Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver (with Stephen L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver) is a book about family: her family, the farming and agricultural family, and the family of men. (And it is written with her family - her daughter provides the recipes and nutrition segments, her husband, the food industry issues.) Can one family of four sustain themselves on locally grown food for a year? That is the question that Kingsolver and her family attempt to solve. It helps that they live on a farm in southwest Virginia, but they "survive" by growing and raising their own food, going to local farmer's markets and seeing where items are grown in their local stores. Her segment on turkey reproduction is very funny and scary. Funny - from her descriptions - scary, when you realize that certain breeds no longer reproduce naturally at all - it is bred out of the birds.
Do they make - sure. Is it easy? Not so much, but the tone in which Kingsolver writes just guides you through the seasons. She does not have the stridency of a convert, for she writes about their dilemmas and "must have" items (coffee for the adults, mac and cheese for the kids and their friends) with candidness. But she gives the reader hope that the food environment is changing-back to food grown in healthy ways for both the farmer and pickers and the eaters. And she provides resources and recipes to help the average folk contribute along their path. As someone who grew up with a large vegetable garden and canning, I really liked how she handled the whole topic of raising your own food. I was very impressed by her writing - I think I need to try one of her other writings. A great thoughtful read.
Flowers and bee
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is a book authored by Barbara Ehrenreich. Ehrenreich when railing against polices in the current presidential administration, tells her editor that some one should do a book on the jobs of working class people. He tells her she should write it. And thus began the idea for the book. She puts her regular life on hold and takes various jobs to see if she can live the American Dream for a month on those wages. To vary the experiment she goes to different states - Florida, Maine and Minnesota. She uses her maiden name and does not list that she has a degree on her job application. She has other limitations and personal restrictions, but ends up with these jobs: waitress, an nursing home aide, a cleaning lady, and a retail worker in a Walmart.
Within this book, she points out some interesting things about this working world - the rise of testing - both drug and psychological in the hiring process. How workers are so busy with the struggle of living that they really don't have time or money for anything else. And that most are unaware of the rights they have as workers. She writes of her co-workers with compassion, and a bit of guilt, for she realizes that if it were not for her college education, as a middle aged woman this would probably be her working world.
The hardest part of this book is realizing that for most of us - we are only a few paychecks away from living this kind of daily struggle. Very thought provoking, and makes one appreciate what one has, and it will make you leave a bigger tip at the next restaurant you go to. You may not appreciate her politics, but you will realize that for some, the American dream is far off. A very good book.
Within this book, she points out some interesting things about this working world - the rise of testing - both drug and psychological in the hiring process. How workers are so busy with the struggle of living that they really don't have time or money for anything else. And that most are unaware of the rights they have as workers. She writes of her co-workers with compassion, and a bit of guilt, for she realizes that if it were not for her college education, as a middle aged woman this would probably be her working world.
The hardest part of this book is realizing that for most of us - we are only a few paychecks away from living this kind of daily struggle. Very thought provoking, and makes one appreciate what one has, and it will make you leave a bigger tip at the next restaurant you go to. You may not appreciate her politics, but you will realize that for some, the American dream is far off. A very good book.
All the President's Men - with Friends Like These...
I have been a bit busy lately and have fallen behind in my posting, but not in my reading. And I had to read this title for a current events genre study. Yeah, it is not a "current event" but the ramifications of this political era still resonate throughout our political life.
All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward could be called one of the first political "instant" books. These books are written during or right after a political event. They started the in-depth investigation into the break-ins at the Watergate building, and proceed to bring the rest of the media and in some circles, the country, with them. It really is a great study of investigative journalism that still has meaning today. The question, for me is - would they have been able to publish this information in the Washington Post today? Would they have been forced to put this in a blog? What would be different if they had today's technology? Half the book is devoted to finding out who are the players and how they are connected - would this have been faster or not? Consider the current administrations' block on information flow - how hard would it be now?
As they take you through the story, one of the most interesting things to me is the loss of political innocence. The people who finally cooperate with Bernstein and Woodward - really love their country and the presidential office and they can not believe the lies and liars that are surrounding Nixon. You can tell these people got involved in public service because they believed that they were helping their country. And that they were let down, and in some cases, betrayed by a paranoid president.
Whether you are a Nixon fan or not, (some of us did not have well formed political views at that time, and wished all those talking men behind the curtained tables would stop blocking our summer television programs!), this is a great study of how power corrupts and how the American public gained their cynicism for their political leaders. It is greatly detailed book - I admit I needed a timeline cheat sheet to keep everything straight - but it reads like a thriller as the authors try to uncover the truth. A great read.
