A tale of two Georges. George Fisher during WWII and George Fisher of the 1970’s. Two boys related by family but not by blood.

The Fisher family is a matriarchal family of entertainers. Great grandmother (Echo), grandmother (Queenie) and mother (Frankie) are the women holding this family together and keeping family secrets from each other and from the teen-aged George Fisher of the ‘70‘s. That is until the day George discovers the diary of the first George Fisher.

George Fisher is a ventriloquist dummy given by Echo to her son Joe. A reluctant ventriloquist, Joe and George join the ENSA (the British version of the USO). Throughout their partnership George keeps a diary of their life, their career, their adventures and their loves.

Unlike what has become cliché, by George does not involve an evil doll. The mannequin in this story is an extension of an eccentric family.

Author Wesley Stace weaves together the stories of these two Georges quite expertly. For as long as is practical, the chapters alternate the stories and the narrators. Each chapter ends at the precise point at which the reader needs information from the other story, seamlessly combining the two at the appropriate moment.

Stace gives the reader just enough information to unravel each mystery at the same moment the characters become aware, although, leaving a slight mystery unanswered in the end adding to the theatrical quality of the women who inhabit the lives of the Georges.

As a special bonus, Stace lets the reader in on the origins of by George at the end of the book. A very rare insight for the reader that explains some of the author’s fascination with the subject of ventriloquism and how he seems to have the power to extend that interest into the mind of the reader.

I put off picking up this book for many months simply due to it‘s length. I’m glad I finally chose to indulge myself.

• Title: by George

• Author: Wesley Stace

• Publisher: Back Bay Books

• ISBN: 978-0-316-01868-5

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After trying (and failing) to write this review without bias towards Dr. Pepperberg and her work, I’ve decided to add this disclaimer at the beginning and stop trying to work against myself. You will notice, I use the word “who” when referring to animals. I am aware that this is not “proper English usage”. I don’t care. It’s unnatural for me to use the word “it” towards animals, I never have, and when I hear others doing so, it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. I don’t think I’ve ever lived a full year of my life without, at least, one non-human animal sharing my home. Enough said. You get the idea.

So, who’s smarter?

…A gorilla who can ask for his kitty using sign language developed by humans?

…A child who can cause a peacock to raise his tail feathers using the bird’s language?

…A dog who sits when told through human language?

…A man who can cause a horse to follow his car by using the horse’s language?

…A parrot who can answer questions using human language?

This was the question brought to my mind while reading Alex & Me. Irene M. Pepperberg’s book doesn’t answer my question, but it has succeeded in making me even more curious.

Pepperberg was educated as a chemist. A waning interest in that specific field and a chance viewing of a couple of episodes of “NOVA” dealing with the study of animal communications awakened an interest that had been lying just beneath the surface of Pepperberg’s mind since her first budgie, given to her as a child by her father.

Her plan? The Avian Language EXperiment.

Her subject? Alex, a young African Grey parrot.

Dr. Pepperberg couldn’t have asked for a more perfect, or ornery, subject. Over their 30 years of working together, this partnership taught each other and the world that primates are not the only members of the animal kingdom who can develop the ability to communicate with humans.

Along with the help of many students over the years, Alex proved the improbable. Not just mimicking humans, but answering questions. Alex learned his colors, shapes, numbers, materials, items. He could be shown a green key and a blue key, asked to choose the green key, and succeed. He would ask for a nut when he wanted one. Give him corn instead and he wouldn’t accept it. Alex could put together, relevant, short sentences without having heard the words together as a sentence before.

Towards the end of his life, it appeared Alex had actually learned, not only to count, but to add (up to the numbers he knew). He also seemed to have developed an ability to break words down into separate sounds (na uh ut [nut])

And Alex had no problem showing his personality. A little attitude, a little jealousy, a lot of humor.

