Ginseng Roots: A Memoir
by Craig Thompson
Graphic, pictorial family biography (4/21/2025)
Craig Thompson while family were ginseng farmers. It's a very important ingredient in cooking. However, the actual process is quite arduous. However, as we much agricultural produce, there are many not only physical, medical and psychological stresses. Money was always a problem. Parental problems, constant moving. As a psychologist, I knew there would be problems, each person.
That was mother, father, 2 sons and a daughter. It is part an exploration of their lives. It is both an American story, the power of stereotypes, expectations. A perfect book illustrating listening, documenting and using words and pictures in a meaningful while.
The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill
Wonderful, delightful mystery (12/18/2023)
Great read, peopled by wonderfully inventive characters. Delightful to discover yet another twist as well as novel protagonists. Addictive and engrossing.
The Critic's Daughter: A Memoir
by Priscilla Gilman
Nostalgia and then so (1/3/2023)
Wonderful book. Great essays about her life, her father and others. Read it between finishing Barbara Kingsolver's last book. Had to stop to reread several Dickens short pieces and of course, my penultimate choices, Great Expectations, then David Copperfield and Bleak House.
Of Women and Salt
by Gabriela Garcia
First person: Plural (12/27/2020)
Well crafted stories, cinematic framework. Collective voices, with misdirection. Cuban female perspectives begin in slavery in colonial Cuban and continue to present.
The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
by Katherine Sharp Landdeck
Left out again (1/9/2020)
I just finished reading Dovey Johnson Roundtree's Mighty Justice, an incredible book by an amazing woman. In 1943, she challenged racial discrimination in the WAAC and went on to challenge for racial justice until her death at 105 years of age in 2018.
Now, Landdeck's book The Women with Silver Wings documents more legendary achievements by women in the military. Women are left out of the story, especially that of military history. It took more than 30 years, in 1977 for the WASP services to be acknowledged as veterans of WWII. Women aviators were critically important in training and ferrying planes and after the war, forgotten. The role of women in the Military continues to be understated. It needs to be highlighted. There are many unsung heroes. Let us sing out!
Red Letter Days
by Sarah-Jane Stratford
Fear and Loathing (10/9/2019)
This was a great read, engaging and pulled me into Phoebe, Joan and Hannah's lives. Based on historical events that I remember well, the HUAC hearing and Red Scare that destroyed the lives of so many people. Stratford deftly narrates the ethical quandaries faced by all. To testify, to escape. Hannah's courage was extraordinary and an important moral and relevant position in the present.
As a reader, I questioned what I would have done, hindsight is always easy. Stratford's novel explained directly and indirectly uncomfortable and perplexing situations that real people faced in that time. What does it mean to live, to act responsibly in your life and that of others? These questions are answered differently by Hannah, Phoebe and Joan. An enjoyable read.
Beirut Hellfire Society
by Rawi Hage
Wisdom...you know nothing (6/4/2019)
Beirut Hellfire Society is a profound, beautiful and discomforting. Pavlov, the undertaker's son learned well. Pavlov's harrowing tale haunts, compels the reader. Conditioned by culture, religion, folktales, we travel with him and those he meets in war-torn Beirut and environs.
He breaks bread with the living and dead. His crematorium burns the bodies of all, infidels, non-believers, family, foe, dreamers, the deceived. Each is treated with respect. His father's legacy, his observations of those around him during the years Lebanese Civil War educated him. Pavlov, his faithful dogs haunt the war-torn, ravished landscape. Privilege, personal memory, war, death respect no one. There is dancing, joy and life goes on.
Hage's novel encompasses many traditions, the burial rites, ancient histories, the French, Maronite Christians, ancient Greek and Syrian philosophies. Choices made meaningless in the face of war, anarchy. Each person's account is altered. Generations come, go and return. The truth is blurry. The book begins with a dusty, smokey funeral pyre in a hidden cave. It ends with the smoke and ash of a woman's cigarette.
