Customer Reviews (3)

Love it!
Book was in great shape. Just as advertised. Would recommend to anyone interested in the Space Journey.

Phenomenal
I've been looking for this for a long time. Describes the process of how items were selected for inclusion in the Voyager Golden Record. Now, if I can just find the cds that were made with the actual contents of the records.

Through the darkness...
With recently announced initiatives directing us to space exploration once again, with the space shuttle again in orbit, and with the recent announcement of a tenth planet discovered, it is worthwhile to look back at a piece of history in the first great era of planetary exploration, whose heyday is arguably the journeys of Voyager I and Voyager II, the last great interplanetary probes to make a grand tour of several (in fact, most) of the planets in our solar system. Considering the difference in technology in our daily lives from the 1970s to the present, it is remarkable indeed that people were able to get such results and spectacular findings from spacecraft that by today's technical standards would be considered substandard and behind-the-times. Yet the Voyager spacecraft had more than just a tour of the home worlds in mind -- unlike most craft humankind has sent into space, these were not planned to return to earth, crash into an atmospher, or get locked into an everlasting orbit of the sun. These were intentionally sent out into interstellar space, beyond the confines of our solar system. One has to wonder, since it will be at least 40,000 years before these craft encounter even the next nearest star on their trajectories, and even if humanity is still around, the transmitters on the Voyager won't be functional -- why send them?

The answer is contained in the attachments to the spacecraft. Each of the two Voyagers was equipped with a record player of sorts (remember those?) and gold-plated copper disc of recordings, including greetings from earth. The recordings were quite remarkable at the time (again modern technology has far surpassed what is attached), including greetings in nearly 90% of current languages, extended greetings from the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the United States, a collection of representative photographs from around the world, and a sampling of music from around the world. These crafts were emissaries from the whole of the earth, and their messages reflected this.

The early chapters of 'Murmurs of Earth' recount the thinking that went into selection and elimination of material -- with very limited space, the selection had to be very intentional. Politics were avoided; this was a celebration of human existence and achievement, much as the Voyager spacecrafts were in and of themselves, and intended to outlast even the most enduring of nations, cultures and even languages. The authors include proposed lists of items that didn't make the final cut, as well as interesting discussion about why what was included made it. Sometimes, things were included by accident rather than design -- the original intention of the message team did not include messages from the UN Secretary-General or the President of the United States, but after Waldheim recorded a salutory message, the team felt they could not but include it (and felt it inappropriate to include the UN message without offering the President the same opportunity; after all, who was bearing the cost of the craft?).

In all, there were 118 pictures, all of which are included in this text, some in photoplates, but most in black-and-white depictions. Some photographs are stunning, and others somewhat silly, but all convey information for a purpose (for example, the photograph showing eating and drinking was a constructed photo by the team; the difficulties of depicting these tasks became apparent as they had to reshoot due to difficulties understanding the images). Most of the recording, however, is music -- music from different cultures around the world is included, from Bach to Louis Armstrong, from Javanese folk music to Chinese music to Stravinsky, music from every continent is included; however, dominant Western music carries the greatest representation, including in addition to Bach and Stravinsky the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and even Gregorian chant.

The record itself is interesting -- attached to the outside of the spacecraft, it had to be secured and protected from space damage; the construction and protection is such that micrometeorite damage should be kept to a minimum. The record's first side (facing in to the spacecraft) should have a 'shelf-life' of a billion years; the outside may sustain more damage, but should be 98% intact for many tens of thousands of years.

Sagan and his collaborators conclude by looking at the mission itself, the parameters, trajectories, and plans. This book was written prior to the Voyagers encounters with the outer planets, which went fairly smoothly, even lasting to Uranus and Neptune as a bonus not always expected. Sagan talks about the interstellar trajectory and likely star system encounters in the distant future. We'll never know where the craft end up, or if the people who discover it will be able to play the phonograph record (there are people on earth now who are technologically advanced who have lost the ability to work well with phonograph records!).

This is a piece of history as well as a piece of the future. It is a symbol of hope and positive outlook, and a great testament to the exploring and communicating efforts of humankind over the past several thousand years.
... Read more

Product Description
The bestselling author of Before Women Had Wings spins a wild new tale about the strong bonds among a group of friends that loses its quirkiest member, Murmur Lee. Exploring new literary territory while keeping to her native Floridian roots, Fowler is here at her most original and entertaining.

