How Do I
Rita's Picks
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Nordhaus, Hannah The Beekeeper's Lament Nonfiction |
| Honey bees have had a hard time in recent years, not just in the United States, but around the globe. Scientists aren't sure what's to blame for Colony Collapse Disorder, which has left thousands of hives empty, save for their confused queens and some honey. Some say mites, fungus, or malnutrition are the culprits, while others point the finger at pesticides and the stress of migratory beekeeping. Why are vanishing bees a problem, aside from making honey a bit more scarce or expensive? Bees and their keepers aren't just responsible for producing honey; they also help pollinate acres and acres of crops, especially almonds, apples, and other fruits. Over several years, Hannah Nordhaus treks around the country following John Miller, a migrant beekeeper and colorful character whose family's history of beekeeping goes back generations. In a detailed but engaging journalistic style, Nordhaus reports on how essential bees are to our economy and food supply, and how labor-intensive and heartbreaking their tending can be. She suggests ways the general public can help support bees, such as decreasing pesticide use and planting more native flowers. Recommended May 2012 |
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Haeg, Fritz Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn Nonfiction |
| Have you ever thought of grass as a crop? It does require loads of water, lots of pesticides, tons of fertilizer, and much tending. But as crops go, it's pretty worthless and unappetizing for humans. In this collection of inspirational essays and practical garden examples, Fritz Haeg show us how to turn our thirsty lawns into lush, communal spaces that provide much tastier crops: juicy tomatoes, crunchy sweet peas, red raspberries, and the like. The regional planting calendars in the back of the book will have you drooling. Recommended January 2012 |
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Mattison, Alice In Case We're Separated: Connected Stories Short Stories |
| These stories link family members and places in a chain reaching from the 1930s to the Reagan years. An adulterous cousin from one story appears as a protective mother in another, a doting son as the somewhat controversial cousin in another, and various sisters as flirts and gossipers throughout. As they pop up in story after story, characters are seen from more and more perspectives, making them more nuanced than in an ordinary novel. Mattison writes literary fiction with populist appeal that deserves more attention. Poets will be delighted by "A Note to the Reader" at the end. Recommended December 2011 |
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McLain, Paula The Paris Wife Fiction |
| Real life events portrayed in fiction make me nervous. "Did she truly say that?" I wonder. "How did the author know what he was wearing?" I worry that history will be muddled by prose and I'll never be able to extricate it. So it was with trepidation that I started reading Paula McLain's The Paris Wife, a fictional version of Hadley Hemingway's life with her infamous husband. After a few pages, my fears disappeared. McLain had snuck into Hadley's head so completely and written such compelling conversations that I no longer cared about historical accuracy. McLain gives nuance to Ernest's philandering and betrayals, as well as to his first wife's all-too-frequent forgiveness, without painting either as a total tyrant or victim. Anyone fascinated by the Paris scene of the twenties will also enjoy the eccentricities of Stein, Fitzgerald, Pound, and other expatriates. Recommended September 2011 |
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| Lonely Planet Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 Nonfiction |
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| Your boss might not recommend this book. After a few pages of the lush, full-color photos, you'll want to call in sick permanently so you can depart for Lonely Planet's top-ranked locales. This veteran publisher of travel guides has picked the best destinations for 2011, including old standards (Italy and Hawaii) as well as places that some folks might not have considered (Syria and Namibia). The editors aim for affordable travel, but throw in some over-the-top extravagances like an underwater hotel and double-bed airline suites that go for $6,445 a flight. Don't miss the top-10 lists in the back of the book, such as Best Places To See Red (Soviet-themed destinations), Best Places for Dance Fever, and Fieriest Foods.
Recommended March 2011 |
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Lewycka, Marina A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian Fiction |
| Don't be misled by the title—this not a foreign-language
guide to combines, but a hilarious novel. Two years after Nikolai's
wife dies, the 84-year-old marries a mail-order bride less than half
his age. His daughter is hardly enthusiastic, but tries to stifle
her resistance. When the Ukrainian wife arrives with her son and berates
and abuses Nikolai, the family unites to take action. Recommended
for children who have been parental caregivers, readers with Ukrainian
roots, or anyone seeking comic relief. Recommended February 2011 |
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Mueenuddin, Daniyal In Other Rooms, Other Wonders Short Stories |
| The Western world’s perception of Pakistan often comes
from news reports about violence, Kashmir disputes, or natural disasters.
That’s why it’s so refreshing to read this colorful volume of short
stories about ordinary life and love in both rural and urban Pakistan.
Mueenuddin takes us inside the head of jealous siblings, corrupt bureaucrats,
a maid leaving her drug-addicted husband, and a father defending himself
against a motorcycle robber. Each piece focuses on a new character,
but one wealthy landowner leaves his mark in several stories. Recommended December 2010 |
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Eggers, Dave Zeitoun Nonfiction |
| Back in August 2005, if you had lived in New Orleans when
Katrina was about to hit, would you have hightailed it or hunkered
down? As the storm was nearing the city, a successful small-business
owner and landlord known as Zeitoun decided to stay home and keep
an eye on his properties. His wife wasn’t hot on the idea, obeyed
the mandatory evacuation, and took their daughters inland. Through
daily phone calls with her husband, she learned that Zeitoun survived
the storm and used his canoe to bring others food, water, or to safety.
Abruptly, Zeitoun’s wife loses contact with her husband, unaware that
his Syrian background and Islamic faith have been used against him.
Dave Eggers, after months of interviews with the family, chronicles
Zeitoun’s arrest and his family’s reaction. If you like nonfiction
that reads like a fiction story, check this out in audio or in print. Recommended November 2010 |
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