This book will never stand up as the best book ever written. Dr. Pepperberg’s language and style of writing is quite simple and straight forward. There are times when it becomes a bit repetitious. Some experiences are taken a bit out of order. But, in the end, these points, which could be seen as imperfections, just add to the emotion of a human being who has spent 30years of her life communicating with another being. As much as Dr. Pepperberg explains this as a working relationship, it’s hard not to see the parallels between her stories about Alex and the stories a friend might tell about their pet. This is a personal account of her relationship with Alex. It is not written as, nor expected to be read as, a scientific thesis. Alex & Me is, quite simply, a tribute to a very special bird.

As for my initial question…the child who can cause a peacock to raise his tail feathers using the bird’s language was me. I heard the sound the peacock was making. I mimicked him. His tail feathers rose. Did I know what I was saying? No. Did I know what the display he made meant? No.

Alex was definitely smarter than me.

• Title: Alex & Me

• Author: Irene M. Pepperberg

• Publisher: Collins

• ISBN: 978-0-06-167247-7

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An un-named protagonist wakes to find a woman mutilated and hanging from a tree. Before he can figure out why she looks vaguely familiar, the police arrive and arrest him for murder. As he’s being transported to prison, the police van over-turns killing all it’s occupants, except this suspect. He begins a journey through the wilderness and back to his home city of Paris, France only to learn that somehow, between his arrest and his return, 12 years have past, he may be dead, he is being hunted by special police operatives, and all of France is being governed by a conservative regime that doesn’t allow non-whites to be seen in the light of day. And, by the way, where are the children?

Translated by Adriana Hunter, author Olivier Pauvert gives us a futuristic thriller in Noir, his debut novel.

The title, Noir, refers to the non-white, mostly African descendants, who help the protagonist stay one step ahead of his pursuers while he tries to figure out what has happened to his life. Noir also refers to the fact that these outcasts are allowed out only after dark to clean-up after the favored citizenship. And, Noir, also refers to the feel of the writing of this book. At least in the beginning…

Somewhere along the storytelling, the writing becomes a bit “poetic”. Descriptions of the surroundings, be it a location or a motorbike, become extremely detailed and long, causing the reader to loose track of the last piece of action or learned information. That being said, the “poetry” of the final paragraph is wonderful and would not have worked without the same style being used throughout the book.

Pauvert takes the reader on a number of twists and turns, sometimes leading one to wonder what is a dream and what is reality, although, not for long. The author seems to have a knack for knowing just the right moment at which the reader will say to themselves, “wait a minute…” and gives the reveal just before confusion sets in.

• Title: Noir

• Author: Olivier Pauvert

• Translator: Adriana Hunter

• Publisher: Counterpoint

• ISBN: 978-1-58243-447-6

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“…Edward Browning was 51 when he met Frances ‘Peaches’ Heenan at a sorority dance. She was 15. They were married on her 16th birthday. The marriage lasted less than a year during which time she spent approximately $1,000 a day in New York department stores. I’d hardly call this a model marriage.”—Ann Landers, January 6, 1970.

Thus begins and ends the saga of Peaches & Daddy. But there are so many questions surrounding the story of this Roaring ’20’s couple.

At the age of 41, Edward W. Browning, who by this time practically created the New York skyline, married Nellie “Adele” Lowen. Unable to have children of their own, they adopted two young girls under the age of five. Marjorie was adopted by Adele, only. Dorothy “Sunshine” was adopted by Browning, only. When their marriage dissolved, almost a decade after it began, the children were separated.

This is where the curious behavior of Edward W. Browning truly begins. He decides that “Sunshine”, now eight years old, should have a playmate. So he advertises to adopt a “Pretty, refined girl, about 14 years old…” and requests a photograph. He is deluged with letters from destitute parents of young girls and girls, themselves, looking for a better life.

He also begins a gregarious social life, frequenting sorority gatherings, which is how he met “Peaches”.

The scandal of his divorce, quickly followed by the public spectacle of the “Cinderella” adoption lottery woke up the tabloid press of the day. The addition of a 15 year old love interest, sparked a fire under them.

