PositiveLibrary JournalRickey’s career is part of a common thread in the history of Black Americans in baseball, but also—perhaps more so—is uniquely his own ... Bryant brings a historian’s perspective to the life of Rickey Henderson, with great success.
Jessica Hopper
PositiveLibrary JournalAs a critic, she brings a perspective that shouldn\'t be fresh but is, discussing both the old and the new with an intelligence and intensity that can only come from a true music geek. Her Gen-X frame of reference ranges from Eighties alternative rock and grunge through to the present, touching on pop, freak folk, and even Christian rock. Particularly powerful are pieces on indie rocker David Bazan and record producer/rapper R. Kelly ... Rock music fans of all genders and stripes will find a lot to chew on in these pages.
Aaron Cohen
PositiveLibrary JournalOther authors have written about these artists, but Cohen shows how their music intertwines with black culture and connects all the way up to the political sphere. More broadly, he shows how Chicago through music became an important force in the nationwide fight for civil rights and the raising of black consciousness ... Cohen marries scholarly erudition with sincere musical affection in this intriguing look at Chicago soul.
Patti Smith
RaveLibrary JournalSmith’s gift for memoir, a natural extension of her work as a lyricist and poet, is once again apparent. Whether describing great works of art or her breakfast, Smith’s straightforward use of language to evoke a mood or place make her flights in and out of dream states seamless. There is nothing pretentious or condescending about her writing, despite the literary and artistic allusions. Her words are for anyone ... Fans of Smith’s extensive body of work and those who enjoy well-crafted personal narratives will find much to love in this brief and vibrant book.