D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II
by Sarah Rose
Fascinating Intense Read (3/26/2019)
Rose's book was fascinating account of female courage, daring and organization. Her research was intensive and exhaustive, codes, aliases, operating covers, techniques used by these women. She provided a refreshing commentary about role of patriarchy, prejudice interacted, often hindered recruitment and greater use. The release SOE release of info in the late 1990's allowed new information to be revealed. Rose's perspective on the various political players, Churchill, De Gaulle and other players was thoughtful. These women were a small part of the Anglo-French effort. Wherever British troops were active, so were women as nurses. This is often overlooked it all warfare. One little fact that emerged was French women were only granted vote in 1946.
The Affairs of the Falcóns
by Melissa Rivero
Struggle to succeed. (11/24/2018)
What a timely novel as Central Americas make their way to the US border! Ana Falcon and her family are undocumented, living in Brooklyn. The falcon is a bird of prey who soars above all the obstacles in her path. Ana’s struggles with her own personal history, that of her compatriots that included her husband and family. The color line and prejudices disappear as she fights for her children. At times, she was not a sympathetic figure. Her husband’s loss of status was acknowledged. The end was real. I recommend this novel. I just finished trying to help other undocumented persons gave asylum, citizenship. Rivera’s novel helped me realize what Americans take for granted.
So Much Life Left Over
by Louis de Bernieres
The empires that could not stand (7/24/2018)
This novel irritated and annoyed me as a reader. I completed it as some of the characters were intriguing. Apparently, De Bernieres has used his characters in other novels so there are back stories. War does many things. However, in the first chapter, De Bernieres write that" (they) missed the extremes of experience that made them feel intensely alive," despite the shadow of death. This makes many characters shallow and understates the reality of the World War I, colonialism, be it British, French or American. Women's issues are given short shift except for absurd use of Daniel as a sperm donor. Gender, sexuality, class differences and racism are given short shrift.
The Family Tabor
by Cherise Wolas
All is vanity (4/12/2018)
I am beginning my essay about The Family Tabor, a novel by Cherise Wolas with an excerpt of the diary written by my paternal grandmother, Annie Weinstein. She put the date, 1898 and a quote "All is Vanity". She began, "Determined in 1891 to keep a diary but put it off until I should have something worth writing. I thought of it again in 1894 yet I still decided to wait. Then in 1898 I resolved firmly to start it right then and there and ended by starting it to-day September seventh, 1898. " I was born September 30th, 1879 in Lebau, Russia, now Latvia. Libau, founded in 1625, was until 1914 one of the main ports of the Russian empire.
"My parents were comfortably possessed of this world's goods and so I had no sufferings on that account. I remember very little about Russia as I was about five when I left Russia, for the "Eldorado of the West" the United States. In New York things were very different and from our passage across the Atlantic dates my memory. I remember that my mother and sister were very ill but as I have always been hardy the voyage had very little effect on me. Our first residence in N.Y. was in 61 East Broadway and I remember it was quite a nice street. But here we were very poor and a little later moved to rooms a little cheaper and nicer in 5 Eldridge Street from there we opened a little store at 199? Bryant St. There, as though we were not poor enough we were robbed of almost everything we had. Then to 68 Bayard later to 54 Division where my father fell ill and we almost despaired of his life but Thank God he recovered. From there to 44 Allen St. again to 105 Allen St. and then to 83-1/2 Division where our fortunes turned…
My maternal grandmother was from Bialystok, my grandfather from Kiev. Reading Wolas' novel, I was transported back into my own family history as well as that of the Tabor family. Each of her characters resonated with someone I know. Roma, a child psychologist, is someone I know well as I am a forensic child psychologist. Her daughters, Phoebe, a lawyer and Camille, the anthropologist. My family includes lawyers, economists and others. They become comfortable companions with their brother Simon and his family on this tale of atonement and redemption. We discover the hidden truths, the layers covered on and move forward.
There is some much rich material in this novel. It bears several readings. Camille studied the Triobriand Islands. It was here that Mead studied teenaged girls and published her findings that adolescent "storm and stress" is not universal and continues to stand the test of time. Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski was Mead's mentor. His ethnography of the Trobriand Islands described the complex institution of the Kula ring, and became foundational for subsequent theories of reciprocity and exchange. His approach and that of this novel was a brand of psychological functionalism emphasizing how social and cultural institutions serve basic human needs. This is a wonderful book, reminiscent of Mann's Buddenbrooks but ultimately more hopeful.
