Jim Burns – författare

This fifth collection of essays and reviews ranges over a variety of subjects, some of them connecting to material in the earlier books. The Beats are an obvious example, though it’s perhaps using the term loosely to link someone like Herbert Gold with them. But he did comment on the Beats in writing and perhaps saw himself as having had experiences which gave him insights into what Kerouac and Ginsberg and the others were doing. I’ve included a short piece about an obscure poet, Marty Matz, because it shows what fringe figures like him got up to. And Robert Reisner was someone who was on the fringes of the bohemian scene, though in a more productive way than Matz. It seems to me that people like Reisner ought to be remembered, if only in a short article.There are surveys of several little magazines, as there were in my previous collections. I’ve always thought that they deserve to be written about because of how they can often evoke a particular period better than a detached history can.

This fourth collection of essays and reviews hopefully provides a useful and entertaining survey of various writers and others who might be said to slot easily into the category of bohemians. I have, admittedly, included some writers who perhaps wouldn''t have welcomed being called bohemians. Kurt Vonnegut, Gilbert Sorrentino, and James T.Farrell, for example. But it can be argued that most writers have at least a touch of the bohemian about them, and only those desperate for respectability need to deny it. It may all depend on how you define a bohemian. It''s a term that extends far beyond the popular conception of someone who has a free-and-easy life-style that has links, however tenuous, to the arts.There are several essays dealing with little magazines. They seem to me to be essential to any study of 20th Century literature. This Quarter, Blues, and Contact between them say a great deal about the literature of the 1920s and 1930s if you want to look beyond the well-known.

This is the second volume of essays by Jim Burns, and like the first it deals mainly with American writers active from around 1930 to 1960 and a little beyond. Among the writers covered are Clifford Odets, Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Anatole Broyard, and John Clellon Holmes, together with a variety of left-wing authors and several poets and others associated with the Beat Generation. There are also essays about the abstract-expressionist painters and several jazz musicians.Jim Burns was born in 1936 and has been active as a poet, essayist, reviewer, and little-magazine editor for fifty years. His first collection of essays, Beats, Bohemians and Intellectuals, was published by Trent Books in 1990, and Laying Something Down: Poems 1962-2007 by Shoestring Press in 2007. His most recent volume of poetry is Streetsinger (Shoestring Press. 2010).

I’m never at a loss when it comes to what to write about, as I hope the contents of this collection will show. Paris has often been a favourite place to visit, despite a lost battle with the French language. There have always been foreign writers and artists in Paris, and they make for worthwhile investigation. But other aspects of the city, such as its philosophers and its radical history, have also occupied my attention. England has its artists, too, and in writing about Sven Berlin, Stanley Spencer, and John Bratby, I’ve focused on three who might be said to have been oddballs, in their different ways. Berlin and Bratby can probably be categorised as bohemians, but Spencer was just eccentric.It isn’t only the bohemianism or the eccentricities that involve me. I like the work that all three produced, even if, especially in Berlin or Bratby’s case, it could be variable in quality. But they were interesting.

This seventh collection of essays and reviews follows on from the previous six in bringing together what I like to think is largely a sur-vey of mostly lesser-known writers, poets, artists, musicians, and related people and their publications. Some names in the list of con-tents will be immediately identifiable, but it could be that certain aspects of their work may not be familiar to most readers. Walt Whitman’s links to a group of early American bohemians is an ex-ample of what I’m suggesting.As with the previous books, the Beats have a central role, though I hope I’ve looked at a few lesser-known poets, such as Bob Kaufman, along with pieces on Kerouac and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

As in the previous collection, Paris has a place in this one, with re-views/essays about various artists, writers, expatriates, editors, and others who were in the city at one time or another. I have to admit that I’m generally looking back in these pieces to the Paris of the 1890s or the 1920s, “golden periods”, as they’re called, though in a review of poets in translation I do briefly comment on a collection of more-contemporary French left-wing poets. I doubt that they will be familiar to most British poetry readers, and that seems to me a good reason for reviewing them in the first place, and reprinting the re-view in this book.In case I’m accused of overlooking interesting British poets, there are reviews of several of them. These are from a list of several hundred books of poetry that I reviewed during a fifty years stint as a reviewer for the magazine, Ambit, edited by Martin Bax.One of the pleasures of writing for Ambit was that I wasn’t asked to only deal with books from established poets.