As a new year dawns over the island of Iris Haven, Murmur Lee Harp and her lover, Billy, go for a romantic sail without a care in the world. The evening comes to an abrupt halt when Murmur Lee discovers that she has drowned—but by whose hand?—in the Iris Haven river.
Grief-stricken and haunted by the mysteries surrounding her death, Murmur Lee’s circle of friends sets out to discover what really happened to her, and in the process they learn as much about her failings and triumphs as their own. After years of self-exile in the North, Charlee Mudd returns to set her best friend’s affairs in order, only to confront her own ghosts. Edith Piaf, a former marine whose sex change at the age of sixty-two Murmur Lee supported unquestioningly, must find the confidence to carry on without the encouragement of her friend. Lonely widower Dr. Zachary Klein plummets into the depths of depression at the loss of the second woman he has ever loved. As for Murmur Lee—who lived her entire life on an island named by her great-great grandfather in honor of the Greek goddess who receives the souls of dying women—in death she experiences her own journey as she is plunged into her familial past and discovers the truth about who she really is.

With poignancy and humor Fowler weaves the voices of Murmur and her friends into a compelling narrative. Part family saga, part murder mystery, The Problem with Murmur Lee is Fowler’s most rewarding and engrossing work yet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A rich, beautiful, and interesting book!
This book is hands-down, a 5-star, truly literary work of art.I absolutely was immersed in it and the writing was gorgeous.It has been quite a while since I have read a book that really made me laugh out loud and shed tears in the same sitting.I didn't want it to end.

The characterizations were absolutely stellar.First, each character is fully developed through their own descriptions and narratives, as well as their own perceptions of the same world and the other characters' views of them.In this way, we see perspectives from all sides and this lends special insight into each character's perceived reality.Connie May Fowler does this extremely well.I would contrast this vehicle with The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf, as this author also reveals bits of storyline through several main characters' points of view.However, Ms. Gudenkauf sadly falls short where Connie May Fowler excels.This appears to be the (big) difference between "student" and a "master".In The Weight of Silence, the characters, while narrating their own stories, all seem to have very similar voices, completely defeating the purpose of using such a mechanism-we don't see the individuality and the level of distinction expected between each of these people--despite their vast differences in age and background.(I also reviewed this book on Amazon.)The characterization in The Weight of Silence was much more flat and underdeveloped by comparison.The Problem with Murmur Lee successfully established each character as individual, with unique vocabulary and reactions that stayed true to who they were.This was extremely well done.

I did see some negative reviews of The Problem with Murmur Lee on [...] and those negative reviews were based upon two things:
1. That the mystery of Murmur Lee's death was known 1/2 way through the book (so it shouldn't be billed as a "mystery")
2. There was adult language and themes

Regarding item #1, I think these reviewers are missing the point.First, I don't think that the author deliberately wrote this book to be in the genre of mystery (like a Tana French novel would be), I think this is a true literary novel that raises questions about life, death, afterlife, love, friendship, family, and faith.Second, yes, the mystery of how she died was solved in the first half of book, but I think the true mystery in this book is not how she died, but how that truth would ultimately be revealed.The various theories of each of the other characters (suicide, murder, accident)bolstered the character development and I think this was a wonderful way to move through the novel.Also, the fact that most of the novel takes place after Murmur Lee's death and she speaks to us in the afterlife, shows that this book is not about solving the mystery of her death, but so much more than that.

Regarding item #2, yes there is some sexual content and adult language.To this I say that this is just one thing that made the character development so successful.In particular, Billy Speare (the drinking writer who lives in a trailer park) and Lucinda (the angry young artist) toss out their fair share of curse words.But I would expect that.It keeps these characters genuine.(And perhaps this was something that was missing from The Weight of Silence.)None of it feels forced or gratuitous, just honest characterization.To this criticism I would say if the "f" word (and adult activities relating to it) offend you, then you will be offended.

Some people have also made contrasts with Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, but not having read that book, I can't comment on that.

This book was actually very deep, without seeming so.It was quick-moving, kept you wondering and wanting more.The language was absolutely beautiful, particularly, the references to Murmur in the afterlife, the use of the bird images, the sense of place and the passion and emotion that was created.I bought this book used and had a worn copy.I am going to donate it and buy a new copy to keep on my shelf.This one is definitely a keeper and I will be reading it again--something I am very seldom compelled to do.I actually laughed out loud and cried when Murmur spoke of her daughter, for example.The characters in this book adored Murmur Lee and so did I.It was tragic and wonderful, and (like Murmur and the women of Iris Haven) it ended too soon.

THE SECRET SOUTHERN PRINCESS
This is the secret princess of southern writers. This book is told from a dead person's point of view and the characters are as crazy as bed bugs. I loved the wierd neighbors and the setting is so magically described. Fowler apparently holds the chair in literature at Rollins College.I would like to pull up a chair beside her. I grew up in and around tampa bay and the north florida coast. These areas are her stomping ground and so vivid as she describes them. She could never write Before Women Had Wings again or something as good but this book is pure wonderful entertainment. Damn I would love to meet her! Fowler has to be a kick in the head over a glass of wine....her books are such.