All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward could be called one of the first political "instant" books. These books are written during or right after a political event. They started the in-depth investigation into the break-ins at the Watergate building, and proceed to bring the rest of the media and in some circles, the country, with them. It really is a great study of investigative journalism that still has meaning today. The question, for me is - would they have been able to publish this information in the Washington Post today? Would they have been forced to put this in a blog? What would be different if they had today's technology? Half the book is devoted to finding out who are the players and how they are connected - would this have been faster or not? Consider the current administrations' block on information flow - how hard would it be now?
As they take you through the story, one of the most interesting things to me is the loss of political innocence. The people who finally cooperate with Bernstein and Woodward - really love their country and the presidential office and they can not believe the lies and liars that are surrounding Nixon. You can tell these people got involved in public service because they believed that they were helping their country. And that they were let down, and in some cases, betrayed by a paranoid president.
Whether you are a Nixon fan or not, (some of us did not have well formed political views at that time, and wished all those talking men behind the curtained tables would stop blocking our summer television programs!), this is a great study of how power corrupts and how the American public gained their cynicism for their political leaders. It is greatly detailed book - I admit I needed a timeline cheat sheet to keep everything straight - but it reads like a thriller as the authors try to uncover the truth. A great read.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sugar Cookie Murder
Looking for something fast and fun in a mystery? Try Joanne Fluke's Sugar Cookie Murder. It really is a novella, with a lot of recipes. When you're community is planning a local cookbook, and you are having a food tasting in the community center, and it happens to be during a Minnesota blizzard and then there is a murder - well - Hannah has a lot on her hands, and we have this fun story. Hannah enlists her family and friends into solving the case before the police do and they have good food along the way.
Don't read this if you are hungry - it will make it worse. And the recipes look good too. Enjoy.
Don't read this if you are hungry - it will make it worse. And the recipes look good too. Enjoy.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Agnes and the Hitman
What do you when people with guns break into your kitchen? If you're a cook like Agnes, hitting them over the head with a frying pan seems kinda natural. Agnes is having a really bad week. She is trying to finish her cooking column for the newspaper, get her fiance to move into their new house, organize her god daughter's wedding at her house, and trying to avoid these home invaders. Just what do they want anyway? When she tells her buddy Joey - he sends his nephew Shane. But what does this guy really do for a living? Does this have anything to do with the fact this house used to belong to mob guy?
Welcome to Agnes and the Hitman, a wonderful adventure and romance written by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. They take you on a whirlwind trek, that involves dogs, missing millions, a wedding that might not happen, covert operations, betrayals, a neurotic grandmother of the bride, settling old scores and flamingos. And through it all, Agnes is trying to hold it together. And you think your life was stressful. Come join the fun, and trust them to take you along on one hell a good story.
Welcome to Agnes and the Hitman, a wonderful adventure and romance written by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. They take you on a whirlwind trek, that involves dogs, missing millions, a wedding that might not happen, covert operations, betrayals, a neurotic grandmother of the bride, settling old scores and flamingos. And through it all, Agnes is trying to hold it together. And you think your life was stressful. Come join the fun, and trust them to take you along on one hell a good story.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to me! I now have over 100 posts on my blog. Yeah, it took awhile, but I have kept up with the books and the blog. Well here's to another hundred! ;-)
Monique
Monique
Saturday, September 08, 2007
A Year Without "Made in China"
A Year Without "Made in China": One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy by Sara Bongiorni is the story of how a simple concept that started as a New Year's resolution grew into a family journey and book. The author, an avid label reader, was struck by the amount of items under the Christmas tree that were made in China. As a journalist, she had read some of the upcoming articles of China's economic machine, but it had never struck so close to home. She decided with her husband (who she starts out calling "the weakest link"), to try a family resolution of not purchasing anything new that was "made in China."
Their decision brings up all sorts of issues. What if they get a gift that is Chinese made? Are there items the Chinese have a monopoly on? (Apparently seasonal decorations, cheap sunglasses and reasonably priced children's shoes and toys.) Would they be able to replace their coffee maker at all? What about the components that are made in China? Does that count? Bongiorni finds that it is a struggle and can be - depending on the item you're searching for - take a lot of time and energy.
She does a great job of telling of the little struggles that her family has. What to do about birthday gifts for small children? (Some Legos) And what about her kids? Are they suffering with the loss of these goods? (No) She finds out that it probably is easier to do this now when her kids are small, and to her surprise, that her husband offers her some good support, and that they are saving some money from not buying or replacing their doodads and junk.
