Historical November 1990 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
There are almost as many St. Louis authors as there are stars in the sky and some of those we mention here, whose books are available at the St. Louis Public Library Kiosk, are even neighbors. Robert Wiltenburg, Washington University Professor of English, lives just a stone’s throw from the Kiosk where he and his family are good patrons.
His recently published book is Ben Jonson and Selflove, the Subtlest Maze of All.
In speaking to Dr. Wiltenburg about his book, we become aware of the brilliance of Jonson, who was a contemporary of Shakespeare and who, as a poet and playwright, equaled Shakespeare in popularity at the time. Wiltenburg said that Jonson was concerned about good and healthy self love and the narcissistic or unhealthy kind at a time when people were just becoming aware of these concepts (17th century). Jonson was a versatile character who was known as an actor, playwright, poet, critic, translator, and scholar.
David Carkeet, who lived until recently in Parkview, has written I Been There Before, which tells about Mark Twain’s second life when he is returned to earth in 1985 by Haley’s Comet. Carkeet has also written Double Negative, The Greatest Slump of All Times, and The Silent Treatment. Other neighborhood residents whose prose is carried at the Kiosk are Stanley Elkin, William Gass, and Margaret Hermes. St. Louisan Glen Saven’s book White Palace, recently released as a major motion picture, has been one of the most popular books the Kiosk owns.
It is the story of a young, rich, Jewish advertising man who becomes sexually and emotionally involved with a poor, older woman who lives in “Dogtown” and works at the White Palace (White Castle).
It is not a book for those who are squeamish about four-letter words or sexually explicit descriptions.
Various parts of St. Louis—south St. Louis, Dogtown, Clayton. U. City, etc., are highlighted. John Lutz lives in Webster Groves and writes mysteries set in the St. Louis area.
One such book is Dancer’s Debt.
This tells about a private detective called “Nudger” who is hired by Helen Crane, the beautiful girlfriend of a Vietnam vet who has reached rock bottom.
As Nudger’s investigation unfolds, bodies come floating up the Mississippi to Laclede’s Landing in a plot that twists and turns before the mystery is resolved.
The Kiosk has several Lutz mysteries. Jan Greenburg, a Clayton writer with three daughters, has written several teenage books.
A Season in Between is about a thirteen-year-old girl whose father is being treated at the Mayo Clinic for cancer and whose mother is accompanying him.
The girl is left at home feeling alone and isolated, especially as she is the only Jewish girl in her class at school.
This book is emotionally engaging and has a very satisfactory ending. Patricia McKissack lives in University City and writes books for children.
Her book Nettie Jo’s Friends tells about a young girl who is invited to be in a wedding but will not go without her rag doll who needs a new dress.
She is without a needle so she sets out to find one. Scott Cook, the illustrator, uses beautiful. painterly earth colors which work well with the story.
The St. Louis Public Library Kiosk salutes St. Louis writers and encourages our patrons to discover them.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1990.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed Halley’s Comet1985setting in Carkeet summary retained; historical book descriptions and biographical claims attributed to column.
Original source: SD_Times1990_11.pdf, printed page(s) 8; PDF page(s) 7.