Wolas' ends with Leonard Cohen. "If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game. If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame. If thine is the glory, then mine must be the shame. You want it darker. We kill the flame. Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name. Vilified, crucified, in the human frame. A million candles burning for the help that never came. You want it darker. Hineni, hineni. I'm ready, my lord.
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
Telling Lies (11/7/2017)
It grabbed me as I read it in one sitting. Prior to picking up Sometimes I Lie, I read The Book of Separation, a compelling and emotionally thoughtful memoir. The reader believes that Mirvis but still has many concerns. It was somewhat humorless and morose.
Forward to Sometimes, I Lie. Here there is clearly an unreliable narrator. She begins by stating sometimes she lies. Then, we find that she is in a coma. We learn bits and pieces, many contradictory. There is enough to keep the reader engaged as well as off balance.
Having the narrator in a coma is an interesting device that mostly works. There were elements of a double, a secret sharer. Overall, it kept me engaged. People coming out of a coma have no memories. This requires others to fill in the pieces. The author does provide clues throughout. As a novel, it was okay but not realistic.
Darling Days: A Memoir
by iO Tillett Wright
We are all much more simply human than otherwise, be we happy and successful, contented and detached, miserable and mentally disordered, or whatever. (4/26/2016)
I chose this quote from Harry Stack Sullivan because Io Tillett Wright's memoir is about a young human being struggling with issues of identity, belonging and finding a place in the world for oneself. For Wright, pronouns matter. Even as I write my review, I struggle with pronouns.
As a young child, teen and eventually young adult, there is a constant search for self. She is remarkably generous to others around her. I had to step back from my own judgments and allow Wright to explore her own experiences.
This copy did not have pictures unfortunately. So I went to the internet and found her TED talk at https://www.ted.com/speakers/io_tillett_wright. It was wonderful and added to my appreciation of this book.
I agree this this statement, "iO Tillett Wright thanks her parents for not asking her to define herself as a child. Her experience of growing up without having check boxes like "female," "male," "gay" or straight" thoroughly infuses her art."
As I finished this book, I thought about all the boxes we are asked to put ourselves in. I often struggle. Am I white, pink, or whatever? We are just a set of algorithms according to Google, Facebook and other data crunching services. Where does that leave the unique person?
Wright's book was a wonderful exploration of self and generous to others. There is no question of better parent or best interest of the child or straight gender definitions. She is generous in her love for many 'wounded warriors' in her life. I recommend this book. It was slow start but gradually became engrossing. A friend, dog sitting for me started the book and insisted that I give it to her when I finished.
The Language of Secrets
by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Staying in Control (11/5/2015)
This was a terrific book. Inspector Khattak is a very captivating and complicated character. As a Moslem man in Canada, he is portrayed with empathy and compassion. His partner, a young Canadian woman who enjoys ice hockey, is also a complex person. The novel is a slow but compelling read with numerous well drawn characters and many potential suspects.
It is a great police procedural with very interesting detectives. Khan is a good, often lyrical writer. She writes with compassion and offers insight into complex personalities. Her portrait of the immigrant and first generation Canadian was multi-faceted and highlighted the numerous assimilation and acculturation demands. It was a great read.
Jade Dragon Mountain
by Elsa Hart
Jade Dragon Mountain (6/1/2015)
This is a very enjoyable and satisfying historical detective novel. Li Du was delightful. Chinese literature has a long history, both in Chinese and other cultures. Ms. Hart paints a picture of northern China during the Qing (Manchu) dynasty. There are storytellers from Arabia, Jesuits and the East Indian company competing for favors from the Emperor.
There are enough clues along the way as well. China has many groups as well. Northern China was far from Beijing and communications slow. There was political intrigue. The unknown attracted numerous people. Life was brutal. Ms.Hart's novel was filled with many clever characters like Lady Chen and Martin Walpole.
There were several mysteries within the overall murder that was the core of Li Du's investigation.
This is a great novel for fans of historical fiction as well as detective fiction.
