Review 716: In an Old Hawaiian Garden

In an Old Hawaiian Garden: An Album of Hawaii's Flowers by Don Blanding
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very short book, can easily be read in under an hour. Although if you’re one to peer for a long time at a drawing of a flower and contemplate the accompanying poem it may take longer.

There are under twenty of these flowers that can be found in Hawaii. The poems are six or eight lines which praise the flower on the opposing page. The poems are okay, nothing that seems remarkable. The images are done fairly realistically but have a sort of soft focus as well.

My copy, which came to me through generations of my family (my great-grandmother knew the author) also includes an insert about where you can buy the images for framing so as not to cut up the book itself. It also advertises other paper products with these images, like stationary or cards. I'm sure those are no longer available now since this was published in the 1940s.

The description in goodreads about this book is incorrect, as there are more than 8 flowers in the book, although maybe only that many are native to Hawaii and the others are not native. I’m not sure about the horticulture history.

Review 715: The Virgin of Waikiki

The Virgin of Waikiki: A Torrid Tragedy of the Tropics by Don Blanding
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a very short book, a poem, only one, that can easily be read in just a few minutes of time. There is a very short introduction by the publisher which states the author delivered this poem at an event and, “It was felt that a number of appreciative souls who were not present…were deserving of the pleasure which this rare and piquant piece affords to Epicurean literary tastes.” The first printing was a small private batch, when quickly sold out there was another, then this third which seems to be the first to include the illustrations.

I am not a fan of the poem, the drawings that accompanied the text, however, I did enjoy. This was printed in 1933, so the humor and social mores were different during that time.

***Spoiler Alert: I do have a spoiler below***

The poem is about a “spinster” woman aged 40, living in Waikiki near the beach, who was still a virgin. She had a dour countenance. People made fun of her. The neighbor lady sought to change things and gave her a romance book. The spinster read it and was filled with passion at what she’s been missing in her life. In a crazed way, she goes out and seeks it. 

The very end of the book contained an envelop of types that covered up the last image, or maybe page. Since it was already opened, I cannot be certain of exactly what was hidden.

The poem was a simple rhyming scheme. I will hold out on my opinion on Blanding’s writing overall until I read a longer work of his. I do have several of those, as this book and several others belonged to my great-grandmother, who knew the author. They were in a writing group together, although she never published. The books have been handed down through the generations, with the latest from my dad to me a few years back.

Review 609: What Trees Remember

What Trees Remember by Marie Hrušková
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Too bad there isn't a book cover image, as it really is a nice drawing. The cover is pulled from one of the drawings in the book. This seems to be a bit of an obscure book.

This is a short book (easily read in a day, about an hour or so) about 30 important trees across the Czech Republic. Each entry has an illustration drawn by Jaroslav Turek. The associated essay about the particular tree tells the history of why this particular tree is important for the Czech country. Some are fables, but many more are associated with an important person. The trees are mainly oak, linden or pine.

One amazing fact was there were several times when a story mentions how the tree was planted upside down, crown first, and if it continue to grow then it proved something, such as a person’s innocence or where to build a church.

All of the trees discussed are old, ancient trees. Many of them have been helped by the local villagers across the years to continue the tree’s survival, such as banding the trunk, shoring up the branches, and in several cases placing a roof type structure over exposed hollows from broken off branches. And only one mentioned was no longer living by the time of publication, after a very long life.

The last portion of the book has a very short biography of each of the person’s mentioned and of the area where each tree is located. Makes this book feel a bit more of a history book than just a tree survey.

The book came from my continuing a deep dive into my shelves, as I bought in Prague on my second visit there over twenty years ago now. I bought this book as a type of a souvenir for the area. The paper is also very nice and the book is lovely. Not sure why it took me so long to finally read this. Maybe it just mostly got overlooked.

Review 608: Sleep A Bedtime Reader

Sleep A Bedtime Reader by Robert Peacock
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book did not do well to evoke the feeling of sleep or dreams. A few of the stories or poems did, particularly near the end. Generally the entries seemed random.

The imagery was weird. The book is printed in high-gloss full color pages. The images were more dream-like than the text.

Most of the authors I did not recognize but there were a few bigger names, also near the end of the book: Alice Walker, Lou Reed, Jack Kerouac, and the very last, one of my favorite was by Fran Lebowitz: Why I Love to Sleep. It was very funny. Alice Walker’s poem was good too.

