Views and Mechanics Publisher's Note Editor's Note Review of Terrorist Review of God's Gym Review of Cherry Blossoms in Twilight Creative Nonfiction Ain't Is A Word By Marcie Hollowell & Kristen Munch Love Under the Big Top By Andy Martello Revival By Brenda G. Wooley Poetry Letting Go Wish By Antoinette Brim Pam Farwick By G. David Schwartz Confession While Dining By Mary Lou Taylor Homeschooling Adventures By Beth Happel Fiction Ike Experiences Vanity By Sidney Kidd What Keeps Me Alive By Paul Brittain Minor Damage By Jane Hammons How To Cook for Your In-Laws By Ricky Ginsburg 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/subs.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 VolunteerMatch. |
Review of God's Gym Stories By John Edgar Wideman Houghton Mifflin Company ISBN: 0-618-51525-9 John Edgar Wideman continues his tradition of standing on and creating new boundaries with God’s Gym. As with most of his other short works, the worth of the work is found not only in the first pass, but also in re-readings. Vibrant images, and original metaphors are Wideman’s signature, and this collection is no exception. From the shores of Martinique to the arid desert of Arizona, readers are offered varied settings. As usual, place is only a small portion of what Wideman presents, and explorations of various kinds of relationships abound. Two examples: In “What We Cannot Speak About We Must Pass Over In Silence” a friend of a man whose son is serving time in prison finds himself compelled to talk to that son in person after the death of the friend - drawing on obscure ethical issues of what one owes in the name of friendship. “Fanon” examines interracial romantic relations through the lens of fallen African activists, exploring jealousy rooted in racial identity. Wideman’s rich and sensual stories offer readers the opportunity to view the world through many different eyes, as the author is very adept at taking strolls in the shoes of others. Due to some adult language and issues, these stories may not be useful for high school instructors in very conservative school systems. They can be highly useful in creative writing, modern literature, African American studies, and psychology classrooms on the collegiate level. God’s Gym is an excellent primer to Wideman’s other works for readers unfamiliar with his work – a welcome addition for his existing readers. |