He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him
by Mimi Baird with Eve Claxton
Empathy and understanding the impaired mind: "To live without hope is to Cease to live" (2/14/2015)
Dr. Perry Baird, a brilliant, privileged physician, is the subject of his daughter's search for understanding who her father was. This book is a painful read with Dr. Baird's description of the horrors of the treatment of the mentally ill with straight jackets and ice cold water treatment. Acknowledging that in the throes of acute psychosis, these people and I emphasize people could be difficult to treat, they were and are more frequently dehumanized as less than worthy and somehow responsible for their behaviors. Ms. Baird's journey to find out about his father, his tragic end was a very thoughtful read. However, as a psychologist, it left me with many questions. Severe Mental illness usually results in poverty, no matter where one started.
Those suffering from mental illness are still victims.
I read her book but at times, it was not easy to keep going. Dr. Baird is joined by Dr. John Nash, the poets, Robert Lowell and Anne Sexton, who all struggled with severe bipolar disorders. Lowell in "Waking in Blue" offers another view. This subject of how we as a society treat the mentally ill remains a very relevant topic.
The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell
by William Klaber
The rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell, a strange bird (12/24/2014)
This was a fictionalized memoir, a difficult task. William Klaber has uncovered a painful story. I found myself exasperated, irritated, occasionally delighted and enchanted. It was ever-changing. It was not fish nor fowl, historical fiction, reliably, nonfiction. At points it was boring, and crammed with interesting facts. Fiction has the potential to be more entertaining than fact. Reading about life along the Delaware Canal was delightful and some of the best sections of the book. However, Lucy as Lucy or as Joseph never engaged me. The book was wordy and needed better editing.
The historical Lucy Ann Lobdell apparently resided in an area of Minnesota that has an important story to relate about immigration and those already residing in the territory. The author alludes to this but fails to link it with his theme of identity and humanity. The settlers with the connivance of the U.S. Government failed to pay money owed to the Dakota as well as not giving them food and supplies. This led to war in the summer of 1862, killing traders and government workers. Then settlements were attacked. White settlers were killed and others fled.
His voice remains masculine. Although he writes of the Scarlet Letter, I was not convinced that it was more than name-dropping. Hawthorne's tale was set in the harsh Puritan community of seventeenth-century Boston. By association, Klaber wants the reader to assume that pre-Civil War settlements were similar. Hawthorne's concerns were with the tension between the public and the private selves. Publicly disgraced and ostracized, Hester Prynne draws on her inner strength and certainty of spirit to emerge as the first true heroine of American fiction. Arthur Dimmesdale, trapped by the rules of society, stands as a classic study of a self divided. Unfortunately, this book fails to deliver any such heroine, although Lucy Lobdell was an interesting subject. Given the paucity of historical information, she remained a projection of the author that did not work for me.
City of the Sun
by Juliana Maio
lost and misplaced in time (1/11/2014)
I had a very mixed reaction to this book. The chronology is wrong, even through the author acknowledged some of this in an afterword. Characters are not very interesting. The novel was filled with information, not always relevant to the story. The author alludes to Velodrome d"Hiver which occurred in 1942. Yet what actually happened was buried until after the war. The French have yet to really acknowledge what occurred. Maya deceit about herself was unrealistic. All Arabs are not Moslem yet that was the implication. The research gave some interests tidbits but ignored other people. Nasser and Sadat were close. He was in Cairo when Lamson incident occurred in 1942.
The end was also unrealistic but formulaic.
Soy Sauce for Beginners
by Kirstin Chen
coming of age (9/28/2013)
I enjoyed the book because it was well written but not very compelling. Gretchen's struggle is self-absorbed and shallow. It may be typical of a culture where it nuance in not easily expressed. She did not notice others or question her assumptions until the end of the novel. It ended with not much depth of character analysis.
It was thoughtful as an discussion of soy sauce, artisanal or otherwise. However, the conflict between cousins was expected and too stereotyped.
Song of the Spirits: In the Land of the Long White Cloud saga
by Sarah Lark
song of the spirits (7/26/2013)
Excellent and compelling read. It is a historic novel about New Zealand. Initially there is sheep-herding and the vast farms that were developed. Thought the experience of one of the major protagonists, the coal mines are introduced. The author used actual, historical experiences such as the Brunner mining disaster to lend details to the novel. The novel integrates the Maori culture and mythology as it interacted with the Western settlers and colonists. The Maori had much more openness to sexuality until it clashed with the more Victorian settlers. There is a strong Maori oral tradition in song, dance, poetry that is beautifully rendered in this novel.
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