Italian food, Catholicism and Family

Francesca's Kitchen by Peter Pezzelli was a nice break from the heavy books I've recently read. The book was a light read which brought to mind fragrant aromas of Italian cooking, going to Confession and the joys of family life.

I have always had a dream of going to Italy (which I hope will come to fruition someday) and maybe even living in Tuscany. The idea of going to a small town market, buying local produce and creating a wickedly delicious meal is something I wish I could do every day. I love the book Under the Tuscan Sun and in some ways Francesca's Kitchen was reminiscent of this book, although it takes place in Rhode Island.

Francesca, is an old Italian Catholic who lives alone. Her husband is dead, her two daughters live far away and her son although near by is a bachelor. She finds herself going through extended periods of loneliness and depression and longs for something to break up the monotony of her days. Eventually she responds to a babysitting ad in the newspaper. Soon every afternoon she babysits Penny and Will. They are the children of Loretta, a young single mom who struggles to balance work, her family and her sanity. Francesca wins her way into the children's hearts through food, tough love and compassion. It is Francesca's Catholic faith, strong will and determination that also help her to once again find joy in her life.

At the back of this book you will find an author's interview as well as some favorite Italian recipes (lasagna, biscotti, etc.). This book will have your mouth watering the entire time. It is a heart warming story that will make you smile!

Middlesex

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is a book I have been meaning to read for a while. I thought for some reason that the book was written years ago when in fact it was recently written in 2002 and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

This fictional account traces the Greek family history of Callie (Cal) Stephanides, a hermaphrodite who struggles with his sexuality throughout his entire life. The Stephanides gene pool is infiltrated with intermarrying, this is what Cal blames for his condition. Cal's grandparents were brother and sister who migrated to the United States from Turkey and his parents were first cousins. Supposedly, back in Greece some of his ancestors were born with both male and female genitalia, but this was never verified. When Callie is born he is deemed to be female. His doctor fails to recognize that he does in fact also have tell tale signs of male reproductive organs.

Callie leads a relatively normal and happy childhood. At times he feels different and finds women to be more attractive then men. It isn't until the age of 14 when Callie visits a specialist in New York, that he changes his name to Cal and begins to lead a life as a male.

Although parts of this book were a little long I found it incredibly interesting to read about the struggles and hardships of being a hermaphrodite. Many experience shame, depression and feel ostracized. This book, however, is about the importance of finding hope and peace with oneself!

Is the World Flat?

I finally finished reading The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. It was an extremely enlightening and educational read. Unfortunately, I do not read enough non-fiction, but I am trying to expose myself to more in the future.


The main premise of this book is the discussion of globalization and how this phenomenon has essentially leveled the playing field between countries. Outsourcing, economic diversity and the rapid rate of technological advancements (primarily the Internet) have all contributed to what Friedman describes as the "flattening of the world."


Although I do not agree with all of Friedman's opinions or points of view, I did find them compelling. The fact that more and more of American goods are being made overseas (look at all of the toy recalls from China) is a reflection on the current state of affairs in many countries. Interestingly, more and more young adults in India and China are obtaining degrees in engineering, math and science then in the United States. As a result, young adults in the United States are not staying competitive and often are losing their jobs to individuals overseas.

What I found to be eye opening was how much work is actually distributed to places such as Bangalore and New Delhi where call centers abound. The phones are ringing off the hook in places like Bangalore, India to answer questions such as "where is my lost baggage," "how do I hook up my wireless Internet," or "how do I put together this toy." Sometimes it is frustrating for consumers who have trouble understanding the person at the other end, but companies such as Delta Airlines are finding that they are saving millions by outsourcing. Individuals, in India, who are working for the call centers are also often happy to find jobs that offer them decent pay and often benefits.

The advancement of the Internet is another phenomenon which has made it virtually seamless for countries to communicate. In an instant individuals and companies can make contact, participate in virtual meetings and use live web cams to keep up on every day business operations. These advancements were something which were not around 15-20 years ago. Every day more and more web pages are being created and more and more people are becoming "virtually connected." While there are a plethora of pitfalls to technology, overall it has leveled the playing field for many and made access to information more equitable.