Great
I love this author and all of her books. I look forward to a new book written by her.

Another great read from Connie May Fowler
I first fell in love with Ms Fowler's writing when I read "Sugar Cage".Her ear for dialogue and skill in character development is so beautifully articulated.She is writer whose books I am always searching for to read and enjoy.

The Problem with Murmur Lee
I have read and re-read this book and I get just as caught up in the story everytime I read this wonderful novel. I completely agree with another reviewers' comment that she wanted to BE Murmur Lee. Ms. Fowler can conjure up a character like very few other authors I have read. I can see them, I can hear their voices and I want more than anything to be there with these multi- dimensional characters. I share this book with all of my friends! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Through the darkness...
With recently announced initiatives directing us to space exploration once again, and with probes currently investigating the Martian surface, it is worthwhile to look back at a piece of history in the first great era of planetary exploration, whose heyday is arguably the journeys of Voyager I and Voyager II, the last great interplanetary probes to make a grand tour of several (in fact, most) of the planets in our solar system.Considering the difference in technology in our daily lives from the 1970s to the present, it is remarkable indeed that people were able to get such results and spectacular findings from spacecraft that by today's technical standards would be considered substandard and behind-the-times.Yet the Voyager spacecraft had more than just a tour of the home worlds in mind -- unlike most craft humankind has sent into space, these were not planned to return to earth, crash into an atmospher, or get locked into an everlasting orbit of the sun.These were intentionally sent out into interstellar space, beyond the confines of our solar system.One has to wonder, since it will be at least 40,000 years before these craft encounter even the next nearest star on their trajectories, and even if humanity is still around, the transmitters on the Voyager won't be functional -- why send them?

The answer is contained in the attachments to the spacecraft.Each of the two Voyagers was equipped with a record player of sorts (remember those?) and gold-plated copper disc of recordings, including greetings from earth.The recordings were quite remarkable at the time (again modern technology has far surpassed what is attached), including greetings in nearly 90% of current languages, extended greetings from the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the United States, a collection of representative photographs from around the world, and a sampling of music from around the world.These crafts were emissaries from the whole of the earth, and their messages reflected this.

The early chapters of 'Murmurs of Earth' recount the thinking that went into selection and elimination of material -- with very limited space, the selection had to be very intentional.Politics were avoided; this was a celebration of human existence and achievement, much as the Voyager spacecrafts were in and of themselves, and intended to outlast even the most enduring of nations, cultures and even languages.The authors include proposed lists of items that didn't make the final cut, as well as interesting discussion about why what was included made it.Sometimes, things were included by accident rather than design -- the original intention of the message team did not include messages from the UN Secretary-General or the President of the United States, but after Waldheim recorded a salutory message, the team felt they could not but include it (and felt it inappropriate to include the UNmessage without offering the President the same opportunity; after all, who was bearing the cost of the craft?).

In all, there were 118 pictures, all of which are included in this text, some in photoplates, but most in black-and-white depictions.Some photographs are stunning, and others somewhat silly, but all convey information for a purpose (for example, the photograph showing eating and drinking was a constructed photo by the team; the difficulties of depicting these tasks became apparent as they had to reshoot due to difficulties understanding the images).Most of the recording, however, is music -- music from different cultures around the world is included, from Bach to Louis Armstrong, from Javanese folk music to Chinese music to Stravinsky, music from every continent is included; however, dominant Western music carries the greatest representation, including in addition to Bach and Stravinsky the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and even Gregorian chant.

The record itself is interesting -- attached to the outside of the spacecraft, it had to be secured and protected from space damage; the construction and protection is such that micrometeorite damage should be kept to a minimum.The record's first side (facing in to the spacecraft) should have a 'shelf-life' of a billion years; the outside may sustain more damage, but should be 98% intact for many tens of thousands of years.

Sagan and his collaborators conclude by looking at the mission itself, the parameters, trajectories, and plans.This book was written prior to the Voyagers encounters with the outer planets, which went fairly smoothly, even lasting to Uranus and Neptune as a bonus not always expected.Sagan talks about the interstellar trajectory and likely star system encounters in the distant future.We'll never know where the craft end up, or if the people who discover it will be able to play the phonograph record (there are people on earth now who are technologically advanced who have lost the ability to work well with phonograph records!).

This is a piece of history as well as a piece of the future.It is a symbol of hope and positive outlook, and a great testament to the exploring and communicating efforts of humankind over the past several thousand years.

