Booklover--Asturias Donna Jacobs [email protected]
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Against the Grain Volume 27 | Issue 6 Article 26 2015 Booklover--Asturias Donna Jacobs [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/atg Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Jacobs, Donna (2015) "Booklover--Asturias," Against the Grain: Vol. 27: Iss. 6, Article 26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.7239 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Cultivating Knowledge Taylor & Francis Group A world-leading publisher of academic and professional content For more information, please visit us at: www.tandf.co.uk/libsite/ Book Reviews Booklover — Asturias from page 36 Column Editor: Donna Jacobs (Retired, Medical University of South Carolina, The volume concludes with an essay on “Digital Convergence” by Dalbello. It is an Charleston, SC 29425) <[email protected]> exceptionally clear survey of the history of modern information technology, concluding “The Zany fled through the narrow twist- a world that was created anew every morn- with thoughtful subsections regarding various ing streets of the suburbs, but his frantic cries ing; they were followed a few hours later topics of interest to librarians since 2005. In disturbed neither the calm of the sky nor the by office workers, clerks and students; and keeping with the volume’s focus, the perspec- sleep of the inhabitants, who were as alike at about eleven, when the sun was already tive is that of Western libraries, but deals, too, one another in their simulation of death high, by important gentlemen walking with the impact of increasing globalization on as they would be different when they off their breakfasts and getting up the management of information. This need for resumed the struggle for life at sunrise. an appetite for lunch, or going to an expanding global purview for all libraries Some lacked the bare necessities of see some influential friend, to get is particularly well-stated in the “Epilogue” life and were forced to work hard for him to join in the purchase of the to the last chapter, describing the modern their daily bread, others got more than arrears of starving schoolmasters’ Egyptian Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s online enough from the privileged industries of salaries at half price. The streets still presence as “an active ‘third place’ offering idleness: as friends of the President; lay deep in the shadow when their a social space for cultural dialogue.” The owners of house-property (forty silence was broken by the rustle of chapter ties the modern library world well or fifty houses); money-lenders the starched skirts of some towns- to the ever-present tensions described in the at nine, nine-and-a-half and ten woman, working without respite introduction. percent a month; officials holding — as swine-herd, milk-woman, seven or eight different public This volume will serve students and schol- street-hawker or offal-seller — to posts; exploiters of concessions, ars well as a reference for the modern history keep her family alive, or up early to pensions, professional qualifications, gambling of libraries in the West, and may also be useful do her chores; then, when the light paled to a hells, cock-pits, Indians, brandy distilleries, for some courses in library and information rosy white like a begonia flower, there would brothels, bars and subsidised (sic) newspapers. science, possibly even as a textbook. I highly be the pattering footsteps of some thin little recommend it, too, for librarians interested in The blood-red juice of dawn was staining typist, despised by the grand ladies who waited the history of their profession. It is a valuable the edges of the funnel of mountains encircling till the sun was already hot before they left their addition to the literature. the town, as it lay like a crust of scurf in the bedrooms, stretched their legs in the passages, plain. The streets were tunnels of shadows, told their dreams to the servants, criticised through which the earliest workmen were (sic) the passers-by, fondled the cat, read the setting out like phantoms in the emptiness of continued on page 38 Against the Grain / December 2015 - January 2016 <http://www.against-the-grain.com> 37 Booklover from page 37 From the Reference Desk by Tom Gilson (Associate Editor, Against the Grain, and Head of Reference Emeritus, newspaper or admired themselves in the looking-glass.” College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29401) <[email protected]> These opening two paragraphs of Issues in U.S. Immigration (2015, 978-1- Issues in U.S. Immigration will be a wel- Chapter III — “The Flight of the Zany” 61925-708-5; $295) is a second edition of a set come addition to high school and undergraduate from Miguel Ángel Asturias’ El Señor originally published in 2006 by Salem Press. collections as well as some public libraries where Presidente is a perfect illustration of Once again edited by Carl L. Bankston III