The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 5, 2000
misc.
Section B • Page 6
Helen, Sweetheart of the Internet
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center Series presents
Book of narratives captures its readers
By Clay McCusition
editor@kansan.com
Features Editor
Gig tantalizes and excites the reader.
The volume, a collection of first-person narratives devoted to the subject of work, flits from one juicy piece of information to another. Curious about work habits of a super model. Hollywood producer or porn star? It's all here.
Edited by word.com con-
Edited by word.com contributors John Bowe, Marisa Bowe and Sabin Streeter, *Gig* is not designed for linear reading. Few people would sit down and read the entire 548-page volume. It's not
GIG
Interest ●●●●●
Consistency ●●●○○
Thoroughness ●●●●●
designed for that. Instead, the collection is constructed for enjoyable browsing — to be dipped into at will.
Bowes and Streeter have accomplished the remarkable logistical task of interviewing 126 people and boiling down those interviews into concise, two-or-three-page essays. Every story is chock full of interesting tidbits and great one-liners.
in certain cases, though, such as the interview with "Robert G.," a bookie, the volume perpetuates stereotypes. The bookie's interview reads like a third-rate mystery novel, written by a terminally dull author.
But such missteps are few.
"James R.," a high school basketball coach, provides gripping reading as he shows his passionate desire to win. The coach works at a Catholic high school and isn't afraid to reveal his sometimes-underbanded tactics (recruiting a player from Finland, for example).
Perhaps the most intriguing section details the working life of Neal Smither, a crime scene cleaner. Smither's account of cleaning up after brutal, bloody deaths has to be read to be believed. Don't try this one after lunch.
Despite the book's great interest, it carries a darker message. The theme is dissatisfaction. Few of the workers, although they seldom admit to hating their jobs, are truly satisfied with their place in society.
As an objective collection of interviews, however, Gig does little to address the points that these individuals raise. The reader must deal with the array of work, lives and problems and come to his or her own conclusion.
Edited by Kimberly Thompson
Crossword
ACROSS
1 Cleansing agent
5 Long nail
4 Commended
14 Fan sound
15 Traditional knotage
16 Greek coins
17 Assistant
18 Laptop image
19 Remove knots
20 Roast host
20 Woundhooked
24 Data display
25 U.S. tennis stadium
27 Oceans with sixteen arms?
30 Taperering tower
30 So it’s you!
34 Follow logically
36 "Six O'clock" painter John
38 Transport by truck
40 Love saintly
42 Offense
37 Stephanie Zimbabwe's dad
45 Diminishes
48 Sgt or cpl
49 Repudiations
50 Liquefied by heat
52 Royale
54 Rose
55 ASAP
57 Secretarial skill
62 " 66"
64 Indira's dress
65 Early garden
66 Black-and-white treats
68 Carolina college
69 Capital of italia
69 Dull finish
70 Deputy of education
71 Aperture for coins
DOWN
1 The Sultan of ___
(Babe Ruth)
2 Columbus' state
3 Verdi opera
4 Magician's
$ \textcircled{2} $ 2000 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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exclamation
5 On the way up
6 Nearby
7 Got up
8 Took off
9 Paths taken
10 Abdul Aziz
    Saud
11 Relevant
12 Charles Lamb
13 Passed away
14 Finish line
15 Dine
16 Ship's tiller
17 and ahead
18 Cause friction
19 Device to check bleeding
20 Connery or Lennon
21 Jouster's weapon
22 Not from either side
23 Plants seeds
24 Ms Thurman
25 Hilo garlands
Solutions to Wednesday's Crossword
41 Reducing in the rank
44 The 'Falcon'
45 Walkman maker
46 Codiac sign
47 Stairway in Italy
48 Hurl
55 School dance
56 Mrs. Copperfield
57 Secondhand
58 Verme's captain
61 Peaky insect
63 Youngster
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