What a Marvelous Idea and Book!
Carl Sagan was one of the most thoughtful and charismatic scientists of the twentieth century. He is well-known for his work on the PBS series "Cosmos," the award-winning show that became the most watched series in public-television history. By more than this, he worked with NASA on numerous projects, including the two Voyager spacecraft that made the "Grand Tour" of the outer planets in the 1970s and 1980s.

He envisioned the ingenius idea of affixing to the Voyager probes a small gold record containing information about this planet, for its potential recovery by an alien species. This book presents a discussion of the conceptionalization and carrying out of the effort to place this gold record on the two Voyager spacecraft sent outside the Solar System. This Voyager Interstellar Record contained digital information on the planet Earth, including photographs, sounds, music, and greetings in more than 40 languages. It was designed to tell an extraterrestrial intelligence who encountered it something about this planet and the life that thrives here, and to give that life form a general idea of where Earth was located in space.

This is a wonderful discussion of this effort, and well worth reading. For those who might be interested, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory--manager of the Voyager project--has a web page devoted to the Voyager Interstellar Record located at http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/goldenrec.html. On it one may find more on the history of the record and the images, sounds, and music that it contains about this, our home planet.

A message in a bottle.
If you had to sum up what Earth is like, what would you say? How would you describe the abundance and diversity of life? How would you summarize all the achievements of mankind? Now, suppose that you were asked to communicate this information to someone who does not speak your language, nor indeed any language that you have ever heard of. Suppose, further, that your audience is apt to interpret pictures, sounds, or symbols in ways that you could not even begin to anticipate. Finally, suppose that this communication must take place via a "message in a bottle", sent off into space, to wash up on some distant "shore", at some inconceivably distant time in the future.

Does this sound far fetched? Well, it shouldn't. This very exercise was carried out in the mid-seventies by a team of scientists with a unique opportunity to send such a message off into space on a pair of spacecraft; the two Viking probes, launched in 1977, that were deployed to explore Jupiter and Saturn. On each of the probes was a gold-plated "phonograph record" that contained a succinct summary of Earth and humanity. The significance of these particular probes was that they were destined to head off into boundless space at the conclusion of their mission. Thus, they were to become the first man-made artifacts to leave the solar system. This was too fantastic an opportunity to miss; "we" (humans) simply had to send a greeting card to whomever/whatever may find the probes.

This book lists and discusses all of the images, sounds, diagrams, and symbols that are recorded on the cosmic greeting cards. There are images of sea shells, plants, trees, insects, buildings, mountains, machines, and most of all, people: people dancing, laughing, talking, eating, and working. There are even cross-sectional illustrations of human anatomy. And there are recordings of greetings in 44 different languages, not to mention songs of humpback whales. All carefully chosen; all with some rationale. As these images, diagrams, and sounds were being assembled the most vexing of all questions had to be asked: How could an alien being stand a chance of decoding the disk? This was a fascinating and crucial scientific question for which several very creative solutions were offered, and all are recorded in this book. Of course, we will never have the opportunity to discover whether these solutions will work, which places them somewhat beyond the ken of science.

Ultimately, the main byproduct of the project was sincere reflection and introspection; it was rightly seen by all participants as a celebration of Earth, its history, and the fabulous diversity of humanity. While the chances that one of the greeting cards will be discovered and correctly interpreted are remote, their very composition was of intrinsic value to humanity in the here and now. I found this book, and the entire project, to be extremely uplifting. Etched on a golden disk, headed to who-knows-where, is a remarkable encapsulation of who we are. It's a wonderful example of science engendering deep contemplation, and drawing upon poetry and art. I'm very happy that this project was recorded so carefully in book form. It's a great story.

A HIGH recommendation
It is indeed a pity to realize that this marvelous book is now out of print along with its companion CDs. The thoughtfulness and work that this team of scientists put into preserving a "collective voice" in words, pictures, and music of the human species is remarkable. The Voyager Interstellar Record is affixed to one the Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977. The record is attached to the craft in the hopes that -- after its already successful mission of having photographed the inner and outer solar system -- it might have even a remote chance of being intercepted thousands of years in the future by whatever extraterrestrials there may be, if any exist at all. The hope is that "they" might find it and learn something about us long after we are gone. The book is a meticulous description of every stage of putting the record together. I have found the book in libraries and have acquired the CDs through an inter-library loan. But the fact that both the book and CDs are no longer in print, and therefore less available to the public, is a huge shame. I highly recommend this book as a purchase for either an individual or a library. It is a testament both to the scientists who put it together, and to the recognition and preservation of human achievement. Curiously, this was done before the invention of the Compact Disc. An Interstellar "Disc" should be done in the future! ... Read more

Product Description
R.E.M.’s debut album, released in 1983, was so far removed from the prevailing trends of American popular music that it still sounds miraculous and out of time today. J. Niimi tells the story of the album’s genesis – with fascinating input from Don Dixon and Mitch Easter. He also investigates Michael Stipe’s hypnotic, mysterious lyrics, and makes the case for Murmur as a work of Southern Gothic art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A disappointment, but worth a look for fans of the album
The first thing to know about the 33 1/3 series is that since each book is written by a different author, they will each have its own tone, style, and in some cases, format.For example, the book about Radiohead's OK Computer is a dry analysis of the music theory behind the album, while the book for PJ Harvey's Rid of Me is actually short fiction.So it's important you read the description and reviews of each carefully before purchasing.

