ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries O ctober 1988 / 593 Cincinnati’s read in g pleasures By Mary Ellen Rutledge Elsbernd D irector o f L ibraries N orthern K entucky University W hat to read before, during, or after A C R L ’s National Conference. I have alw ays com e to life after com in g to books.” 1 Put down your favorite library journal and “come to life” by reading some of the books de­ scribed in the following selective guide to Cincin­ nati’s reading pleasures. This list is guaranteed to prepare you for the many delights you will experi­ ence during the Fifth A CRL National Conference, April 5 -8 , 1989. Also, no visit to Cincinnati would be complete without browsing through some of its famous and unusual bookstores. A few of the local favorites (in downtown or near vicinity) are de­ scribed at the end of the reading list to whet your appetite for a bookman’s paradise. City guides Boylan, Mike, & Joyce Miller. Diving Out: A G uide to Inexpensive Fun & F o o d in Cincinnati. Cincinnati: Squish Press, 1984. A boisterous guide to unforgettable eateries, where the ambiance is old and funky and the food ranges from edible to delicious. A special selection is devoted to down­ town dives. Believe it or not, the authors have placed quality indicators following each review, i.e ., dive quality, food quality, and price. Durham, Saralou, ed. Cincinnati f o r Kids. C in­ cinnati: The University of Cincinnati Alumni Asso­ ciation, 1979. A fun-filled guide for children and grown-ups too! 1Jorge Luis Borges, New York R eview o f Rooks, 1971. Kayser, Pat. Cincinnati W ithout F ears or Tears. Cincinnati: Pat Kayser Books. In c., 1988. A guide which introduces the reader to a spectrum of things to do (libraries, museums, spectator sports, shop­ ping, dining, music, theatre and dance) how to get there, and services which are at one’s beck and call. Rosenthal, Lois. Living R etter in Cincinnati. Cincinnati: W riter’s Digest Books, 1987. Another city guide for natives and visitors which tempts the reader to explore all facets of the Queen City. The WPA Guide to Cincinnati. Cincinnati: The Cincinnati Historical Society, 1987. A reprint of the 1943 American Guide Series, Cincinnati: A G uide to the Queen City and Its N eighbors. W ith a new introduction and preface, the guide remains an invaluable resource to the city’s background and urban culture. Fiction Matthews, Jack. Tales o f th e Ohio L an d . Co­ lumbus, Ohio: Ohio Historical Society, 1978. A collection of short stories which have rural and small-town Ohio settings. Morrison, Toni. R eloved: A Novel. New York: Knopf, 1987. W ith the novel set in Ohio after the end of the Civil W ar, Morrison recreates a slave’s life with moving intensity. Pyle, A.M. T rou ble M aking Toys. New York: W alker and C o., 1985. The first of the detective Cesar F ran ck Mysteries whose author says he learned to portray the workings of the Cincinnati 594 / C &R L News police by living in one of the city’s high crime neighborhoods. Readers will appreciate the hu­ morous subtleties incorporated in this series. P y le, A .M . M u rd er M o v es In . New Y ork: Walker & C o., 1986. The second Cesar Franck mystery. Santmyer, Helen Hooven. …And L a d ies o f the C lub. New York: G .P . Putnam ’s Sons, 1982. A story of two women in a small Ohio town and other members of the local ladies’ literary society. Valin, Jonathan. L im e Pit. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1980. Hard-boiled private eye Harry Stoner tangles with the Cincinnati underworld. Of the blood and guts genre. First title of the Harry Stoner series. V alin, Jon ath an . F in a l N o tic e. New York: D odd, M ead, 1980. D e a d L e t t e r . New York: Dodd, Mead, 1981. Days o f W rath. New York: Congdon & Lattice, 1982. Natural Causes. New York: Congdon & Weed, 1983. L i f e ’s W ork. New York: Delacorte, 1986. F ire L a k e. New York: De- lacorte, 1987. Other Harry Stonor mysteries. Fine arts Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati. A rchi­ tecture an d Construction in Cincinnati: A G uide to the Buildings, Designers and Builders. Cincinnati: The Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati, 1987. From Greek Revival to Post Modern architectural styles, the guide highlights the buildings in the downtown vicinity. Cincinnati Art Museum. M asterpieces fr o m the Cincinnati Art Museum. Cincinnati: