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Book Reviews
The Online Review accepts all independently published books in any format for review. To submit your book, click here. Surrealistic Tale of By Robert Moss
The novel's narrator is a young psychotherapist named Ashton who takes on a job at a mental institution filled with a bizarre assortment of characters, all of which have very unusual names and even more unusual mannerisms and problems. And in this institution, it's often difficult to tell who is crazier-- the doctors or the mental patients (both "weeds" created by God)-- which serves as the main theme of the novel and the metaphorical underpinning of the story. This take on insanity is not new. Psychologist R.D Lang wrote about it decades ago, and author Ken Kesey immortalized it in his novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. But what Wood does here is different. He is not accusatory of "normal" society like Lang or moralistic about the problems in the mental health field like Kesey. Instead he is more like an existential reporter telling the story through his own surrealistic prism. In some ways it brings to mind Jack Kerouac's line: "All I have to offer anyone is my own confusion." For example, in the chapter called "Forty-one and Done," he describes his state of mind as he heads for his office to meet a pathetic patient named Mrs. Huddle:
During the session with Mrs. Huddle, Ashton gives no advice or solace, and the chapter ends as bleakly as it began. And this is true of all the other chapters, most of which are only a few pages in length-- little surrealistic vignettes that have no moral or hope for a cure or better life. In essence, this technique mirrors the style and intentions of the author's avant-garde mentors (like Lautreamont) who chose to expose their own subconscious minds to the public without any explanation or pretense of traditional story telling. Back in the late 1800s, this approach was considered quite shocking and decadent. In the 1960s and 1970s it was viewed as iconoclastic and innovative. But in 2004, it is more imitative than innovative. Nevertheless, at a time when so many novels are formula-driven and propelled by profits, The Weeds of God is a razor slice across the eye and a refreshing drink of subconscious suds.
Modern Day Dorothy Falls By Wendy Reid
In her new novel The Lizard of Ozzzz.com: A Silicon Valley Techno Tale, Mary Lauren Karlton examines this phenomenon using the classic tale of the Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum as her template to tell the story of Caitlin Leary, a recent graduate from MIT who embarks on a new career as the director of technology at a high tech company in Silicon Valley known as Ozzzz.com. In her new job she is immediately swept off her feet by Sam Thorne, the ruthless, larger-than-life CEO of the company. And like the Wizard in the original story, the CEO of Ozzzz.com is all powerful (in an apocryphal way) and beguiles her with all the accoutrement of his electronic empire. Later, he not only seduces the young Caitlin but also convinces her to become the "virtual Dorothy" whom he uses to promote his Web site. After a while, Caitlin begins to suspect things are not right in the land of Ozzzz.com and believes that Thorne (the Lizard) is just using her as a pawn to sell his company's products to unsuspecting children. Later her suspicions are confirmed when an Internet hacker named Wormwood emails her this message:
Will Caitlin thwart the Lizard's plans, forego her high power job, and ever get back home to Maine? Well, you won't know unless you read this fast-paced satire of life in the virtual fast lane of Silicon Valley during the 1990s dotcom boom. And it is well worth reading. The author, who apparently lived a version of this life at one time in her career, captures the essence of it, and she presents the high-energy, greed-driven characters in her story, many of whom are hopelessly addicted to triple shots of espresso or Jolt soda, with authenticity. In addition, she cleverly mixes actual quotes from magazines and Internet sources at the beginning of each chapter to help capture the mindset of the time. And although the story takes place in the 1990s, it is just as valid today, since the war on terrorism has only upped the stakes and intensified the battle between the fascist elements in our society that want to use electronic surveillance and mind control to gather information and influence mass opinion and those who struggle to maintain privacy and individual freedom. It's going to be a long rode home, Dorothy!
