Reader Views

The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution

Article first published as Book Review: The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution by Gregory S. Athnos on Blogcritics.

One would think that by reading a book about the art which adorns the Roman catacombs, one would purely concentrate on analyzing the style and technique of the ancient artists.  However, author Gregory S. Athnos presents his thoughts on the subject from a unique and fascinating angle.  “The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution” is not your typical Sunday school lecture.

“The Art of the Roman Catacombs” is an amazing journey into the subterranean world of early Christian tomb frescos.  While Athnos does make distinction between the rudimentary plaster scratchings and the sarcophagi carvings, he focuses mostly on the main themes of the artwork and how they differ from our current day Christian emphasis.  Specifically, we tend to center our minds on the sacrifice – the crucifixion of Jesus Christ – when practicing Christianity.  Athnos shows through example after surprising example that early Christians didn’t include crosses or any references to sacrifice or death in their art.  Instead, they emphasize the resurrection and the newfound power over death.  The messages they left were of hope, of deliverance, and of eternal life.

I found the first appendix at the end of the book to be especially interesting.  Athnos uses recorded astrological events, historical data, and seasonal information to pinpoint Jesus’ birthday…and it’s not what you think.  I grew up believing what he explains although I only had the ‘shepherds couldn’t have been out in the fields at night in December’ reasoning.’  Athnos not only presents this appendix with ample information to back up his theory but can even utilize the catacomb art to further justify it.  I was simply blown away.

Athnos writes with an authoritative tone, speaking with intelligence and eloquence.  His style is straightforward and organized which gives the book a sense of direction and flow.  He also succeeds in imparting his enthusiasm on the subject to his readers.  Overall, I found his novel way of interpreting the tomb art to be absolutely captivating.  I think this would be a fantastic book for not only Bible historians but for small group Bible studies.  Further, tourists looking to tour the catacombs would enjoy reading the book before visiting; I know I would have loved to have this before my travels there.  It truly gives a fresh perspective on traditional Christianity.

“The Art of the Roman Catacombs” represents a thirst for greater knowledge, empathy for those early Christians living during the Age of Persecution, and a hope that those reading will have a better understanding of what the emphasis was in the religion’s beginnings.


The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution
Gregory S. Athnos
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432774493
Reviewed by Vicki Liston for Reader Views (12/11)

Russia’s Prestige: Historical Architecture

This is a very complete and concise volume of Russian architecture by a very talented writer. Mr. Parvaiz does more than just describe the beautiful architecture that is portrayed in the book. He goes the extra mile by giving the reader an insight into the history of the building. Beginning with Cathedral of the Dormition, to the Qolsharif Mosque, the chapters are descriptive and detailed. There is even a glossary at the end of every chapter that enlightens the reader to the terms used in that chapter.

Such amazing structures as the Catherine Palace in the Tsarskoe selo (the Tsar’s private city) are described with such detail that shows the author did his homework. He goes beyond the usual descriptions of the brick and mortar to include the reasons for its existence. It is this type of research that the author has done that makes this book stand out from the crowd of the usual architectural books.

The pictures are black and white, as would be expected in a book of architectural structures that date back as far as these do but that does not hinder the quality. The writing is top-notch and keeps the readers interest with the in-depth background and history.

The way the information is presented, with an in-depth history of the structures, makes it very interesting reading for everyone. He brought out some historical events that I had never seen or heard of in other books. It is general audience reading and full of wonderful pictures of all the old Churches and Cathedrals that are described and discussed. The cover graphics are appealing and the editing is a welcome change from most I have read recently. I enjoyed “Russia’s Prestige: Historical Architecture” and gave it my highest mark of an A+.

Russia’s Prestige: Historical Architecture
Kashif  Parvaiz
Outskirts Press (2010)
ISBN 9781432766115
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (5/11)

Henry Ford’s Moving Picture Show: An Investigator’s Guide to the Films Produced by the Ford Motor Company, Volume One, 1914-1920

“Henry Ford’s Moving Picture Show: An Investigator’s Guide to the Films Produced by the Ford Motor Company, Volume One, 1914-1920” by Phillip W. Stewart turned out to be a truly fascinating book. I have to admit that I had no idea that Henry Ford was ever in the movie business at all, and even after hearing about this book, my expectations were not particularly high. Okay, old cars are fascinating, and Ford certainly was a genius, but how many movies about cars could there be?