The Cincin­ nati Art Museum, 1984. A visual guide to the muse­ um’s outstanding works of art. Covers a collecting period from 1881 to 1984. C incinnati’s Music Hall. Virginia Beach, V ir­ ginia: Jordan & C o., 1978. An introduction to one of the city’s greatest Victorian treasures, which was completed in 1878. Architectural and historical es­ says are included. Orlemann, Clinton. C incinnati: Paintings & S k e tc h e s. C in c in n a ti: O rlem an n E n terp rises, 1986. A collection of black and white and colorful sketches of the city’s beloved scenes, institutions and historic spots. Peck, Herbert. The B oo k o f R o o k w o o d Pottery. T u cso n , A rizona: H erb ert Peck Books, 1986. Founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Nichols, the Rookwood Pottery produced some of the most out­ standing art in the United States for forty years. Contains information on the artist and decorators, and the development of the early pieces. For collec­ tors and antique lovers. (Today the Rookwood Pot­ tery is a restaurant where diners may eat inside the kilns!) Sikes, Jane E . T he Furniture M akers o f Cincin­ n ati, 1790 to 1849. Cincinnati: Sikes, 1976. A guide to the skilled craftsmen and their products which are unique in design, material and decoration. For readers interested in American antiques. History and literature Caulfield, Joyce V .B ., and Carolyn E . Banfield, eds. T he River B ook: Cincinnati an d O h io. Cincin­ nati: Program for Cincinnati, 1981. For Ole Man River enthusiasts, the book describes the influence the Ohio River has had on C incinnati, its eco­ nomics, history, and architecture. Cincinnati Days in History. C incinnati: The Cincinnati Post, 1988. Published by a local news­ paper, this bicentennial almanac commemorates historical events of import for each day of the year. Eckert, Allan W . T he Frontiersm en: A N arra­ tive. Boston: Little, Brown & C o., 1967. Eckert re­ counts the settlement of the wilderness which to­ day is know n as W est V ir g in ia , K en tu ck y , Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. A novel, but meticulously based on historical sources. Feck, Luke. Yester d a y ’s Cincinnati. Cincinnati: W riter’s Digest Books, 1987. Special Bicentennial Edition. W ritten by the former editor of T he Cin­ cinnati E n q u irer , C in cin nati’s historical tale is briefly sketched by Feck. Chock full of interesting drawings and photos. Green, Marilyn, and Michael Bennett. Cincin­ nati: A P ictorial History. Norfolk, Virginia: The Donning Company, 1986. W ith over 300 photo­ graphs, the authors provide a looking glass into Cincinnati’s history. A delightful browser. Harlow, Alvin F . T h e Serene C incinnatians. New York: Dutton, 1950. As part of the Society in America Series, Harlow focuses upon local tradi­ tions and nationally known personalities who have called Cincinnati home. Hurley, Daniel. Cincinnati: The Queen City. C incinnati: The C incinnati Historical Society, 1982. The gem of Cincinnati’s historical accounts which begins with the taming of the wilderness and ends with a contemporary photographic portfolio. Beautifully illustrated and written, this is a “must” for history aficionados and those who plan to at­ tend the conference. Miller, Zane L . Boss C ox ’s Cincinnati: Urban Politics in the Progressive Era. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1968. A monograph which de­ scribes the transition of the walking city into one with modern urban problems. For readers inter­ ested in a blend of history, politics and sociology. Perry, Dick. Vas You E ver in Zinzinnati? New York: W eathervane Books, 1966. A revealing por­ trait of the city written by a native who couldn’t possibly be prejudiced. Silberstein, Iola Hessler. Cincinnati Then And Now. Cincinnati: The League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area, 1982. A straightforward gen­ eral history which particularly provides insight into the city’s growth from the 1930s to the 1980s. Sports Shannon, Mike, ed. T he Best o f Spitball: The L itera ry B a seb a ll M agazine. New York: Pocket 596 / C &RL News Books, 1988. First published in 1981 by home- towners, Spitball is the only literary magazine ex­ clusively devoted to baseball. This hot off the press paperback anthology of baseball stories, interviews and verse is a must for those who consider baseball a religion. Wheeler, Lonnie, and