Preventable and curable, tuberculosis is still the world’s deadliest disease. John Green illuminates why in Everything Is Tuberculosis.
Preventable and curable, tuberculosis is still the world’s deadliest disease. John Green illuminates why in Everything Is Tuberculosis.
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The chaos in the art world resulting from World War II continues to this day, as paintings, icons and sculptures routinely emerge in auction rooms and private sales. As the Nazi armies raced towards Leningrad in 1941, the Catherine Palace was hastily dismantled and Peter the Great’s art treasures packed away. One of them, a room made of panels of amber mined from the Baltic Sea a gift from the King of Prussia has never been found. In September 2001, journalists Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark began their own search for the Amber Room, combing through archives in Moscow, Leningrad and Berlin, interviewing the few surviving figures and relatives of those deceased, and poring over previously unknown diaries. Their quest is meticulously recounted in The Amber Room: Uncovering the Fate of the World’s Greatest Lost Art Treasure. Levy and Scott-Clark have turned up two conflicting stories as to the fate of the Amber Room.

One theory follows the reasoning of Anatoly Kuchumov, a curator in charge of packing up Leningrad’s art treasures as the Germans invaded in 1941. Figuring that the Amber Room could not be moved, Kuchumov decided to disguise it instead. Another theory comes from archeology professor Alexander Brusov, who led the first search for the room just as the war ended in 1945. He concluded it had been carted off by the Nazis to Konigsberg Castle in East Prussia, where it survived until the city fell to the Red Army on April 9. By the end of May, the castle was a charred ruin, undoubtedly the work of Red Army troops, unaware that Russian art treasures were stored there.

Perhaps finally accepting the probability of the room’s destruction, Russia began assembling a replica in 1999, which officially opened in May 2003. While the fate of the room may never be established, The Amber Room is a fascinating tale of obsession, intrigue and fabrication rivaling a work of fiction. And since art works supposedly “missing” in the war continue to be uncovered, there may be a trove of similar stories waiting to be told. Deborah Donovan writes from Cincinnati, Ohio, and La Veta, Colorado.

The chaos in the art world resulting from World War II continues to this day, as paintings, icons and sculptures routinely emerge in auction rooms and private sales. As the Nazi armies raced towards Leningrad in 1941, the Catherine Palace was hastily dismantled and Peter…
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<b>Peggy Lee’s fever pitch</b>

Singer/songwriter Peggy Lee consistently proved during her lengthy and impressive career that a great performer could be extremely popular, yet maintain high artistic standards. Peter Richmond’s exhaustively researched new biography, <b>Fever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee</b>, chronicles her rise from obscure small-town singer Norma Deloris Egstrom to jazz and pre-rock diva Peggy Lee, the epitome of class, swing and sophistication. The journey was anything but smooth, and Richmond details the constant turmoil and stress Lee endured throughout her life, from early problems with stage fright and mastering physical awkwardness to tragic romantic encounters and four unsuccessful marriages. Though he delves extensively into intimate situations, Richmond does so without becoming judgmental or substituting innuendo for fact.

He’s equally convincing in his examination of Lee’s musical gifts. His descriptions of her interaction with such famously prickly characters as Johnny Mercer and Benny Goodman give readers insight into not only what made her excel musically, but also how sharp she was in dealing with creatively innovative, quirky figures. Lee had an incredible knack for reworking a tune, and turned Lil Green’s Why Won’t You Do Right and Little Willie John’s Fever into such masterful signature songs that many mistakenly assumed she had written them. Her storytelling skills were ideal for the lush, metaphor-laden material that was the stock-in-trade of Mercer, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and other kingpin composers of the pre-rock era.

Still, though Lee’s fame and wealth increased, she seldom enjoyed sustained peace and happiness. Her desire to be simply Norma Deloris Egstrom from Nortonville, North Dakota, when she was at home frequently bewildered admirers and often angered her companions and husbands. The ’70s and ’80s proved mostly cruel decades in terms of commercial fortunes, but Lee continued working until she suffered a massive stroke in 1998. Fortunately, Richmond’s volume ensures that Peggy Lee’s contributions to the American musical canon will not only be remembered, but appreciated.

<b>Peggy Lee's fever pitch</b>

Singer/songwriter Peggy Lee consistently proved during her lengthy and impressive career that a great performer could be extremely popular, yet maintain high artistic standards. Peter Richmond's exhaustively researched new biography, <b>Fever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee</b>, chronicles…

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Johnny Cash was a man who seemed destined for immortality. A hard-living native of Arkansas whose career spanned five decades and spawned more than 1,000 songs, he was an omnipresent figure on the country music scene, a proudly defiant survivor who used the pressures of fame to fuel his work. Given the scope of his influence and his larger-than-life persona, Cash’s death on September 12, 2003, seemed an impossible thing. His songs were rooted in the South but written for the world. Timeless classics like Big River, I Walk the Line and Folsom Prison Blues achieved international recognition, becoming permanent components of the country music canon. This month, BookPage spotlights a special group of volumes that chronicle Cash’s remarkable career.

