When Polynesian palaces captivated the Motor City
The werewolf of London isn’t the only one who loved tiki bars, as Warren Zevon crooned in his famous song of the same name.
Bill Castanier's Latest Articles
What to know about ‘What the Fireflies Knew’
Most authors go their entire writing career with the dream of getting their book reviewed in The New York Times Sunday Book Review. First-time author Kai Harris has already checked that off her list with her debut novel, “What the Fireflies Knew.”
The past paradise of Michigan’s ‘Black Eden’
Starting in 1912, for as little as “$1 down and a $1 a month,” perspective vacationers could buy their own little piece of paradise in Michigan’s Idlewild, or Black Eden as it was later affectionately called.
Author Jim Harrison and a life told through poetry
Jim Harrison once told me that I was reading poetry all wrong. He told me not to read a book of poetry in one setting, but rather to “read a poem a day,” and then think about it. At that rate, I should be able to work through his new gargantuan poetry book, “Jim Harrison: Complete Poems,” in about three years.
Erin Bartels wades through deep memories and lost friendships
Lansing resident Erin Bartels’ new book, “The Girl Who Could Breathe Underwater,” is part mystery, part romance and part coming-of-age story. The novel revolves around a young author who goes up north in Michigan to finish her second novel. If it sounds formulaic and simple, it isn’t.
The people that made the ’60s America’s most radical decade
Historian Kevin Boyle’s new book, “The Shattering,” has no surprises, major revelations and no sappy stories. Instead, it is packed to the brim with tales of courageous individuals who stood for justice and truth. “The Shattering” is a straightforward look at the tumultuous decade of the ’60s, and how it shaped the course of United States history.
Discovering the great and mysterious photographer Vivian Maier
While reading “Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny,” by Ann Marks, I couldn’t help but thinking what would’ve happened if Maier had lived long enough to use an iPhone 13 Pro and send her photos to the Cloud. Likely, the incredible photography of Maier would’ve been lost forever.
Coming-of-age in the wild world of the circus
In the early 20th century, major circuses like Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey — along with hundreds of other regional circuses that crisscrossed the country — brought exotic animals and daring performers to local communities. The circus performers and animals would unload at railroad spurs and walk to a nearby field, where they would erect a tent. For many kids, the excitement was too much. When the circus pulled up its stakes, locals would often run off with its caravan to join the adventure.
How an Italian sculptor shaped the aesthetic of Lansing
Look up! You might just notice an ornamental architectural fixture crafted by noted sculptor Corrado Parducci, who completed 13 installations in the Lansing area during the ’30s, ’50s and ’60s in Lansing. Parducci’s work can be seen at Michigan Bell, on the campus of Michigan State University, the Capitol Area District Library downtown main branch, several churches and Michigan National Bank Tower (Boji).
Tracking down Michigan’s best modernist architecture
If all the world’s a stage, then author Susan J. Bandes’ new book, “Mid-Michigan Modern,” is the curtain call. In 2016, MSU Press published the first edition of “Mid-Michigan Modern,” which is the definitive guide to modernism architecture in Greater Lansing. It was meant to be the all-inclusive guide and has since sold out.