Happy New Year!

 

Fruit Soup

 My mother-in-law used to make fruit soup for the holidays with raisins, prunes, and dates. I decided to make some this year but with different fruits. Here is the recipe I made up.

Ingredients: 1 1/3 C. diced dried apricots, 1  1/3 C. diced dried mango, 1 1/3 C. diced dried pineapple, 3/4 C. tapioca, 3 honey crisp apples peeled and diced, 8 cups water, one cinnamon stick, 1 C. sugar.

Method: Mix the dried fruit with the tapioca and 4 cups of water in a large kettle and let soak overnight. Add sugar, fresh apples, cinnamon stick and 4 cups of water to the mixture. Bring to a boil. Simmer for one hour. Serve warm or cold.

If I had it to do over again I think I would cut this recipe in half and use dried peaches instead of pineapple.

The President Is Missing

 I listened to The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Let me tell you, this is not the kind of book you should listen to as you drive to the Cities a day after a blizzard on an ice-covered highway in the wind. By the time I got to Minneapolis after that white knuckled drive, my anxiety was high. This book is full of danger and action and violence. This is a fictional tale about a U.S. President named Jonathan Duncan. Like Clinton, President Duncan has one child, an adult daughter. Unlike Clinton, Duncan was widowed in office after his wife succumbed to cancer. Also unlike Clinton, Duncan served in the Army Rangers which is why he knows what to do in a gun ambush. This political thriller takes place over three days. I have not read James Patterson before so I can't tell which parts are probably written by Patterson and which parts are probably written by Clinton. After reading this book and watching the news, I really wonder why anyone would want to be the President of the United States.

Rhapsody

 Lauren Rico wrote Rhapsody. I chose this book because it was about musicians. What I didn't know is that it is the second in a trilogy and is also a romance novel. I am not a fan of romance novels. I didn't love this book but I did find it hard to put down. One of the characters is a psychopath and I found the effect he had on the others around him including his parents, his brothers, and his victims very interesting.

Winesburg, Ohio

Sherwood Anderson wrote Winesburg, Ohio. This collection of short stories is mentioned in some lists as one of the 100 best American novels. The author grew up in a small town in Ohio. The book contains 22 separate stories. A young newspaperman, George Willard, is mentioned in most of the stories. One thing all the characters in the book had in common is that they were lonely and despairing. Several people were suffering from mental health issues. Or maybe the author had mental health issues. In his descriptions of people he would always include some indication of poor health. If a woman had a trim figure and straight shoulders, her face would be blotchy. If a man was tall and strong, his fingers had nervous twitches and he could not keep them still. All the stories take place during the 1890's and it is interesting to hear about telegraph operators and people using horses on their farms. I am struck by how many people in Winesburg felt isolated from everyone else. 

Happy Winter Solstice

 

Today is the shortest day of 2020. I spent 2.5 of my hours of daylight taking a walk along Lake Superior. Four inches of snow fell this morning and it was lightly snowing again. The temperature was just below freezing. The wind was slight or none at all so I was surprised to see so many waves crashing on the shore. Looking out I saw a few white caps out there but not many. Some waves crested and spilled over the rocks. Most of the time the waves dissipated on shore. At a couple spots where tall flat rocks were arranged to meet the wave head on the water splashed nine feet into the air in a tremendous, noisy, explosion. Some of the rocks that don't get wet very often were covered in a thick blanket of ice. I think I would like to come back after a strong wind has been blowing from the east for a day or two. Then I would see even more impressive waves.

The Second Mrs. Hockaday

 Susan Rivers wrote The Second Mrs. Hockaday and I think she chose a poor title. Yes, Placidia Hockaday is the second Mrs. Hockaday but that is not the point of the story. This story in set during the Civil War. Placidia married Gryffth Hockaday who is a colonel in the Confederate Army. He is home on leave and happens to buy a mule from Placidia's father. His wife had just died of typhoid fever and he is nursing his son, Charlie, back to health. The next day he asks for Placidia's hand in marriage. Placidia, only 17, agrees to marry him even though he is twice her age. The next day they travel to his 300 acre farm. Two days after that Gryffth is called back to duty. He doesn't come home for two years. Putting a 17 year old in charge of a farm and asking her to raise his son is a recipe for disaster. Placidia tries her best but life on a South Carolina farm is not easy during the Civil War. The story is cleverly told by a series of letters, some pages from a diary, and a report of a legal inquest against Placidia. This historical fiction is based on a true event. If the author had written about the slaves who helped Placidia instead of just using them to tell Placidia's story, I think this would have been a better book.