This third collection of essays and reviews is somewhat different in content to Beats, Bohemians and Intellectuals and Radicals, Beats and Beboppers. Those books were primarily concerned with American writers, whereas this one has a dozen or so pieces looking at aspects of British writing (and art and music) from the 1930s to the 1960s. Some forgotten writers and magazines of the 30s and 40s are dealt with, and several items focus on the 60s, a period often derided as producing a lot of bad poetry. It probably did, but I suspect that''s true of any period and the 60s also produced some interesting work and it was a lively time for little magazines and small presses.As the titles of the previous collections indicated, the Beats occupy what might be called a central role, and so it is here. I''ve included essays on leading lights of the movement, such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg, but have also written about lesser-known poets like Ray Bremser and Stuart Perkoff

Rebels come in various shapes and sizes, and in some ways it’s possible to see most of the people dealt with in these essays and reviews as rebels of one sort or another. Some, like the Wobblies, were political and/or economic dissenters from the status quo, as was B. Traven. Others, such as certain of the poets discussed, might be viewed as challenging established ideas about how to write poems. William Burroughs is an interesting example of someone who, in his life and writing, stood outside conventional values. As for jazz musicians, they’ve often been outsiders. But I don’t want to make an issue of whether or not specific individuals can be truly identified as rebels. It’s possible for someone to be a rebel in some ways, but not in others. And rebels can mellow and come to terms with the wider society, even to the point where they become successful in its eyes.

The second volume of the spectacular science-fiction thriller evolving from the works of Arthur C. Clarke, grandmaster of science fiction and author of 2001: a space odyssey. Her code name is Sparta. Her beauty veils a mysterious past and abilities of superhuman dimension-the product of advanced biotech engineering. When a team of scientists is trapped in the gaseous inferno of Venus, Sparta must risk her life to save them, unaware that her actions will help recover a mysterious artifact: irrefutable evidence of life on another planet. As the secrets of the artifact are revealed, Sparta uncovers a mystery which may lead her to the truth of her own destiny. This gripping saga brings together the genius of Arthur C. Clarke and the talents of distinguished science-fiction writer Paul Preuss. The book has an introduction by Arthur C. Clarke.

You may have been eleven once, but you were never their age. Thanks to the Internet, graphic images in the media, and their "know-it-all" friends, kids today grow up earlier than ever. They have questions, and as a parent, your responsibility is to clear up the mixed messages and lead them to a healthy, value-centered view of sexuality. Sure, conversations with your kids about sex and their changing bodies can be uncomfortable--but they don't have to be. Jim Burns gives expert advice on how and when to talk with your children, and he provides answers to the most difficult questions your kids and teens might ask, like: How far is too far? If you do "everything but sex," are you still a virgin? Is self-stimulation wrong? I think I'm addicted to porn. What can I do to get help? Is a boy/girl sleepover okay if there's a chaperone? The world's culture may have cheapened sex, but God's view of sexuality is wonderfully made. Talking with your kids at a young age will help them make more godly decisions along the way, but they'll need conversation with you at every age. This is your opportunity to establish in them a lasting sexual integrity that will extend throughout their lives.

It's Not Too Late to Find Intimacy and FulfillmentDon't settle for mediocre when it comes to satisfaction in marriage--pull out all the stops and discover the joy of true intimacy! This book will help you take back the life you dreamed of when you said your vows and experience the joys of an awe-filled marriage. Jim Burns' honest and vulnerable writing coupled with practical advice will inspire you to reconnect with the most important person in your life: your spouse.

Meet Mark and Becky, two normal parents trying their best to raise normal kids. But as their children grow older, these sincere parents have a growing sense that they are in over their heads. After all, it's not like children come with a 445-page instruction manual or a 24-hour customer service line. Yet the problems and difficulties Mark and Becky face are not unusual or far-fetched--in fact, they are the normal, day-to-day battles most parents share. So why is it still so hard? Because no one showed them the basics of good parenting. In Confident Parenting, Jim Burns weaves together the fictional story of Mark and Becky with common sense and accessible parenting tips and strategies. Part story, part information, each chapter explores a different aspect of parenting, such as balancing self-care with family care, and includes the ingredients involved in proper discipline. With more than 20 years of experience counseling hundreds of families and children, Burns offers time-tested advice in a painless and creative way, helping parents everywhere lay a positive foundation for raising healthy families.

