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Show 3 l-- i The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, June Authors study of phobias illuminates fearful subj ect 26, 1977 The patience of whalsisnamc , and other losses James Lundstroni For The Salt Lake By Tribune Phobias and Obsessions, by Joy MelviRe; , Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 190 pp., By Henry Fairlie to Special The Washington If a public speaker today referred to a Biblical it is quite say, to Job or to Ruth figure possible that no one in the audience would know what the speaker was talking about. Even most of those who know that Job had a lot of troubles do not really know the story, or what it meant. To write today that someone breathed Jobs curses would probably mean nothing to 95 per cent of one's readers. They would not know what or how he cursed, or why. Yet not so long ago all this would have been common knowledge. How many would now understand an allusion to the Iliad? What would it mean to call someone stout Ajax? Or to refer to someone as Paris, the scourge of his country? Or to distinguish between the different courage of an Achilles and a Hector? What response would one arouse hy appealing to any of the great romunces of chivalry: to Amadis of Gaul, to the Siege Perilous, to the Song of Roland? How much would it even mean to allude to a character of Shakespeare? How many really know the story of Faust? Who knows of Pecksniff or Micawber anymore9 The Scarlet Q? There are American children today, from good homes," who have not read Huckleberry Finn, who do not really know much about a boy called Tom Sawyer, who look a little blank if one talks about The Scarlet Letter. What was the scarlet letter, one asks them, A or H or Q? and they do not know. lam told that The Cutcher in the Rye still grabs a few mawkish children about the age of 10 (but they do not know J.D. Salingers better books). Put I wonder if one suddenly made an allusion in a speech to Holden Caulfield, without any further identification, how many people in the audience would know whom one was talking about. $7.95. Post-Outloo- k ; I ; ! - , , I So it goes on. Salinger gives way to Vonnegut; Vonnegut to Castaneda. The stock of common allusion is drained. Of all the deprivations of our age, this is the saddest and most serious. For what we are talking about is something far more serious than the alleged generation gap of a few years back. We arc talking about the fact that generations are ceasing to pass on or share anything of common interest and value. - The only times that I feel that generations are passing on a stock of common allusion is when I am with baseball fans. I like baseball. It is one of ; the worlds great games. But I did not grow up with baseball, and it 1 fascinates me to listen to baseball fans of different ' generations exchange names of past players as if they were talking of Agamemnon or Ulysses. . There, at least, is a stock of common allusion that travels across the generations. But that is hardly true in any other field, with " the only possible exception that, as a result of television showing old movies, either on late-nigor in some movie theaters, one may just mention ; Charles Laughton or Franchot Tone to a younger friend and not have to explain. ; I Not Even the Bible But how thin the stock is: sports and movies. One of the reasons for this sorry condition is obvious. Biblical allusions meant something to 5 families not long ago, because even )' we all went to church or temple, and as often as ' . 1 - not the Bible was - 'lite author ni us a British correspondent Washington. D C began Joy Melvilles Obseswith apprehensions sion. Science is one thing and writing another, and rare is the creature capable of both. Further, I doubt if any science has ever been more victimized by bad writing than has psychology. Thumb through any issue of "Psychology Today" or pick up any of the recent deluge of paperbacks pseudo-psychiatr- offering cure-all- ic s: judging from their authors ability to couple nouns and verbs into sentences, let alone their ability to think clearly, one Hud & Lmi An unharmonious partnership Bud & By Ron Bertliel Associated Press Writer Lou, by Bob Thomas, Lippincott. 224 seltish and conceited star. Abbott, on the other hand, emerges as a devoted performer who often made sacrifices for the welfare of his "little buddy" and his desire to keep the duo intact Bob Thomas, a veteran reporter of Hollywood and author of several books on the goings-oentertainment field, has done a splendid job in n illuminating the private lives and the relationship of these two comics. e Though Abbott and Costello were pure s on stage, privately their lives were clouded with tragedies. Costello, battling rheumatic fever, grieving at the drowning death of his baby son, was a man who made threats unless his demands were met. They usually were, and often Abbott, who had his own problems with epilepsy, the taxman, etc., was the victim This book is a fine chronicle of the surprisingly tragic lives and careers of two funnymen.