The Man in Black Cash: An American Man (CMT/Pocket, $30, 176 pages, ISBN 0743496299) tells the story of the singer through photographs, letters, lyric sheets, album covers and other visual riches. Sanctioned by the Johnny Cash estate and assembled with the help of Cash’s close friend and longtime fan, Bill Miller, the collection of artifacts presented in this colorful volume reflects more than 50 years of country music culture. There are publicity shots of the singer taken for Sun Records in Memphis in the early 1950s; photos of Cash and his wife, singer June Carter; ticket stubs from the Grand Ole Opry; and one-of-a-kind Cash collectibles, including a Slurpee cup from the 1970s emblazoned with the singer’s face. (Our favorite photo: a black-and-white shot of Cash, circa 1953, his face innocent and unlined, his arm around a tuxedoed Elvis.) Edited by Mark Vancil and Jacob Hoye, Cash: An American Man is the first title from CMT Books, a new imprint created by CMT: Country Music Television and Simon &and Schuster’s Pocket Books. With lively text provided by Miller, whose friendship with Cash lasted more than 30 years, this must-have scrapbook also contains the singer’s final interview, granted to music journalist Kurt Loder shortly before Cash died, and the lyrics to the last song he composed. Produced by the editors of Rolling Stone magazine, Cash (Crown, $29.95, 224 pages, ISBN 140005480X) is the ultimate memorial to a man who lived what he wrote and sang what he believed. With tributes from Bob Dylan, Bono, Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris, the volume provides a complete historical overview of Cash’s music. Highlights include a comprehensive discography, an interview with Rick Rubin, who produced four of Cash’s albums, and pieces of classic Rolling Stone reportage, including Ralph J. Gleason’s account of the performer’s 1969 San Quentin concert. There are also excerpts from Cash’s two autobiographies, as well as chapters on his screen career and his marriage to June, who, as a member of the famous Carter Family, had a recording career of her own. Rare photographs offer a vivid, behind-the-scenes look at Cash’s extended family, including his 13 grandchildren. Singer Rosanne Cash, daughter of the Man in Black, captures the special essence of her father in her foreword to the volume: “He was a poet who worked in the dirt,” she says. “He was the stuff of dreams, and the living cornerstone of our lives.” Country music’s First Family Fans hankering for more details on the Cash-Carter dynasty should pick up Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? by journalist Charles Hirshberg and filmmaker Mark Zwonitzer. Recently released in paperback, the biography, which was a National Book Critics Circle Finalist in 2002, takes an in-depth look at the humble beginnings, heavenly harmonies and history-making careers of the Carter Family. A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter (June’s mother) entered the world of country music as a trio starting in the 1920s. This fluid account of their lives, both personal and musical, begins with patriarch A.P.’s birth in southern Virginia in 1891 and continues into the 1970s, creating a context for the folk tunes they made famous (“Wildwood Flower,” “Wabash Cannonball”), examining seminal recording sessions and offering a wonderful overview of the cultural forces that influenced American roots music. With their dolorous ballads and gentle instrumentals, their hymns and laments, the Carters helped to shape the sounds of the 20th century. Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? explains how and why their delicate melodies endure. Julie Hale writes from Austin, Texas.

Johnny Cash was a man who seemed destined for immortality. A hard-living native of Arkansas whose career spanned five decades and spawned more than 1,000 songs, he was an omnipresent figure on the country music scene, a proudly defiant survivor who used the pressures of…
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What kind of advice columnist advocates incest, cannibalism and polygamy? One whose clientele includes moths, slime molds and elephants, among other non-human correspondents. In Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation (Metropolitan, $24, 272 pages, ISBN 0805063315), biologist Olivia Judson introduces us to the fictional Dr. Tatiana, the only advice columnist to focus on romance in the animal kingdom. The reader might be startled by some of the questions (“I’m a queen bee . . . all my lovers leave their genitals inside me and then drop dead. Is this normal?”) but the purpose of the parody soon becomes clear. What appears to be a collection of tongue-in-cheek advice columns quickly develops into a fascinating study of evolutionary biology.

Judson uses Dr. Tatiana as a vehicle for in-depth discussion of sexual practices that may seem brutal, immoral or even counterintuitive to the casual observer, but are, in fact, essential to species survival. Although she covers complex concepts, Judson keeps her explanations simple, creating a readable and entertaining guide that explains what those birds and bees are up to.