This is a fun and easily accessible book about one's consumer dollar. Bongiorni makes it an entertaining family story and allows the armchair reader to wonder "what if..." A great fast read.
Their decision brings up all sorts of issues. What if they get a gift that is Chinese made? Are there items the Chinese have a monopoly on? (Apparently seasonal decorations, cheap sunglasses and reasonably priced children's shoes and toys.) Would they be able to replace their coffee maker at all? What about the components that are made in China? Does that count? Bongiorni finds that it is a struggle and can be - depending on the item you're searching for - take a lot of time and energy.
She does a great job of telling of the little struggles that her family has. What to do about birthday gifts for small children? (Some Legos) And what about her kids? Are they suffering with the loss of these goods? (No) She finds out that it probably is easier to do this now when her kids are small, and to her surprise, that her husband offers her some good support, and that they are saving some money from not buying or replacing their doodads and junk.
This is a fun and easily accessible book about one's consumer dollar. Bongiorni makes it an entertaining family story and allows the armchair reader to wonder "what if..." A great fast read.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Whiskey Sour
J.A. Konrath's book Whiskey Sour, features a Chicago policewoman named Jack Daniels. Lt. Daniels (she got stuck with her name when she married and didn't change it after the divorce) works very hard for her violent crimes unit, and has an appalling lack of a social life. This police procedural features the case of a serial killer who mutilates his victims. But in the midst of the case, Daniels is an appealing character - a bit of a cynic, but someone you want to root for especially after the killer finds her fascinating as well.
I really enjoyed the book in spite of the fact that this is something I would not normally pick up at first glance. I am reading it for a book discussion. It is a bit too gory (for me) in places - but perhaps I just have a vivid visual imagination when I read. But there is something always interesting in taking a chance on a new author or new genre that is a bit more than your used to. If you don't like it - the result can be agonizing- to have wasted your reading time and energy on something you really dislike. Or it can be a pleasant surprise and a new discovery. Try something new, you might like it. Or in my case, I found a new mystery series to watch for. Don't know if I will read every page of the gruesome details, but I really like this character and want to see her go places.
I really enjoyed the book in spite of the fact that this is something I would not normally pick up at first glance. I am reading it for a book discussion. It is a bit too gory (for me) in places - but perhaps I just have a vivid visual imagination when I read. But there is something always interesting in taking a chance on a new author or new genre that is a bit more than your used to. If you don't like it - the result can be agonizing- to have wasted your reading time and energy on something you really dislike. Or it can be a pleasant surprise and a new discovery. Try something new, you might like it. Or in my case, I found a new mystery series to watch for. Don't know if I will read every page of the gruesome details, but I really like this character and want to see her go places.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Jane's World - Everything You Wanted to Know About Jane Austen's Books But Were Too Busy to Ask
Are you a Janite? Do Jane Austen's novels rock your world? Can't get enough of Mr. Darcy and Anne Elliot? I have the book for you. Deirdre Le Faye's book Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels is a great study of Austen's works. And she goes in depth and manages to be entertaining in the process.
Even if you only have one favorite Austen novel, you can go into this book and see the detail about the time period of the book, where it might have been set - what were the styles of houses, clothes and people during that time. It gives the average reader an peak into Jane's influences while writing and what references her readers of her time would have caught and appreciated. And Le Faye does this all in an engaging but serious style.
This may not be for everyone - she does go into enormous detail, book by book, but it is a must for the Austen fan. A great compact book to add to your literary reference shelf. I'm going to have to get this keeper.
Even if you only have one favorite Austen novel, you can go into this book and see the detail about the time period of the book, where it might have been set - what were the styles of houses, clothes and people during that time. It gives the average reader an peak into Jane's influences while writing and what references her readers of her time would have caught and appreciated. And Le Faye does this all in an engaging but serious style.
This may not be for everyone - she does go into enormous detail, book by book, but it is a must for the Austen fan. A great compact book to add to your literary reference shelf. I'm going to have to get this keeper.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Janet Evanovich's Hot Stuff
Janet Evanovich is a busy woman. Not only is she writing her mystery series, she is co-authoring several other books as well. Hot Stuff is a book she co-wrote with Leanne Banks. And as usual there are some great characters.
So what you do when your roommate, Marty, is a cross-dressing lounge singer with a lot of out of town shows? Well, you water his plants and you wonder why scary people keep coming around asking when he will be back. But then he has a 120 pound dog delivered to the building as a guard dog. Who has time to take care of this Beast? Cate, the bartender/college student is getting a little bit weirded out. Especially when the cute guy at the bar who was trying to pick her up, keeps asking questions about Marty. The cute guy happens to be an ex-cop. He's on a job for his private investigation firm, but he still realizes that Cate is a keeper - even if she isn't aware of it yet. She's too busy for a relationship and trying to get rid of the last guy her family set her up with.