The Preface and Introduction sections alone piqued my interest greatly. As it turns out, the surviving footage either acquired or produced by Ford Motor Company (FMC) between the years 1914 and 1954 is housed in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and the collection holds approximately 1,800,000 feet of film. The present volume of the “Henry Ford’s Moving Picture Show,” which is Volume 1, covers the 935 titles made between 1914 and 1920, and also seven films, donated to the Ford family by the famous inventor Thomas Alva Edison. Those films are even earlier, dating from 1903, 1905 and 1909.

The book is wonderfully organized. The chapters are organized by year, and within that, by alphabetical order. Each film gets a unique numerical identification, which works great in conjunction with the two indexes at the end of the book, one by title and another by subject. Each entry provides NARA’s catalog card reference number and, if available, its Archival Research Catalog identification number, as well as a description of the film’s contents, its length and whether it had captions or not. I believe that this very detailed and logical organization would make searching for a particular subject easy and intuitive.

And what a vast array of subject those films cover! Sure, there is a plethora of films about automobiles, tractors, ships, trucks, traffic, streetcars and horses, but the fun by no means stops there. National parks, animals, travel destinations around the world – including Cuba!, sports, industries and so much more all make part of this quaint collection. And best of all, many of those films are accessible on the Internet, and Mr. Stewart generously provides instructions on how to go about seeing them there or at NARA.

I found “Henry Ford’s Moving Picture Show: An Investigator’s Guide to the Films Produced by the Ford Motor Company, Volume One, 1914-1920” to be an extraordinarily organized and fascinating glimpse into the early American history, and I would highly recommend it to those who are in need of reference footage for a wide variety of projects.

Henry Ford’s Moving Picture Show: An Investigator’s Guide to the Films Produced by the Ford Motor Company, Volume One, 1914-1920
Phillip W. Stewart
pms press (2011)
ISBN 9780981744476
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (5/11

ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins

When I first received “ERIC II” for review, I went into overwhelm and wondered how I was going to give a book of near 1500 pages the justice it deserves. But, with a little persistence and a whole lot of interest I delved into it. I have to admit, for the purpose of this review I did not go through every page in detail but I do feel I read enough and perused the rest to give this book the kudos it is worthy of.

“This book chronicles the nature and evolution of the money made by the Romans and through the end of its spinoff civilization, the Byzantines.” (p ii) Rasiel Suarez goes on further to tell us that “Most Roman coins feature religious or military themes,” and they “came in many different denominations. The weight and metal type of each coin determined how much purchasing power each coin had.” (p iii)  The historical aspects of coins in “ERIC II” were of much interest to me as I’m sure they will be to avid coin collecting buffs or historians.  As well, Suarez gives photographic examples of coins.  Crude as the coins may be, the images are clear and the reader can enjoy the vivid comparisons.

“ERIC II,” in encyclopedia format, is easy to use.  Each ruler is defined by title and dates of reign, biography and plate of the bust. As well, Suarez provides reverse and obverse legends, mint location, metal type, references, and much more for the over 60,000 coins listed. Of particular interest to me was market pricing and I was amazed to see that these rare coins are sold on eBay and for what I felt a very reasonable price considering the age.  Others have auction prices which often are much more.

I must say that I am grateful I took on the challenge to review “ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins” because I have expanded my knowledge of ancient coins by a hundred fold. It is evident that Suarez is an expert on Roman Imperial coins and his passion comes through in his research. I’m sure the coin collecting community is elated with this book because the basic research has been done and provided to them.

I can’t imagine any other book on the market even comes close to being compared to “ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins.” Rasiel Suarez, calling himself “just a geek,” is to be commended and praised for offering his research to others.  I believe every national and international library, with English speaking patrons, should hold at least one copy of “ERIC II” as so should Roman coin collectors.

