Book Vault

My Antonia by Willa Cather is a story set in the plains of Nebraska in the late 1800s and told by Jim Burden, now a grown man who is returning after twenty years to visit the small town of his childhood and his closest friend, Bohemian immigrant Antonia Shimerda. It is a story of enduring friendship and the power of the land itself to shape us.

Cather’s writing is, to me, powerful, sparse and beautiful. I was transported to the grassy plains while reading and feel as though Jim and Antonia were my friends, too. I loved this book.

Penny Loafers and Bobby Pins is just a hoot to read! Anyone who grew up in the 50s and 60s will relate to the stories shared by the authors--four sisters from my hometown of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The book will take you on a trip down memory land and you'll want to share it--and even read it out loud--with others who have "been there, done that" during those decades, too!

This is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary time in our nation’s history. The Worst Hard Time is a tale about the Dust Bowl days of the “dirty thirties” and the people who chose to stay on their ravaged land during what was an environmentally disastrous time of almost Biblical proportions.

Written in an intensely interesting and riveting style, this book explains the causes of the Dust Bowl and the very personal and tragic results of turning vast amounts of America’s great grasslands “wrong side up” in a futile attempt to farm land that was never meant for the plow.

I felt as though I had met and spoken with the people who lived through this “worst hard time” and continue to be inspired by their determination and perseverance through unbelievable trials.

Truly a book that I did not want to put down.

I picked up Mollie Katzen's book, Get Cooking, and after turning a few pages, knew I had to take it home and get cooking! The recipes are easy to follow and each one I've tried so far has been just delicious. There are great tips and suggestions for embellishments for each recipe in the "get creative" sidebar. Beginning and experienced cooks will find this a wonderful resource for cooking healthy and flavorful meals with ingredients you can find at any grocery.

Favorites so far:

• Cuban Black Bean Soup
• Spaghetti alla Carbonara
• Pasta with Tuna, White Beans and Artichoke Hearts
• Green Pea and Feta Quiche
• Chocolate-Peanut Butter Crunchy Things :-)

Bon appetit!