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Notes from the Underground: The Most Outrageous Stories from the Alternative Press
Excellent Book
- GenresAnthologiesJournalism
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2005
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Armstrong
50 books4 followersNancy Armstrong is a scholar, critic and professor of English at Duke University.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 12, 2010
Journalism, the way it was intended.
Today's newspapers are little more than twitteresque reports and media splash -- hook 'em, tell them something dramatic, move on.
This collection of newspaper stories from "alternative" newspaper -- generally those free papers with lots of ads and night-club listings -- break the rules by actually going a little in-depth, reporting, interviewing, AND ... personalizing and offering opinions.
Not all of these stories grabbed me. Some still felt incomplete. Yet overall, these were much more interesting, and in many ways, still relevant, than most daily newspaper stories.
Ben Ehrenreich teaches us that riding the rails as a 'hobo' is still something that happens, though the days of the transient worker is a fading memory. Today's hobos treat it as an extreme sport, or a fun dare.
Glenna Whitley scars us with the in-depth exploration of a serial killer who manages to escape true punishment, and who threatens, again and again, to continue killing.
Although the television media had a field day with the polygamy and compound marriages to teens not too long ago, John Dougherty goes deeper into how a town and a state can keep polygamy on the fast track, and how hard it is for anyone to escape from the beliefs.
Not every story moved. "I Was Queen For A Day" didn't do a thing for me. Perhaps I've just never even considered dressing like a woman and going out on the town. Perhaps the writing just wasn't strong enough. either way, it was my first let-down in the book.
A number of stories seemed interesting, but I'd like a follow-up -- they didn't resolve it. Okay...not all stories get resolved, but newspaper stories, collected and published in a book...could we get just a little more, please? Some of those stories, for me, where..."Academia Under Siege" "What About the Kids?" "Quitting the Business" "Vanishing Act" and "The Last Executioner". All of these were interesting and I just wanted to read more.
Those that really didn't touch me include: "Blue Lines, Steel, and the Hour of Myth" "Good-bye to All That" and "A Village Transformed".
Even so, this is a collection worth reading. No collection will please 100%, but this is a nice way to start.
Today's newspapers are little more than twitteresque reports and media splash -- hook 'em, tell them something dramatic, move on.
This collection of newspaper stories from "alternative" newspaper -- generally those free papers with lots of ads and night-club listings -- break the rules by actually going a little in-depth, reporting, interviewing, AND ... personalizing and offering opinions.
Not all of these stories grabbed me. Some still felt incomplete. Yet overall, these were much more interesting, and in many ways, still relevant, than most daily newspaper stories.
Ben Ehrenreich teaches us that riding the rails as a 'hobo' is still something that happens, though the days of the transient worker is a fading memory. Today's hobos treat it as an extreme sport, or a fun dare.
Glenna Whitley scars us with the in-depth exploration of a serial killer who manages to escape true punishment, and who threatens, again and again, to continue killing.
Although the television media had a field day with the polygamy and compound marriages to teens not too long ago, John Dougherty goes deeper into how a town and a state can keep polygamy on the fast track, and how hard it is for anyone to escape from the beliefs.
Not every story moved. "I Was Queen For A Day" didn't do a thing for me. Perhaps I've just never even considered dressing like a woman and going out on the town. Perhaps the writing just wasn't strong enough. either way, it was my first let-down in the book.
A number of stories seemed interesting, but I'd like a follow-up -- they didn't resolve it. Okay...not all stories get resolved, but newspaper stories, collected and published in a book...could we get just a little more, please? Some of those stories, for me, where..."Academia Under Siege" "What About the Kids?" "Quitting the Business" "Vanishing Act" and "The Last Executioner". All of these were interesting and I just wanted to read more.
Those that really didn't touch me include: "Blue Lines, Steel, and the Hour of Myth" "Good-bye to All That" and "A Village Transformed".
Even so, this is a collection worth reading. No collection will please 100%, but this is a nice way to start.
August 12, 2010
I picked this book up on a whim while shopping at a yard sale. It turned out to be a fabulous read. I was enthralled and appalled with most of the articles included. To think that most people might never know that serial killers are known by the police and offered bargains to stay out of jail, that a girl can be gang banged and video taped and her assaulters were not found gulity, sickens me. I don't pay much attention to the news and don't subscribe to a paper because most of the stories are feel-good blips that aren't truly news that matters. I would reccommend this book to anyone who wants an easy eye-opening read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2007
This is a great collection of stories from the different 'alternative' newspapers. When I lived in the USA, I devoured these newspapers as much as I could. Now, in China, it's harder to find them, but reading this book brings them closer to me. My favourite story so far is one by Dan Savage about a young man who turned his father in for growing marijuana. For a medical condition. I think the editor made a lot of really good choices on what to include.
May 10, 2008
compilation of the wackiest news stories from alternative press weekly newspapers across the country. some of these stories are so strange - i love hearing the crazy (and often disturbing) stories that people have and lives that are so very different from mine.
Want to read
March 25, 2011Please check display cabinets and shelves.
January 24, 2014
Somewhat dated, and not entirely living up to its "outrageous" subtitle, but still a solid collection of alternative press journalism on a wide range of subjects.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews