Views and Mechanics Publisher's Note Editor's Note Review of The Pittsburgh That Stays Within You Review of If Instead of Apes We Had Come from Grapes Review of Anson County Review of Dissolution of Ghosts Crossword (Solution Posted in July. Printable version in pdf format of journal.) Mar/Apr Crossword Solution Creative Nonfiction 1998 By Samuel Hazo Booing the Pope By Matthew D. Taylor Sgt. Robert Starbuck, USMC: Elegy and Essay By John Guthrie Shrink Wrap, Diet Cokes and a Kazoo By Sara J. Ford Poetry And the Time Is By Samuel Hazo In His Winter By Wanda D. Campbell Lester By Thomas Reynolds Generation Gap By Valerie Lauria Stanske Two Poets By Gary C. Wilkens Mongolia, 1930 By Gary C. Wilkens Fiction A Death in the Family By John Speeking Letters By Suzanne Abbot Among the Briars By Pat Tompkins Filling in the Angles By Jessica DelBalzo Miss Mary By Beth L. Block Cover Art Photography by Seth Brown About the Contributors © 2006, River Walk Journal and respective authors and artists. All rights reserved. Do not use or reproduce without permission. River Walk Journal, Inc. Board of Directors Chairman - Elizabeth Ross Vice Chairman - Joseph Koch Secretary/Treasurer - Geri Stock-Ross Editorial Director - Patti Kurtz, DA Literacy Director - Bill Mausteller Policy Director - PA State Rep. Jess Stairs Advisory Board Chairman - Patti Kurtz, DA Asst. Chairman - Dan Lachenman, PhD Samuel Hazo Christopher Leland Edwin Yoder Joseph Bathanti Journal Staff Publisher - Elizabeth Ross Editor-In-Chief - Joseph Koch Sen. Fiction Editor - Patti Kurtz Sen. Poetry Editor - Neeldhara Misra Sen. Creative Nonfiction Editor - Brenda Coxe Contributing Editor - Robert Dittman Publicity Director (PA) - Geri Stock-Ross For information about submissions, visit http://www.riverwalkjournal.org/submission.html. Questions about promotions, subscribers' services, and advertising should be sent to publisher@riverwalkjournal.org. River Walk Journal, Inc. is a non-profit corporation run entirely by volunteers. For information about volunteer opportunities and internships, visit http://www.riverwalkjournal.org/volunteer.html. |
Review of The Pittsburgh That Stays Within You The Pittsburgh That Stays Within You has become an ongoing project for Samuel Hazo, the original essay written in 1986, with additions in 1992, 1998, and 2003. The city of Pittsburgh has been the subject of many volumes – historical, humorous and otherwise. Hazo’s essay is by no means an all-inclusive history, but it fills the need for a personal one, that invites the reader to take his own journey through memories of the city. One may be reminded of Vonnegut’s concept of being unstuck in time with this book, since it is not arranged chronologically. The time shifts do not detract from the work, because they imply the real nature of recollection. Hazo wrote this more like a stream of consciousness work, instead of as a highly structured and organized essay. The result may confuse readers slightly from time to time, but more often encourage personal memories people familiar with the city may have to emerge. Intermingled with Hazo’s recollections of his home are tidbits of history, sports memories, and literary references. Pittsburgh has been a city of both hard-working men and women who gave the city its place of distinction in the steel industry, and brilliant artists, writers, scientists, and businessmen. Although by no means complete, Hazo mentions many of the individuals who have given Pittsburgh a permanent place in history and culture. He also explains the mentality of the typical “working man” Pittsburgher, and how this way of thinking has helped the city remain resilient. An underlying theme throughout is the concept that not all change is good – newer is not always better. Approached both philosophically and pragmatically, Hazo does not mince words when explaining situations within his beloved city that were decidedly not changes for the better. In spite of the fact that this is just a personal essay, and does not explore the myriad of issues and statistics city planners must use in their work, this volume should be considered required reading for that occupation in Pittsburgh – if only to understand the spirit of true Pittsburghers. This volume is a labor of love, and is a required addition to the collection of anyone who calls Pittsburgh home. The Pittsburgh That Stays Within You is a testament to the unique nature of a city that is beyond just a spot on the map for anyone who has set foot within its boundaries. This is Hazo’s personal gift to Pittsburghers, and anyone who has been touched by the unique nature of this city. It has often been said that being a Pittsburgher is a state of mind, not a statement of residency – this book describes exactly what that state of mind is. |