and immigration is a topic of interest. Both upper level why I study word craft, admire word Danielle Hidalgo of Tulane University, this high school students and undergraduates will find craft, and particularly the word craft updated two-volume set deals with a subject that it valuable as a background source on key issues involved with the surreal imagination seems to be perennially in the news. Consisting as well as a useful tool for research paper topic of Latin American authors. Once again, of 215 essays, this reference attempts to supply selection. Lay readers will appreciate its brief the translator is inspiring. Frances both historical context for a recurring theme in and fact driven approach when becoming more Partridge provided the English version the American story as well as discussion of the familiar with topics of personal concern. of Asturias’ Spanish word craft. This contemporary issues that make it relevant today. novel is centered around the influence of As is typical of Salem Press publications each a dictator on the people of an unnamed Hispanic American Leadership: A Concise entry follows a similar structure starting with a Latin American country. Asturias Reference Guide (2015, 978-0990730026, $130) definition of the topic, a list of the issues related was a native of Guatemala and though is another title in the leadership series recently to the topic, its overall significance followed by a he never identified his country in the published by Mission Bell Media. Edited by discussion of relevant background and salient facts. story, the character of “Presidente” Victor Rodriguez of the department of Chicano Many of the essays deal with specific immigrant exhibits similarities to Manuel Estrada and Latino Studies at California State, this book groups ranging from the earlier European immi- Cabrera, who reigned from 1898-1920 attempts to “provide accessible and accurate grants like the Irish, German, and Italian to the more in Guatemala. information about leadership issues and cultural recent arrivals like the Hmong, Nigerian, Haitian, competency related to Hispanic-Americans.” Miguel Ángel Asturias was born in and Pakistani. Of course, there are also numerous Guatemala City, Guatemala in 1899, and entries that cover a variety of subjects from border As one examines this volume it becomes obvi- died in Madrid, Spain in 1974. In be- control to nativism and family issues to racism as ous that like the other titles in the series, it is not tween he traveled extensively; studied well as entries that discuss specific court cases, law simply a how-to-manual on developing leadership abroad; worked as a journalist, novelist, enforcement concerns and demographics. As such, skills. Rather, it is a reference that focuses on playwright and poet; was elected to the specific articles cover topics as diverse as bilingual leadership issues and concerns as reflected in the Congress; served as the Guatemalan education, citizenship, the DREAM act, European Hispanic American experience. Admittedly, there ambassador to France and was awarded immigrant literature, Haitian boat people, interna- are articles on topics directly related to leadership the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967 tional adoptions, machine politics, refugee fatigue, like those covering education for leadership, “for his vivid literary achievement, and undocumented workers. cultural diversity and leadership, and leadership deep-rooted in the national traits and in business. However, many of the articles treat Admittedly, in many ways Issues in U.S. traditions of Indian peoples of Latin broader topics that touch on leadership issues with- Immigration is a compilation. As the editors America.” Asturias’ biographical in the Hispanic American community, including acknowledge, a number of the essays have been information includes discussions on those on assimilation and acculturation, the glass drawn from other Salem Press publications the novel El Señor Presidente. The ceiling, stereotypes about Hispanic Americans, but have been updated for this new edition as critically acclaimed work was finished racial and ethnic discrimination and entrepreneurs. necessary. However, 75 of the entries are new in 1933 but it took until 1946 for it to In addition, there are articles on numerous organi- to this set as is a 100 page, 41 table section of be published and released privately in zations and institutions ranging from the Catholic immigration statistics from the Department of Mexico. He penned the work while Church to the Lambda Theta Alpha sorority to the Homeland Security. The essays are written in a living in exile in Paris. The influence Mexican American Legal Defense and Educa- style that is accessible to high school students as of the Surrealist movement, his passion tional Fund. And attesting to the diversity of the well as undergraduates while also appealing to for his country, the influence of the Hispanic American community itself, there are 16 the interested layman.