New York’s Evening Graphic, which started the careers of Walter Winchell and Ed Sullivan, began a relationship with Edward Browning and “Peaches” that would last throughout their courtship, marriage and estrangement. Each using the paper against the other while the tabloid press reaped the rewards.

Michael M. Greenburg does a wonderful job in weaving together the biographies of all the characters involved with the legal aspects in play and the birth of tabloids.

It was a dark and stormy night…Boston, Scollay Square, 1960. Flo is alone and pregnant and being followed by drunken sailors. All she wants is a safe, dry place to rest. Escaping her pursuers, she ducks into a darkened used bookstore. Finding it free of people, she searches out a warm corner near the water heater, reaches for James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake and begins to shred it’s pages as she builds a nest for her impending family.

Our narrator is Firmin. The thirteenth rat in this litter Flo has dropped. Being as Firmin is the runt and Flo has only twelve nipples to offer her young, our friend needs to use his wit to survive his own siblings. Nourishing himself on a steady diet of literature. First eating the pages. Soon reading the pages.

Sam Savage has created an interesting character in Firmin. Yes, he’s a rat facing all of the pitfalls a rat encounters in it’s short life. Scavenging for food while trying to avoid being seen by humans. But, as a result of his unexpected ability to read, this rat finds himself longing for some human qualities. Adventure, knowledge, romance…human contact.

Firmin has a generous, although, understated wit. He equates the taste of lettuce to Jane Austin. Firmin’s narrative is often punctuated with book titles that fall into his mind as he describes various scenes.

This rat is also very dark. Savage’s book is not a light read. This is 164 pages of character study touching on philosophy, humanity, mortality and the meaning of life through the eyes of a solitary creature longing for the world of social creatures.

As for we humans. Firmin is a bit of a cautionary tale concerning how, why and when we choose to read. With anything “addictive”, when do we cross the threshold of entertainment or knowledge to escaping our everyday dull-drums. At what point should one pull their nose out of the pages of someone else’s life (real or imagined) and remember to live ones own.

• Title: Firmin
• Author: Sam Savage
• Illustrator: Michael Mikolowski
• Publisher: Coffeehouse Press
• ISBN: 978-1566891813

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“If Sesame Street is the most successful show on television, it is also the most analyzed, criticized, evaluated, debated, debunked, championed, viewed with alarm, pointed to with pride, interpreted, misinterpreted, and overinterpreted media event since William Randolph Hearst declared war on Spain:—Ron Powers, television critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, 1970 (one year into the life of “Sesame Street”).

Conceived in 1965 by television producer Joan Cooney and experimental psychologist Lloyd Morrisett, and born in 1969, “Sesame Street” became an overnight success after four years of gestation.

In Street Gang, Michael Davis takes us through the entire history of “Sesame Street”. From research into how children watch television and learn (short segments, “jingles”, colors, animation) to the decision to have Sesame Street, itself, an inner city street, to funding, to hiring everybody both in front of and behind the cameras.

Davis includes small biographies on each of the players as they arrive on the scene. The reader gets to know “Gordon and Susan” (Matt Robinson/Roscoe Orman and Loretta Long), Jim Henson and Frank Oz, Joe Raposo and Jon Stone, and countless other professionals and entertainers who strove to make “Sesame Street” the most innovative children’s program on television yet.

Street Gang also gives a bit of background on earlier children’s programming…”The Howdy Doody Show”, “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” and, possibly most importantly, “Captain Kangaroo”.

Writers and producers (including Jon Stone) from “Captain Kangaroo” were involved in the development and production of “Sesame Street”. The character of Mr. Hooper (portrayed by Will Lee) was created as homage to Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo). Although, reading through Street Gang, one would think it was actually Oscar the Grouch (brought to life by Caroll Spinney) who was meant to mirror Keeshan.

This is probably the most comprehensive book you will ever read about any television show. Yet, far from being a dry tome, author Michael Davis keeps Street Gang flowing (much like “Sesame Street”, itself) with quick moving scenes, so the reader is never bogged down in the details that could easily become tiresome, such as the financial and political wranglings in creating and keeping this show on the air. Davis gives us just enough at just the right time to keep the story flowing.