The Murmur installment, written by J. Niimi from the band Ashtray Boy, is broken into four sections.The first section gives a brief history of the band leading up to Murmur (not extensive since Murmur was their first full-length album) and including the recording of that album.We are given a basic history here: good, but nothing most diehards REM fans don't already know.Right away, Niimi shows us his penchant for detail by, for example, listing all the gear the band used in the recording of the album.I found this information only mildly interesting, but could forgive it knowing he's a musician.Of most importance here are the interviews with Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the record's producers.Most of the insight shared here was interesting and will probably be new for most readers.

Next, we are taken through a song-by-song analysis of the album and this is where Niimi's obsession to detail bears the most fruit.He describes virtually every note of every song on the album.He goes into so much detail that I needed to go back and listen to the album to glean even a fraction of his insight, which was the first time I had to do that for any of the other 33 1/3 books.I didn't mind this though, as listening to it while I read enhanced the experience, and Niimi's work enlightened me on many technical flourishes I would have never noticed otherwise.

Chapter Three begins with a wonderful section in which Niimi nicely evokes the times (early 80's) and taps into his and my own nostalgia.(To me, there are two important things any installment in 33 1/3 must do: enlighten and tap into my inner child, i.e. make me nostalgic)This section really got to me (Niimi is my age so I had similar experience as he did.The best part of this was his discussion of the suburban shopping mall and the inadequacies of cassettes- we are the cassette generation.) and, following on the heels of the previous analysis, I found myself in a great groove with this book.He was connecting with me.

Then Niimi flubs it.He begins the first of many digressions in this chapter with his discussion of the album cover, which in and of itself was fine- it is a great album cover and its uniqueness in 1983 cannot be overstated.But Niimi's foray into the term `Gothic' and into other inconsequential things like reverb, left me cold.

Then there's Chapter Four and the question that has been dogging this album since 1983: What do the lyrics mean?After ragging on people who try to understand the lyrics, he then begins an examination in an attempt to better understand the lyrics.After many more digressions into things like the origins of the word `chorus' and philosophical musings about the `distance' of the listener to the singer and the existence or lack thereof of a singer (??.... I understand he's being metaphorical, but come on.) I was left with glazed eyes.After 35 plus pages of this rambling, a quote by Peter Buck is more enlightening than anything Niimi has written on the topic thus far: their `tactic' was to "short-circuit the whole idea that literal language is what things are, because literal language is just code for what happens."This explanation makes sense to me, and I wondered why Niimi didn't just show us this quote to begin with, expand a little, and then move on.I suppose he had 125 pages to fill.

Though I found this book disappointing, there was still some good stuff here.Niimi really nails the times and this album's alien-ness in it.His love of music is obvious, and he shows off his knowledge for our benefit in his song-by-song analysis.And though I felt it was marred by his tendency to lose focus, I think anyone who loves this album should give this book a try.Just be prepared for some heavy reading.

A waste of time
I was very disappointed in this book.I find it written in a thick and pretentious style that's impossible to glide through without stumbling.But more troubling to me is that every "technical" aspect the author describes (at least in the first 1/3 that I suffered through) is just wrong.Incorrect. BS.The author obviously knows only as much about the techniques and equipment of recording as you could pick up reading other fan-books, and he's obviously not a very astute reader.When I got to the sentence where he tells us that before digital reverb was invented all reverb in the studio was done with "spring reverb" I had to put this book down.As a professional in the recording industry I cannot believe tbat a book about recording would not have been proof-read by somebody who knew something.Just to be clear, spring reverb was not customarily used while recording (except as built into guitar amps.)What was used in the "old days" was tape delay and acoustic (chambers, hallways) reverb, later joined by plate reverb (a metal plate with transducers.)Anybody who knows anything about recording would know this.So this author obviously knows nothing about recording and would just prefer to make it up rather than do research.I can only assume his views on "Gothic" (never really defined) and southern culture are equally informed by his own imagination.Don't waste your time or money.I felt insulted by this book.

