Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Reynolds takes a broad look at all aspects of American life from 1815-1848 in this nonfiction book. Arguing that America became truly rich culturally during this time period, Reynolds examines Andrew Jackson's influence in politics, as well as the changing attitudes of Americans that would result in religious, temperance and abolition movements, to name a few.
Readers of American history will enjoy this book. Reynolds provides a fine introduction into life in the beginning 19th century, so those who are curious about this era will also enjoy reading this. For me, this was a great way to re-think about things I had learned in history classes. Don't be intimidated by the book's length - it is over 400 pages long - despite it's size, the book flows quickly.
Waking Giant has re-piqued my interest in the Age of Jackson; I look forward to reading other books about Jackson and his influence on American history.
Reviewed by Jessica
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
My Korean Deli: Risking It All For a Convenience Store by Ben Ryder Howe
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
In this quirky memoir, Ben Ryder Howe recounts his adventures co-owning a deli with his in-laws, Korean immigrants. One day, Howe’s wife Gab decides to honor her mother’s self-sacrifice by purchasing a store for her in Brooklyn. For Howe and his wife, this means using their savings and living with Howe’s in-laws. Howe can only begin to imagine what it takes to own a store, operate the store’s evening hours, and maintain his day job as a senior editor for The Paris Review.
Howe includes both funny anecdotes and serious reflections about his life during this time period. Anyone looking for just a dialogue about owning a deli will be in for a surprise, for Howe also discusses his day job and his relationship with his boss, the famous George Plimpton. The balance of funny and serious really adds to the book, in my opinion – the experience leaves him with a changed perception about himself and the world, while providing a bunch of fun memories. Plus, Howe discusses some Korean customs and traditions, which I found very interesting.
Readers of humorous memoirs will appreciate this book, as well as those who have ever wondered what it is like to own a convenience store. I enjoyed this!
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
In this quirky memoir, Ben Ryder Howe recounts his adventures co-owning a deli with his in-laws, Korean immigrants. One day, Howe’s wife Gab decides to honor her mother’s self-sacrifice by purchasing a store for her in Brooklyn. For Howe and his wife, this means using their savings and living with Howe’s in-laws. Howe can only begin to imagine what it takes to own a store, operate the store’s evening hours, and maintain his day job as a senior editor for The Paris Review.
Howe includes both funny anecdotes and serious reflections about his life during this time period. Anyone looking for just a dialogue about owning a deli will be in for a surprise, for Howe also discusses his day job and his relationship with his boss, the famous George Plimpton. The balance of funny and serious really adds to the book, in my opinion – the experience leaves him with a changed perception about himself and the world, while providing a bunch of fun memories. Plus, Howe discusses some Korean customs and traditions, which I found very interesting.
Readers of humorous memoirs will appreciate this book, as well as those who have ever wondered what it is like to own a convenience store. I enjoyed this!
Reviewed by Jessica
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Alternating between present day and 1900, Moore gives readers a bit of a mystery. In the present day, the leading Sherlock Holmes expert has found the lost Arthur Conan Doyle 1900 diary and arrives at the annual Baker Street Irregulars meeting to present his findings. Only, he's murdered before he has a chance to tell his secret. And, the diary is missing from his hotel room. Recent Irregulars inductee Harold White, using his Sherlockian knowledge, decides he will discover the identity of the killer. Naturally, he gets more than he bargains for...
In 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle lives with an outraged public after he "killed off" Holmes in The Final Problem. However, he is soon drawn into a real life murder of a young woman, and he asks for assistance from his friend Bram Stoker (of Dracula fame). Doyle brings his character to life as he and Stoker follow clues to the killer's identity.
Lovers of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this novel. Even those who love historical stories will enjoy this novel. Though I have not read any Sherlock Holmes mysteries (a situation I hope to change in the near future!), I am very glad I read The Sherlockian. Moore's writing style makes the book easy to read and follow the plot line in both centuries. With shortish chapters, he maintains the reader's interest from century to century.
The novel's mysteries may just have you thinking What Would Sherlock Do?
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Alternating between present day and 1900, Moore gives readers a bit of a mystery. In the present day, the leading Sherlock Holmes expert has found the lost Arthur Conan Doyle 1900 diary and arrives at the annual Baker Street Irregulars meeting to present his findings. Only, he's murdered before he has a chance to tell his secret. And, the diary is missing from his hotel room. Recent Irregulars inductee Harold White, using his Sherlockian knowledge, decides he will discover the identity of the killer. Naturally, he gets more than he bargains for...