While the more bizarre mating rituals have a sort of morbid appeal, the most amusing letters are from animals who share human concerns: the self-conscious peacock with less than spectacular plumage who can’t get a date might remind you of an insecure friend. And if the dating scene is getting you down, take heart in comparison with some species, humans have it made. If your blind date turns out to be a disaster, at least she won’t try to bite your head off when the evening ends. Emily Morelli

What kind of advice columnist advocates incest, cannibalism and polygamy? One whose clientele includes moths, slime molds and elephants, among other non-human correspondents. In Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation (Metropolitan, $24, 272 pages, ISBN 0805063315), biologist Olivia Judson introduces us to the fictional…
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<B>America’s favorite teacher is back</B> Torey Hayden thought she had seen it all. As a veteran special-education teacher, she was used to working with children whose disabilities ranged from autism to Tourette’s syndrome. But she had never met anyone like Venus Fox.

In her latest book, <B>Beautiful Child: The Story of a Child Trapped in Silence and the Teacher Who Refused to Give Up On Her</B>, Hayden who has recounted experiences from her teaching career in several previous best-selling titles tells the bittersweet story of her work with Venus, a 7-year-old girl who refuses to communicate. Her virtually catatonic state is interrupted only by brief, violent outbursts of rage.

Intrigued and determined to break through Venus’ silence, Hayden tries a number of unsuccessful techniques. Unsure how to reach such an unresponsive child, Hayden spends her 20-minute lunch breaks alone with Venus, reading aloud to her and holding the little girl in her lap.

Progress is slow, in part because Venus is just one student in a class full of challenging kids, including twin boys with fetal alcohol syndrome, a boy with Tourette’s syndrome, an autistic girl and a violent 8-year-old boy. A breakthrough finally comes when Venus shows interest in a She-Ra, Princess of Power comic book. Though the blond-haired, blue-eyed heroine is not the most politically correct role model for an African-American child (as a disapproving principal and a teacher’s aide point out), Hayden uses Venus’ interest in the character to engage her in role-playing games that reveal the depth of the child’s despair. By the time Hayden learns the tragic truth about Venus’ home life, it’s almost too late.

Told with compassion and sensitivity, <B>Beautiful Child</B> takes the reader into a world where unfailing patience and dogged determination don’t always yield tangible results, but where the few and hard-won victories can be life-changing. Hayden’s first-person narrative also sheds light on the frustration many teachers experience in the face of limited resources, bureaucratic red tape and well-meaning pedantry. With vivid and detailed writing, Hayden recounts not only her trials with Venus, but also her triumphs and failures involving other children in the class. She doesn’t hide the fact that her job is exhausting; instead, she writes openly about her exasperation with the children’s frequent fistfights, tantrums and general unruliness. She also describes small victories that point to progress and hope.

This straightforward tone keeps Hayden’s story from sounding self-indulgent. She doesn’t profess to be a saint just a dedicated teacher with an inspiring story to tell. <I>Rebecca Denton is an editor and writer in Nashville</I>.

<B>America's favorite teacher is back</B> Torey Hayden thought she had seen it all. As a veteran special-education teacher, she was used to working with children whose disabilities ranged from autism to Tourette's syndrome. But she had never met anyone like Venus Fox.

In…

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What does a hip, arty, self-interested and semi-committed couple in a closet-sized New York City apartment do when they tire of their jaded lives? They decide to rescue a dog with issues, of course. Canine turns into guru and delightful mayhem ensues in Rex and the City: A Woman, a Man and a Dysfunctional Dog. Author Lee Harrington writes the award-winning eponymous humor column for The Bark magazine, and in her book she relates the life-changing events stemming from the fateful summer day when she and her live-in boyfriend Ted stopped at a shelter ( where John F. Kennedy got his dog she notes) to just look. With memories of beloved childhood pets running through their heads, they bring home a growling, cowering spaniel-mix puppy named Rex who refuses to act like any dog they’ve ever known. Tension mounts in the cramped apartment as the restless couple (she is an aspiring novelist, Ted’s a documentary filmmaker) struggle to adjust and promptly begin to argue over everything from how to discipline the dog and where he should sleep to his hunting breed identity. When Rex develops separation anxiety right around puberty, all bets are off on who goes first the dog or their relationship. Harrington’s wry, self-depreciating intelligence is completely winning as she readily admits her insecurities and captures their struggles to form a family in a sophisticated, yet isolating city. While the story sometimes feels stretched to book length, with plenty of paragraphs on the emergence of the adorable Rex’s inner Lassie, not one dog lover on earth will turn down a metaphoric walk with this loveable pair and their kooky canine.

What does a hip, arty, self-interested and semi-committed couple in a closet-sized New York City apartment do when they tire of their jaded lives? They decide to rescue a dog with issues, of course. Canine turns into guru and delightful mayhem ensues in Rex and…

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