Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Audiobook Review- Animal,Vegetable,Miracle
I have been listening to this audiobook for the past couple of weeks, and I must say that I it has made me think about the food I serve my family (and myself) in a totally new light. Kingsolver reads the book herself, which is a plus for me. Having the author interpret her own work gives it an extra personal quality, especially when said author has a pleasant, lilting southern accent. The book chronicles Kingsolver’s family’s attempts to grow or raise as much of their own food as possible on their Appalachian farm, while procuring the rest locally. It isn’t always easy for them, but, according to the author, the benefits in health and togetherness diminish the challenges.
Before I go further, let me say that I will not be raising my own Thanksgiving turkey in my backyard, nor do I plan to give up bananas, which are a decidedly non-local food option. However, I have been inspired to pay much more attention to the items I buy in the grocery store, and I now spend a lot more time reading food labels. What I have found on those labels is quite shocking, and after some research I have determined not to buy any food item containing propylene glycol, xantham gum, or EDTA, among other nasty chemicals.
Getting my own family on board this health habit has proved a bit tricky, however. It sounds like a good idea, but I have come face-to-face with some entrenched habits when I, for example, refused to drive through Taco Bell after school or wouldn’t re-supply the sodas in the garage fridge. I especially knew I had more work to do when Ted and Sophie came proudly home from the store last weekend bearing their purchase of “organic” cheese puffs. Oh well, I guess you have to start somewhere…
My rating: Good, and worth a read (or a listen). But skip the parts where Kingsolver’s husband reads all the agriculture and meat packing industry facts. No offense, but that part is boring and sounds a bit conspiratorial to me. Just listen to Barbara tell about the juicy heirloom tomatoes and morel mushrooms. You’ll be inspired to head out to the farmer’s market next weekend and skip all those processed foods in the grocery store.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Book Review-The Piano Teacher
Here's an experiment-I'm always talking with friends about books I've read, so I've started this new blog for reviews of books, stories, or other interesting material I've read. I hope you will leave your own comments about the books, and suggest other interesting reading for the rest of us.
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
I read this debut novel straight through in a couple of days, trying to finish it before the author’s lecture at the DMA yesterday afternoon. The novel tells the story of Will Truesdale and the two women who are in love with him; one in 1941 as the Japanese invade Hong Kong and the other 11 years later as the city rebuilds. Though there are a few gaps in the plot which require the reader to fill in the blanks, it is a well-written historical novel with interesting characters and unique cultural insights about a time and place which hasn’t previously gotten much print attention.
The author is a young Korean-American woman living in Hong Kong with her husband and four kids (including twins born two days after she sent the final manuscript to her publisher!) I was truly inspired by her account of the writing process and was impressed by her poise in dealing with questions from the audience, including one from a nitwit who basically gave away the primary plot twist of the book! Not everyone in the auditorium had read (or finished) the book at that point, and an audible gasp went up from the crowd when the proverbial beans were spilled. Instead of calling the woman a clueless moron, which is what I probably would have done in the same situation, Ms. Lee just said “Well, for those of you who haven’t read the book yet—just forget you heard that” and moved on to a more discreet questioner.
Ms. Lee signed books after the lecture and graciously thanked each person for being there. I was watching, and imagining how it might feel to sit at a book-signing table myself someday.
I’d recommend this book as a good weekend or book-club read, although probably more women than men will enjoy it (sorry, guys.)
I read this debut novel straight through in a couple of days, trying to finish it before the author’s lecture at the DMA yesterday afternoon. The novel tells the story of Will Truesdale and the two women who are in love with him; one in 1941 as the Japanese invade Hong Kong and the other 11 years later as the city rebuilds. Though there are a few gaps in the plot which require the reader to fill in the blanks, it is a well-written historical novel with interesting characters and unique cultural insights about a time and place which hasn’t previously gotten much print attention.
The author is a young Korean-American woman living in Hong Kong with her husband and four kids (including twins born two days after she sent the final manuscript to her publisher!) I was truly inspired by her account of the writing process and was impressed by her poise in dealing with questions from the audience, including one from a nitwit who basically gave away the primary plot twist of the book! Not everyone in the auditorium had read (or finished) the book at that point, and an audible gasp went up from the crowd when the proverbial beans were spilled. Instead of calling the woman a clueless moron, which is what I probably would have done in the same situation, Ms. Lee just said “Well, for those of you who haven’t read the book yet—just forget you heard that” and moved on to a more discreet questioner.
Ms. Lee signed books after the lecture and graciously thanked each person for being there. I was watching, and imagining how it might feel to sit at a book-signing table myself someday.
I’d recommend this book as a good weekend or book-club read, although probably more women than men will enjoy it (sorry, guys.)
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