- - More of importantly," perhaps, it strips the gold-plaHollywood glamor down to the bare metal. pp.. 10. The taller of the two men spoke. "Now on our bnJlelub, the fellas have peculiar names, he would say in his rasping voicee. Whos on first. What's on " second, 1 Dont Knows on third . And so would begin the now classic comedy routine that was to become the trademark of Bud & better known as Abbott and Costello Uiu Beginning in burlesque and progressing to radio, movies and television, this comedy duo amassed a loyal and large coterie of fans. Bud Abbott, the tall, lean half of the duo, was the straight man. the quick-talkin- g carnival barker type always out to bew ilder, frustrate and connive partner Lou Costello, short and chubby, the simpleminded munchild Abbott was the villain, Costello, the victim. But that was only on stage. In real life, Costello is revealed as a shrewd, relentless businessman and a n little-know- . low-grad- high-jink- often-outrageo- te Hooks in brief Interviewing . . , Chicago Julie Nixon Eisenhower has written her first book, Special People (Simon & Schuster, $8.95), and in answer to your first question: No, Julie is not a bad writer This book tells the story of six Golda Meir; Ruth Bell people Graham; Prince Charles, Tse-Tung- session when, while ing to inure a must assume psychology has as much effect on human behavior as astrology has on space exploration It was a great pleasure, then, to recognize ui Ms Melvilles book exactly what has been needed. "Phobias and Obsessions sweeps the cobwebs and debris back and into the dust-bin- s gives us a focused, clear and objective picture of modern psychology in practice. Relying on hundreds of interviews, the author lets her subject define itself. This is a story of people who suffer intensely from strange, irrational fears. We enter their world through their own words, experience their misery, confusion and above all their fear, their terror, their panic, as they relate it to us. After firmly establishing that ground, a variety of doctors and treatments are explored. Describing methods and effectiveness in detail, Ms. Melville writes with the precision of a scientist, while organizing a wealth of material with the conciseness of a good writer Throughout, she main try- ljc Suit lake Sribunr Book iewt K i through . . . They just tell you to pull yourself together, help yourself Why dont they realize its like telling a man with a broken leg to get up and walk? But unlike many anecdotal works, the gems in this one add up, coming together like the glittering pieces of a shattered mirror. This is not an easy book to read. Fear is contagious I frequently found myself having to put the book down and breath the air of my own, more familiar neuroses. But in the long nin, 1 think it is an important book o read doubt "Phobias and Obsessions" will ever be a best seller. It offers no easy answers, innovative breakthroughs, or revolutionary insights Instead, giving us a Cooks tour of our youngest science. Joy Melville has provided us with a mirror where, as Shakespeare said, you may see the inmost part of you. Ms. Melvilles mirror is polished clean, its reflection undistorted Composer sounds off By Christopher Lehman-Haup- t New York Times Writer The Tuning of the World, by R. Murray Schafer; 301 pages. Knopf, $12.95. It may seem obvious to you that we have a problem with noise in contemporary civilization. But believe me, you wont understand a quarter of the problem until you have browsed, as you surely ought to, in R. Murray Schafers "The Timing of the a survey of sound in the past and a World, passionate plea for a utopian future, by a Canadian composer who in recent years has become increux mgly involved m the study of sound and the sonic environment Has it ever occurred to you, for instance, that In the West the ear gave way to the eye as the most important gatherer of information about the time of the Renaissance, with the development of tin printing press and perspective painting? , V. S Naipaul, the exceptionally talented novelist (Guerillas), has nev er lived in India, the land of his ancestors. He has, however, made four extended visits there and the latest is detailed in India: A Wounded Civilization (Knopf, $7.95), the work of an intelligent and mature artist Julie Nixon Eisenhower Diligent, not probing black-and-whi- -- amaze or turn his senses); the therapy open or public places who said, People dont realize how much agony of mind people like us go heart-warmin- of Wales; Anne Morrow Lindbergh; ,' and Mamie Mao who have one thing Eisenhower in common: Each has the ability to inspire admiration and respect in Julie. Laboring through this mask of awe. Julie goes about her work diligently: interviewing, researching. reinterviewing and soul searching She writes carefully, is rarely probing and seems almost defensive of her own feelings. She tries her best and. though her portrait of Mamie is quite special, winds up delivering a package of out of focus, snapshots Rex Reed, for what its worth, is probably one of the best celebrity interviewers in the business He bases his reputation on probing, irreverent questions and a pen dipped, more often than not, in acid The years seem to hav e mellowed Reisls pungent tongue "Valentines & Vitriol" (I)elaeortc. $ 95). in which Reed interviews and profiles la Taylor. George Burns. Martin Ititt. the Andrews heights (the sight of Ihat exceeding height must needs dazle his sight, and from suffering (fear of agoraphobia with a mixture of pleasure and ire Some former staff members are jsure to gripe! Not everyone is viewed under kind light. But the rest of us are in store for an entertaining excursion. Dora Jane Hamblin, a Life staffer for many years, does a fine job of evoking the comic, silly and g tales that occurred with great frequency in the Life family." Her recollections are subjective; she is obviously more concerned with substance than detail. That is just fine. It gives the book a distinct flavor, like Brendan Gills "Here at the able to be savored for some time Writer Sun-Tim- Montaignes description of the fear of the presence of a cat. attacks the therapist; and the helplessness of the person o said animal with Julie and Rex By Rick Kogan read aloud at home. Classical allusions meant something, because from a young age we were given simple ! versions of the Iliad, then to pass on to the real thing. Allusions to Shakespeare meant somthing, 1 because