The Best Book About R.E.M. out there.
The definitive book about R.E.M. happens to be Murmur, by J. Niimi, from the learned and much lauded 33 1/3 series of slim volumes about great albums, printed by Continuum Books. Some books in this series get bogged down in needless play-by-play parsing of chord structures and shameless fawning (The book on OK Computer comes to mind), but this one is a gem.
Murmur is ostensibly about THE Murmur, generally regarded as the most preternaturally brilliant debut album ever (Never Mind The Bollocks aside...) While it allows painstaking and fascinating detail about the process of creating the record, Murmur is also an analysis of the particular moment in history, musical and otherwise, that brought the boys from Athens into the limelight.
We needed R.E.M., Niimi tells us, for respite from our Reagan-era bloated synth-coma, and from personal experience, I can tell you he is right on the money. We get a scholarly review of Michael's lyrics/sounds/animae, and a fuller understanding of how the atmosphere of the Deep South forged the band. But, mostly, we get recognition of just how conceptually advanced R.E.M. were for their milieu of radio-friendly rock, circa 1983. No wonder so many still look to them now, for some understanding of where we have wound up, politically and otherwise. R.E.M. are a touchstone, well-worn and well proven.

A great read
I recently stumbled across the 33 1/3 series and have since read about a dozen different ones.Niimi's take on Murmur is by far may favorite.I was a teenager living near Athens when Murmur came out and Niimi's account of the band and Athens at the time brought back great memories. The account is well written and explores the actual recording of the record and the songs in a way I wish every book in the series did.I have actually read the book several times because I it gave a new perspective on an old familiar favorite.The interpretation of the famously inscrutable lyrics is terrific.The meaning of those lyrics remain for me inpenetrable, but Niimi has admirably and seemingly correctly deciphered the actual words and included them in the book.The comparison of those words to the ones I had heard in my mind over the years alone was worth the investment.I have found myself listening to the record again and again with lyrics sheet in hand.Just as enjoyable was the account of the impact of the record on Niimi as a teenager at the time. If you grew up loving R.E.M., you will treasure this account of the record and its time.

Between thought & expression
"Murmur" is to me what "Sgt. Pepper" is to listeners fifteen or twenty years older: a touchstone that, for its unevenness and eclectic mishmash manages to somehow sum up an era. I only "really" like maybe 7-8 of its dozen tracks, in fact. While less than perfect, it does leave a powerful impression. To me, it reminds me more than any other album of music heard in my dreams. As the band's name and the record's title represent, REM's full-length debut conjures up a murky sensibility, an idealistic yearning, an inchoate pre-lingual substrate, and a literary aesthetic that I admire. This CD fluctuates, shimmers, and subsides. Different listenings can reveal unstable tectonics and shifting echoes.

So, I came to J. Niimi's book with curiosity and a bit of dread-- for instance, I have not read the lyric sheets that conclude his study. I prefer to keep veiled their mystery. But, I agree that this quality of being suspended between multiple meanings as a listener to "Murmur" accounts for this album's primary merit and justifies most of all its inclusion in this series.

This factor, what a reviewer below called "indeterminacy," is crucial to Niimi's locating this album within a variety of social, theoretical, and practical aspects of its genesis and realization. Less of a song-by-song obsessive studio detailed book than others in the 33 1/3 series, Niimi's analysis takes it more from an English major's perspective. But he goes beyond the expected, if correctly applied here, references to Flannery O'Connor, Faulkner, and Walker Percy. The thought he gives to literary criticism and theories of language I found refreshing and unexpected. This contribution may put off some readers, but perhaps since I share Niimi's training I enjoyed this section most.

Like many younger writers, he combines personal reminiscences from his formative years in suburban Chicago and his later stint in Georgia itself. A good detail is comparing the boombox he played his "Murmur" cassette on to that of John Cusack, a native of the same area and about the same age as the author, who played another music-addled doppelganger of Niimi in that period's film "Say Anything." His descriptions reach beyond suburban malls, however. From his own Georgia residence, his vignettes convey well to those of us unfamiliar with this cluttered landscape and musty terrain that REM knew its own eerieness and its haunted aura. and affective reactions with reflections on the New South, kudzu, the graphic design, the cassette as an symbol of the early 80s, the Reagan administration, and a considerable amount of "poetics" as he engages in a "close reading" of REM's artifact.

The book, for all its strengths, does share with other 33 1/3 books a tendency to gush over the musical genius of its creators. For all my admiration of this album, I simply do not find some of its tracks that effective. I would contend that it is not as successful song by song, but (the "Sgt. Pepper" comparison holds here) still manages the have its sum add up to more than its parts. Considerably less attention than I expected is given to the actual recording of this album. This is the book's notable shortcoming. Don Dixon and especially Mitch Easter's production needed more in-depth treatment to better convey the technology that enabled the pre-mechanical sounds and the pre-20c feel of this album paradoxically to emerge.

