false 1 13 10 true 6105349 read 3 true 2705749 currently-reading 0 true 2705748 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66643677 to: Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide (Paperback) by Peter Allison
A book of bedtime short stories, easy to put down and fun to pick up ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66639963 The Grass Harp and A Tree of Night: And Other Stories (Paperback) by Truman Capote
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25744069 to: High Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now or Never (Paperback) by Barbara Kingsolver
Barbara Kingsolver, already famous for Beantrees, Pigs in Heaven, etc., lets loose with this collection of 25 essays on issues as diverse as hermit crabs, political activism, and vegetarianism. Her exquisite and thoughtful language persists throughout as, trained as a naturalist, she links minutae in the natural world with the more close-to-home issues of parenting, family, honesty, and her political views. Some of her best writing can be found in this collection.
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25743498 to: The Red Tent (Hardcover) by Anita Diamant
Ms. Diamant made the biblical story come to life in her novel. It is a bit more graphic than any Sunday School teacher explained, but still a good read. The sociological look at women was fascinating. If there were still Red Tents, women might be healthier and less stressed.

This was a bookclub selection. I can honestly say that in the ten years of belonging to this bookclub no book has ever created such a heated and passionate discussion, it was either loved or hated. Still some eight years after reading the book, when the title is mentioned in book club it stirs such passion in the members. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25743146 to: Girl in Hyacinth Blue (Paperback) by Susan Vreeland
Well researched historical fiction at its best. The most appealing aspect of this book to me is the unique manner in which it is presented. The author tells the story of the painting by giving us as an account of each owner, leading us back to its creation. The question in the back of the reader's mind is always whether the artist was actually Vermeer. Intelligently written with a clever use of language and a vast array of interesting characters, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Vreeland will be an author I add to my list of favorites. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25742831 to: Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (Paperback) by Mitch Albom
Albom plots Morrie's declining health, which is quite depressing, but at the same time imparts Morrie's wisdom. One definitely can get a sense of what the important things in life are from someone who has little left, but Morrie is particularly eloquent and seems to carry an upbeat dignity to the end. Sometimes it takes the wisdom of a dying man to jog us enough to realize that human relationships and health are more important than all the gadgets, modern conveniences, pressures to get ahead professionally and monetarily combined. This is just the main point that Morrie starts "teaching" Albom and getting through to someone who, like many of us from time to time, have gotten obsessed with the real trivialities of life. The only complaint I have about this book is that it wasn't longer. I wanted to take more time and savor the wisdom and sweetness of this old man, but, like his illness's swiftness, reading the book seemed to go by all too quickly. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25742481 to: An American Childhood (Paperback) by Annie Dillard
Only the luminous writing of someone as gifted as Annie Dillard could render the coal industry town of Pittsburg so charmingly. Dillard captures the pain of growing up. Born into family wealth, she led a privileged childhood among large homes, shady streets, very wealthy grandparents, private school - and a very close and loving family. she also played ball until it was too dark to see, and went compulsively to the woods to watch and to wonder. She collected rocks, and she read and read.
It's easy to sense that Dillard's mother was the primary force in her childhood, a woman of formidable interests and energies, questing curiosity, and the determination that her 3 daughters would not grow up as nothing more than the narrow-minded results of too much money and pampering. Dillard was certainly brilliant as a young child, focused and single-minded in her interest-du-jour; that her parents provided her the wherewithal to indulge her fascination with art, nature, music, and writing turns out to have been a gift to us all.
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25741935 to: Pigs in Heaven (Paperback) by Barbara Kingsolver
PIGS IN HEAVEN is the sequel to Barbara Kingsolver's book THE BEAN TREES. The novel continues the story of the Cherokee child named "Turtle" and her adoptive mother Taylor Greer. In this sequel, we find Turtle and Taylor living together in Tucson along with Taylor's boyfriend, a life that is not quite what would be called the most perfect of environments. They live in poverty, barely making ends meet. Although Taylor does her best, her income is limited, but she gives Turtle a lot of love, and along with her boyfriend, Turtle has a new family. Turtle seems happy, and after years of being mute due to a history of abuse, she's learned to talk, and all seems to be going well.

Unfortunately, Cherokee attorney Annawake Fourkiller accidentally discovers the existence of 6-year-old Turtle, and learns that Taylor had illegally adopted Turtle outside the Cherokee nation. Annawake is ready to rectify this problem. As far as she's concerned, Turtle needs to be raised by the Cherokee. Taylor, however, does not see this, and does what she can to protect her child.

Turtle and Taylor are now on the run, fleeing from their home in Tucson and leaving the boyfriend behind. They live from motel room to motel room, eating what they can afford. It gets to a point where Taylor does not know what to do next, in fear that she and Turtle will be discovered and eventually Turtle will be taken away from her. Yet, she wonders if what she is doing to Turtle is the right thing to do. When Alice Greer, Taylor's mother, gets involved, the story takes a surprising turn, and soon Turtle's biological family gets involved as well. I was glued to the book, wanting to know whether Taylor gets to keep Turtle, or is told to hand over the child to the Cherokee Nation.

Many important issues are brought up in PIGS IN HEAVEN. Should a child of American Indian heritage be allowed to live away from his or her tribe? Should the child be allowed to be raised among the white people, never knowing his true heritage? Turtle was completely happy with Taylor, and she did not know any other mother or life. The issue of whether it was a moral crime to separate the two is a big theme, with a fitting conclusion at the end of the story.

I really enjoyed this book, having already read THE BEAN TREES, which I loved as much as this one. Both stories center on the welfare of Turtle, an endearing little Indian girl that will capture your heart. However, after reading PIGS IN HEAVEN, I doubted that what Taylor did was right. It actually gave me a different perspective on the first book.

The two books should be read in sequence, but reading one or the other will not detract from the enjoyment of either
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