PAGE 35 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2011 Virginia Reviews Hobbs, Tameka B. To Col- part of the book with the familiar: work on a painting of an English lect, Protect, and Serve: the Declaration of Independence, noblewoman revealed a slightly Behind the Scenes at the Li- of which the library has an early different painting beneath the brary of Virginia. Illustrated printing. surface. Students learn who can by Les Harper. Richmond: Library But the lesser-known works are use an archive and how — not just of Virginia, 2011. 42 pp. ISBN 978- where the book hits its historical for academic research, but also for 0-8849-0209-6 (paper). stride. A Culpeper County survey more personal quests like geneal- Children (one hopes) learn early done by the seventeen-year-old ogy. A glossary and web links con- on that libraries are good places to George Washington is one such clude the book. go for a variety of reasons. What treasure; so is a Revolutionary War The book doesn’t come alone; it they may not know is that libraries veteran’s petition, which comes represents the core of an education can do far more than simply pro- with its own illustrated story, as and outreach packet for teachers vide books and information — just does the tale of an African-Ameri- containing seven ready-made exer- as children (and adults too) may can Revolutionary War spy named cises, including a crossword puzzle not know that Virginia’s state li- James Lafayette. and a word scramble, reinforcing brary in Richmond performs a mul- every subject the book touches. titude of services that often happen Also for the teacher’s benefit is a out of the public eye and aware- One illustration shows substantial list of ways the book ness. Hobbs’s and Harper’s book correlates with the Virginia Stan- explains to students aged eight to a cheerfully hungry dards of Learning. twelve that the Library of Virginia As is often the case with a good archives and preserves famous and fellow taking his drink nonfiction work, Hobbs’s book pro- less well-known materials ranging and bag of chips into vides more lessons than the obvi- from Patrick Henry’s law office’s ous one. Students will come away ledgers to a copy of Edgar Allan a reading room … . not only knowing more about what Poe’s first work, a textbook on sea- the Library of Virginia does, but shells he helped compile. HOBBS REVIEW also understanding what libraries Mixing cartoon-style characters, in general do, whether or not they including famous Virginians, with archive famous documents. Even drawings and photographs of his- But, the book asks, “Can’t you keeping “ordinary” books on pub- toric Virginia buildings and events, just put [these items] on a shelf lic shelves presents challenges of Hobbs opens with a “welcome” to and leave it at that?” The enemies which students may not be aware. the Library of Virginia that prom- of books and manuscripts are rep- On the flip side, Hobbs and Harper ises a glimpse of the “thousands of resented by threatening cartoon make it clear that one of the biggest exciting stories” kept there — and characters, including Fred the threats to paper works is people history at its best really should be Flame, Mildred Mold, and oth- themselves. Readers harm books stories, after all. Hobbs explains ers children may not be aware of, not out of malice, but through what an archive is, the kinds of such as Acid Andy — referring to neglect or obliviousness. One illus- historical documents the library the acid found innately in many tration shows a cheerfully hungry archives, and how the library came old pages that destroys them from fellow taking his drink and bag of to be, and finally concludes with within. The “Archival Hall of Hor- chips into a reading room despite some impressive statistics: among ror” offers a gruesome look at the the warning sign. Whether or not other collections, the library con- potential fate of items not carefully readers ever visit the Library of tains 823,500 books and 690,000 preserved, followed by a glimpse of Virginia itself, one hopes they will “born digital” records housed how much meticulous effort goes take away the idea that they should within 316,500 total square feet. into archival work. Another illus- be careful around and protective of In case any student has a fear of trated story provides an example as all books, regardless of what they history, Hobbs opens the next well as a surprise — the restoration are and where they originated. PAGE 36 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2011 Mostly, though, To Collect, Pro- which he travels to Vietnam to brother. He’s also trying to trans- tect, and Serve is an open invita- understand his brother’s death, late and publish a wonderful set tion. The library can seem intimi- the time when he tries to rescue of poems by a