This one is light and fluffy but has a lot of funny scenes and quirky characters that just make you laugh. And the dog is a piece of work himself. A fun fast read.
So what you do when your roommate, Marty, is a cross-dressing lounge singer with a lot of out of town shows? Well, you water his plants and you wonder why scary people keep coming around asking when he will be back. But then he has a 120 pound dog delivered to the building as a guard dog. Who has time to take care of this Beast? Cate, the bartender/college student is getting a little bit weirded out. Especially when the cute guy at the bar who was trying to pick her up, keeps asking questions about Marty. The cute guy happens to be an ex-cop. He's on a job for his private investigation firm, but he still realizes that Cate is a keeper - even if she isn't aware of it yet. She's too busy for a relationship and trying to get rid of the last guy her family set her up with.
This one is light and fluffy but has a lot of funny scenes and quirky characters that just make you laugh. And the dog is a piece of work himself. A fun fast read.
The Texan's Reward
Having grown up watching western movies on TV, sometimes I get a taste for a little western romance. Some authors dabble in it, but Jodi Thomas is a master. But you do have to like Texas, since Thomas sets almost all of her books there. But you know Texas is a very big state full of stories so that should not be too hard.
The Texan's Reward is the final book in a series, but like most books from Thomas, if you pick it up without knowing that, it's okay - it will just make you go back and read more. The story starts out with Texas ranger Jacob Dalton coming back to the ranch of his "friend". His friend happens to be an orphan girl, he befriended long ago, who has grown up to be quite a lady (she wasn't when she started). Nell needs a husband - she is bound to a wheelchair and while she can get along in the house she needs a partner for the ranch work. Dalton is mad she's advertising for a husband, and thinks since he has had to bail her out of trouble so many times in the past, he's up for the current job. However ranger duties, other suitors and other trouble soon intervene.
Thomas has a great way with characters - even the secondary ones, and makes the reader feel like they are old friends. So go a "little Western" why don't ya? A fun read.
The Texan's Reward is the final book in a series, but like most books from Thomas, if you pick it up without knowing that, it's okay - it will just make you go back and read more. The story starts out with Texas ranger Jacob Dalton coming back to the ranch of his "friend". His friend happens to be an orphan girl, he befriended long ago, who has grown up to be quite a lady (she wasn't when she started). Nell needs a husband - she is bound to a wheelchair and while she can get along in the house she needs a partner for the ranch work. Dalton is mad she's advertising for a husband, and thinks since he has had to bail her out of trouble so many times in the past, he's up for the current job. However ranger duties, other suitors and other trouble soon intervene.
Thomas has a great way with characters - even the secondary ones, and makes the reader feel like they are old friends. So go a "little Western" why don't ya? A fun read.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Eat, Pray, Love - a traveling memoir of learning
Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia is a book about self discovery. After a divorce and a bitter follow-up relationship, Gilbert decides that she needs to travel and get away from her current life and decides to spend several months in Italy, India and Bali. The "Eat" chapter focuses on Italy and her learning to open herself to new friends. "Pray" takes place in India where she travels to an quiet Ashram where she studies with a local guru. (And to my surprise, my favorite section.) And "Love" takes place in Bali where she starts a relationship with someone new.
When I started this book - I did not necessarily like Gilbert. And you need to like her or empathize with her, to care about her journey. I read the first section and then stopped. I picked the book up again several months later and gave it another try. This time, I was much more receptive to her and her tale of self discovery. So give the book a chance if you have a hard time getting into it. It really is true that there is "the right book at the right time" for you to read. So if you are in an introspective mood, or coming out of a bad relationship - this may be the right book for you.
Here's something from my favorite section - which was "Pray". There is a lot of food for thought in these chapters...
When talking to a fellow yogi about the man she thought was her soul mate - he replies -
"He probably was. Your problem is you don't understand what that word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Too painful. Soul mates come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. In this case, you can't let go. His purpose was to shake you up, drive you out of that marriage that you needed to leave, tear apart your ego, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light could get in, make you so that you had to transform your life....That was his job."
So, something to think about and ponder. Try the book - maybe you will like it too. At the very least, the "Eat" section will make you crave good Italian food!