The World is Flat is the type of book that I would recommend reading in segments. Each chapter is chalk full of anecdotes and personal stories, which makes the read fun. It is not just a long litany of statistics and facts. Friedman has updated this book a couple of times, so make sure you read the most recent version when you check it out of the library!

Finally, check out Friedman's website at: http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/

Farewell Summer

I have been meaning to blog about this book for quite some time! A week ago I finished Ray Bradbury's book Farewell Summer, which was published in 2006. It is a sequel to his book Dandelion Wine, published in 1957. For any of you who haven't read Ray Bradbury, I suggest that you do. Although he is known as a sci-fi writer I have read many of his books (and I am not a sci-fi reader). His books such as Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man are among my favorites. Many of his books are a commentary on society and humanity.

Farewell Summer follows Douglas Spalding, a twelve-year old boy, who is always looking for an adventure. The book as been cited as being semi-autobiographical. Throughout the story, Douglas and his friends create an imaginary rivalry between the town' s elderly and themselves. They make believe that they are in the midst of war. Meanwhile, the story also looks at young romance, the virtue of honesty and being true to one's moral character. The story is a poignant look at the contrast, yet similarities between the old and young. The writing is artistic, light and airy. Reading this book, made me yearn for the summer's of my youth when life was innocent and carefree.

We wish Madeline L'Engle a fond farewell

Madeline L'Engle, well-known children's author, passed away this past week. I decided that it was time that I reread her classic A Wrinkle in Time. I forget how old I was when I first read this Newbery Medal winner, but I am so glad that I took the time to re-read it. The story is a mix of science fantasy, teen anxst and family ties.

Elements of magic, Eienstein's theory of relativity and physics swirl together to make this fast paced story truly enchanting. Every pre-teen will also be able to relate to Meg. She finds herself to be ugly because of her mouth full of braces and her glasses. She is also incessantly arguing with her teachers and not doing well at school. My favorite characters in this book are Charles Wallace, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. They are absolutely charming!

I promise you all that this enduring classic is an excellent read for young and old alike.

The Kite Runner

I belong to a book club that is comprised of women whose husbands are also going through the masochistic pursuit of dental school. We got together the other night to discuss Khlad Hosseini's first book entitled The Kite Runner. Hosseini was born and raised in Afghanistan until he moved to the U.S. in the 1980's. His perspective on the culture and way of life of the Afghan people is stark and palpably real. As a citizen of the U.S., it is difficult to comprehend just how much suffering the people of Afghanistan face on a daily basis.

During our book club meeting we not only discussed the book, but many of us brought food that was either mentioned in the book or that is commonly eaten in Afghanistan (or at least we hope). I made homemade hummus and others made dal, naan, Afghan rice, an amazing chicken dish and more! The food was phenomenal. Discussion points that were revealed included the issue of guilt that was experienced by Amir, friendship and mental versus physical suffering. Someone noted that mental anguish can be acutely more painful than that of any physical ailment. I would say that I have to agree.

In conclusion, in our ever narrowing and globalizing world it is important for us to constantly learn about other cultures, religions, points of view, etc. I know that it is easy to become narrow minded and closed. But even though we may not be able to visit a place or see it with or own eyes this isn't an excuse. Increased technology has made it easier for us to listen to podcasts, view on-line journals, video clips, news clips and of course read. Always remember to Read! Read! Read!

Dinah...the daughter of Jacob

I just finished reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. This is the story of Dinah, the only daughter of the old testament's Jacob, who has twelve sons. Dinah has a pleasant childhood with many fond memories. She is well cared for by her mother, Leah, and her three aunts Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah. However, once Dinah comes of age everything in her life changes. She is thrown into a world of violence, tragedy, injustice and insecurity. At times Dinah feels like giving up, but she learns to persevere. She becomes a midwife and finds satisfaction in bringing new life into the world.

Although Diamant takes liberties in expounding upon Old Testament biblical stories, the book is well written and narrated. Dinah's story is one of hope and faith in a world that at times can be so cruel.

I am also in the process of reading The World is Flat. The book is very interesting and educational. When I am finished with it I will be sure to write a review.