book I feel I understand more about Glenn Gould the artist and the person.
   A first-choice-must-buy for all interested to know more about Glenn Gould.



5. This unstoppably heartrending biography of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould unveils the mysteries of a perfect art more cogently and beautifully than has any other artist's biography I've ever come across. Kevin Bazzana has opened up Gould's eccentricities and placed them where finally they must sleep - merely deep in the natural whole of one of the inescapable musicians of the 20th century. Those lucky enough to know the meaning of the art of Glenn Gould will always be grateful for that achievement.
   
   This is a tremendous book. The moments when Bazzana's utterly secure love for Gould's art shines through are the most extraordinary aspect of a completely worthy biography. With deep and glistening writing Bazzana evokes every aspect of looking-at-Gould with the same sound character found in Gould's playing - it's an amazing experience! This is biographical literature extensive and schooled, and even wise; reading is like gliding on glass, so perfect is the author's determination, and Gould lives on every page. What could be better?
   
   Was ever a pianist's art more wonderful? Gould's playing is always extraordinary by every standard, and beyond. And not only the playing, of course; his mind, his understanding of music, his humor - these form the scaffolding of a remarkable artistic vision. For all his reclusion, his is the most giving human art, reaching to infinity. Art of the gods obtains dimensions the proof of which can be heard in everything he played. It's a consuming art, yet so freeing. The wondrous thing about it is how Gould kept so much of himself even as he spent lavishly on Bach and Byrd and Schoenberg. Music never overtook Gould - that task inevitably fell to Gould himself.
   
   By literature of this kind, the sadness that still lingers around Gould's death seems entirely transformed. This is a great book that ends too quickly and lingers too pervasively. Afford yourself the wealth.

2 comments about The Torso Murder: The Untold Story of Evelyn Dick.

1. I stumbled across this book while looking for something about The Lipstick Killer of Chicago, William Heirens. He, too, is believed to have dismembered at least one victim during his reign of terror from 1945-1946 in Chicago. (His culpability in the crimes is also circumstantial.)
   
   Instead, I found this book about the John Dick murder/mutilation in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1946. I had never heard of this case before, and it is still the only account I have read of it yet. But this book has made me want more.
   
   From the Prologue, I was intrigued. Vallee is such an interesting writer. His words and phrases are crafted for mood, clarity, and objectivity. He leads the reader through this small Canadian town; through the lives of these seemingly ordinary, if not strange, groups of people. It is still as salacious a story as when the news initially broke in those early days of March 1946.
   
   John Dick, an immigrant man who recently married, is missing. His employer is the only one who seems concerned, while his wife and her family continue to engage in some strange behavior. Her deepest concern is that he still owes her money, while her father's sole concern is that no police should be called to his daughter's house. As the investigation unfolds, we find a string of love affairs, a dead infant, shoddy police work, and some criminal masterminds. Love, murder, money, greed--all seem to be personified by the enigmatic Evelyn Dick. Is she guilty... or just a victim?
   
   Brian Vallee takes an even handed approach to this complex story. He takes account of nearly every side and every issue. The story itself is fascinating, and as was stated by one contributor, better than any work of fiction. For all the titillating details, Vallee constantly reminds his readers of the gruesome crimes that made these people infamous. His compassion and objectivity do allow him to come up with his own conclusions about the crimes, ending the work beautifully.
   
   Highly recommend!



2. If you've seen the movie, or know of the case, this book provides some interesting information. It is relatively well-written, contains pictures, and is easy to read. I recommend it.

No comments about Silent Observer.

2 comments about Hunger in Holland: Life During the Nazi Occupation.

1. I was very interested in how the Dutch survived the Nazi occupation. This book brought it home in very clear terms. The book itself is cheaply printed. Also, the author doesn't follow a clear chronology but she is writing from memory and probably doesn't recall that much detail. The feeling one gets is that she was starving in 1943, nothing got better, but somehow it becomes mid-1945.
   Still, a strong recommendation if you find these kinds of war stories compelling.



2. This book provides a fairly objective view of the many domestic details of life under German occupation. Fuykschot was a young teen in Utrecht, Holland when her life was dramatically changed during WW2. She describes the struggle to keep warm, clothed, and nourished as basic supplies became increasingly scare. The focus is a personal and familial one as she recalls the events that impacted on her parents and younger sister, and to some extent neighbours and school chums. Hardship abounds but triumph is definite in the satisfying ending of liberation by Canadian troops in 1944.

