Books are an easy Christmas present. They are very simple to wrap and a good book can be found for almost every interest. They also work for any age. A wonderful adult non-fiction book that is new this month is "Highest Duty" by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot of Flight 1549 that he landed in the Hudson River. The passengers were fortunate to have such a conscientious pilot at the controls. He had assisted in the investigation of several crashes so he understood the importance of focusing on what you can do in a difficult situation. He explains the way he has tried all his life to do his best, even when it is unnoticed. He writes about a landing when he piloted the plane so skillfully that the passengers would not feel any bumpiness. No one gave him points for that, but he was committed to doing his best possible. That was the way he tried to fly all through his career. His story is inspiring. The reader also learns a few things about how the airlines are run and what is happening while you are a passenger. The story makes me proud that I always thank the staff when I exit a plane.
A beautiful Christmas book is "Nigella Christmas" by Nigella Lawson. I consider her the English Martha Stewart. The book is beautifully illustrated and the recipes have an international sounding flavor. I have warned my family that we will have drunken devils on horseback for Christmas appetizers. Nigella does a wonderful job of describing how to make them and how the strange name originated. The menus for different holiday celebrations are beautifully festive. The cookbook also lists internet sources for some of the hard to find ingredients.
A gift book for little girls ages four to about ten is "Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas" by Jane O'Connor. This is one that all Nancy fans will love. It will also be fun for girls of any age who love to dress up and be fancy. Nancy learns about what is really important at the holiday time.
Got a "Twilight lover on your list? Get them more fanged fiction. Try the "House of Night" series by P. C. Cast or "Vampire Academy" and the other books in this series by Richelle Mead. If they have a sense of humor concerning vampires, consider buying "Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey. [12-6-09]
Baking Cakes in Kigali Gaile Parkin is an authentic voice as the author of the novel "Baking Cakes in Kigali." She was born and raised in Zambia and went to universities in South Africa and England. She spent two years in Rwanda counseling students with HIV/AIDS. She also worked with the women and girls who were survivors of families that had been decimated by AIDS. Many of the stories told to her by these people were used for characters in "Baking Cakes in Kigali."
Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda. Angel Tungaraza has moved there from Tanzania, with her husband, Pius, who teaches at the university. They are caring for two sets of grandchildren after the death of a daughter and a son. To earn a little extra money that will help the couple raise a second family of five grandchildren, Angel sells her cakes. She is very proud of her colorful, imaginative cakes that are individually designed. When she is asked by the wife of an American CIA agent to recreate their multi-tiered, white-on-white wedding cake for their anniversary party, she mainly feels humiliation. An all white cake is just too plain to be one of Angel's creations. She has made cakes shaped like computer keyboards, microphones, and airplanes. She tries to make each cake relate to the interests of the recipient and she is proud of the way she uses food coloring to produce vividly colored cakes.
Angel is also generous with her time. When the customer is filling out a
Cake Order Form, Angel often helps her customer examine their problems through
her gentle probing. In addition to caring for her grandchildren, she becomes
a mentor to young women who someday hope to have their own businesses. Most
of these women are coping with great losses. They are either ill with AIDS
themselves or have lost family members. The novel explores the stresses that
war and disease have placed on citizens of African nations. Angel even becomes
an adoptive mother of the bride for a special wedding that is taking place
in her compound. The bride and groom are members of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes
whose genocidal warfare had almost destroyed the country. This marriage was
a joining that overcame prejudice. Angel is a benevolent presence for good
in many confrontations. Her joy and faith in her friends gives the reader
an opportunity to appreciate the grace that can come from adversity. [12-13-09]
"A Friend of the Family" by Lauren Grodstein is a tale of suburban angst. Peter Dizinoff is the central character of two families in turmoil. He is a New Jersey internist who has remained in touch with his best friend from college. For years, each summer Peter and his best friend, Joe, and their families have gone to the Delaware shore together. There is a gap in ages, but the children interact as if they were siblings. Eventually, the children become too old for family vacations. Peter and his wife Elaine are horrified when Joe and Iris's daughter, Laura, is convicted of delivering a baby in the local library's bathroom, then bashing in the baby's skull. This happened when she was seventeen. She was not sent to prison, but was placed in a psychiatric institution. Eventually, she was released. Then she drifted from one menial job to another, suddenly feeling the need to escape "something". Several years later Peter and Elaine's son, Alec, becomes involved with Laura who is six years older than he is. Alec has his own issues. He is not an academic star and has reluctantly gone to college to study art. After only three mediocre semesters, he has dropped out of college. His parents are permitting him to live in a studio over their garage.
Peter's problem is how to react to such a relationship. As a doctor and as a man, he sees issues in black and white. Alec is their only child and Peter feels an extreme love for him. As a part of this great affection, Peter dreams of a life for him that will be successful by Peter's standards. It certainly does not involve a relationship with a woman Peter considers a baby killer. Peter's orderly and successful life is seriously disrupted not only by his son's relationship, but also by a mistake which he made in his medical practice. He then becomes a pariah in both his home life and his community.
The plot is sometimes difficult to follow because the story switches time periods.
You first are introduced to Peter after he has been disgraced, but aren't sure
what has happened. The earlier years are not narrated in order, so characters
develop unevenly. But, the writing is so detailed, that you do quickly feel
a part of this fractured group. The families are easy to identify with, but
we all hope to never have their problems.
[12-20-09]
"A Friend of the Family" by Lauren Grodstein is a tale of suburban angst. Peter Dizinoff is the central character of two families in turmoil. He is a New Jersey internist who has remained in touch with his best friend from college. For years, each summer Peter and his best friend, Joe, and their families have gone to the Delaware shore together. There is a gap in ages, but the children interact as if they were siblings. Eventually, the children become too old for family vacations. Peter and his wife Elaine are horrified when Joe and Iris's daughter, Laura, is convicted of delivering a baby in the local library's bathroom, then bashing in the baby's skull. This happened when she was seventeen. She was not sent to prison, but was placed in a psychiatric institution. Eventually, she was released. Then she drifted from one menial job to another, suddenly feeling the need to escape "something". Several years later Peter and Elaine's son, Alec, becomes involved with Laura who is six years older than he is. Alec has his own issues. He is not an academic star and has reluctantly gone to college to study art. After only three mediocre semesters, he has dropped out of college. His parents are permitting him to live in a studio over their garage.
Peter's problem is how to react to such a relationship. As a doctor and as a man, he sees issues in black and white. Alec is their only child and Peter feels an extreme love for him. As a part of this great affection, Peter dreams of a life for him that will be successful by Peter's standards. It certainly does not involve a relationship with a woman Peter considers a baby killer. Peter's orderly and successful life is seriously disrupted not only by his son's relationship, but also by a mistake which he made in his medical practice. He then becomes a pariah in both his home life and his community.
The plot is sometimes difficult to follow because the story switches time periods.
You first are introduced to Peter after he has been disgraced, but aren't sure
what has happened. The earlier years are not narrated in order, so characters
develop unevenly. But, the writing is so detailed, that you do quickly feel
a part of this fractured group. The families are easy to identify with, but
we all hope to never have their problems.
[12-27-09]
by Helen Davis