In 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle lives with an outraged public after he "killed off" Holmes in The Final Problem. However, he is soon drawn into a real life murder of a young woman, and he asks for assistance from his friend Bram Stoker (of Dracula fame). Doyle brings his character to life as he and Stoker follow clues to the killer's identity.
Lovers of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this novel. Even those who love historical stories will enjoy this novel. Though I have not read any Sherlock Holmes mysteries (a situation I hope to change in the near future!), I am very glad I read The Sherlockian. Moore's writing style makes the book easy to read and follow the plot line in both centuries. With shortish chapters, he maintains the reader's interest from century to century.
The novel's mysteries may just have you thinking What Would Sherlock Do?
Reviewed by Jessica
Monday, January 17, 2011
97 Orchard: an Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Ziegelman transports readers to New York City around the turn of the twentieth century and introduces them to five ethnically unique families that lived at the 97 Orchard Street tenement - German, Irish, German Jewish, Russian Jewish and Italian. Ziegelman explores in this nonfiction history book the foods of each of these ethnic groups and provides basic insight into the daily and social lives of the immigrants, even including a description of life on Ellis Island for new arrivals and deportees. Recipes and photographs are scattered throughout the pages, connecting readers to the discussion.
This is not a culinary history of the individual families living at 97 Orchard Street per se; rather, it is a culinary history of immigrants much like these families living in the tenements of New York City. Some readers may be discouraged that more anecdotes of the individual families highlighted are not present in the narrative. However, I really enjoyed this book because Ziegelman, beginning with a brief background of each family, tours New York City markets, tenements, work places, restaurants and other food-related haunts of different immigrant groups. By the end, readers will gain a better appreciation for our culinary heritage. Well-written and well-researched, this is a very unique look at history and one that I highly recommend.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Ziegelman transports readers to New York City around the turn of the twentieth century and introduces them to five ethnically unique families that lived at the 97 Orchard Street tenement - German, Irish, German Jewish, Russian Jewish and Italian. Ziegelman explores in this nonfiction history book the foods of each of these ethnic groups and provides basic insight into the daily and social lives of the immigrants, even including a description of life on Ellis Island for new arrivals and deportees. Recipes and photographs are scattered throughout the pages, connecting readers to the discussion.
This is not a culinary history of the individual families living at 97 Orchard Street per se; rather, it is a culinary history of immigrants much like these families living in the tenements of New York City. Some readers may be discouraged that more anecdotes of the individual families highlighted are not present in the narrative. However, I really enjoyed this book because Ziegelman, beginning with a brief background of each family, tours New York City markets, tenements, work places, restaurants and other food-related haunts of different immigrant groups. By the end, readers will gain a better appreciation for our culinary heritage. Well-written and well-researched, this is a very unique look at history and one that I highly recommend.
Reviewed by Jessica
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Age Level: Teen
Format: Book
Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, or Ani for short, has the gift of speaking with animals, conversing in their language. Ani prefers to converse with the swans than to attend to her duties as the Crown Princess of Kildenree. This upsets her mother, the queen, who decides she must send Ani to Bayern to marry the Bayern prince. As Ani and her entourage journey to Bayern, Ani discovers a plot to kill her before the entourage reaches Bayern. Running for her life, Ani must use her gifts and find inner strength to combat her enemies before something happens to her or even to Kildenree.
This is the first book in the Books of Bayern series and is based on a Grimms’s fairy tale. With wonderful prose and a clear storyline, The Goose Girl is a wonderful book. Hale writes specifically for the teen audience, addressing issues such as self-esteem and peer pressure. Readers can see Ani’s inner strength and self confidence grow during the book’s narration, with the help of friends she makes and from believing in herself.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, or Ani for short, has the gift of speaking with animals, conversing in their language. Ani prefers to converse with the swans than to attend to her duties as the Crown Princess of Kildenree. This upsets her mother, the queen, who decides she must send Ani to Bayern to marry the Bayern prince. As Ani and her entourage journey to Bayern, Ani discovers a plot to kill her before the entourage reaches Bayern. Running for her life, Ani must use her gifts and find inner strength to combat her enemies before something happens to her or even to Kildenree.
This is the first book in the Books of Bayern series and is based on a Grimms’s fairy tale. With wonderful prose and a clear storyline, The Goose Girl is a wonderful book. Hale writes specifically for the teen audience, addressing issues such as self-esteem and peer pressure. Readers can see Ani’s inner strength and self confidence grow during the book’s narration, with the help of friends she makes and from believing in herself.
Reviewed by Jessica
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