Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Known World

The Known World, by Edward P. Jones; Amistead Publishing, 2002


Reviewed by John Wrobleski



This 2004 Pulitzer Prize winning book is set in Virginia, 20 years before the beginning of the Civil War. The Known World has painful descriptions of a sordid time of our history, detailing life under slavery. Despite the despairing conditions, some endearing relationships emerged, and hope for a better future persisted. Meg Mullins' The Rug Merchant is an outstanding story of an immigrant from Iran who opens a Persian rug company in New York City. The story evolves through the end of his marriage, and a love affair with a college student. The author presents an interesting portrait of the life of an elderly customer. To lighten things up, try Barrel Fever, by David Sedaris. This book has personal essays and stories from the author's life, which are often hilarious. You are guaranteed a whole lot of laughter while reading the wild descriptions of eccentric family members and friends.




Fat Girl: A True Story

Fat Girl: A True Story, by Judith Moore; Plume Publishing, 2006


Reviewed by Cheryl Maglosky



Judith Moore's Fat Girl: A True Story is a searingly honest account of what it is like to grow up fat, feeling unloved, unpopular and lonely. Ms. Moore cuts to the chase, with intelligence, insight, and humor...and without apologies, excuses or pretext. She won this reader's respect and admiration. Honest. Humorous. Heartbreaking. Those three words define Anne Lamott's storytelling in Imperfect Birds. This novel examines the challenges of parenting, growing up, and being a family. Fortunately, this book moves beyond the middle class-middle aged angst that Lamott is well known for in its narrative of a family dealing with a teenaged daughter's drug abuse. Inside of a Dog, by Alexandra Horowitz, is a fine combination of the author's scientific expertise and love of dogs. She brings us in to the world of canines, while making us aware of our human biases, and deconstructing the popular myths about these delightful creatures. The book was informative and revealing, and it enhanced my understanding and appreciation of dogs.

A Friend of the Earth

A Friend of the Earth, by T. C. Boyle; Penguin Books, 2001


Reviewed by David Sachi



A bad time is had by all in this imaginative look into the near future of 2025. The world is ravaged by the effects of global warming, and haunted by the futility of environmental activism. In A Friend of the Earth, author T.C. Boyle spins his yarn around his favorite themes: obsessive hygiene, compulsive consumerism, uneasiness in the natural world, and fear of technology--all with a healthy dose of humor. I also recommend Ian McEwan's The Innocent, an intriguing story of an ordinary Englishman who gets caught up in post-war intelligence mania, and discovers how exhilarating and tragic life can be. For a real closer-to-home change of pace, try Olympic National Park--A Natural History, by Tim McNulty. This author traces the geologic history of the Olympic mountains, and explores present day flora and fauna within the park boundaries.