we were very early introduced to Lambs Tales from Shakespeare, then to advance to the I plays themselves. All of these were shared by grandparent and ; parent and child. They were read aloud, or read in a comer and then discussed. In fact, this conscious transmission of a culture from generation to generation seems to me to exist confidently- in America only in Yiddish writing. Try reading a short story by Isaac Bashevis Singer to ones children, and generations come alive under his touch But there is another cause Parents have become much too interested m what interests their children, instead of telbng their children what interests the parents The number of parents who have spent hours, if not days, dredging ; through "Slaughterhouse Five, trying to understand" their children, must be legion ' They would be less worried about their children if the parents understanding rammed a few classics down the children's throats. About the age of nine months is not a bad time to start That is hardly too early to urge the infant mind to read Pilgrims Progress" one of the great allegories in some of the greatest prose and even if the child never of our civilization reads Pilgrims Progress (in the end, it w till, it at least has some sense of connection wilh another I w orld who lives I Phobias and tains an objective clarity that, if somewhat stark and harsh, is also brilliantly Illuminative. By remaining descriptive and anecdotal, Ms. Melville has given us so much more than if she had tried to be analytical or definitive. She has given us the opportunity to come into contact with our fellow men in a way that reaffirms our own humanity. As with most anecdotal works, one is left with the memory of many marvelous little gems: bisters, William Holden, David His is rather bleak, Bowie, Robert Redford, Jeff Indias picture wounds are near fatal Its Bridges and nearly everyone in civilization, its landless between - grand total of 38 decayed and impoverished millions, jourcontains more nalists personalities working with political valentines than vitriol. It is all shackles, the effects of technology solid journalism, with a few start-mglIt is Indiras India, and all is incisive pieces, but only a few not well Naipauls writing is steps above fan maga.inc fodder brilliant and, though he still has "That Was the Life" W W some obvious difficulties confrontNorton, $Uh, an exuberant memoir ing his inner feelings about India, of the iti lively years of Life manages an observant, probing magazine is likelv to be greeted IxMtk Kitchens Featuring IKitchenAjd James Jones: A good writer, a good man Bv special to Budd Sehulberg he Los Angelo-- . Ill lit-- W hen I let-the blow that hits in the throat and the bai ks ot the legs and the groin on hearing of the death ol a good w riter ft lend, my impulse is to sit down and 'tart leading his Itooks again The guilt says, "Some lend Now you sit down and reread his work. What was wiong with last week9 Last year" But the guilt gets an answer I in pay mg homage to James Jones' unmoi tality Vie ve had pretty good luck with our war wnteis ti om 'I om Boyd and Hemingway to Mailer and Jims good li lend Irw in Shaw But Jones' unique gift to us is I rom my oltice window I look out at the inlet .pui kiln- on the cool sunshine that has come to the ishiinl at last A male dove circles his male in that everlasting rite ot spung A goldfini h comes to the feeder But my enoyment of the scene is marred tills morning I feel a sense of loneliness, a sense ol loss lunmy Jones isn t at his writing desk today I - James Jones was so good at being what he wanted writer and a man There was a completeness about him m his right handedness that was his ait I often thought that wind he had was what Hemingway went on questing lor all his life Only Ernest was a i lose! intellectual so completely a product of Middle nienca that he was driven to act out his macho fantasies and push back into the closet ills fatal anxieties to tie a felt that Ernest was putting on an ait foi iis .vhu h ott i'ii made me uncomfortable because when somebody aits for you you have to resxnd have to beer or applaud or hiss or light But from the lust dav J met James Jones I never felt that about Jimmy I ( tones and his words and hts books wire all ol a should make that book singular bemuse pnie -I when first met him. some id years ago the only book he had published was From ilele to Eternity But w ben youve wiltteil a book like that vou vi in ell inoti hook than most nov oli-t- s man Hill ot tail! titles 1 The His gift, late James Jones a lack of attitudinizing v i oi-uit- V T a l.uk ot attitudinizing, - is no picture of lntellectualizing. moralizing the peacetime army on a Hawaiian outpost This is the army, and you dont m ed adjectives but verbs to give it its due lake some other very good ones, Jones got lulluied with that first-novblockbuster "Here to " took all the obit headlines But now that nity you n- hai k leading Jones, open "The Thin Red I. me Some of tlie best writers in the world have 'lulilx-tlnii literary toes on war and infantry om bat Not Jones hat a touch hitch ol a book Tins is how they tight - a ' and Ibesito are the oor bastards whoflght them haul truths with that stubborn bulldog llaii.piig on iw of ins James Jones changed our perception of milituiy lilt s i young icaitei said to me the other day Bi .himour parents supported World War II so lioiclv tln-- i ouldn t see the leal Jieople behind the uniloi ms Jones makes us see them and know them in iv ii thought about before I In- Soft Waste Disposer SPECIAL PRICES DURING FACTORY AUTHORIZED SALE liets Kitchens i i DESIGNERS AND DECORATORS 1 344 South 3100 East ( i I Soak n Scrub Pot Cleaning Come In SPECIALIZING IN REMODELING Phone 58 1 0066 See Our Showroom T |