The Love Dare challenged individuals to love their spouse more. Closer shows wives and husbands how to grow that love together. Introduced with Scripture verses and engaging stories, these 52 devotionals will inspire couples to draw closer through faith conversations--those quiet talks so vital for emotional and spiritual intimacy in a marriage. Guided, practical action steps round out each reading. Closer, with its flexible weekly format, is an appealing alternative to a daily devotional.

Most Christian parents know that the best way to leave a God-honoring legacy to their family is to nurture their children's faith . . . but many don't know where to start! This new resource from Jim Burns, founder of HomeWord, will equip parents to start important conversations with their kids--family time with an eternal impact. Faith Conversations for Families makes it easy to invite God into quality family time. Each section outlines an easy-to-follow dialogue, which is flexible for children of different age groups. In addition, suggested activities and exercises make spiritual formation adaptable for kids with varying learning styles. The six family-friendly topics included in this book are: Who Is Jesus and Why It Matters: Help parents talk with their kids about why His life, death, and resurrection are so important.What Prayer Is All About: Parents can introduce vibrant conversation with God into their family's time together.What It Means to Be Christian: Parents can lead their kids toward a faith commitment and spiritual growth, through open communication and exciting biblical expression.A Strong Family: Parents can teach, guide, and strengthen healthy bonds within the family.Loving and Serving Others: Parents can talk with their children about servant leadership and self-sacrifice and be challenged to serve in and outside of their home.Building Morals and Values: Parents can help their kids discern and navigate cultural influences that run contrary to a biblical worldview.In the heart of every Christian parent is a desire to help their children grow spiritually. Faith Conversations for Families helps parents make that desire a beautiful reality.

Perhaps no one knows how to touch the hearts and minds of young people as writer and radio broadcaster Jim Burns. These fifty fresh devotional readings cover many of the major issues of life and faith that students wrestle with today. Sexual purity, the pressure to compromise, family relationships, trusting God, servanthood, worry, fatigue, and daily surrender are just a few of the topics Burns explores. Scripture and personal application questions are integrated throughout, while historical and contemporary stories, quotes, profiles of courage, and even illustrations from children's literature help students relate these concepts to their lives. Youth leaders and parents will find this a tremendous resource for teaching, while young adults will enjoy the book for use in their personal quiet time.

The most powerful force in a young person's life is his or her family. The importance of this is pointed out in the writing of the Torah in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, where believers are mandated to pass their family legacies to the next generations. The newest trend in youth ministry today is a very healthy move toward family-based ministry, a mind-set that helps the church act as a support system, while placing discipleship and training back into the hands of family. Partnering with Parents in Youth Ministry will help youth workers understand their unique role in helping families succeed and will give an overview strategy of family-based youth ministry, as well as practical ideas on implementing this awesome ministry in your church.

You can connect with your child's heart through discipline Parents want to raise respectful, responsible, and faith-filled kids. But when kids misbehave, parents often feel lost and confused, and don't realize that their discipline can make things worse in the long run. Jim and Lynne Jackson, founders of Connected Families, teach four powerful principles for discipline that shape both behavior and your kids' hearts. Even when your kids are at their worst, you will learn how to communicate that they are● safe with you● loved no matter what● capable of wise choices● responsible to make right the things they've made wrongAs you impart these messages, you'll create strong relationships, build lasting wisdom and character, and bring God's grace to life in your home!

Honest Talk about Some of the Most Important Questions You'll Ever Face(For Ages 10-17 or Grades 6-12) Everybody's talking about sex these days, but it's hard to figure out who to listen to. There are a lot of disagreements and many harmful messages going around. So as you grow and mature, it's important that you're getting loving, biblically grounded answers to some of life's most embarrassing and confusing questions. This must-have book for preteens and teens tackles the tough, sensitive issues of sexuality for today's kids. It is filled with honest, biblical, and age-appropriate information that· answers delicate and taboo questions · helps you navigate a sexually confused culture · reveals God's beautiful plan for sex and sexuality · equips you to make decisions that honor God and your body There are also discussion questions to spark open conversations between you and your parents. This book is a powerful tool that will help you live a life of sexual integrity and grow up to be healthy, happy, and wise.