Between You and Me

 Susan Wiggs wrote Between You And Me, a novel about the relationship between Dr. Reese Powell and Caleb Stoltz. Reese is a medical student working in an emergency room when she meets Caleb. Caleb comes to the hospital in a helicopter when his nephew, Jonah, suffers a terrible farm accident in which he looses his left arm. Jonah is Amish. Caleb grew up in the Amish community but decided to leave. He only came back when his brother and sister-in-law were murdered in order to raise their two children, Jonah and Hannah, in the Amish faith as his brother requested. Reese assists Caleb and Jonah because, as the author mentions way too many times, Caleb is a tall, blond, hunk of a guy. Although I can't say I loved this book, the relationship between two people who come from very different world was interesting partly because they both had manipulative and controlling parents.

Cold Water

This boulder in Lake Superior has some snow on top and icicles clinging to the bottom. That water looks cold!

 

This Land Is Our Land

 This Land Is Our Land; An Immigrant's Manifesto by Suketo Mehta is another non-fiction history book. Mehta immigrated from India as a teenager. He combines facts about immigration along with emotional stories told by immigrants. He covers the changing perceptions about immigrants and it usually the most recent to arrive who are despised the most. Our country has always had people wanting to come here. Even during the Civil War and the Great Depression, people wanted to become American citizens. This book has a definite pro-immigration stance. The figures on new arrivals are staggering. How does a nation decide how many people can join in a given year? And who gets to decide that figure? Although I did learn some things about immigration by reading this book, I am now aware I have a lot more to learn before I can even begin to understand the complexity of it all.

Stamped

I listened to Jason Reynold's and Ibram X. Kendi's nonfiction book called Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You. The audio book was read by Jason Reynolds. His energetic recital of the history of racism was engaging and enlightening. Although he kept repeating that this was not a history book, parts of it were history. This is not the typical history that I learned in school but I think it is the brand of history that should be taught in schools. The authors divide people into three categories. You are either racist, assimilationist, or anti-racist. People can and have moved from one category to another. Several of the early black leaders like W.E.B. DuBois and Dr. Martin Luther King started out as assimilationists but became anti-racist at the ends of their careers. Anti-racists believe that everyone is equal. No race has unique characteristics.  On the other hand assimilationists believe in differences between races are valid and that everyone should act like the people in power so we can all get along. Lastly, racists believe in differences between races and that one race is superior to another. According to the authors the idea of racism began six hundred years ago in Portugal. A man named Gomez Zurara was a scribe for the King Edward and Prince Henry of Portugal. Portugal was having trade conflicts with the traders from Africa. In order to gain the upper hand in trade Zurara wrote a document claiming that dark skinned people from the continent of Africa were inferior and heathen and in need of the salvation of slavery. Ibram Kendi has a Ph.D. and teaches college level American History and African American studies so I am sure he knows what he is talking about but part of me doubts racism didn't exist before Gomes Zurara wrote his words. In 2016 Kendi wrote Stamped From The Beginning; A Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.   This book is a remaking of those ideas into a book that is more suitable for younger readers. I wish more history books could be as engaging as this one.

Things Fall Apart

 I chose to read Chinua Achebe's debut novel Things Fall Apart because this book is on Time Magazines 100 best novels. This tale is set in Nigeria in the 1890's. The main character, Okonkwo, is famous in his village for his wrestling skills. Most of his life Okonkwo acts in opposition to his father. His father was lazy and did not pay his debts. At an early age Okonkwo had to plant yams to feed himself, his siblings and his father. Okonkwo was as hard of a worker and his father was lazy. Okonkwo also tried to assert his masculinity with anger, violence, and impulsive behavior. He ended up wealthy with three wives and ten children. The first third of the book describes village life and customs. The middle and end of the book describe the reaction when missionaries come and try to convert the villagers to Christianity. Along with the missionaries came other white people and soon a government was formed to replace the system of government the village already had. Okonkwo is dead set against any and all changes made by the missionaries. This was a very interesting book told from the African side.

 

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop

 Roselle Lim wrote Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop. The main character is Vanessa Yu who is an accountant in California. She is weirdly close to her family and relies on them for all her socializing. Vanessa has a slew of uncles, aunts and cousins who gather for birthdays, holidays and celebrations of Chinese holidays. Vanessa is 27 and is under considerable pressure to get married next as she is now the eldest unmarried cousin. Never lucky in love, Vanessa accepts the offer of her Aunt Evelyn to fly to Paris and take a three week vacation. Vanessa and Evelyn are a lot alike in that they are both stubborn. Evelyn is opening a tea shop in Paris and Vanessa helps her get started while also sight seeing in Paris. There is some magic involved in the form of clairvoyance. The best part about this book were the detailed descriptions of art, architecture, and food. Some sentences about French pastries were so vivid my mouth filled with saliva. Neither Vanessa nor Evelyn do any cooking but they sure do enjoy their food.

