BOOKS

Rip It Up, Issue 124, 1 November 1987, Page 42

BOOKS

After Tokyo by David Eggleton (Earl of Seacl iff Art Workshop, through Brick Row; S2O) It was estimated in 1969 that 60 percent of school leavers would never pick up a book again. David Eggleton's characters move in a world where the book is a forgotten object. This is an impressive collection of short stories about the detritus of the consumer society, the flash of hi-tech. Stories in which the style moves between the simple storytelling of ‘Connection’ to the reportage from an oversized Auckland of ‘Squid’s Cookbook,’ from ennui to exotic, erotic exposition. The range is wide. ‘From an Existential Novel’ is Norman Mailer in brief(s). ‘Gaylene Goes to the Sauna' reaches the flat expressionism of Dirty Realism. ‘The World at the Weekend’ is so dirty it shows why he doesn’t live in Wellington, where it is set. This book fills a gap. Michael Howley Country Music, USA by Bill C Malone (Equation, $39.95) When Bill Malone’s history of country music was first published in 1968, it was the most comprehensive history of the music that had appeared. Now a 550-page new edition is out, with updating to include the new movements in country through the 70s to 1984, plus its account of the role of women in country has been expanded. There’s also a sensational 100 pages of bibliographical essays that lists hundreds of books and articles. Extremely serious and academic, (with a rather sniffy attitude to rock) it provides a dry, accurate overview at the absolute opposite end of the spectrum from Nick Tosches’ outrageous Country. Of limited use to the consumer though: hopefully some distributor might bring in John Morthland's Best of Country Music (Doub\eday, Dolphin). CB Top 100 Albums by Paul Gambaccini (GRR/Pavilion,s32) The definition of a non-book: Gambaccini canvasses a smug, aging panel of overwhelmingly male and white critics, and comes up with virtually the same Top 100 list as he did 10 years ago, but adds a few colour photos. For train-spotters, Born in the USA is the only album of the last decade to make the Top 10, and the biggest rise in that time was Marvin Gaye’s What's Going On from 106 to 4; Clapton’s Layla suffered the biggest fall, from 15 to 92. Of some interest, however, is Greil Marcus, whose Top 10 alltime records only come from the last 10 years, with XRay Spex’ Germfree Adolescents top. CB