Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511150090
SECTION: BOOK PAGE: E4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Written by James Howard Kunstler. Illustrated by Stan Olson. Read by Garrison Keillor. Rabbit Ears Book and Cassette. $19.95.
Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.
Adapted by James Howard Kunstler. Illustrated by Greg Couch. Read by John Hurt. Rabbit Ears Book and Cassette. $19.95.
Joseph and His Brothers.
Adapted by Brian Gleeson. Illustrated by Garnet Henderson. Told by Ruben Blades. Rabbit Ears Book and Cassette. $19.95.
Rumplestiltskin.
Adapted by Christopher Noel. Illustrated by Peter Sis. Read by Kathleen Turner. Rabbit Ears Book and Cassette. $19.95.
How the Camel Got His Hump.
Written by Rudyard Kipling. Illustrated by Tim Raglin. Told by Jack Nicholson. Rabbit Ears Minibook and Cassette. $10.95.
The Emperor's New Clothes.
Written by Hans Christian Anderson. Adapted by Eric Metaxas. Illustrated by Robert Van Nutt. Read by Sir John Gielgud. Rabbit Ears Minibook and Cassette. $10.95.
Goldilocks.
Adapted by Tom Roberts. Illustrated by Laszlo Kubiniyi. Told by Meg Ryan. Rabbit Ears Minibook and Cassette. $10.95.
The opportunity is vast with any or all of these selections (or the others in this series) to lead a youngster of any age to the classic stories. A caring adult can set aside from 15 to 30 minutes to set up the tape and look at the beautiful illustrations and, most importantly, follow the words in the book. It could be a game to find the rare instances when the narrator takes license with the actual text. All the stories are familiar to earlier generations but they could be new to young parents who weren't read the classics.
Bright youngsters will learn new words and benefit from the intonations of the stars who read or tell the stories. It will be no surprise that Garrison Keillor is superb; it is a surprise that Sir John Gielgud is difficult to follow. His voice is ideal for the stage, but not for the microphone here. My favorite is Kathleen Turner reading "Rumplestiltskin."
The music on each tape is another delight, offering the adult an opportunity to introduce the youngster to complementary mixing of art forms. The only questionable feature of this series is the price, but quality costs.
- PEGGY C. DAVIS
The Cousins.
By Rona Jaffe. Donald I. Fine. $22.95.
Highly praised by Cosmopolitan magazine and a selection of book clubs, "The Cousins" features a predictable plot, several exotic locales and wealthy people. The strength here lies in Rona Jaffe's characterizations. Olivia, the central character, is a twice-divorced veterinarian who lives with Roger, her medical partner, in their New York combination clinic and home. Secure in their close relationship, Olivia begins to renew relations with her scattered family members near the novel's beginning at a family funeral.
The cousins of the title share bittersweet memories of youthful summers spent at Mandelay, the family estate, now sold. Determined to combat the family's view of her as a loner, Olivia seeks to renew her ties to her cousins and their families. As the plot progresses, though long-kept secrets emerge, family love and loyalty triumph even as Olivia must herself face personal conflicts and betrayals. Though no real surprises await the reader, Jaffe's fans will doubtless enjoy the novel.
- HARRIET LITTLE
Lee's Young Artillerist William R.J. Pegram.
By Peter S. Carmichael. University Press of Virginia. (price not listed.)
Col. William R.J. Pegram was a long-nosed, purse-lipped Virginian whose rimless glasses gave him the prim look of a Yankee schoolmaster, which was the last thing he would have been.
That he was also brave to the point of fanaticism and foolishness perhaps helped make him the outstanding field commander of artillery in the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia. As such, he seemed to live a charmed life, fighting in every one of his army's major battles from 1861-1865 until he was mortally wounded at Five Forks in almost the last hours of the war.
Pegram could have been a stereotype for a Yankee propagandist of the evil Southern officer patrician. He came from a slave-holding family that saw nothing wrong with the practice, yet he believed himself a Christian in a Christian society that he was obligated to support and defend.
It is hard to feel much sympathy for a caste-ridden Christian who felt the execution of black prisoners at Petersburg was "perfectly" correct "as a matter of policy."
Carmichael offers some interesting commentary on the organization and tactics of Southern artillery, and gives a much more favorable portrait of Gen. William N. Pendleton, of Lexington, Lee's chief of artillery, than is usual.
- ROBERT HILLDRUP
Peggy C. Davis reviews books regularly for this page.
Harriet Little teaches at James River high school.
Robert Hilldrup is a Richmond writer and former newspaperman.
by CNB