December 20, 2007 Books » Short Stories

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click to enlarge The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality - Andr Comte-Sponville/translated by Nancy - Huston Viking, $19.95/hardcover, release date: Dec. - 27 Breaking his musings into three sections - titled "Can we do without religion?," "Does God exist?" - and "Can there be an atheist spirituality?," this - contemporary French philosopher sustains argument - over mostly rhetorical questions for more than 200 - somewhat dense pages. There's some interesting stuff, - such as the examination of the religion's etymology: Is it - from religare, to bind or bind back, or - relegare, to contemplate or reread? And why - does it matter? But there's also some snoozer prose: the - stuff where you flip back a page because you suddenly - realize you've been zoned out daydreaming. If you're one - of those people who misuses the term "agnostic," and - you cals yourself "spiritual but not religious," you'll - probably still love this thorough inquiry. - Matthew Schniper
  • The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality
    Andr Comte-Sponville/translated by Nancy Huston
    Viking, $19.95/hardcover, release date: Dec. 27
    Breaking his musings into three sections titled "Can we do without religion?," "Does God exist?" and "Can there be an atheist spirituality?," this contemporary French philosopher sustains argument over mostly rhetorical questions for more than 200 somewhat dense pages. There's some interesting stuff, such as the examination of the religion's etymology: Is it from religare, to bind or bind back, or relegare, to contemplate or reread? And why does it matter? But there's also some snoozer prose: the stuff where you flip back a page because you suddenly realize you've been zoned out daydreaming. If you're one of those people who misuses the term "agnostic," and you cals yourself "spiritual but not religious," you'll probably still love this thorough inquiry. Matthew Schniper
click to enlarge Fame Us: Celebrity Impersonators and the - Cult(ure) of Fame - Brian Howell Arsenal Pulp, $18.95/ - paperback Fame Us is the kind of - book that, when you walk past it on a coffee table or in a - bookstore, you just have to pick up. And then, a - few minutes into the fun, you put it down and move on, - unchanged. It's mostly a photo essay with captions on - the opposite page of each profile shot, telling the - backstory of the Elvis, Madonna and other celebrity - impersonators featured. There are two longer essays - inside one by a professor from a Canadian college - you've never heard of and another from an unknown - magazine publisher and neither is very interesting. - This book is most engaging when you scour the faces of - the impersonators (the Johnny Depp look-a-like is spot- - on; the Jennifer Aniston one isn't), but it offers little else - to merit your time or purchase. Pete - Freedman
  • Fame Us: Celebrity Impersonators and the Cult(ure) of Fame
    Brian Howell
    Arsenal Pulp, $18.95/ paperback
    Fame Us is the kind of book that, when you walk past it on a coffee table or in a bookstore, you just have to pick up. And then, a few minutes into the fun, you put it down and move on, unchanged. It's mostly a photo essay with captions on the opposite page of each profile shot, telling the backstory of the Elvis, Madonna and other celebrity impersonators featured. There are two longer essays inside one by a professor from a Canadian college you've never heard of and another from an unknown magazine publisher and neither is very interesting. This book is most engaging when you scour the faces of the impersonators (the Johnny Depp look-a-like is spot- on; the Jennifer Aniston one isn't), but it offers little else to merit your time or purchase. Pete Freedman
click to enlarge Serenity: Those Left Behind Joss - Whedon, Brett Matthews, Will Conrad Dark Horse, - $19.95/hardcover Oh sweet joy, thought I - a new installment in the Firefly/Serenity - series! The story continues! Um ... wrong. Make no - mistake: This graphic novel is only a re-release, spiffed - up with new cover art and some pre-production notes - and concept art from the making of the Serenity - film a few years back. If you missed it before, this - narrative's timeline falls between the end of the - Firefly series on TV and where the story picks - back up at the beginning of Serenity's theater - opening. Basically, it answers a couple questions left - hanging after the TV show was canceled, following - captain Mal Reynolds and crew through yet another - galactic misadventure. It was a well-drawn, decent read - the first time, only worth the re-purchase if you're one of - those must-have-the-liner-notes diehards. - Matthew Schniper
  • Serenity: Those Left Behind
    Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, Will Conrad
    Dark Horse, $19.95/hardcover
    Oh sweet joy, thought I a new installment in the Firefly/Serenity series! The story continues! Um ... wrong. Make no mistake: This graphic novel is only a re-release, spiffed up with new cover art and some pre-production notes and concept art from the making of the Serenity film a few years back. If you missed it before, this narrative's timeline falls between the end of the Firefly series on TV and where the story picks back up at the beginning of Serenity's theater opening. Basically, it answers a couple questions left hanging after the TV show was canceled, following captain Mal Reynolds and crew through yet another galactic misadventure. It was a well-drawn, decent read the first time, only worth the re-purchase if you're one of those must-have-the-liner-notes diehards. Matthew Schniper

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