Niimi has linked this album to his own intellectual growth, and shows what cultural criticism of popular art can do when planned well. He defends "Murmur" as part of the canon, and goes beyond his own reception of the record to place it within sophisticated contexts that its makers themselves probably half-understood. Niimi takes the challenge of delving into an LP that hovers between thought and expression, one more nuanced and elusive than many more straightforward and calculated LPs that have been included in the 33 1/3 series as typical fan favorites and critical darlings. I did notice the typeface did shrink here compared to other 33 1/3 entries. This suggests that Niimi invested considerable effort in delivering to the publishers as thorough a study as he could within what were presumably a limited number of pages, given the series' CD-sized format. Under these implied restrictions, Niimi did well. I may disagree with a few of his assertions, but he makes his claims carefully and backs them up efficiently. He's prepared a solid, thoughtful, and suitably wide-ranging investigation into the album as a relic of his own past and a product of its own time.

... Read more

Product Description
Emily Dickinson is one of the world's best known and most widely read poets, though at the time of her death in 1886, only seven of her more than 1000 poems had been published. But shortly thereafter, the genius of her work was recognized and it has since received wide and consistent acclaim. Her verse - noted for its style, wit and bold and startling imagery - has greatly influenced the direction of 20th-century poetry. The 112 poems in this collection are taken from the definitive Johnson edition of her work and are accompanied by 65 pencil drawings, created especially for the book by Ferris Cook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fantastic CD-ROM textbook combo for heart sounds
Barbara Erikson's Heart Sounds and Murmurs, third edition, is an outstanding reference that defies the concepts needed by practitioners and students who are learning or reviewing cardiac auscultation. The audio-program - now in compact disc format - and accompanying booklet explain how to identify and interpret normal and common abnormal heart sounds. Validation of self-learning is made possible by listening to and identifying the "unknown" heart sounds at the end of each chapter.
Features:
Presents content written by a well respected author to ensure that information is current and clinically accurate.
Provides learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter to help students, reviewers, and teachers identify key concepts.
Includes and index, a detailed table of contents, a glossary, and a transcript of the audio program to facilitate ease of use and to aid learning.
Features figures and tables throughout the text that permit learners to visualize concepts and sounds.
New Features:
Includes varied heart sounds caused by mechanical valve replacement (prosthetic) devices that are currently available and in use in several countries.
Includes pacemaker and extracardiac sounds, including plural and cardiac friction rubs.
provides audio in compact disc format.
Description is © Mosby ... Read more

Product Description
This text, from a series of books highlighting the albums that changed rock history, includes behind the scenes interviews, documentation and information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good and thorough
Platt's book is excellent. Thorough accounts of the recording sessions that lead to Murmur, a fine (if idiosnycratic) song by song attempt at interpretation and an excellent overview of the album and its reception. Myminor quibble relates to Platt's Michael Stipe - centric view of the band,but the book is still a great read and a nice addition to the "R.E.M.canon." :) ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
102 pages of award-winning poems dealing with life in the Midwest for a medical doctor and family man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Strong book of moving poems
John (Jack) Vanek is an M.D. with heart as shown in this fine book of poems, many of which have won awards, and many will win your heart.

Heart murmurs...how apropos
A great collection of poems from a man who just happens to be a physician.The title of the poetry book "Heart Murmurs" can be taken multiple ways, not the least of which is the divisions of the sections into Life, Lament, Love, and Longing.This poet's vision is human; he deals with disease, death, and family--all with heart! Yet, there are some humorous poems among some of the more solemn, thoughtful ones. A highly recommended read for anyone who is searching for some truth about life.

The Doctor Is In (and so is his poetry)
What a terrific collection of poems!Yes, they are heartfelt.Like love, lament, longing, and life, his four thematic sections of the book, Jack Vanek's poems reflect a range of experiences we can all identify with at one time or another.From subtle humor to romantic stirrings to mournful losses, he weaves a complete tapestry of emotion in this compilation.Highly recommended for not only lovers of poetry but all lovers of life.

Poems from the heart
This first big collection by doctor John Vanek shows his deeper side as a physician with heart. He conveys a sense of caring we would all want in our doctors and our poets.

My thoughts on Heart Murmurs
It is evident that the author is a physician. It is unique to be able to examine what is in the doctor's heart by reading several of the poems in this book! It is also evident that the physician is a family man with parents, a wife and a son and a daughter. The themes are very poignant.

The imagery is so natural and engaging. It stands out to me as one of the strengths of the book. I really enjoyed the wry wit and the surprise endings of several of the poems. The use of play on words is fun in several other of the poems,too.