If you have any doubt about whether you should read Street Gang, pick it up, read the prologue…and then enjoy the rest of the book.

• Title: Street Gang
• Author: Michael Davis
• Publisher: Viking
• ISBN:978-0-670-019960

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Imagine the possibilities, if the intellectual Henry and William James of the east, were brothers to the villainous Frank and Jesse James of the west.

This is the premise of Richard Liebmann-Smith’s farcical book The James Boys.

Working from the premise that the two youngest brothers of the east coast James family did not, in fact, die fighting in the civil war, but instead deserted, taking on the names Frank and Jesse and disappearing into the wild west, Liebmann-Smith weaves these two families together with the help of a free spirited young woman by the name of Elena Hite.

While on a return trip from a book tour, Henry James makes the acquaintance of Ms. Hite only to have their flirtations interrupted by the arrival of Jesse James, in the midst of robbing this very train. To Henry’s surprise, he not only learns that his brothers are, indeed alive, but are notorious and about to take him on the ride of his life.

As an alternate history, The James Boys is a lot of fun. Liebmann-Smith takes these characters on a fascinating ride through 19th century America and into Paris at the height of it’s artistic era. Introducing many historical figures, seamlessly, throughout the story.

Unfortunately, the seams not only show, but rip wide open when the author insists on noting actual biographical works, as he does throughout the book. This technique works fine in the introduction, before the story begins. And it works well again in the epilogue, once the story has ended. But, within the story itself, this practice only distracts the reader and sends one’s mind into wondering, among the unfamiliar names, who is and isn’t real.

This is Richard Liebmann-Smith’s first novel and, even with this critique, I look forward to his writing another. I think he just tried to do more than was needed with this one. The idea, itself, is original and well written enough without the extra “gimmick” of noting his research.

• Title: The James Boys

• Author: Richard Liebmann-Smith

• Publisher: Random House

• ISBN: 978-0-345047078-2

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“A bad man in Africa”
“A brain as well as a body”
“A possible victim of alien abduction”
“A Beatle”

These are among the lives chronicled in The Economist Book of Obituaries.

Unlike most newspapers, where the job of obituary writer is given to rookies or “burnt out” reporters, Keith Colquhoun and Ann Wroe, of The Economist have turned this position into a job for artists, and, as a result, are highly respected journalists in their field.

As Ms Wroe explains in her introduction, obit writers in Great Britain began a bit of a rivalry in their reporting in the late 1980’s with Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd of the Daily Telegraph and James Fergusson of the Independent.

No longer is the obituary a solemn rundown of how one died, who they were “survived by” and a stale report of careers and volunteerism.

The obits of The Economist are literary biographies. Rarely is the “cause of death” even mentioned in these pieces. The focus, instead, is on the over-all mark that each subject has left on the world. Be it, good or bad. But never, indifferent.

Colquhoun and Wroe have the daunting task of choosing only one subject each week to honor in the final pages of this publication. Though, they sometimes “cheat”. Most creatively, in the combined obit of Robert Brooks (”Hooters”) and Mickey Spillane told in the pulp narrative voice of a Mike Hammer mystery.

Another challenge to their creativity is selecting a mix of subjects. Among the 200 life stories in this book, you will find men and women from all over the globe. Politicians, artists, psychics, cooks, authors, entertainers, scientists and a parrot in addition to many, many people you’ve never heard of but whose lives will fascinate you.

These works are creative, honest, amusing and, yes, sometimes, opinionated.

Each entry is two pages (four columns) long, making this an excellent “bathroom reader”.

However, if you should choose to read in bed, just be careful that you don’t fall asleep with this book in your hands. At about 3 pounds, this is an incredibly heavy book. If it hits you in the head when your arms relax, you could be The Economists next subject…

• Title: The Economist Book of Obituaries
• Author: Keith Colquhoun and Ann Wroe
• Publisher: Bloomberg Press
• ISBN: 978-1-57660-326-0

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