March 2008 Archives

Reviewed by John Glover, Reference Librarian for the Humanities

Charles Schulz is known worldwide as the creator of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and all their other friends who anchored thousands of funny pages from 1950 to 2000. Among all the comics that have come and gone over the years, Schulz's Peanuts has stood the test of time. It was difficult at best to grow up in the United States in this period and not be in contact with Peanuts in some form or another: the comic strip, the television adaptations, the merchandise.

The interviews and appreciations presented in this volume vary in focus and length, ranging from 1956 to 1999 in date and including the exhaustive interview Schulz gave to comics publisher and editor Gary Groth in 1997. They provide remarkable insights into the life of the man behind this amazing American creation. Some are intriguing, some heartwarming, and some confounding. While it is never easy to hear hard things about idols or loved ones, this book displays the great man's strengths and weaknesses. While some interviewers glossed over the rough spots, others stuck doggedly to their guns, particularly Groth in his quest to understand Schulz's relationship with and attitude toward the commercialization of Peanuts.

If you have an abiding fondness for Peanuts or comics in general, you will probably enjoy this book. The details of Schulz's life, from little red-haired girls to his service in WWII, make for fascinating reading, and no one with a heart could fail to enjoy this beloved cartoonist's stories about the genesis and lives of his pen and ink creations.

Cabell Library PN6727.S3 Z4625 2000

Celebrating Women's History Month at the VCU Libraries

Reviewed by Mayra Rivas, member of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas

Every day many of us get caught up in our own lives and take for granted the rules and rights that we have to live by. Some of us don’t realize how lucky or unlucky we are to live in a day and age where equality between men and women is far better than it was in the past, but is still not perfect. Women’s Rights, edited by Jennifer Curry, goes into extreme depth and detail outlining the history and outcome of women activists all over the world and the laws that they have helped change. The book does not just talk about the right to vote, but also the right to an education, to drive, to claim rape, to choose when to have a child, etc. It involves not just political rights, but also human rights and rights that control the life and body of a woman.

Rights and fights for women differ from country to country. While women were fighting for contraception and abortion rights in the U.S., women were fighting for their own battles in less developed countries. In the end, women all over the world have stepped up to fight for what they believe in.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a universal bill of rights that would essentially equate men and women all over the world. It is referred to constantly in the book. It has been pending for almost thirty years, yet some countries have yet to accept it. Comparisons are made in the book between countries on the pay that women and men get, and on the percentage of women holding office. It talks about the way religion and culture affect women rights. It analyzes the scriptures of Islam and Christianity and the way they are interpreted. It is very informative and provides excerpts from a wide range of sources. Other chapter in the book discuss prostitution and sex trafficking, violence, taboos (and why women are afraid to go to the law once they have been raped or abused), prostitution, sex trafficking and its comparison to under-paid illegal immigrant workers.

Throughout Women’s Rights there are many examples and statistics that deal with the oppression women face everyday. There are even surveys and cultural trends that demonstrate why in many ways men are preferred to women in countries such as China and India. This book is definitely an eye-opener and provides insight to issues being faced all over the world regarding women.

Cabell Library HQ1236 .W65253 2005

Celebrating Women's History Month at the VCU Libraries

Reviewed by Delmy Hernandez, member of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas

This book is exactly what the title says it is: nine incredible stories about extraordinary women. These aren’t your everyday women who go to work and live life day by day. These women live every day as if it were their last. They go to the extreme and do the unthinkable.

Take Libby Riddles. For many of us, going outside in the cold is a hassle (I know it is for me). For her, it is part of her job. She is a sled dog champion and it is not as easy as telling dogs to mush. Although she is covered in layers upon layers of clothes, she can still feel the freezing whip of the Alaskan wind. Although she competes with many big burly men, it was she who toughed it out and won the Iditarod Sled Dog Race after so many years of male victories. She even treats her dogs with an extra touch of care. It took determination and courage to get to where she is today.

Can you imagine living in a tree? For two years? That is exactly what Julia Butterfly Hill did, another woman who caught my attention and stood out from the rest. Because so many redwoods were being cut down in California to make way for development, there eventually weren’t enough trees to stop an enormous mudslide that cut through a neighborhood. This occurred because the redwoods weren’t there to catch any of the mud. Just a few days later permission was given for another set of redwoods to be cut down. Julia felt that she needed to do something. After looking for support and ways to help, she decided to climb one of the oldest redwoods, 180 feet tall, in protest. Not only would she stay there, but she would live there. She refused to climb down until the life of the redwood, named Luna, would be spared. She encountered much conflict and didn’t receive very much support. She overcame obstacles such as having to shower and use the bathroom at such a high altitude and braving strong winds and the cold in order to show what she believed in. These are only two out of nine amazing women who prove that you have only one life to live!

Cabell Library HQ1410 .M39 2005