Food Rules by Michael Pollen

 

“Food Rules” by Michael Pollen has to be one of the hottest books and a trend in the universe right now. So, what is it? Well, it’s a bookl about Americans and their diet. We are an obese nation getting worse, at risk for shortened life spans and diseases that were almost unheard of a century ago. In this book Michael Pollen outlines 64 simple principles to help you develop a healthy eating lifestyle. And in a very uncomplicated way. These aren’t extensive, government style rules and addendums that we’re talking about here. This is an easy to use guide that, really you should have at home, that are memorable, easy to follow and just make sense. Like this: p.23 “Avoid foods that are pretending to be something they’re not” Imitation butter is the classic example…he goes on with a very short paragraph to tell you why not to use margarine. (hurrah, I don’t like it anyway). The book is short, 139 pages and full of common sense ‘rules’ about food and eating.

Choosing To See by Mary Beth Chapman

“Choosing to See” by Mary Beth Chapman is the true story of Singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth and the loss of their 5 year old adopted Chinese daughter, Maria, in 2008. Well, the word ‘loss’ is actually a euphemism for ‘the death of’. Worse, little Maria was killed accidently when run over by her older brother, Will. Chapman does not look at this tragedy with a pie in the sky attitude; rather she lays out her deepest sorrow and the overwhelming loss of it all right in front of us. She describes son Will’s anguish, as well as describing her questions of God with tears and despair. A heartfelt well written book.

My Teenage Werewolf by Lauren Kessler

 

I love the title of this book: “My Teenage Werewolf” by Lauren Kessler. From the title alone you know exactly where this book is going to go. First the author is going to talk about teenage girls, their unpredictability, their changing and wildly swinging moods and the ‘complete mutual hostility of it all’. The author of this book goes bravely where no mom has gone before and let me tell you I just must find out about her discoveries: she heads into the girls locker room. She witnesses the utter coolness of her daughter and her own shabbiness and stupidity. I actually remember those days; days when I wondered how it was I ever managed to get up and get dressed without someone critiquing my fashion sense! Secondly, this book title is the perfect marketing strategy! After all, werewolves and vampires are all the rage right now. Curiousity will reign, and you will just have to pick this one up. But I’d recommend it anyway, especially if you have teenage girls in the house, or if you love someone who has teenage girls in their house. (Dads too, you shouldn’t be exempt.) That should cover everyone!

You Have to Be in It to Win It!: A seven-step program to embrace ebooks

After buying my first e reader this weekend I ran across this article and find myself agreeing whole heartedly. We have begun purchasing ebooks here at the library, non fiction primarily, but it is a small beginning to a larger trend I believe! I want the library at the forefront of this, not left in the dust. So look for more ebooks here. Let me know what you have. Let’s experiement together.

You Have to Be in It to Win It!: A seven-step program to embrace ebooks.

We Shall not Sleep by Anne Perry

We Shall not sleep is book 5 of Perry’s World War 1 series about the Reavley Family and the conflict that was the War to end all Wars. This was probably the best one of the series as it tied up all the loose ends and finally, finally revealed who the ‘Peacemaker’ was. The drama involved the solving of a particularly henious murder of a nurse, the race to London to reveal the peacemaker before they could be stopped, a love story and lots of reflection on the costs of war. This series did not move particularly quickly and some of the philosophical points that Perry injects into the novel get a bit tiresome after awhile, but over all the story was a good one.