With Or Without You

 Caroline Leavitt is an author who once suffered a medically induced coma for several months after the birth of her child. That is why she wrote With Or Without You, a novel about a woman who goes into a coma. Stella is a nurse living in Manhattan. She is forty years old and her biological clock is ticking. Her partner, Simon, is a guitar player in a band that has seen better days. While Stella is organized and responsible, Simon acts like a teen aged boy. Their relationship is on rocky ground when Stella lapses into a coma. In Stella's coma, she is aware that she is in a coma and can hear people talking to her. She can feel when her body is washed or turned side to side. This was the author's way to process her own situation and sell a book at the same time. The entire story is not about the coma but it does focus on the fact that life can turn on a dime, people can let you down, and if you don't process your past you might end up to scared to take any risks to improve your future. 

The Honey-Don't List

 Have you ever succumbed to temptation and bought a packet of junk food only to be disappointed once the food was consumed and you don't feel good? Reading The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren is like buying a bag of expired non-brand potato chips from the Dollar Store. I think the only reason I kept reading it to the end was that Carey, the main character, had dystonia which is a movement disorder that I am familiar with because I know someone who has it. Carey works for Rusty and Melissa Tripp who are on the edge of becoming famous in home remodeling and design. Carey started working for them when she was 16 years old and when Rusty and Melissa were in love. Now, ten years later, the relationship between Rusty and Melissa has soured. On top of that all the room and furniture designs are done by Carey who gets zero credit. On top of that the Tripps don't pay her a living wage. Carey doesn't assert herself in this crazy situation that everyone can see is going to blow sky-high. This was a very predictable story.

The Lives Of Edie Pritchard

 The Lives Of Edie Pritchard is set in eastern Montana and was written by Larry Watson. In the first third of the book Edie's last name is Linderman. She is married to Dean, working in a bank, and living in an apartment above a bakery. Dean's twin brother, Roy, is attracted to Edie and constantly tries to win her affection. Marriage to Dean doesn't work for Edie so she leaves town. In the middle third of the book Edie is married to Gary Dunn and has a daughter. Gary becomes obsessed with jealousy because of his wife's good looks even though she gives him no cause to worry. Edie eventually leaves him once the daughter is grown and on her own. In the final third of the book Edie takes back her maiden name of Pritchard. She lives in an apartment and works at a dental office. Men are still trying to win her affection and control her. I loved the description of small town life and the rolling grasslands of eastern Montana. The dialogue was good. I enjoyed reading about Edie and how she manages to stay true to herself despite all the desperate efforts of the men who love her.

A Confusing Gift

I saw something posted about licorice ice cream. I know some people who love it. The picture triggered a memory. I was about ten years old. My Dad drove me and a bunch of my little sisters to the 29 flavor ice cream shop in Alexandria, MN. We go in and my Aunt Geneva is behind the counter. My father speaks for his sister for a time and we don't listen but we're very interested in the buckets of ice cream in front of us. I see chocolate and fudge and strawberry and butter brickle.  My aunt asks us if we want a free ice cream cone. We shake our heads that yes, we do want a free ice cream cone. Our aunt does not ask us what kind we want. She grabs the scoop and goes for a bucket of ice cream toward the back that is green in color and has some black specks in it. She gave us all a licorice ice cream cone. Such a confusing gift. On the one hand it was a free ice cream cone and who can complain about that? No one can complain about free ice cream. On the other hand it was licorice flavor. Out of all the 29 possible flavors, why do we get licorice? We say thank you as we are handed our free ice cream cone. My father declines a cone. We eat our cones in silence, pleased by the cold and sweet creaminess yet disgusted by the licorice. We know better than to complain about the free ice cream cone. Once we are back in the car and driving away my father asks us how the ice cream tasted. We tell him the truth. The ice cream was terrible. He says something about she probably had a good supply of that flavor because not many people like it. As we drove out of Alexandria, past the beautiful lakes and nice homes, I sat in confusion. How is it possible that the offer of a free ice cream cone be so disappointing?

 

Tamarack County

 I was in the mood for a Minnesota author so I chose Tamarack County by William Kent Kruger. I chose a mystery even though I typically don't like mysteries but I do like William Kent Kruger. I wish he would write more books that are not in the mystery genre. I have read one other mystery by him that involved Cork O'Connor, a former deputy in Tamarack County, MN who now works as a private detective. He still consults with the current sheriff and she takes him along on investigations and questionings which I think is a bit unrealistic. The story is about crimes and set in December. His descriptions of the cold are very realistic and intricate. Kruger has a very gripping way of telling a story and I like that. I just don't like the crimes and the violence involved.

