Dec 02, 2014 Book Club
Who still buys books? Those antiquated, cumbersome, and tree-killing publications that have been rendered obsolete by digital media. Those overpriced eyesores on your bookshelves that are so heavy to move and make no sense to own when you can have it all on a tablet plus links, sounds, and other bells and whistles. Well, that would be me. I love books and here are some recent ones that I really dig.
On the twentieth anniversary of the razing of Kowloon Walled City, City of Darkness Revisited by Ian Lambot and Greg Girard allows readers to peek into the notoriously dense, dark, and lawless yet communal section of Hong Kong for a fraction of the cost of the out-of-print previous edition. But not only does the gorgeous hardcover brick of a book provided renewed access, it also expands upon it with additional photos, new interviews, and current observations. For example, the more recent conversation with a retired police officer provides a totally different point of view. The maze-like cluster of structures has become a thing of myth since it was demolished, inspiring set design in the Batman Begins movie as well as a level in the Call of Duty: Black Ops video game, and this book at once demystifies and builds on the legend. I purchased the impressive publication when it was in its Kickstarter funding phase and it came with an eye-popping print and nice dustjacket.
I was handed a copy of Amarnath Ravva’s American Canyon straight from the publisher, who was shared that it was Kaya Press’s very first publication with color pages. And the pictures aren’t merely ornamental. They are rather necessary to complement the sparse narrative thread that was originally recorded on video in real time. Equal parts observation about a road trip to India, emotional reaction to doing the writer’s mother’s wishes, and exploration of memory and the present, the words are straightforward yet poetic, simple and sharp. While the cool tone can seem oddly detached for such a personal moment, the eyelid-peeling attention to detail reveals uncommon engagement and perhaps even an otherworldly view.
The Sound of Two Eyes Opening is a collection of photos by Spot, who is best known for his production and engineering work for bands such as Black Flag, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, The Descendents, The Big Boys, and The Misfits. It turns out he was also a writer and photographer for the local Easy Reader newspaper, and his experience photojournalism shows in this brand-new book. Mostly in crisp black and white, the collected images juxtapose young, healthy, sun-tanned roller skaters and skateboarders on Hermosa Beach’s boardwalk and beyond with the dark and noisy hardcore punk rehearsal studios and venues exploding into the night. Familiar faces include Henry Rollins, Lux Interior, and Darby Crash, but what adds unique texture to this particular look back is that the South Bay punk scene is presented in concert with other local forms of youth and rebel culture.
I detailed my love for the comics of Ernie Bushmiller less than a month ago, but Nancy Loves Sluggo is a noteworthy addition to Fantagraphics’ ongoing celebration and documentation of the daily strip. Not unlike the Seattle publisher’s reverential treatment of Peanuts, the Nancy collections are gathered chronologically in full black and white glory with forewards written by big names in the indie comics and art worlds. This is not the thickest edition but perhaps it is the deepest, with the zenlike title character totally unshackled by connections to Fritzi Ritz, her flapper aunt and initial star of the strip. While the earlier, out-of-print Kitchen Sink volumes seemed a bit more wacky because they were organized by themes (Dreams and Schemes, Artists and Con Artists, Bums, Beatniks, and Hippies), these are more stately–and more surprising. Definitely not for everyone. Or is it?
Identity Zine #1 is a huge leap for photographer Dave Naz, whose portraiture is best known for celebrating the female form. For his recent show at Coagula Projects, he opened up his shutter specifically for the “transgender, intersex, pangender, and every shade in between.” Of course, the images that he showed are tack sharp and gorgeous. But the black-and-white zine does more than collect excellent photography. (That task belongs to the full-color coffee table book Genderqueer: And Other Gender Identities.) The humble edition of 300 includes interviews with the subjects about coming out and testosterone shots but is mostly about finding one’s self and becoming comfortable with that person. Looking forward another show and a second edition.
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