No comments about Early Masters: Inuit Sculpture 1949-1955.

5 comments about The Donnelly Album: The Complete and Authentic Account of Canada's Famous Feuding Family.

1. I found the writing convoluted, the storytelling lacked flow, and was left dissatified overall. There's much reference to archaic and regional language that's never defined, thus one loses the gist of meaning or the character's point of view. I found myself irritated by the introduction of peripheral characters and relations that continously lead to confusion. Overall, I could not visualize the geography, the main characters were bereft of substance, and the cultural relationships were never adequately fleshed out.



2. This book is excellent. I came across it while looking for something entirely different but what a great thing.
   
   I fell in love with this mishappen family as women are wont to do with "bad boys."
   
   Couldn't put the book down!



3. 
   The fighting,feuding,barn burning,animal mutilation and general mayhem around Lucan,Ontario,went on for about 35 years,and finally ended with 5 members of the Donnelly family being murdered in their homes by a vigilante committee on that awful night of February 4,1880.It was a national story that shocked the young nation of Canada.Canada had only recently become a country in 1867.These were often rough and ready times ,both in Canada as well as the US.This is the same period when,with the
   American Civil War over in 1865,the west was opening up with range wars,cattle drives,gold strikes,train robberies,and outlaws like Jesse James and the shoot-out at the OK Corral with Wyatt Earp,Doc Holliday,and all.
   The fighting and feuding in the Donnelly story had all together different origins.The source of trouble came from a whole different scene of problems that were brought ,mainly by settlers who came from the County Tipperary,Ireland.
   The story of the massacre had just about disappeared from the radar scope when a pulp writer,Thomas P Kelly wrote a book,"The Black Donnellys"in 1954 and created a huge interest and sold millions of copies.Being a pulp writer he did only enough research to tell the essence of the story,filled in the details from his own imagination,including conversations as he saw them.It made for exciting reading but as time went on, readers and other authors spent a lot of time nit picking about what he wrote.
   The author of this book heard about the story on the radio in
   1962 got interested,read Kelley's book and spent years researching everything about the Donnellys and the history of the county;and finally in 1977 produced this book.He was a lawyer by profession and approached the whole story as would one preparing for a trial.He researched all the records,read everything ever written,talked to an endless stream of people,and,as as a result, produced a book that is totally factual and includes just about everything there is to know about what happened.The book is over 300 pages ,has pictures and/or illustrations of just about everyone and everything involved with the story.He has maps,documents,you name it,he's got it in the book.His writing style and overall organization is so good,the reading could not be easier.He not only researched the story,he has made it a lifelong hobby,interest,or or maybe even an obsession.Like I said,if there is anything you would want to know,you'll find it in this book,and you can count on it being as correct as one can make it.
   There is no doubt that there is nobody who has researched the story as he has,and for such a long time,and he gives it all to us in this book.
   If you have ever wanted to go into the real details of the story or plan to visit Lucan to see where it all took place and visit the church,graveyard,the Roman Line,the Swamp schoolhouse,the site of the Donnelly farm,the village of
   Lucan and the many buildings that still exist;this is the bible and guide for you.He also gives a lot of information on the people involved and what happened during the years after the murders.
   
   I have been following this story since my High School days of 1954 when Kelley's book first appeared and often talk to others about it.There are a lot of people who will tell you about someone knowing descendents of the Donnelly's.Well,let me tell you this.Mr Fazakas has researched that too.In 2001 he produced another super book "In Search of the Donnellys" of 300 pages. Again, he covers the whole history of the Donnellys ,all the way back to their roots in Ireland and the history of all the descendents.Another wonderful book and a great addition to the whole story.Like this "Album",it is filled with fabulous photos.I'll be doing a review of it shortly.
   If you haven't found it yet ,there is an excellent website
   "The Black Donnellys", where you can get lots of information and photos.
   If you happen to visit Lucan some day,take a little side trip to Exeter,about 20 miles north of Lucan and see the rare White Squirrels.These are not albinos, but very rare and occur in a few isolated spots in North America,having been introduced many years ago from Hawaii.You can find more about them on the web under "White Squirrels of Exeter".
   
   



4. This is the only authentic account of this tragedy, and there is another sequel by this author that is just as informing.



5. This the best and most interesting of the Donnellys era. One of those books you hate to set down to finish later.