Literary Scene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Dance Across the USA
by Jonathan Givens

Master photographer Jonathan Givens’ coffee table book, Dance Across the USA, represents the culmination of an epic 50-state journey handled over a 90-day period back in 2016. The purpose of this 22,264-mile trip? Photographing dancers ranging from ages 5 to 61 in national parks and well-known settings/landmarks in each state.

Givens is quick to point out the obvious benefits that dance provides. Physical fitness. Self-esteem. Social interaction and the joy and friendships that often come with it. But he adds that his project reminds us of America’s majesty. “Our country covers a wide variety of ecosystems, great history, and beautiful scenery. With the recent rise in popularity of dance in the public eye, ranging from television shows like Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars, to films (Black Swan, Billy Elliot, the Step Up series) and of course Broadway, we can help harness the interest in dance to foster a rise in interest in our national parks and historic sites. With almost a 20% drop in visitation per capita since 1993, our citizens are focusing more and more on electronic media, while forgetting about the physical experience of our national history and beauty.”

Let’s be clear—the photos are stunning. Givens affirms that they’re all real. No strings. No wires. No trampolines. No digital compositing. It’s hard to believe it’s true given how so many of the poses are transcendent and magical.They included anecdotes about the journey (especially about the Mighty Buford, his van) are compelling, too. Givens’ sense of commitment and enthusiasm is clear on every page.

In short, this not just the kind of coffee table book I’d buy, but it’d be one that I’d actually look at versus stack somewhere to be forgotten. It’s extraordinary. Plus, a portion of the proceeds supports national parks as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5  

www.danceatusa.com

Summerwind Magick
by Rick Bettencourt

In this new novel, local author Rick Bettencourt brings together two of his favorite things to write about—LGBT characters/issues and the city of Salem, Massachusetts. Summerwind Magick is an occult thriller that details the story of singer/actress Carolyn, whose future performance career is limited, thanks to her ongoing fears and worries over her traumatic past. Around her is an interesting cast of characters: her best friend Michael and his Seattle software tycoon partner, Carolyn’s manager, a deceased hippy-musician, and a lot of witches and wannabes. 

I’m a fan of magic, witches, and ghosts, and this book has all three, though many of the “spells” are of questionable nature, which is certainly part of the fun. Warning: this isn’t the Salem witch stories you read/heard about in school. And that’s a good thing.

The story’s a bit slow to start and it’s a thick read with numerous plots happening simultaneously, though Bettencourt’s skill with pithy dialogue, humor, and character development will win over many readers, to be sure. Bettencourt’s own brand of drama and humor make Summerwind Magick a colorful, fun read.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5  

 www.rickbettencourt.com

Among the Survivors
by Ann Z. Leventhal

Leventhal’s second novel is an odd kind of Cinderella story. The girl? Twenty-one-year-old Karla Most, who learns that her dead mother lied about being a Holocaust survivor. The prince? Fifty-something Saxton Perry, who might just become her lover and protector. But Karla is struggling to figure out who she is and determine her place in the world. Prior to learning her mother’s secret, Karla wore black and had the self-esteem of a victim. Now? She’s not sure what to think. And a trip to Germany is what she undertakes to figure things out. Will Cinderella come home to her prince or will she find some other shoes to wear along the way?

While I don’t know Germany well, numerous readers and reviewers note that Leventhal does a skillful job of presenting it on the page. I can add that her depictions of New York life are equally solid and vivid.

Ultimately, this is an interesting coming-of-age story. Some readers might not appreciate the level of intimacy and sex that’s described here in Karla’s various physical encounters with men, but the writing is emotionally taut in the right places, and Leventhal is an efficient writer. The characters are flawed, but she manages to make you care.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5  

www.annzleventhal.com

Ryan Van Cleave is the author of 20 books, and he runs the creative writing program at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. ryangvancleave.com