Tender verses about her affection for siblings or her fondness for puttering in the garden coexist with poems reflecting her passionate opinions about the environment (“Fundamentals,” “Superiority”) or gay issues (“In Defense of What,” “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”). Readers of this highly personal collection may find themselves feeling an unexpected kinship with Puglisi.
Cloud vs. Cloud Ethan Paquin ’98, faculty in English From the book jacket: Ethan Paquin writes “Language is notorious.” In his latest collection, language is as lush and textured as the mountains and oceans that are his subjects, and familiar natural landmarks are representational of memory so that mind and body become layers in this vast loam …. Only through knowledge of the rough earth will he come to know the self: “carry me like a reed-basket of water over the pinions of landscapes / blasted by heat and then i will know where i belong.”
An Overture to Philosophy of Communication Annette Holba, professor of rhetoric (with co-author Ronald Arnett) Philosophy of communication is a rapidly emerging field, yet until Annette Holba and co-author Ronald Arnett wrote An Overture to Philosophy of Communication, there was no real model for teaching it in the classroom. The authors set about remedying the situation with a scholarly book that is intended for use in the classroom. The story of Zorba the Greek is woven throughout the narrative, exemplifying, as Holba says, “the ways human beings make meaning through engagement with others.” The book won the prestigious Everett Lee Hunt Award from the Eastern Communication Association.
Gypsies of the White Mountains Bruce Heald, faculty in history and philosophy After exploring Mt. Washington’s cog railway, the Old Man of the Mountain, and the history of dog sledding in New England, historian and author Bruce Heald once again digs deep into the intriguing past of New Hampshire’s North Country. This time he investigates a little-known group of travelers through the White Mountains in the heyday of this region’s tourism boom: Gypsies. Heald provides a fascinating history
of this oft-persecuted minority, and traces their journey to and through the White Mountains where, for a time, they made a living entertaining tourists, telling fortunes, and making music.
No Vacancy: The Rise, Demise, and Reprise of America’s Motels Mark Okrant, professor of tourism management No Vacancy is Mark Okrant’s latest non-fictional look at the motel industry (previously he brought us Sleeping Alongside the Road and a murder mystery series set in historic resorts). Okrant, a nationally recognized expert in tourism research and director of PSU’s Institute for New Hampshire Studies, has been a motel patron all his life. “Motels were a central part of incredible experiences with my parents and brother and, later, with my wife and daughters,” he says. “Something needs to be done to show others why they were important, and how many of them can be again.” With this perspective on the history of motels and the prospects for saving them, Okrant has taken a big step toward that goal.
Writing the Nomadic Experience in Contemporary Francophone Literature Katharine N. Harrington, professor of French Literary “nomads,” according to author Katharine Harrington, “reconsider rigid definitions of borders, classifications, and identities.” In her latest book, Harrington studies four contemporary French-language writers who are not easily defined by geographical, cultural, or linguistic boundaries. She writes, “I examine how these authors’ life experiences are reflected in their writing and how they may inform us on the state of our increasingly global world where borders and identities are blurred.” Prison Violence: Causes, Consequences and Solutions Kristine Levan, professor of criminal justice In the very first pages of Prison Violence Kristine Levan boldly confronts her topic: “violence [in prison] is not only accepted, but has indeed become expected among prisoners and correctional staff …. [S]uccessfully reducing prison violence means disentangling the convict code and disrupting the prison culture at its very core.” She goes on to provide a comprehensive analysis of prison violence and its impacts, both in and out of prison. Levan explores the challenges faced by policy makers and scholars in understanding the problem, describes what is currently being done to address the issue, and offers myriad approaches to handle the many facets of prison violence.
To view full news releases and get the latest Plymouth State news, visit plymouth.edu. Spring/Summer 2013 | Plymouth Magazine 5