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Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Quick Recommendations




Scott is off this week and we are having a stay-cation here at the house. It was great in theory, until Charlotte came down with a nasty virus two weeks ago and started spiking 103-104 degree fevers last weekend. The massive rash hit Monday and now we are finally moving out of it. Poor thing has been a beast, I don't know where my sweet little girl went. Hidden somewhere I suppose, under mountains of running snot, itchy rashes and a fever.

Anyways, Scott has Sam for the morning and I'm puttering around the house. There is a small back log of items to share, a few recipes and pictures, but I don't have the energy right now. Instead, I thought I throw out some books I've read this year thus far that have stayed with me.

1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

If you haven't heard of or read this yet, go get it. I won't do it justice by attempting to summerize, and do yourself a favor, DON'T go look it up in Wikipedia before reading it and skim through the entire plot. Doh. Set during World War 2 in Nazi, Germany, about the life of an incredible 13 year old girl. I am still processing what I've read and will pick it up again soon to read a second time. Finished the last 75 pages while getting my hair highlighted and wept quietly to myself under a head full of tin foil. My hairdresser friend thinks I'm nuts, but he loves a good book too so I'm hoping he understood. Epic.


2) Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakabuni

Just finished this yesterday and wish I had the other novels by this author in our house. It's about two women raised in the same home in India. Great plot, it'd make a good movie, and the relationships between the women are so well written.


3) The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

A slow starter, but gripping. The mystery of a young woman's past unravels through her own story and that of her grandmother, set in both Cornwall, England and Australia.


4) The documentary Food, Inc.

Grace and I watched this together over take out Indian food when Charlotte and I headed up to Ann Arbor for the weekend to visit Charlotte's penpal and bestie, 6 month old Alice. I'm so glad I watched it. I regret that I watched it. Watch it for yourself and you'll understand what I mean. I love the feeling of being more educated about where my food comes from, and am more convicted about putting my dollars towards local farmers and organic eggs and meats.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for the book recs!! I am going to reserve "Book Thief" for myself right now at our library. I really enjoyed "Sister of My Heart" and "Forgotten Garden," - good reads!
xoxo!
KGB

astapp said...

Thanks for the book recommendations. I needed a few new ones. I've been randomly picking books from the library with the three seconds I have walking between the kids section and the check-out counter and, let me tell you, I've read some weird stuff over the past few months. I got busted last time I was looking because Wyatt was running but I was thrilled because he was only running circles around me and I didn't think he was bothering anyone. The librarian did not agree.
So, Food, Inc. My dad and I have been having some "discussions" about this film. A fellow Econ instructor shows it in her class and he was horrified. He thinks it's pretty bias with a lot of bad information and I think he's pretty bias. I still need to watch it and have only read about it.
Long post...maybe should have been an email? :)

Kristin M. said...

I would be really interested to hear your opinion on Food, Inc., amy. I too watched it and really learned a lot. Much of it is shot right here in the Shenandoah Valley. Poultry farming is huge around here and the "good" farm that they highlighted (Polyface) is just down the road. Their grass-fed beef is amazing. I am so curious what actual farmers have to say about the movie though. I need to start asking my farmer friends.

I'm going to keep an eye out for those books too - thanks! I've been reading all of David Baldacci's books lately and just loving them. But now there are no more left. :(

Jen said...

Love the long comments you guys! That's the first thing I check, if anyone made comments. :) Kristin, I'd love to hear what some of your farmer buddies had to say. The film seemed to be trying to present both sides, but all the big companies refused to be part of it. So let me know when you guys watch it, I'm curious to see what you think. xo