Mozart and Leadbelly

August 1, 2005
The artist "must deal with both God and the Devil," notes Gaines in this illuminating collection of short stories and "talks" on literature. Born (1933) and raised on a Louisiana plantation, Gaines (A Lesson Before Dying
) attended college in California and fell in love with the works of Chekhov, Turgenev and Joyce. When he began to write, he realized that "the Russian steppes sounded interesting, but they were not the swamps of Louisiana.... I wanted to smell that Louisiana earth,... sit under the shade of one of those Louisiana oaks," and, especially, write about "the true relationship between whites and blacks—about the people I had known." And while Mozart and Haydn might inspire, "neither can... describe Louisiana State Prison at Angola as Leadbelly can." In his essays, Gaines shows how he explored his cultural influences like a jazz musician playing around a note until he achieved an appropriate artistic form for the truths he wanted to tell. The short stories, most published decades ago, further demonstrate that artistry. Fans of Gaines will appreciate these intimate glimpses into his literary methods, while readers yet to discover his art will find this a fine introduction. Author tour
.

August 15, 2005
Both scholars and general readers will embrace this eclectic new collection from National Book Critics Circle Award winner Gaines ("A Lesson Before Dying"), whose title refers to his belief that an artist should not value the classics more than the culture he comes from. The book includes some previously hard-to-find pieces and talks spanning 30 years, with several essays and a lengthy conversation focusing on Gaines's creative process. Born in Louisiana, Gaines credits his aunt with being his greatest influence. He greatly appreciates Joyce and 19th-century Russian literature and also comments on the impact of music and visual art on his writing while providing insight on his development as a writer. Five short stories appear as well: the previously unpublished "Christ Walked Down Market Street," his personal favorite; "Turtles," his first published story from 1956; and three other tightly wound and well-crafted gems. A slight tendency toward repetition does not diminish the book's overall merit. Recommended for academic and public libraries. -Stacy Shotsberger, California State Univ., Fullerton

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2005
This collection of autobiographical essays and short stories offers a look at Gaines' development as an author, particularly his writing of" The Autobiography of Miss Jane "Pitman (1971) and " A Lesson before Dying" (1993). The first section includes essays detailing the impact of his childhood in Louisiana on his writing style and his sense of place in the world. He also offers insights into the exposures, experiences, and eclectic personalities that have produced an appreciation for culture along a wide spectrum--from Mozart to Leadbelly--that informs his writing. Gaines grew up writing letters for illiterate townfolk, in effect telling their stories, and later struggled in the military and in a one-room apartment in San Francisco to recapture the rhythms of life in Louisiana. The collection includes the first story written by Gaines, and stories of sexual awakenings, fidelity, and shifting relationships between young and old. Altogether, the collection vividly conveys the personal journey of a master storyteller.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)