ERIC II: The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins
Rasiel Suarez
Dirty Old Books™ (2010)
ISBN 9780976466413
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (12/10)

Peanut Butter and Mashed Potatoes: Satisfying Trivia for Rock and Pop Fressers

If you read Deborah Godin’s first book you know that she knows her rock and roll trivia.  If you haven’t, not to worry, her latest book is just as good if not better than the first.  Either way, you are in for a real treat - especially if you love rock and roll music.  Her latest book is titled “Peanut Butter and Mashed Potatoes: Satisfying Trivia for Rock and Roll Pop Fressers.”  Quite a mouthful isn’t it?  I recognized right away that “Peanut Butter” and “Mashed Potatoes” referred to pop hits during that era; but I was stumped over the word “Fresser.”  (So was my spell checker dictionary for that matter, but that’s another story.)  But before I had time to “kvetch” over the intrusion of this foreign sounding word, Godin helpfully explained that “Fresser” is a Yiddish word that rhymes with dresser and means a person who eats copiously, and with great auditory gusto; a real scarfer.  Oy, who knew?

A glance at the table of contents reveals that the book is laid out in a very organized, but fun way; that is to say, the title of each chapter is also the title of a well-known song. For example: Chapter 1- Here, There and Everywhere - songs about real places; Chapter 2-What’s Your Name, Who’s Your Daddy? - songs about real people; and so on.  By the time you finish the book, you will have discovered what life was like swinging in the Chelsea Hotel, have gotten directions to Hotel California, Tobacco Road, and the House of the Rising Sun, and most intriguing, have learned who the real people were who inspired songs like “Mack the Knife,” “Mrs. Robinson,” And Rag Doll.”

I am lucky enough - or unlucky enough, depending on your outlook - to have lived through the entire era of rock and roll/ pop music starting in the 1950s; so naturally I drilled right down on Chapter Two to find out who provided the inspiration for that luscious character Mrs. Robinson played by Anne Bancroft.  I’ll never forget that famous promotional shot of Dustin Hoffman dwarfed by Mrs. Robinson’s leg.  Although Godin was unable to discover who the real Mrs. Robinson was, she did reveal that the leg in the shot did not belong to Miss Bancroft, rather to Linda Gray, who was then an unknown model and years away from playing Sue Ellen on “Dallas.”

There is one chapter that is bound to generate some good natured controversy; namely; From Californ-ya to New York Eye-land - searching for America’s band.  In her search to determine which group deserves this title, she came up with seven finalists: 1) Glenn Miller Band; 2) The United States Air Force Band; 3) America; 4) Chicago; 5) Grand Funk Railroad; 6) The Eagles; and 7) The Beach Boys.  And the winner is----!  Not so fast!  You have to read the book to find out!

So, what’s the final verdict on “Peanut Butter and Mashed Potatoes” by Deborah Godin?  In keeping with the format of her book I say:  “People Get Ready” (The Impressions) - readers, you’re going to enjoy this book!

Peanut Butter and Mashed Potatoes: Satisfying Trivia for Rock and Pop Fressers
Deborah Godin
BookSurge (2009)
ISBN 9781439248843
Reviewed by Ron Standerfer for Reader Views (02/10)

Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft

I will have to say that I wish I had this information when my daughter started on her acting career for movies. We read everything we could find, but most of our readings were very general. Author Howard Fine gives readers and potential actors the nitty-gritty in this book. His honesty, experience and tips will make potential actors better in how they audition and how they understand the acting world. He doesn’t say that if you read this book he guarantees you will get the job, but he will help you be a step-above others.

I do believe that the chapter on “Common Mistakes” was one of my favorite. It included topics about natural vs. real; attitude and judging the character. One thing that I found is that each actor/actress views the character they are playing in different ways. Trying to figure out what the director wants is another story. Should you come on strong, weak or neutral? To be a great actor, the author says you have to know yourself. This is something I teach in my Psychology classes all the time.  Once you prejudge a situation, you have put yourself out of the running.  Many times actors have a tendency to over-analyze their characters.  Actors need to have a range from playing the saint to the serial killer says author Fine.  In addition, actors get into trouble when they have to play characters that are outside their experience. I remember a role my daughter had for the Discovery Channel; she had to portray a rape victim. Since this was not in her realm of experience, she spent time talking to rape victims and was able to successfully fulfill her role in that movie.

