Book Reviews

 

"Juggling With Finesse." By Kit Summers, Finesse Press, San Diego, Calif. $14.95.

 

Here's an idea book that covers everything from three balls to 13 rings. Written by a man who at one time could juggle seven clubs, Kit Summers lists a vast array of tricks for the intermediate to expert juggler to try.

 

The book was due to be published June 20, and "Juggler's World" reviewed it in manuscript form only. Copies of more than 100 photos and 100 illustrations provided with the manuscript indicated that the finished product will be fun to look at as well as full of things to learn.

 

In a sense, the entire book is autobiographical - for better and worse. The tremendously positive psychological angle may inspire some readers. But experienced jugglers who have come to terms with their sweat may prefer to see that space devoted to more ideas on tricks.

 

Six of the ten chapters cover tricks with all common juggling props, while the other four are devoted to an introduction, beginning juggling, practice regimen and putting together an act.

 

The descriptions of tricks are short and may be incomplete for someone not familiar with juggling already. However, those looking to improve their acts may find many ideas listed here that they've overlooked. How about the Francis Brunn one-ball leg roll? Balance a ball on your foot with your leg straight out. Roll it up your leg, across your back to the shoulder, down the arm to the back of your hand. That should keep you busy for an afternoon!

Many of the descriptions of tricks are ac­companied by cleanly drawn illustrations that will make interpretation of the text easier.

 

The most exciting part of the book will surely be the photos. Taken from Summers' extensive collection, they include shots of the author and other IJA notables such as Roger Dollarhide, Alan Howard, Susan Kirby and Ron Meyers. There are also more internationally known figures such as Francis Brunn, Barrett Felker, Sergei Ignatov, Eva Vida and Manuel Zuniga.

 

"Passing." By David Faithfull and Per Nielsen. Per Nielsen, Studsgardsgade 64, 2. DK 2100 Kobenhavn 0, Denmark. $6.

 

"Passing" presents a comic-book look at that great jugglers pasttime, club passing. The 20 page pamphlet is heavily illustrated with cartoon figures doing everything from taking a shower together to feeding seals.

Sandwiched between one-liners and wild drawings is basic instruction on how to pass clubs, as well as intermediate level variations. Several multi-person patterns receive more traditional illustrations that are adequate for their purposes. Beginners will discover the wide variety of passes possible, as well as some patterns to try with friends.

 

Advanced club passers will find nothing new inside, but will get a kick out of the illustrations. Devils pass pitchforks and angels pass halos. Ducks deliver clubs air mail from one juggler to another. The book is printed throughout in black and red, so is more colorful than most instructional pieces.

 

It's a book written in keeping with the European juggling style - fun and frolic ­ some rather than scholarly and serious. The authors obviously had fun putting it together, and readers will have fun looking it over.

 

"Juggling is for me." By Nancy Marie Temple and Rande Aronson. Lerner Publications Co., Minneapolis, Minn. ISBN 0-8225-1146-0.

 

This book is part of Lerner Publications' Sports for Me series, 49 picture books designed to introduce young people to everything from square dancing to quarter­midget racing. It's 4 7/ 8" x 11" pages tell in large pictures and brief text the personal story of how two youngsters, Nathan and Kari, learned to juggle from Rande Aronson and eventually put together their own show for the neighborhood.

 

In well-chosen words easily read by fourth graders, it gives a short overview of juggling history and instruction in the basics. The text is narrative, as if Nathan is telling the story.

 

For instance, "After Kari was able to exchange one ball smoothly, Rande asked me to demonstrate the two-ball exchange. I started with two balls, one cupped in each hand, and tossed the right ball upward. Then, just as it rounded the peak point and started to drop, I tossed up the left ball. My left hand was then free to catch the first ball coming down. I continued in this crossover pattern while Kari tried it."

 

As you might expect, "She practiced and practiced. Two days later, she was juggling! For the next few weeks, Kari and I had fun practicing together."

 

The youngsters get into the spirit of things by visiting Rande and seeing his act at a Renaissance festival that is exquisite­ly illustrated with fine photos by Bob and Diane Wolfe.

 

They go home, practice some more and learn clubs and passing while being introduced to cigar boxes and devil sticks. The kids practice all summer and decide to put on a show.

 

There's probably no better book for entertaining youngsters and motivating them to try juggling. It's a great present and a valuable volume for childrens' library shelves.