Too bad this book is classified as a Young Adult fiction, too many adults could miss a great read.
This is the story of a young girl in Germany at the brink of world war II and throughout the war. It tells of how she, her foster family and her neighbors get through the terrible times.
It is a terrific, moving, disturbing story, told by an unusual narrator. It is also wonderfully written, if in a slightly quirky manner (which I enjoyed). The imagery is poetic, sometimes touching, sometimes jarring.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read.
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(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
I was attracted to this book as a kindred spirt (of sorts) to the author. I have been growing much of my own food (plant-based, anyway) as I could for many years. I prefer to eat seasonal foods, and buy locally produced items whenever available.
So I was a little disappointed when I first began reading, as much of the first chapter or two is taken up by the author's berating us all for our ignorance and our eating habits, as well as a lot of good, but unfortunately not new to me, information on our food supply.
Thankfully though, I hung in there, and found it to be an enjoyable read overall. I was looking forward to hear someone else's experiences in the garden and the kitchen, and that I did get.
I found myself skipping some parts, the description of the poultry slaughtering for example.
The book also includes sidebars written by her husband, which were mainly summaries of reports one may have already read elsewhere; and essays written by her daughter, Camille. I didn't find these entries of interest, and so skipped them as well.
If you enjoy reading about food and or gardening, or you have been having second thoughts about your grocery habits lately, then I recommend this book.
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(24 of 47 readers found this comment helpful)
Elyse has commented on (2) products.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Elyse, December 8, 2007
Too bad this book is classified as a Young Adult fiction, too many adults could miss a great read.This is the story of a young girl in Germany at the brink of world war II and throughout the war. It tells of how she, her foster family and her neighbors get through the terrible times.
It is a terrific, moving, disturbing story, told by an unusual narrator. It is also wonderfully written, if in a slightly quirky manner (which I enjoyed). The imagery is poetic, sometimes touching, sometimes jarring.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read.
(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver and Camille Kingsolver and Steven L. Hopp
Elyse, August 22, 2007
I was attracted to this book as a kindred spirt (of sorts) to the author. I have been growing much of my own food (plant-based, anyway) as I could for many years. I prefer to eat seasonal foods, and buy locally produced items whenever available.So I was a little disappointed when I first began reading, as much of the first chapter or two is taken up by the author's berating us all for our ignorance and our eating habits, as well as a lot of good, but unfortunately not new to me, information on our food supply.
Thankfully though, I hung in there, and found it to be an enjoyable read overall. I was looking forward to hear someone else's experiences in the garden and the kitchen, and that I did get.
I found myself skipping some parts, the description of the poultry slaughtering for example.
The book also includes sidebars written by her husband, which were mainly summaries of reports one may have already read elsewhere; and essays written by her daughter, Camille. I didn't find these entries of interest, and so skipped them as well.
If you enjoy reading about food and or gardening, or you have been having second thoughts about your grocery habits lately, then I recommend this book.
(24 of 47 readers found this comment helpful)