Chapter 5

Brent Staples

"Just Walk on By"

Biographical

Here is some biographical information from PBS that includes notes on Staples's life, a photo, and a link to a video about the author.

Take a look at a caricature of Staples drawn by David Levine for The New York Review of Books. How does this drawing compare to the other pictures of the author you've seen? Which of Staples's features does it exaggerate?

Bibliographical

Here is a review Staples did of the book All Souls: A Family Story From Southie. (Free registration required.)

"Con Men and Conquerors" is the title of a book review Staples wrote in 1994 for V. S. Naipaul's A Way in the World. How does Staples's title relate to Naipaul's book? (Free registration required.)

Cultural

Staples has often written about intercultural communication. A pioneer in this field is Edward T. Hall. Here is a page with some information about Hall, a bibliography, and some related links.

Parallel Time: Growing Up in Black and White is the title of an autobiography by Staples. Read this essay on the memoir from Christianity Today. How does the author of the essay use Staples as an authority?

Here are some short reviews of Parallel Time from Kirkus Reviews, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Chicago Tribune, and other sources.

Diane Ackerman

"Mute Dancers: How to Watch a Hummingbird"

Biographical

Cornell University has put up this page about Ackerman, which includes a photo and information about her life and work, including her numerous publications and awards.

Here's another biography of Ackerman, courtesy of Old Dominion University, where she appeared at a literary arts festival. How does it differ from the one above? Which style do you prefer? Explain your answer.

Bibliographical

How about some quotations by Ackerman.

Here's a "Guide to the Diane Ackerman Papers, 1971-1997" at Cornell University, offering a descriptive summary, a biographical note, information for users, and contact information.

This author conducted this interview in 1999 with Linda Richards of January Magazine after the publication of Ackerman's book Deep Play, which examines psychological aspects of play.

Cultural

Looking for a way to get a general overview of some issues relating to science? Try this directory from Google.com.

Ackerman's prose is brilliantly descriptive - that is, it appeals strongly to the senses. These links offer some good starting points for research on the senses.

Has reading about Ackerman's life and work interested you in doing some nature writing of your own? This page of nature writing links will help you on your way.

Not many people could have written about leaves, right? Do a subject search at the Library of Congress, by typing in the word"leaves." How many books do you come up with?

Jamaica Kincaid

"A Small Place"

Biographical

This is a very good general start page at the Voices From the Gaps site. There, you'll find photos of Kincaid and book covers, a biography, a bibliography, and some related links.

When Kincaid gave a talk for the New York State Writers Institute, the organizers prepared this biography. You'll also find a photo of Kincaid on this page, and a link to Kincaid talk about writing.

Here's a Kincaid biography, along with some photos, links, and a bibliography. What is given special emphasis here, and not in the biography above?

Cultural

This is the homepage of The New Yorker magazine, a periodical with which Kincaid has had an important relationship.

Kincaid's place of birth, Antigua, plays a prominent role in much of her writing. Click here for more information about this Caribbean island.

Contrast the information you find here with that presented on the page above. What's the major difference in the nature of the information? Which page would you be more likely to cite in a paper about Kincaid? Why?

"A World as Cruel as Job's" is the title of this New York Timesbook review of The Autobiography of My Mother. To what does the author of the book review refer in her title? (Free registration required.)

Bibliographical

Salon.com presented this interview with Kincaid following the release of her novel, The Autobiography of My Mother. What do you make of the title of the novel, by the way?

Here's an excerpt of My Garden (Book), along with a link to a review. After absorbing this information, would you like to read the whole book? Why or why not?

This page contains a link which will allow you to hear the author discuss her garden in RealAudio.