John Baskin. The Cincin­ nati G am e. W ilm ington, Ohio: Orange Frazer Press, 1988. In a baseball wild town, you can bet this new book is a “treasury of facts, fables, historic data, battery mates, potentates, heroes, hot dogs, dead dogs, brawls, and pratfalls.” Bookstores Acres of Books, 633 Main Street (downtown), 721-4214. One of the three major used bookstores in the city, Acres of Books is true to its name with endless rows of hardbacks and paperbacks on all topics. Religion and fiction titles are two of its spe­ cialties, and for real bargain hunters, a plethora of used paperbacks are available for purchase! The Blue M arble, 118 N . F t. T hom as, F t. Thomas, Kentucky, 781-0602. Only ten minutes from downtown, the quaint Blue Marble is the be­ loved children’s bookstore of Greater Cincinnati­ ans! Not only does the shop contain a full line of children’s books, music and toys are also available to tug at every child’s heartstrings. Famous authors and illustrators such as Tomie de Pavla, Martha Al­ exander and Jose Aruego have made appearances at the shop to the delight of all the young at heart. The Crazy Ladies Bookstore, 4112 Hamilton Av­ enue (north of downtown), 541-4198. In addition to feminist literature, the shop has women’s music, jewelry and cards. About 15 minutes from down­ town. Duttenhofer’s Books, Maps & News, 214 W . Mc­ Millan (near the University of Cincinnati), 381- 1340. W ith a good selection of used and rare books, Duttenhofer’s also has a wonderful selection of cur­ rent magazines which may be hard to find in other stores. But the p iece d e resistance is its map store which is two doors away. For vacationers, realtors, campers, hunters, business people or just plain folks in pursuit of a good map, Duttenhofer’s is a full-line map store complete with Rand McNally’s, Michelin’s, topographical maps, marketing maps, world atlases and globes. Hot tip: The Alpha Res­ tau ran t (204 W . M cM illan) cooks up the best breakfast in town! W hat can be better than read­ ing your favorite book or newspaper over great cof­ fee and tasty omelets? New W orld Bookshop, 336 Ludlow Avenue (near the University of Cincinnati), 861-6100. New age books, music and tapes are the specialty of this pleasant store. In fact, it’s the best place in the city to fin d h o listic h e a lth , astrology and self- improvement books. General books on Cincinnati, literature and psychology can also be found in good supply. Anyone interested in purchasing crystals may talk to the proprietor. Hot tip: Graeter’s Ice Cream Parlor is only a sneeze away and, some say, makes the city’s premier ice cream. Ohio Book Store, 726 Main Street (downtown), 621-5142. In business since 1905, the Ohio Book Store is a treasure-trove for followers of first-class used and rare bookstores. Throughout the store’s five floors, books on all topics can be found with the main attraction being American history. In honor of the city’s bicentennial, Ohio Book Store turned publisher and reprinted a series of rare Cincinnati books. Jim Fallon, the owner of the store, is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful bookmen in town. No self-respecting A CRL card carrier will forego an opportunity to visit Mr. Fallon and his gem. Hot tip: Have lunch at Arnold’s Bar & Grill on E . 8th Street around the corner from the Main Street bookstores and then indulge! Phantasy Emporium, 117 Calhoun Street (near the University of Cincinnati), 281-0606. Attention, fans of Daredevil, X-M an, Batman and the like! Your thirst for com ic and sci-fi books may be quenched in this fantastic emporium. New comics arrive every Friday. General bookstores in the downtown area: B. Dalton Bookseller, Fifth Third Center, 241- 4451. Cokesbury Books and Church Supplies, 8376 Vine Street, 821-4100. Queen City Books, 39 E . 7th Street, 721-2116. Waldenbooks, 503 Race Street, 621-4112. 598 / C &R L News ACRL COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER FORM If you are interested in serving on an ACRL standing committee, please complete this form and mail it before December 15, 1988, to: Melvin R. George, Director, Oregon State University Library, Corvallis, OR 97331. If you would like to serve on an ACRL section committee, send this form to the appropriate section vice­ chair/chair-elect before the ALA Midwinter Meeting. You must be a member of the section to be consid­ ered for appointment.