When I started this book - I did not necessarily like Gilbert. And you need to like her or empathize with her, to care about her journey. I read the first section and then stopped. I picked the book up again several months later and gave it another try. This time, I was much more receptive to her and her tale of self discovery. So give the book a chance if you have a hard time getting into it. It really is true that there is "the right book at the right time" for you to read. So if you are in an introspective mood, or coming out of a bad relationship - this may be the right book for you.
Here's something from my favorite section - which was "Pray". There is a lot of food for thought in these chapters...
When talking to a fellow yogi about the man she thought was her soul mate - he replies -
"He probably was. Your problem is you don't understand what that word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Too painful. Soul mates come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. In this case, you can't let go. His purpose was to shake you up, drive you out of that marriage that you needed to leave, tear apart your ego, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light could get in, make you so that you had to transform your life....That was his job."
So, something to think about and ponder. Try the book - maybe you will like it too. At the very least, the "Eat" section will make you crave good Italian food!
All Jacked Up
All Jacked Up by Penny McCall is a little like a thrill ride. The book hooks you in and takes you up and down places. Our story starts in the Library of Congress map room. Aubrey, a librarian who works there - faces a patron who appears to have a gun and wants her to go off with him. Jack doesn't mention he's a Fed, but there really is not time - considering people are starting to shoot at her.
Jack and Aubrey manage to escape - with her asking questions all they way, and thus begins the series of their adventures. Aubrey is not your usual librarian, she has a photographic memory, which allows her to recall all sorts of useful stuff in a hurry - like how to shoot painkillers into a guy whose seems to be kidnapping you. Jack learns she isn't what she seems, and needs to convince her that someone has a contract out on her. She's not so sure he is what he says he is - but then again, he's not shooting at her and seems to want to help. Now if she can only remember what she knows about that has people wanting her dead.
McCall takes you through the chaos to a satisfactory conclusion. They are fun characters, so have a good time on the roller coaster ride. A good read.
Jack and Aubrey manage to escape - with her asking questions all they way, and thus begins the series of their adventures. Aubrey is not your usual librarian, she has a photographic memory, which allows her to recall all sorts of useful stuff in a hurry - like how to shoot painkillers into a guy whose seems to be kidnapping you. Jack learns she isn't what she seems, and needs to convince her that someone has a contract out on her. She's not so sure he is what he says he is - but then again, he's not shooting at her and seems to want to help. Now if she can only remember what she knows about that has people wanting her dead.
McCall takes you through the chaos to a satisfactory conclusion. They are fun characters, so have a good time on the roller coaster ride. A good read.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Austenland
Austenland: a Novel by Shannon Hale is a great book for anyone who has daydreamed for their own Mr. Darcy. In fact that seems to be the problem for the lead character Jane. Colin Firth's BBC version of Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy has ruined her relationships. Every guy she meets just doesn't measure up. When she admits this to her elderly aunt, she receives a strange bequest. Her aunt leaves her an all expenses paid holiday to Pembrook Park in England for an exclusive three week regency vacation. Jane feels like an addict who just got a hit. Should she go? Will this cure her fascination with a literary character?
Guest at Pembrook Park have to dress, dance, walk and talk in the regency style. Jane receives a briefing before she actually makes it to the grand estate that will be her home for the next three weeks. And the others who are there? Is this their vacation too? Is this real? Perhaps it is a bad TV reality show and no one told Jane? And what about these men who are here? After swearing off of guys, the ones here look pretty yummy... But the restrictions of the time period are still restrictions here - will Jane ever find some one real or it will it be just pretty conversation and polite enquiries about the weather? Will she leave the Mr. Darcy dream behind?
Hale has a great character in Jane - the reader wants to cheer her successes and moans at her past romantic failures. The author draws us in to this surreal world and we understand Jane's confusion over what is real and what - and who, is pretend. This is the ultimate fun and frothy novel and it is a great read. Enjoy!
Guest at Pembrook Park have to dress, dance, walk and talk in the regency style. Jane receives a briefing before she actually makes it to the grand estate that will be her home for the next three weeks. And the others who are there? Is this their vacation too? Is this real? Perhaps it is a bad TV reality show and no one told Jane? And what about these men who are here? After swearing off of guys, the ones here look pretty yummy... But the restrictions of the time period are still restrictions here - will Jane ever find some one real or it will it be just pretty conversation and polite enquiries about the weather? Will she leave the Mr. Darcy dream behind?
Hale has a great character in Jane - the reader wants to cheer her successes and moans at her past romantic failures. The author draws us in to this surreal world and we understand Jane's confusion over what is real and what - and who, is pretend. This is the ultimate fun and frothy novel and it is a great read. Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)