Book Listings
The Online Review accepts all independently published books in any format for listing. To submit your book, click here. The Others at Monticello (Volume 1)
The Others at Monticello (Volume 2)
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Americans Live in Two Parallel News and Information Universes By J. F. Miglio Now listen carefully. You are beginning to return to your normal state of mind. And when I count to three, you will feel refreshed and be just as you were. Ready? One, two, three. Return to normal... Too bad it's not that easy to deprogram the millions of Americans who have been mass hypnotized by the corporate media for the past 30 years. As a result, two parallel universes of news and information exist, and cultural and political schizophrenia is the normal state of mind for most Americans. One universe is the mainstream news media. It is overwhelming in scope, earns billions of dollars in profits, and captures a majority of viewers and readers in the American market. The other universe is the alternative news media, which is quite limited in scope, earns very little in profits, and captures a relatively small segment of the market. In the mainstream universe, which, ironically, many Americans distrust and disdain, large corporations pay multimillion-dollar salaries to high-profile national news anchors and commentators to report and evaluate the news that fits within their corporate worldview. In the alternative universe, which, even more ironically, many Americans do not even know exists, small companies operate on the shoestring or through donations to report and evaluate the news that is important to individual Americans and not to large companies. In the mainstream universe, slick production values are quite important and editorial decisions regarding which stories lead the news (or get into the news) are based on parameters set by corporate CEOs who are paid to protect and promote their advertisers and business interests. In the alternative universe, production value is secondary to content, and decisions regarding which stories lead the news (or get into the news) are based on what individual editors believe to be true and important to the general public. In the mainstream universe, star network anchormen like Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings are well known and respected by many Americans, and neo-fascist commentators like Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity are taken quite seriously by millions of devout followers. In the alternative universe, there are no news stars, and progressive commentators like Michael Moore and Al Franken are just starting to be taken seriously by average Americans. In the mainstream universe, the news is a lot like professional wrestling. It's a high-concept exhibition that sells illusions as reality. And the end result is often predetermined-like the last presidential election, or the war in Iraq. In the alternative universe, the news is a lot like a mom and pop business where the shopkeeper tells you what's going on in the neighborhood. And the end result is often honest-like explaining how government officials rigged the voting in Florida, and how George W. Bush and Dick Cheney lied about the need to go to war in Iraq. I could continue with these analogies of course, but it might be dangerous, since focusing on a single idea for too long may induce a hypnotic effect. The trick is, how we get average Americans, who are notoriously lazy, apathetic, and uninformed when it comes to news and politics (and incredibly susceptible to corporate imagery, propaganda, and subliminal messages) to unplug themselves from the mainstream media and open their eyes to the alternative side. Progressive and populist authors, journalists, philanthropists, and politicians are doing their parts, but they can't do it alone. They need help. Several years ago, Gore Vidal observed that if the mainstream news media put someone of his stature, eloquence, and worldview on the prime time evening news day after day, week after week, month after month, the American public would gradually develop a progressive mindset regarding culture and politics. But of course this is impossible. The "liberal media" (another grand corporate illusion) would never allow it. In fact, it's rare for progressive or populist intellectuals-- like Vidal, or Michael Parenti, or Noam Chomsky-- to get on mainstream news shows at all, even as guests. And whenever they do, the corporate-trained airheads or confrontational demagogues that interview them react to their political views with either shock or disbelief or hostility. Which is why Americans have to awake from their deep state of somnambulism and start taking responsibility for their own news and information. In the past, many individuals used the excuse that they were too busy to go to libraries or bookstores to seek out alternative viewpoints or publications. But that excuse is no longer valid. Most Americans today own computers and know how to use the Internet, and if they are smart enough to access pornography sites or download music files, they can just as easily find Web sites that present alternative viewpoints and news. All they have to do is point and click. Just point and click, point and click, point and click... Loyalty, Lies and Lots of Loot Link'Badfellas' of Bush Administration By J. F. Miglio There's been a lot of discussion lately in the mainstream media about how George W. Bush is a very loyal fellow, how he insists on loyalty from everyone in his inner circle, and how he becomes very tight-lipped whenever he is asked to explain the misdeeds of his staff or corporate benefactors. This begs the question: What type of person places such a high premium on loyalty, keeps quiet about the truth when it threatens his organization, and places profits above ethical considerations? If you haven't already figured out the answer, perhaps you should review the film Goodfellas and pay particular attention to the scene where Jimmy Conway explains the essence of the mafia's existential code of ethics to the young Henry Hill: "Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut!" Although I doubt that President Bush understands the fine points of existential philosophy, he is nonetheless following the code of omerta as religiously as any member in good standing of organized crime. Which is very odd, when you think about it, since he is professes to be a born-again Christian and not a button man for la cosa nostra. But perhaps this is less a paradox than it seems. After all, have you ever heard any high profile born-again Christians--- like Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson-- lambaste corporate America for exploiting the poor or soaking the middle class? Have you ever heard any of them vilify CEOs like Ken Lay for bilking their employees out of their life savings? Somehow, the born-again crowd only believes it's a sin if it has to do with personal issues, like abortion or homosexuality. If money is involved, especially corporate money, they suddenly make like a statue. This is hypocrisy pure and simple. But unlike Michael Corleone, who admits his own hypocrisy to the crooked senator in The Godfather II, old Georgie Boy knows how to keep his mouth shut. Ironically, he still lives the fantasy (whether he actually believes it or not) that he is a good, God-fearing Christian. Sadly, many Americans still believe him (although the number is