Marlboro College Rapid Reviews
The session involved rapid reviews of several books by multiple participants. Key discussions included Edwin DuVall's "Hair with Amber Eyes," detailing a large Jewish family's story and their preserved Netsuke during the Holocaust. Another review covered Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth," focusing on themes of thinking and wordplay. Julia Serano's "Whipping Girl" was discussed regarding transgender studies, misogyny, and binaries. Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" was reviewed as a lively, non-pedantic account from marginalized perspectives. Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" was highlighted for its humor and commentary on Arthur Dent's intergalactic adventures. Chuck Barris's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" was mentioned for its entertaining claims of CIA involvement. Linda Berry's "100 Demons" was presented as an example of "autofictionalography." John Berger's "A Fortunate Man" was discussed as a study of a country doctor in rural England. Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" was analyzed for its feminist themes and character exploration. Frances Hodgson Burnett's "The Secret Garden" was compared to Jane Eyre, focusing on self-discovery and hidden mysteries. Mrs. Burns' Dictionary of unusual words and Mary Calhoun's illustrated book about a cat skiing were also reviewed. Finally, Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth" was discussed for illustrating modern myths in pop culture like Star Wars, preceding a discussion on Anne Carson's "Autobiography of Red," which draws upon the myth of Heracles.