Longhorn Reviews

By: Sun Ra and his Arkestra

Finally we have a good selection of Sun Ra material.  This is one of my
favorites.  Eloquent and odd jazz that's deeply satisfying

Reviewer: Tommy

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By: Sherry Ruth Anderson

This book is a diverse examination of the uniquely feminine aspects of faith in
God. The authors interviewed a variety of women, including a Seneca elder, an
ex-nun, a rabbi, a social worker and a Jungian analyst. Each woman shares her story
about how the traditional patriarchal models of religion lack relevance for her
life. Instead they speak of how they’ve redefined their spiritual beliefs and
practices to embrace their experiences as women. The book follows the unfolding of
life from childhood to adult experiences of creativity, love, family, sexuality and
community. I had a lot of “a ha” moments when I read this book. The experiences
described and feelings expressed by the interviewees articulated many of my own
thoughts and feelings about faith in ways I had not been able to articulate them
myself. I recommend this book for any woman who has ever found more spiritual truth
in her own personal experiences than in the traditional beliefs and practices of
patriarchal religion.

Reviewer: Cindy Lennartson

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By: Richard Russo

I am really recommending any of Richard Russo’s works. All of them are great and
you can follow a rise in the quality of his writing as you read newer and newer
works. The basic premise seems to be the same in each of his novels (at least the 4
of his 5 which I have read): they’re all set in a small town in the American
Northeast and full of wacky characters -- some in dire situations, some suffering
for caring about those in dire situations, and some suffering at the hands of those
in dire situations. Either way, the characters are what are great about Russo’s
writing. He makes you believe that these unreal folk are real and he makes you
suffer along with them, while at the same time you often want to give them a
smack-in-the-head wake-up call. This title won Russo the Pulitzer Prize in fiction
for 2002. Basically, it is a chilling commentary on Columbine, but the plot, as in
his other works, is almost incidental to how the characters react to what is
occurring. Russo is always funny and often at the same time heart-wrenching. His
books are quick reads and all wonderfully realized.

Reviewer: Beth Kerr

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By: John Charles Chasteen

If you are interested in a compelling and easy-to-read overview of the history of
Latin America, this is the book for you. Instead of trying to relate the events that
took place throughout Latin America over five centuries, Chasteen looks at larger
themes and movements shared by countries throughout Latin America. These themes
include the first indigenous encounters with Spaniards, colonialism, independence,
neocolonialism (America’s policy of influencing Latin America), national movements,
and neoliberalism, among others. Each chapter is broken into a theme, and Chasteen
effectively demonstrates how that theme affected and directed the energies of
countries throughout the hemisphere. The book is enjoyable to read, and perfect if
you need to know the high points of Latin American history but would also like a
more in-depth insight into its complexities. If you are traveling in Latin America,
doing business there, interested in the relationship between the U.S. and Latin
America, or just interested in history, this is the book for you.

Reviewer: AJ Johnson

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