All in all, I enjoyed the poems of this author very much! Is there more? ... Read more

Product Description
A scientific expedition into unknown parts of the Caribbean to study the tectonic plates of the region answers the intriguing question: Is there a language of fish?Gilles Fonteneau, a longtime colleague of the legendary Jacques Cousteau+s Calypso team, fulfilled a lifelong dream when in 2001 he launched his own exploration, aboard the 45-foot catamaran Prince de VendŽe, into the silent world of the sea. Little did he know when he set out that his efforts to better understand the dynamics of the tectonic plates of the region would have such worldwide significance, as shown by the tsunami disaster of southeast Asia in December 2004. His second goal, sponsored by NASA and the Bacardi Family Foundation, to make acoustic recordings of the region+s fish, produced startling results, which will go a long way toward understanding and protecting threatened species.As fascinating as it is scientifically revealing, Murmurs FROM THE DEEP sheds new light on the ever-mysterious underwater world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very Pleased
The book arrived in record time in the condition promised. What more can you ask?

The blend of natural history and area political insights combine in a fine first-person survey
You may not readily recognize the author's name; but he launched his own expedition ala Cousteau in 2001 to measure the movement of the tectonic plates of the Caribbean - and indeed joined Cousteau's team and sailed with him for several years. So while his background is similar and influenced by Cousteau, he moved on to become a business executive for thirty years before returning to his first love, marine exploration. His goal was more than measuring plate movements: he wanted to make audio recordings of the fish of the Caribbean, and wished to study the erosion of local coral reefs. The blend of natural history and area political insights combine in a fine first-person survey of adventure in MURMURS FROM THE DEEP: SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Report of an Expedition to the Caribbean
Now this is the way to retire. Enough money to have a good sized catamaran and to afford the time to go on a privately funded research trip that lasted several months.

To be sure there was a scientific justification for the trip, two actually. He was installing equipment to measure the movement of the tectonic plates, and he was recording the noises that fish make. But while this work was being done, there was plenty of time available to sit and observe the sunset, to look at the beauty of the islands, to visit the locals.

So to wrap up a summary of the book:

o It has a discussion on the tectonic plates, where they are, how they move, and how they cause tsunamis.
o It breaks some new ground in the area of fish noises, and proves that they do communicate to a certain extent.
o And it is a beautifully written travelogue of a slow moving life around a part of the caribbean.

I find myself wondering just how much the fish recordings did. There has been an awful lot of listening done in the oceans by the people looking for submarines. Big, sensitive networks of listening devices cross the ocean. I can't help but believe they heard the fish. But does this really matter. It's a delightful, entertaining book. ... Read more

Product Description
BORDIGHERA POETRY PRIZE • 11 sponsored by THE SOnIA RAIZISS-GIOP CHARITABlE FOunDATIOn The poems of Heart Murmur are richly talky and utterly authentic, one moment wry and self-deprecating and the next astonishingly open-hearted.����I honor this book for its celebration of our foolish hopes, our crazed and enlivening appetites. - Nancy Eimers Heart Murmer is an electric storm of language running a gauntlet of feeling from grief to gallows humor that left me astonished. Steffen burns the solipsistic personal at the stake. - Roger Weingarten Steffen scrupulously avoids flamboyance, the sort of surface dazzle we find in poems that, like the stereotypical Chinese meal, are immediately appealing but leave us hungry instants later. His plain style approach allows his insights, as it were, to sneak up on us . . . until we discover ourselves (how did it happen?) in a world so full of pathos that we catch our breaths. - Sydney Lea ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
More a philosophical crafting of body and race, Dust: murmurs and a play provides a course of recognition that is equal parts critical, performative, and personal, in the years following 9-11. The piercing critical essays are anchored by the play Dust, an imaginative chronicling of how two war-weary women, one African-American, the other Afghani, survive political betrayals. In linked accord, these creative examinations speak passionately to issues that reflect our complicated epoch of terror, globalism, love and healing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dust -- Wonderful insight into the back story of 9-11
This book takes you through the back-story of Marcy Borders, the poster-woman of the 9-11 disaster.It speaks of heartbreak, determination, confusion and romance.This is not your typical story of bad things happening to people.It takes you on a journey of recovery, hope and suicidal tendencies.Once you pick it up, you will be hard pressed to put it down. ... Read more

Product Description
The 4th edition of this popular reference provides the perfect way to enhance skills in recognizing normal and abnormal heart and lung sounds. Now in two formats, book with CD or book with audio cassette.Plus over 135 illustrations to help illustrate clarify key concepts.Glossary of key terms and conditions provides fast, accurate referencing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

medical book
I initially made great use of this manual, but no longer consult it, even though I like having it available should the time come when I want it again. ... Read more