From the 1870s to the 1950s; waves of immigrants to Toronto – Irish; Jewish; Chinese and Italian; among others – landed in ‘The Wardrsquo; in the centre of downtown. Deemed a slum; the area was crammed with derelict housing and ‘ethnicrsquo; businesses; it was razed in the 1950s to make way for a grand civic plaza and modern city hall. Archival photos and contributions from a wide variety of voices finally tell the story of this complex neighbourhood and the lessons it offers about immigration and poverty in big cities. Contributors include historians; politicians; architects and descendents of Ward resshy;idents on subjects such as playgrounds; tuberculosis; bootlegging and Chinese laundries.With essays by Howard Akler; Denise Balkissoon; Steve Bulger; Jim Burant; Arlene Chan; Alina Chatterjee; Cathy Crowe; Richard Dennis; Ruth Frager; Richard Harris; Gaetan Heroux; Edward Keenan; Bruce Kidd; Mark Kingwell; Jack Lipinsky; John Lorinc; Shawn Micallef; Howard Moscoe; Laurie Monsebraaten; Terry Murray; Ratna Omidvar; Stephen Otto; Vincenzo Pietropaolo; Michael Posner; Michael Redhill; Victor Russell; Ellen Scheinberg; Sandra Shaul; Myer Siemiatycki; Mariana Valverde; Thelma Wheatley; Kristyn Wongshy;-Tam and Paul Yee; among others.
#2421234 in eBooks 2012-03-14 2012-03-14File Name: B00PRHFVO6
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. 4.5 stars... "I took a big hungry bite out of life; and I am still not full"By Paul Allaer"Violence Girl" East L.A. Rage to Hollywood Stage; a Chicana Punk Story" (2011 publication; 381 pages) is the memoir from singer-songwriter-social activist Alice Bag. Bag is best known for her time with the legendary LA punk band the Bags from the late 70s; which has a brief (2 year) run before imploding (and never recording a proper album).Bag recounts her upbringing in Los Angeles; living in poverty but not realizing it; as her parents try to make do (and along the way have huge fights). When her dad steals Alices savings and she cries out in despair; her dad responds "Never trust anyone but yourself". One should be so "lucky" to have a parent like that... A pivotal moment comes in August; 1970 during protests and riots in LA: "I had never before realized that I was part of a minority". Alice describes in glorious detail how she idolized Elton John (even buying the big-rimmed glasses just like Eltons); but also Queen; Led Zeppelin; etc. The "meat" of the memoir covers the 2 years starting mid-1977 when the Bags made a go of it (they are briefly covered in the now-legendary 1979 documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization"). Alices life would take some wild detours after the Bags. This 2011 memoir concludes with Alices thought that "I took a big hungry bite out of life; and I am still not full".And has she ever! Since this memoir was published; Alice has returned to the music business; released an excellent album in 2016 simply called "Alice Bag" and has taken up touring again. I happen to catch her show last year here in Cincinnati at the beautiful Woodward Theater; and her set was nothing short of outstanding. A few months ago; Alice started a GoFundMe campaign to cover the expense for recording another album; and I am happy to say that I contributed to that (which is how I got a copy of this memoir; among other goodies; signed by Alice no less!). The new album should be out first half of 2018. Cant wait for that! Meanwhile; "Violence Girl" is an essential book both to understand the early LA punk scene and to grasp the lifes journey of remarkable woman. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. One of the Best Books About Music Life; Ever WrittenBy CustomerIm about 4/5ths of the way through this book; and I just looked at it wistfully andthought; "I wish this book didnt have to end. I wish there was another one rightafter it (Ive already read "Pipe Bomb For The Soul";) and then it occurred to methat my sentiments are really about the highest honor I give to books I love.If you love music; read this book. If you love human beings; read this book.Its just; THE BEST. Thank you; Alicia; for writing your life. Please; please;PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!!!!14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. An original voiceBy BitterOldPunkAlice Bags memoir is less about the first-wave LA punk scene that she was such an integral part of and more about family; growing up; finding yourself; and testing your limits. A discursive book written in short chapters; "Violence Girl" is a quick read; even though its more than 300 pages long. Alices voice shines through -- a thoughtful; confrontational; sometimes confused but rarely cowed woman; Alice goes from being an awkward; overweight teenager with an Elton John obsession and crooked teeth to being the lead singer of the seminal proto-hardcore band; The Bags. Along the way; she befriends and bemuses a bevy of LA scenesters like creepy impressario Kim Fowley; doomed; nihilistic Darby Crash of The Germs; the women who would become The Go-Gos; Patricia Morrison; who co-founded The Bags and would go on to be in both The Gun Club and influential Goth act Sisters of Mercy; even Tom Waits makes a cameo. But the book is more than a name-dropping trek across the glittery landscape of late-70s Los Angeles. Its about struggling with family and faith; its about reconciling ambition with reality; and its about how punk rocks D.I.Y. ethos helped a young woman define herself and claim her place in the world. While many in the early punk scene burned bright and died young; Alice Bag seems made of sterner stuff. Near the end of the book; readers get a glimpse of her post-punk rock trajectory -- she travels to Managua; Nicaragua at the height of US meddling in Nicaraguan affairs and finds a country stripped to the bone and surviving on little more than willpower and pride. I wish this section of the book had been longer; and I would have enjoyed hearing more of the tantalizing anecdotes she only hints at. A love affair with a prisoner? Rebuffing an invitation to dinner with Oprah? Tell me more! Ans thats what I take from this book: Alices voice. Wise; wry; funny; bold; and honest; its a voice I wanted to spend more time with. Violence Girl and Babylonian Gorgon -- Alice Bag is an undeniable original; and youll enjoy your time with her. Well worth reading.
