“Whole, Holy, Hot,” a debut collection of poetry by University of Akron alumna Chrissy Martin, compounds intelligent dark humor with the expression of femininity through disability, and with pop culture mixed in.
The title “heat” is physical, as the speaker experiences agonizing sensations, but hot is also sexy, and the speaker demands to have her sexuality recognized. Another reference is to Paris Hilton, whose “that’s hot” catchphrase added her to the list of dumb blondes but who turned out to be a thoughtful advocate for victims of abuse in private schools.
“Holy” may refer to the speaker’s reminiscences of teenage sex with her pastor’s son, who later turned out to be no good, and of a phony faith healer.
“Whole?” Could be an assertion of herself as a whole woman in defiance of doctors who see patients only as bodies, including her mother who was left alone and uncovered in an emergency room.
Themes running through the collection include her father’s autopsy, and reality shows, particularly “Real Housewives” and “Ru Paul’s Drag Race.” The invisibility of people with disabilities: A deaf contestant on “The Bachelor” was treated cordially and then ignored.
The various definitions of “Flare,” in addition to the flare of a chronic illness, are the flare of heat, the flare of distress.
Other themes include color, as in the circus of pharmaceuticals she is required to take, carrying them around in a special pouch, and their colors — “red yellow orange … blue green purple … allergy tabs fuchsia, amphetamines a muted pink.”
The speaker doesn’t reveal the nature of her illness (“Mine is a sickness I won’t name”), but alludes to it increasingly, “thinking about all the ways my body wants to ruin itself.” Perhaps it is secondary to her struggle to just get a diagnosis, as doctors demand “proof” of her pain; instead, she proves her fierce need and right to be heard, her intelligence and wit.
“Whole, Holy, Hot” (111 pages, softcover) costs $18 from Write Bloody Publishing. Martin, a graduate of the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts program, earned a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and is an assistant professor at Centenary College of Louisiana.
‘Judith Resnik: Unsung Astronaut’
Judith Resnik is hardly unsung in her hometown, but “Judith Resnik: Unsung Astronaut,” a middle-grade biography by Illinois author Marlene Targ Brill, makes sure she her name isn’t unsung.
The book is a straightforward account of Resnik’s life, growing up in Akron in the 1950s with a disapproving mother and an indulgent father. She was a popular student at Firestone High School, graduating as valedictorian, furthered her education at Carnegie Institute of Technology and married a fellow engineering student.
Resnik’s entry into the space program with its grueling tests, survival training and intrusive personal questions, was accompanied by controversy about women going to space.
Resnik was the second American woman in space (after Sally Ride) and was honored at Judy Resnik Day in 1984. She died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in January 1986.
The book, recommended for readers age 8 and older, includes words like “hangar” and “suffragist” and, sadly, “posthumously.”
“Judith Resnik: Unsung Astronaut” (144 pages, softcover) costs $15.95 from Ohio University Press. Brill also has written two other books in the Biographies for Young Readers Series, as well as a book about Civil War Medal of Honor drummer boy Orion Howe, who was born in Portage County.
Events
Fireside Books (29 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls): Elaine Evans signs her suspense romance “The Storm We Breathe,” 1 to 3 p.m. June 21.
Cuyahoga Falls Library: Sana Javeri Kadra, founder of Diaspora Spice Co., and food writer Asha Loupy join the Virtual Author Chat series to talk about “The Diaspora Spice Company Cookbook: Seasonal Home Cooking from South Asia’s Best Spice Farms,” 2 to 3 p.m. June 23. From 6 to 7 p.m. June 24, editors Linda Whitman and Peg Bobel appear in person to talk about “Native Americans of the Cuyahoga Valley.” Register at fallslibrary.org.
Akron Woman’s City Club (732 W. Exchange St.): Karen Hasley presents “New Hope Nebraska: Where Fiction is Life,” an overview of her 1880s-set four-book series, 2 p.m. June 23. Admission is $10 for refreshments and $5 for the Authors Fund. Call 330-762-6261.
Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County (305 Wick Ave., Youngstown): Robin Yocum, author of the crime novel “The Last Hitman,” leads a Writers Workshop, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. June 23. From 6 to 7 p.m. June 23, Yocum presents “A Writer’s Life.” Register at libraryvisit.org.
Twinsburg Public Library Library (10050 Ravenna Road): The 50 Book Challenge Author Fair & Book Expo brings about 17 authors including Laura Freeman, Marie Vibbert, Mindy McGinnis, Amanda Flower, Irv Korman and Jane Ann Turzillo, 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 23. See the list at twinsburglibrary.org.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (North Olmsted branch, 27403 Lorain Road): Betty Weibel, author of “The Ohio Literary Trail: A Guide,” presents “Day Trip Discoveries Along Ohio’s Literary Trail,” 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 23. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights): Poet Abigail Raley (“Wet Specimen”) hosts the Broadsides & Ephemera open mic, 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 24. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 25, the Plum City Reading series hosts Danny Caine (“How to Defend Books and Why”), Sonia Feldman (“Girl’s Girl”) and Sony Ton-Aime (“Konbit”).
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Middleburg Heights branch, 16699 Bagley Road): Aimie Runyan talks about her novel “Missed Connections,” 7 to 8 p.m. June 24. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Barnes & Noble (7555 Market Place Drive, Aurora): Terry Pluto talks about Cleveland sports and “Why Can’t This Team Just Find a Quarterback? And Other Thoughts of Life on Browns Town,” 6:30 p.m. June 25. At 5 p.m. June 27, Brian Ward signs “Temporal Genesis,” initial book in his Unwritten fantasy series.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Solon branch, 34125 Portz Parkway): Annie Zaleski talks about “Stevie Nicks in 50 Songs,” 7 to 8 p.m. June 25. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Visible Voice Books (4601 Lorain Ave., Cleveland): Tom Kaschalk, author of “Cleveland’s Neighborhood Taverns: A Pub Crawl Through History,” talks about “Cleveland’s Ohio City Neighborhood: A Visual History”) as part of Cleveland History Days. Register at clevelandhistorydays.com.
Spellbound Sisters Books & Café (7095 Lockwood Blvd., Boardman): Austintown author Nancy Christie signs “Transforming Tessa” and other books in her Midlife Moxie series, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 27.
Flame & Fable (15207 Detroit Ave., Lakewood): Youngstown author Kara M. Zone signs her dark fantasy books including the Trium Perfectum series, 11 a.m. June 27.
Learned Owl Book Shop (204 N. Main St., Hudson): Husband-and-wife authors Adam H. Hoskins and Allison Tanager sign their young adult fantasy novels “I Am No Bird” and “The Pafians,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 27.
Email information about books of local interest and event notices at least two weeks in advance to beaconbooktalk@gmail.com. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Whole, Holy, Hot’ is poetry collection by Chrissy Martin | Book Talk
Reporting by Barbara McIntyre, Special to USA TODAY NETWORK – Ohio / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Barbara McIntyre, Special to USA TODAY NETWORK – Ohio | USA TODAY Network