A Good Family

 A Good Family is the debut novel of A. H. Kim. Kim is also the surname of the husband of the dazzling young couple in the center of this twisted family drama. Sam Kim marries Beth Lindstrom when he finds out she is pregnant. She agrees to the marriage if it is an open marriage and if he does what she wants. So you know this family is anything but a good family. Beth is a rising corporate star at a huge pharmaceutical company and Sam is a tennis pro at a club. Because of Beth's success they have two huge houses and can afford to send their two daughters to private schools. Beth takes the fall when the pharmaceutical company gets into trouble for marketing their stimulant drug to female children who need to loose weight. Some customers died from using the drug. Beth is sentenced to ten years of prison. Sam's sister, Hannah, steps in to help Sam raise his children as a single parent once Beth is in prison. Hannah appears to do anything she can to help her family. This entire family is loaded with greedy people obsessed with only the finest things in life. I finished the story but I really didn't like any of the characters.

Love

 I recommend you enjoy Love by Roddy Doyle via audiobook because most of the book takes place in Irish pubs. I enjoyed listening to the Irish accents. This story is about two guys in their late 50's. Joe and Davy grew up and went to school together. Joe stayed in Dublin. Davy emigrated to London. Both Joe and Davy got married and had children. Joe went to work out of high school but eventually got his college degree and a masters degree. Davy went to college before going to work. They meet in pubs when Davy comes back to Dublin to visit his father. Since they drank as young lads, they tend to drink when they get together even though neither one drinks much otherwise. I can't even count how many pints of Guinness were swallowed by Joe and Davy.  On this last visit Joe is trying very hard to explain why he left his wife and family to move in with Jessica, a woman who plays the cello whom they both met before either one got married. Davy vaguely remembers Jessica. Joe struggles to explain himself. He tried to use analogies that fail. Davy presses him on details and both men are frustrated with each other. Sometimes they get somewhat aggressive with each other but then they apologize and start again. The more they drink the less coherent the conversation becomes. Both guys use a lot of obscenities. This book has more F bombs than any other book I have ever read. Between the conversations both guys have memories of their marriages and their health problems. Both men love their wives (even though Joe left his) and their children. This is a story about the friendship of two men. The ending was poignant and by that time both men are sober again.

The Disaster Tourist

The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun was written in South Korea and recently translated into English. The story is about Yona Ko, an employee at Jungle, a travel agency. Jungle provides travel combined with service to places with disasters such as floods, earthquakes, war, disease, or fires. I have known people who have gone on mission trips to Mexico or Israel or India to work and to see the country. Many people travel to Pompeii to see a city ruined by a volcano. Yona Ko has worked at the Jungle for ten years planning trips, researching new trips and handling customer service calls. When her supervisor starts to sexually harass her she resigns. Her supervisor doesn't accept her resignation but instead sends her on an all expense paid trip to Mui to determine of Jungle should continue to plan trips there. Mui is an island off the coast of Vietnam. The disaster Mui is known for is a sink hole in the desert. Tourists come to see the sinkhole and to dig a well for the village. Yona sees the sinkhole and is less than impressed. Her opinion is that Jungle should cancel all future trips to Mui. From here the novel takes a thrilling turn and I don't want to spoil it for you. Since I can't travel due to Covid, I find pleasure in reading about travel. This book makes me think twice about my past travels. Have I ever traveled to witness a disaster? I guess I did go to the ghetto in Poland and some war museums in London, Warsaw, Pensacola, and Athens. This book has provoked me to think more about why I want to travel.

Members Only

 Most of the drama in Members Only by Sameer Pandya takes place in one week's time. The story is narrated by Raj who has the. worst. week. ever.  Raj is an untenured college professor of anthropology at a small college in California. Raj was born in Bombay, India and came to the United States when he was eight years old. Some conservative students accuse him of reverse racism. They follow him around and video him. They splice the videos to make him look bad and post them. They organize a hunger strike vowing not to eat again unless his employment is terminated. Raj also has trouble at home. He, his wife, and two boys belong to a Tennis Club. Raj is the only person of color in the club and a member on the membership committee who interviews and selects new members. Raj makes a careless comment to a potential new member who is black. Although Raj and the potential new member discussed the comment and all is well, other members of the club want Raj expelled from the club. Poor Raj is being accused of racism and reverse racism at the same time. Meanwhile he suffers the racist treatment and micro-aggressions at work and at the tennis club. Raj tries to use humor to deflect his situations but he doesn't always handle situations well. Members Only is one of those books I found difficult to put down.