Books: (May 15 - May 21, 1997)

AVANT GAULT: Skimming the pages of Canadian-born author Peter Gault's second self-published novel, Knucklehead: A Journey Out of the Mind (Elephant Press, $16.95), is a frenetic treat in contemporary fiction, an exuberant, youthful celebration of neuroses. But don't take our word for it: See the bald-headed, body-painted author himself, along with wife and New York performance artist Amy Rachelle, in a unique spoken-word event fusing the book's narrative with original music and movement to create A Psycho-Sexual Incantation, a world tour the couple has been carting around in their purple trailer since sometime in 1996.
The experience, as one paper reports, is not for everyone. Of their appearance at a suburban Borders Books in Portland, Maine, Gault is quoted as saying, "Two hundred people just ran out of the door. The people who hired us said they all thought I was having a schizophrenic breakdown. They didn't know it was actually a performance I was doing."
Forwarned is forearmed. Catch the uncensored show at the Luna Loca Café, 546 N. Stone Ave., at 10 p.m. Saturday, May 17. Cover is $5 at the door, and books and the newly released tour CD ($16.95 each) will be on sale. Call 882-4488 for information.
CRIME SCENE: Three out of five random page jumps in C.E. Poverman's new novel, On the Edge, yielded references to binge drinking and AA meetings. Ah, the hallmark of the '90s. Not surprisingly, however, there's more to the story than a corner of scotch: issues of passionate love, compromised morality, and the dark fringes of the criminal world. Law, love and trust all come under scrutiny by protagonist Frank August. Better-informed critics like author Lawrence Joseph (Lawyerland) hail UA creative writing prof Poverman as possessing "the pitch-perfect skill of the first-rate writer that he is," creating what the Michigan Quarterly Review calls "cinematic, ultra-contemporary San Francisco noir."
Duck out of the Downtown Saturday Night fray to meet the author at a celebratory signing from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Etherton Gallery, 135 S. Sixth Ave. Call 624-7370 for more information.
ABOUT FACE: Last Tuesday's signing of Faces of Feminism, by Sheila Tobias, has been changed to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at The Book Mark, 5001 E. Speedway. Call 881-6350 for information.
DESSERT FIRST: In these glorious days of fat-free everything, the adage "If it tastes good, it's bad for you," is passé. Enter nutritionist Coleen Howard, with The Diabetic Dessert Cookbook, which contains more than 100 intriguing recipes sans sugar and nutritionally sound. From traditional favorites like English toffee, pumpkin pie and cherry cheesecake to experimental delicacies like potato bon bons and avocado pie, this 210-page treat cheat-sheet will learn you a thing or two about America's fifth basic food group.
Whether you're on a restricted diet or just trying to eat smarter, Howard's book has much to recommend it, with detailed explanations of artificial sweeteners, complete nutritional values for every recipe, and helpful baking hints. All recipes have been time and taste tested, most notably by her discriminating and diabetic husband.
Meet the author at a signing at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Borders Books and Music, 4235 N. Oracle Road. Call 292-1331 for information.
SUMMIT ADVENTURES: Find out about hiking and outdoor exploration opportunities throughout the Southwest with the free, spring "Outdoor Adventure" series at the Summit Hut, 5045 E. Speedway. The next slide-lecture in the ongoing program, Exploring Southwestern Mountains, Canyons, and Deserts with hiking guide and instructor John Dell, meets at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 22. Call 325-1554 for information.

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