Book of the Week: ‘The Water Cure’ by Sophie Mackintosh
The Water Cure Sophie Mackintosh 2018, 266 Fiction The Water Cure is a story of familial ties, what strengthens them and what causes them to fray. The book complicates its investigation of nuclear family dynamics by placing the narrative in a time when men have been deemed “toxic” and “poisonous” and are a threat to all – as NPR’s Annalisa Quin points out, “The Water Cure makes toxic masculinity literal.” Set on a secluded island, The...
Book of the Week: ‘American Sutra’
American Sutra: A story of Faith and Freedom in the Second World WarDuncan Ryuken Williams2019, 258 pages text; 136 pages notes and end materialsAdult non-fiction American Sutra begins with the traditional opening words of Buddhist religious texts, or sutras: “Thus have I heard.” This opening dates from the time when these texts were passed down as an oral tradition. Duncan Ryuken Williams passes down to us the story of what happened...
Book of the Week: ‘The Cairo Brief’
The Cairo Brief: Poppy Denby InvestigatesFiona Veitch Smith2018, 340 pagesHistorical Mystery Poppy Denby is an enthusiastic young reporter for The Daily Globe in London. It is December, 1921. She and her editor are invited to the auction of the “death mask” of Nefertiti at the grand country estate of Sir James Maddox. Representatives from great museums of the world in America, Germany, England and Egypt are all interested in it. The...
Book of the Week: ‘Save Me the Plums’
Save Me the PlumsRuth Reichl2019, 288 pagesNonfiction Ruth Reichl was a restaurant reviewer for the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times and an author. She knew nothing about running a magazine. So she was floored when Condé Nast asked if she would like to be editor in chief of Gourmet magazine.Ruth’s love affair with Gourmet started when she was 8 years old and she visited a used book shop with her father. On the floor were some...
Book of the Week: ‘The Farmer’s Son’
The Farmer’s Son:Calving Season on a Family FarmJohn Connell2018, 243 pagesNonfiction John’s family has been in farming in Ireland for generations. But as a young man John left the farming life to pursue a writing career. He lived in Australia and Canada and wrote articles and books. But things went wrong, and John came home to Ireland to work on the farm. John became depressed, and writes honestly about how it affected him. A variety...