I found that really the author is saying, be true to yourself. Be human and be the best you can. This is a book that everyone should have if they think they want to go into this field. You can take all the lessons you want, and each instructor/mentor is different. But if you want to know the real truth and do your best, “Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft” by Howard Fine is the book for you.

Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft
Howard Fine
Havenhurst Books (2009)
ISBN 9780982285329
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (01/10)

Beautiful Places: The Timeless Beauty of South Carolina State Parks

Chad Prosser and photographer Jon O. Holloway have created a beautiful coffee table book commemorating the 75th anniversary of South Carolina State Parks.  The gorgeous photos of the areas in “Beautiful Places” are first-class and one can easily be mesmerized by the beauty found in each one. However, there is more; the book not only shows off the magnificence but also gives details of history and the progression since the unveiling of South Carolina’s first state park in January 1934 contributed by parks historian Cal Harrison.

We all hear of Myrtle Beach and other coastal areas and could assume that’s the only place in South Carolina that calls on the beauty, however, there is so much more to explore. In fact, there are 47 park locations: The Coast; The Midlands; the Upstate.  Going through each page I was quickly drawn into the exquisiteness of each park.  The landscape, the wildlife, the flora, and the sculptures are well depicted and give a fair representation of the area. I was also enthralled by the reflections the photographer was able to capture.

Personally I’ve only been through some of the parks in the Greenville and Spartanburg areas and was able to find the beauty in the enchanted forests.  After perusing “Beautiful Places,” South Carolina is definitely a state that is on my “must visit” list.

In “Beautiful Places: The Timeless Beauty of South Carolina State Parks,” Prosser, Holloway and Harrison have given us an arm-chair glimpse into the gorgeousness of South Carolina.  The journey spent reflecting and admiring the splendor in this book is a wonderful way to entice us to get out of our arm-chair and visit the state.  I’m sure we wouldn’t be disappointed!

Beautiful Places
Chad Prosser with Photography by Jon O. Holloway
Greenleaf Book Group Press (2009)
ISBN 9780979875809
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (8/09)

Heat

A flash of skin, breasts, a hand, a mouth open in ecstasy; taboo images. We have all caught glimpses of the blocked transmission of adult films on cable television. Flipping by with the remote control, we think we see something. We flip back by again. Maybe we stop for a few minutes to find out what we can see, always looking over our shoulder to make sure no one walks in the room.

Roger Camp, a photographer from California, not only stopped on this channel, he hooked up his camera equipment and took still photographs. He combined these photographs into "Heat." As the author/artist says in the foreword "…what intrigued me about the images was not their erotic content so much as how the distortion often created images of beauty and grotesquerie far more powerful than the original video."

I picked up this book with the same feeling of excited curiosity as someone stopping on the distorted TV channel. What would I see? Would it be titillating and sexy? Maybe the first glance through the book was that way. But as I explored more, read the foreword by Roger Camp, read the essay by Fine Arts professor Bert Yarborough, and studied the fifty color photographs, my thoughts and feelings turned in a more analytical and observatory direction.

Roger Camp is not a dirty old man looking for an excuse to watch and exploit pornography. He is an accomplished artist who sees and photographs images of light, shape, and color. Swatches of blues, reds, and greens color the bodies. Wavy lines of distortion drag eyes, limbs, and breasts into odd shapes and angles. His images are sometimes beautiful, and sometimes disturbing. This is not because of the subject matter, but because of the way the subject matter has been captured.

"Heat" by Roger Camp is a book for any curious mind looking to be stimulated in more ways than one. The richly printed images, slick pages, and strong binding make this a valuable art book for your shelf. The taboo subject matter makes a bold statement and conversation starter. The artist’s intentions make this a book that you will pick up again and again, finding something new and interesting each time.

Heat
Roger Camp
Charta Books (2008)
ISBN 9788881586783
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (9/08)

The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector’s Journal

When I saw this book, my thoughts echoed a phrase on the back cover exactly, “Finally, It’s Here!”  A book that would explain the ins and outs of art collecting.  What type of art should I collect?  Who are the up-and-coming new artists?  Where do I find the best art?  What should I be looking for to make my art collection shine? 