The book is so short, I have no idea why it remained unread until now. Perhaps I did pick the book up a time a two (and forgotten) and wasn’t impressed. The book came to me through a mail order book-club I used to belong to, bought over twenty-five years ago. Without seeing it in person explains why I purchased it. Oh, and good cover image. Overall disappointing.

Review 603: The High Desert

The High Desert by James Spooner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw this book at my library I had to read it. I was not a punk, but did listen to some of the music and saw some punk bands play a few times. Also in the 90’s, the era of the book, I spent some time in Apple Valley where this book takes place. I did not go to the high school there, nor knew anyone who actually lived in Apple Valley. But I did have a friend who had a house that he rented out, when empty a group of us would go up for a weekend sometimes. So this book has some familiarity.

Through the whole time reading the book I felt for James Spooner. He had it tough and as a teenager there’s already a lot going on. Moving as often as he did wasn’t helpful for finding long-term friends. On top of it the horrendous racism he encountered, he was a mixed-race kid. Spooner found himself identifying with the punk music and fashion, the way it presented itself, and in this crucial year he was learning.

Over the Christmas break he spent it at his dad’s in New York City. There he ran into a few punks that helped educate him which was pivotal in his life. The more Spooner learned about punk, the more it resonated with him. Back in Apple Valley still feeling lonely, never getting the girl. The attempt at being in a band didn’t work out, his friends were also going through some rough times. It didn’t help that they hung out with racist skinheads.

I was happy to see that SHARP (Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice) was mentioned, and the history of how skinhead culture got coopted by racists.

This was a personal memoir but it also speaks to being other.

Review 550: You & a Bike & a Road

You & a Bike & a Road by Eleanor Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Taken from her journal, Eleanor Davis gives us a memoir of her biking trip from her parent’s home in Tucson, Arizona to her husband and home in Athens, Georgia. Her dad built the bike for her and she thought to bike home would be easier than shipping it. Also, her mood lately is only good while being on her bike.

This is a sparsely drawn book, without too many words either, but conveys ample meaning. Can’t help but root for her, and not just to finish this biking cross-country trip on her own terms.

She encounters aggressive border patrol and amazing wonderful strangers that looks out for her and help her, even when she never asked.

I don’t read many graphic art books, but after reading this one, I do want to include more of these types of books. And of course, more of Eleanor Davis, maybe her artist husband too.

Review 381: Revenge of the Librarians

Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mostly cartoons about writing, some on reading and being a book person, and not many about librarians. The title doesn't exactly fit. But the book is enjoyable. I really did laugh out loud several times.

All are just one page image cartoon. A few are reimagined titles of classic books with a twist. Quite a lot about editors, or not not writing.

I really enjoyed the style of the art as well. I may have to look for more of Gauld's work.

Review 132: They Called Us Enemy

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Everyone will learn something from reading this book, even if you already think you know something about the Japanese internment camps during World War II.

The book was crafted well, the graphics display the words and help portray the story. A few aspects I’d like to point out. One is that not all were accepting of the Japanese being forced into camps. For instance, one man would deliver books to the camps, and was told by the soldiers many times to stop, but he would return the next month with another shipment of books.

I also learned that the US Government attempted to right the wrong. First, to upgrade their hero medal to the Japanese Americans who served in the army, to the Congressional Medal, the highest honor. Also there were reparations to the Japanese Americans who were interred. Everyone still living got a check for $10,000. It went to about half of the people interned, the rest had already passed away, since it was years later. Yes, these attempts to correct didn’t happen right away, but it did occur. It helps to have the government acknowledge the wrong and apologize.

One other aspect I liked with Takei’s autobiography, was how he brought in participatory democracy. That his father, despite what this country did to him, still believed in the fundamentals this country was built upon. People forget that our democracy requires people to participate, if nothing more than at least to vote.

Review 52: Commute: An Illustrated Memoir of Female Shame

Commute: An Illustrated Memoir of Female Shame by Erin Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow! I am floored by the brave and honest truth in this book. Erin Williams tells an unflinching reality about herself and sadly many, many women. I can identify all too well with her story. Perhaps not to the degree but yes, had a few similar experiences, being taken advantage of by guys then feeling the shame. Finally women are talking about this openly.

I'm amazed at how forceful and direct this author wrote and illustrated her life story. She is unflinching and it is uncomfortable. It is what is necessary and needed. When the book comes out in color it will be all that more powerful.

I hope men will read this, but I have a feeling very few will, especially the men who do this, did this, who should see what their behavior does, and how it lingers years and decades later.



I received a free print copy of this book at a library conference. I was not required to write a review, but felt like it and, of course, the above opinions are my own.