hitherto unknown dating or overwhelming even to a woman he believes is pregnant female Vietnamese poet. (Pay close adults, and certainly to children. with his brother’s son, and the attention for the brief Christopher This book is the literary equivalent present in which he tries to piece Walken Deer Hunter reference.) He of a children’s librarian kneeling his life back together with his new visits the Museum of American in front of her prospective young romantic interest, Alice. The other War Atrocities, draws obvious par- patrons and holding out her hand parts of the story are told as flash- allels between Vietnam and Iraq, to welcome them into a place they backs, providing reference points and reads his brother’s letters in might not otherwise go. Even bet- in relation to those three periods. his spare time. This part of the ter, it may encourage children to It’s complex and confusing at book offers some amazing insights ask more questions about books, li- times, but Chamberlain uses the and comparisons between Eros and braries, and archiving in their own Thanatos, juxtaposing the creativ- local or school libraries. ity of art and literature against — Danny Adams, evening services the potential absolutism of “might librarian assistant, Ferrum College … with postmodern makes right.” relativistic ramblings The third section and other points in the narrative are much Chamberlain, Jonathan. like these, philosophers more gripping. The letters Jack The Alphabet of Vietnam. leaves behind are alcohol-induced Hong Kong: Blacksmith are sure to chase their ramblings and confessions of an Books, 2011. 296 pp. tails ad infinitum into incredibly sorrowful and violent ISBN-13: 978-9881900289. $13.95 nature. Jack and his friend Wash (softcover). madness… . (an ex-pimp and ex-con turned The Alphabet of Vietnam is a enlisted man from a basically seg- CHAMBERLAIN REVIEW meditation on the duality of regated part of New York) commit human nature. The book reveals a atrocities in Vietnam that compare postmodern window into the dark with the worst from the My Lai side in all of us, as revealed by the time switches to periodically reveal Massacre. Jack and Wash continue brutality of postindustrial war- key bits of information that create their unaccountable rampage back fare. It’s not a book for everyone. suspense throughout the novel. home in Appalachian Virginia Anyone sensitive to issues of race, The author holds off on expo- after the war, until Jack’s guilt be- religion, or patriotism could be put sition in the beginning, reveal- comes too much. Jack leaves Joe a off or offended by the work (not ing information as the narrative note asking him to stop Wash and that the book is actually guilty of progresses. Much like a Hitchcock rescue a girl named Maddie; he these offenses). Nonetheless, it’s an film, the opening is dull and awk- believes she’s pregnant with his amazingly intelligent and insight- ward, but if the audience can sit child. Events climax one drunken ful work that reveals much truth through the first fifteen pages (or evening amidst sex and violence about humanity for anyone will- minutes of the film), they will at Wash’s cabin deep in the Appa- ing to venture forth into its pages. be treated to an amazingly dark lachians. Jack’s pre-suicidal ram- The title refers to the abecedary and gripping tunnel of suspense. blings, coupled with Wash’s dark in the titles of the subchapters: Unlike Hitchcock, who usually view of life, really make the high “N is for Napalm,” “B is for Baby provided too much dry, conver- point of the book. Chamberlain Killer.” Some of the actual sen- sational exposition, Chamberlain mixes in brief asides from Hans tences used in the book are equally doesn’t provide enough, leaving von Clausewitz and the Marquis de blunt, but most are far more sub- the reader initially wondering Sade to create a postmodern philo- tle — appropriate for the metaphor- what real purpose several of the sophical masterpiece. One could ical themes the book takes on. characters serve. (Perhaps he’s try- wish he’d dug deeper, but with Chamberlain narrates the story ing to epitomize the worthlessness postmodern relativistic ramblings through protagonist Joe Glauss, Jack sees in them.) like these, philosophers are sure who lost his brother Jack in Viet- The second part of the narrative to chase their tails ad infinitum nam. The narrative moves back involves Joe Glauss traveling to into madness (which Chamberlain and forth between three time pe- Vietnam as a tourist. He wants to surely knew). riods in Joe’s life: the period in understand what happened to his The main issue is that several PAGE 37 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2011 characters in the book are not de- in both academic and public li- older ideas rather than new obser- veloped enough.