dwindling month by disastrous month). Worse, some Democrats are still enabling this fantasy by proclaiming that Bush is either too dumb or too detached to know about the lies and misdeeds in his own administration. If you remember, this was the same thing they said about Ronald Reagan during his two terms in office when one after another of his subordinates cleaned up his mess and took the fall for him; what Donald Regan referred to as "the shovel patrol." Therefore, for Democrats to call for Rumsfeld's resignation because he "didn't inform the president about Abu Graibe," or to blame Cheney for manipulating Bush for his own diabolical purposes, is disingenuous. It lets Bush off the hook, and it feeds the fantasy that he is basically a nice guy who is being used and exploited by the capos in his gang. The reality is, Bush has been evading responsibility for criminal behavior his entire adult life- from his drunk driving, coke snorting crimes and misdemeanors as a young man, to his business scams with the Texas Rangers and Harken Energy, to his disgraceful fix of the last presidential election and his financial alliance with the bin Laden family. And, as documented in the numerous books and articles detailing the long, sordid history of the "Bush Crime Family" (see links below this story), Georgie Boy's old man and grandfather-- as well as his brothers-- are also no strangers to illegal and unethical behavior. As a result, it has never been a stretch for him to lie or keep his mouth shut when confronted with the truth, even as president. In fact, after all these years, it has become second nature for him to cover his tracks and "not admit his mistakes," just as it is for any mafia boss. Granted, he is not the sharpest stiletto in his gang of chicken hawks and free market racketeers; Consigliore Cheney wins that honor. But he is smart enough to know how the system works and how to use it to enrich his family, friends, and amici de amici. If you follow this logic, it is no surprise why we have a $500 billion deficit, why environmental standards have been gutted, why the price of oil has sky rocketed, and why we got into a war in Iraq in the first place (and won't get out of any time soon). It all stems from the same premise. A crime family don must take care of his patrons and allow them to wet their beaks; he must reward them with their share of the loot, their piece of the action; in Bush's case, this means giving huge tax breaks to the rich, lucrative sweetheart deals to large corporations, and astronomical no-bid contracts to companies like Halliburton, even if it means screwing average citizens in the process or allowing American soldiers to die in an unnecessary war. And what's even more striking is that Bush doesn't even try to hide the fact that he is showering his gumbas with obscene amounts of loot. Halliburton alone has already raked in billions in no-bid contracts in Iraq-- and this is only the beginning! The longer the war drones on, the more the company will profit. Now, am I being cynical, or do you think the nice folks at Halliburton are putting a little pressure on Bush and Cheney to "stay the course" in Iraq? In fact, why do you think Halliburton hired Cheney in the first place and paid him 22 million big ones? That's a lot of linguini to pay a political hack who had no previous experience as a CEO. Do you think the boys at Halliburton expected anything in return from him-- especially after he became vice president? Of course this is just business as usual in the game of crony capitalism, and greed has no boundaries among the made men (and women) in the Bush familia who pull the strings that make everyone else dance and play the fool. If our elected leaders had any balls (and were not were not involved in this game themselves), they would immediately appoint a new "Untouchables" squad to clean up the upper echelons of government and the corporate world the way Elliot Ness and his agents went after Al Capone. Instead we have play-by-the-rules guys like Rep. Henry Waxman and D.A. Eliot Spitzer attempting to do our Sisyphean dirty work. And although they have been doing an admirable job given the circumstances, they are severely hamstrung by the system and have no real authority to break down doors and bust heads. In other words, they need more muscle to deal with the likes of Bush, Cheney, and the corporate gangs that run our country the way Capone once ran Chicago. Unfortunately, the members of Congress won't give them the muscle they need, since many of our elected officials are in debt to the same corporate gangs that run the system, and they, too, must keep their mouths shut if they want to survive in politics and not get whacked. And so it goes. The only consolation to the American people is this: Like members of organized crime, corrupt government officials and corporate criminals will also turn on each other when they get shafted by their bosses or get caught red handed. And just as Henry Hill broke his code of silence and ratted out his fellow wise guys when the going got tough, the "badfellas" of the Bush administration will ultimately do the same thing. Paul O'Neil and Dick Clark are only the first ones to sing like canaries. Who will be next? LINKS TO ABOVE STORY
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Let me say at the outset that The Weeds of God by Robert W. Wood is not for everyone. However, if you are a fan of avant-garde writers like Comte de Lautreamont, William S. Burroughs, or William Kotzwinkle, you'll love this novel, which unabashedly takes the reader on a surrealistic, darkly comic excursion into the world of psychotherapy and madness.
Perhaps mass media visionary Marshall McLuhan said it best decades ago when he pronounced, "The medium is the message." At the time not everyone understood the profundity of this simple statement, but given the last 25 years of corporate mind control through the use of the electronic media, its meaning is beginning to sink into the collective consciousness in spades.
Historical novel which dares to put Thomas Jefferson's books into the hands of special slaves--Hemings family members. Includes carefully researched library history. Novel won the Gold Book Award at the Tenth Annual Sacramento Publishers & Authors Book Awards... "The Others at Monticello is an extraordinary achievement. Esther Franklin's historical novel opens a window to the largely unexplored relationships between Thomas Jefferson and his slaves, especially Sally Hemings and her children... Highly recommended for libraries and readers interested in Jefferson, race relations, and the intellectual development of the United States." -- Clark Evans, Rare Book and Special Collections, Library of Congress.
The novel continues the story of the relationship between the re-birth of the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson, and Hemings family. It also explores the Master's unspoken feelings toward slaves of mixed heritage... "She has brought this era and these people to life in ways I would not have thought possible. Historians will envy her delicate and sympathetic touch." -- Historian G.D. Lillibridge, author or Beacon of Freedom. "A believable book which should be read by all Americans. It's the story of America and the development of our country." - John Woodson, descendant of the first child of the union of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.
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