In “The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector’s Journal” I found the answers I needed, without finding the answers to any of these questions.  There is no right and wrong when looking at art, you go with what moves you.  I should have known that.  It was nice to have this book remind me in a subtle, easy manner. 

As an artist myself, I was also drawn to this book to find out how others view art.  What is an art collector looking for?  What does an art collector look like?  Where do I find them?  Again, I was expecting hard and fast answers.  I got a reminder in simplicity.  The art collectors are looking for the artists to create from their hearts so that they can buy from their hearts.  Art collectors are anyone and everyone.  The “Everyday Joe!”

Michael Corbin’s “The Art of Everyday Joe” is the second in a series of “Collector’s Journals.”  A writer by profession and lover of art, Michael uses essays on all topics to make the reader realize that art is all around us.  In his essays he talks about a varied range of topics such as rudeness, airports, and bubblewrap.  Some essays are about specific artists or art forms.  Others barely mention art at all.  But all have the same purpose -- to show us that collecting art is not stuffy and only for the rich.  Cover your walls from floor to ceiling with art from living, working artists.  Tear that Picasso image out of that magazine and frame it.  Revel in the beauty of the oatmeal box! 

In “The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector’s Journal,” author Michael K. Corbin uses images from his art collection to enhance the book and complement the essays.  He did a great job of matching art with essays and showed a variety of art styles.  It was a pleasure flipping through and looking at the art, and I am sure quite a thrill for the author to show off his art collection to so many people.  Corbin’s writing style is simple, sometimes rambling, but always passionate, no matter the topic.  This series is exactly what the art world needs.  I expect Michael Corbin to spread the word far and wide.

The Art of Everyday Joe: A Collector’s Journal
Michael K. Corbin
AuthorHouse (2008)
ISBN 9781434332134
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (6/08)

Theaters and Theater Companies of New York 2008

Reviewing the table of contents and the many theaters listed makes me want to book tickets right now! I love going to the theater, but haven’t had the chance to make it to Broadway. I have been a strong supporter of live productions in the West End in London and of various local companies throughout the United Kingdom and here in Texas. My dream vacation is to make it to New York City and see a different play every night. This book provides a quick introduction to the theaters in the area. Or at least the ones which the authors deem worthy!
                                
For each of the over sixty theaters, there is a brief summary of the history of the building and the type of work produced there. All types of contact information are listed for those wishing to view a play as well as for those in the business, including the number of seats. The authors don’t mind sharing their opinions of the work produced in the theaters or those producing it. There are sections called “Did You Know?” sprinkled throughout, providing bits of information about theater in general which seemed to be directed to the average reader and kept me turning the pages.  For instance, I learned that the only tickets I can afford are Off-Off Broadway union productions at $18.00 per ticket. But is a thespian really a theater lover and not an actor? There are also black and white photos of various locations, but they are not very interesting and seem only to serve the purpose of taking up space.

I had hoped for more information about the history of the buildings and maybe titillating stories about the actors who had walked the boards. Or even a few ghost tales. I would have enjoyed notes about which seats were best and which ones to avoid. There was no index and the table of contents was not alphabetized making it time-consuming to locate a particular theater. I did appreciate the explanation of the various types of theaters, such as Broadway or Off-Broadway, especially in how it relates to prices.

An annoying feature includes the advertisements for other publications by the publisher. I would rather they were at the end, if included at all. The authors’ opinions are very strong about some locations, making me sometimes wonder if they have a vendetta against some of the theater owners.

As I finished reading “Theaters and Theater Companies of New York 2008,” I was still curious about who this book was written for. There wasn’t enough background for tourists to pick it up in addition to other guide books. Would anyone consider the 105 pages, of which 63 are pictures or advertisements, worth the price charged? Maybe this is a start for someone looking for a location to produce their new play, but I would imagine they would quickly move on to the internet where information is updated more frequently. I think I’d rather save my money for a theater ticket!

Theaters and Theater Companies of New York 2008
M. Stefan Strozier and Anthony Rubino, Jr.
World Audience, Inc. (2008)
ISBN 9781934209837
Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (5/08)