Friday, May 15, 2009

Love and Obstacles: Stories by Aleksander Hemon

There was a point in my life when I didn't care for short stories but I was young and silly then. In recent years, some of the most profound books I have read have been either collections of interlinked stories or even just individual stories. Authors who are skilled can pack a huge amount of intensity and meaning into a small number of words. The following collection is by an author who is just beginning to prove that he can deliver.

In this collection of linked stories, we follow Bogdan from his time as a teenager from
Zaire to Sarajevo and on through his adult life in Chicago in this astonishing work that is by turn funny, horrifying and surreal. The first story, set in Zaire, delivers an emotional response that will keep you coming back for more. Aleksander Hemon's use of the English language is playful and dazzling and he gets better and better with each new offering.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Booklist for new Vegetarians

A friend was asking about really good resources to use to support her vegetarian teen daughter and since I was putting together the list for her, I decided to post it up here as well.

Here are just a few books in the field that have received excellent reviews, won awards and are loved by vegetarian friends. More titles that fits your family's unique taste shouldn't be difficult to find since it seems that everyone is coming out with vegetarian cookbooks these days. They shouldn’t be hard to find (I just saw ones from Rachel Ray and Mark Bittman.) Big names in the field include: Mollie Katzen (Moosewood CafĂ©), Jeanne Lemlin, Colin Spencer, Rose Elliot and Leah Leneman

**Vegetables Rock!: A Complete Guide for Teenage Vegetarians by Pierson, Stephanie – This one got fabulous reviews and is on the ALA Reluctant Reader Award list.

Okay, So Now You're a Vegetarian: Advice & 100 Recipes from One Teen to Another by Butts, Lauren and Shields, Donna - Another good teen book on the subject

Feeding the Healthy Vegetarian Family by Haedrich, Ken – This one got really good reviews and is a nice basic text.

Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone (Anniversary) (10TH ed.) by Madison, Deborah – Won a James Beard Award (I have this one at home for you to borrow).

The Moosewood Restaurant Cooks for Health: More Than 200 New Recipes for Delicious and Nutrient-Rich Dishes by Mollie Katzen is a big name in the vegetarian world

Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian by Jaffrey, Madhur - I haven't used this one but her other cookbooks are fabulous!

Passionate Vegetarian by Crescent Dragonwagon - Children's book author and vegetarian

Vegetarian Times Fast and Easy Great Food You Can Make in Minutes by the Editors of Vegetarian Times - Any of the Vegetarian Times cookbooks (and the magazine) are great.

The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas - Really nice for diverse families who aren't all vegetarians.