Category: Nonfiction

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson

It is 1933, and the post of U.S. Ambassador to Germany remains empty as the President battles with the Great Depression.  Quiet,  scholarly Chicago history professor William E. Dodd’s name is suggested as a candidate to the President, and he and his family find themselves in Berlin as Adolf Hitler is gaining popularity.  Dodd’s determination to maintain communication between his embassy and the Nazis is challenged daily by the Anti-Semitism of  German leaders and  pressures from American Jewish groups. While he walks a diplomatic tightrope, his beautiful and effervescent daughter engages in a lively social life, becoming close to Nazis and Socialists alike, complicating the picture.  This is an incredible and readable account of the years before the outbreak of World War II in Europe.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein

Many parents claim that boys are easier to raise because society is not nearly as judgemental about boys as it is about girls.  Based on my experience of having a son before a daughter, I definitely agree.  As soon as my husband and I found out we were having a daughter, people started plying us with pink clothing, miniature tea sets, and babydolls.  It was as if none of my son’s clothes or toys could possibly suffice because they weren’t girlie enough.  When describing my baby boy, people often used the words “smart” and “strong.”  When describing my daughter, the words “pretty” and “beautiful” were most common.  And, according to Peggy Orenstein, the focus on physical attractiveness is likely to stick around for the duration of her childhood and adolescence.  From the Disney Princesses to toddlers in beauty pageants, and from toy stores to schools, Orenstein’s research revealed many problems related to the girlie girl culture — some of which were even a shock to her.  Although there are no hard and fast solutions to the many problems this book addresses, I still consider it a MUST READ for anyone who plans to raise and/or work with girls!

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

A black man and his 11 siblings were raised in predominately African American sections in the boroughs of New York by his white mother.  She didn’t speak of her upbringing while the children were growing up.  Mr. McBride explores her past while recounting his childhood. This is an engrossing biography about race, religion and human nature.

Classy: Be a Lady not a Tramp by Derek Blasberg

While it may seem odd to find a man doling out advice to young women on how to be classy, Blasberg’s experiences working in the fashion and entertainment industries give him credibility as a resource.  Unfortunately, we live in a time when many famous young women are TERRIBLE role models.  It’s not uncommon to see young actresses with barely any clothing behaving in a less than classy manner (to put it politely).  Blasberg provides excellent “lady vs. tramp” visual guides for topics like dressing appropriately, sitting in a skirt, and dating,  as well as etiquette tips for a multitude of situations.  There are sections on clothing, parties, travel, friendship, dating, facing temptation, and the importance of lifelong learning.  I absolutely LOVED this book because it shows young women that looking trashy is not the best way to get attention, that there are many things more important than worrying about your physical appearance, and that dressing/behaving appropriately can still be lots of fun!

Third World America: How our Politicians are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream by Arianna Huffington

Written by the founder of The Huffington Post and popular liberal pundit, Third World America describes the effect our current economic climate is having on the middle class. Jobs are disappearing, our infrastructure is crumbling, education suffers, and middle-class Americans are described as “an endangered species.”  Extremely readable, with many chilling examples of economic and personal loss, this book makes concrete suggestions for averting catastrophe. Liberals will love it and conservatives, while not agreeing with all her assertions, should find much of interest, too, as Huffington offers hope for difficult times.

The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption by Jim Gorant

Football star Michael Vick’s highly publicized conviction for his participation in the horrific “sport” of dog fighting is the basis for this book, but the work done by a dedicated group of volunteers to redeem the victimized pit bulls is the true heart of the book. Although not all of the rescued dogs could be saved, Vick’s fine of $1 million provided the means for the months of rehabilitation that ultimately made new citizens of many of the animals. If you are a dog lover, or if you just like happy endings, these stories of dogs and the people who believed in them will steal your heart.

Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper

One of the best cat stories ever.  Homer loses his eyes to an infection at only a few weeks of age.  When Gwen Cooper adopts this adorable kitten, she thinks she is doing him a favor, but it turns out that Homer gives much more than he gets.  Since all he has ever known is blindness, Homer doesn’t know that he has a handicap, so he lives his life with fearlessness and joie de vivre.  His huge personality and zest for living inspire everyone who has the privilege to meet him.  A true story that will touch your heart.  Don’t miss it.

Bungalow Kid by Philip Ratzer

Philip, a boy from the Bronx,  reminisces about his childhood summers he spent at the Pesekow’s Bungalow Colony in the mountains of Sullivan County, New York on the shores of Loch Sheldrake Lake.  This story takes place when he is twelve years old and recounts the adventures of an almost teenage boy ‘s summer reconnecting with friends and family, puppy love and boyish pranks. This book will take you back to the days when you were growing up, returning to moments in time that can never be equaled.

Dewey’s Nine Lives by Vicki Myron

If you were touched by the original Dewey that told of the remarkable small-town cat in Spencer, Iowa, you’ll also love this heartwarming book containing a few more of Dewey’s adventures, as well as stories of other cats who made a profound difference in their humans’ lives.  Also find out the new direction that Vicki Myron’s life has taken.  Not to be missed by cat lovers.