For those seeking a companion piece to author Silas House (see At the Corner of Kentucky and Vine,), debut novelist JACK RIGGS fits snugly in the field. Like House, Riggs has a serene, scenic feel to his writing. That’s not to say his book, When the Finch Rises, is paint drying. Hardly. Readers will take to this Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer-esque tale. Two 12-year-olds, in 1960s Ellentown, N.C., when dysfunction was hidden behind shades, plan an escape from their working-class town using the great outdoors that is their eternal playground. Nostalgia seeps through as Finch takes flight. Riggs artistically portrays a different era of American dreams. It’s one in line stylistically with House’s own exploration of his Cherokee heritage. It’s fitting that the writers are touring in tandem with an appearance at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. 513-396-8960. …
The latest exhibit to dock at Milford’s ROW HOUSE GALLERY (211 Main St.) bends the pages of the literary world. Actually, leaf through these books carefully please. Book-It! is a collection of the gallery’s numerous fine art books featuring Alan Bean, James C. Christensen and Bev Doolittle, among others. During the exhibit’s run, Oct. 1-31, a free book will be given away each week. That might be incentive enough, but the opportunity to see how beautifully the images lay on the page is the real draw. 513-831-7230.
Mini Reviews
THE PERPETUAL MOTION ROADSHOW, driven by the underground press movement, races along at a frenetic pace employing (on a volunteer basis) a trio of writers, rappers and spoken word artists. On this pit stop, MC More or Les proved the most accomplished of the three with a confident performance combining his original Rap with sketch-like comedy that broke down Rap terminology. Jessica Disobedience’s hilarious dissertation on “How to Make a Mix Tape” struck chords too close to home. And Dr. Wred Fright and his wrestling alter ego was an odd yet fitting warm-up to the evening. The appeal skews to college-age outsiders, but the youthful, emerging talent should not be blindsided. Fortunately, it’ll make another lap through the Tristate, with an all-different lineup, on Oct. 14 at Corryville’s Buzz Coffee Shop. (BRANDON BRADY)
Grade: B
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2003.