gdt63 This blog belongs to Gary D. Thomas: Xcountry skiing in 2011

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Xcountry skiing in 2011

Well, here is the new year. In Minnesota that has meant throwing out the last bowl of lutefisk in the refrigerator (way, way past edible) and ordering a new pair of Schnee pacboots. My son Ben says I will never need to order another pair of foot warmers. I have done more cross country skiing this winter than ever before, five or six times now, managing to go three times in a row without falling down. What great exercise!! I have yet to try, but am looking forward to skiing on a real groomed trail. Will it be too tame? I am accustomed to breaking trail on the open farm fields north of Wabasso, sometimes following a "trail" left by a snow machine to tame the deeper snow. Because of my novice status, I still haven't figured out how to dress for this activity... I am always dripping with sweat when I am done. Still... I hate to be cold.

Anyone have any Minnesota xcountry trails to recommend??

No comments:

Reads of 2011

"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly. amazon blurb:Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones.With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century. GDT: A good young adult read 7 of 10.
"My Year with Eleanor" by Noel Hancock. Amazon Review:After losing her high-octane job as an entertainment blogger, Noelle Hancock was lost. About to turn twenty-nine, she'd spent her career writing about celebrities' lives and had forgotten how to live her own. Unemployed and full of self-doubt, she had no idea what she wanted out of life. She feared change—in fact, she feared almost everything. Once confident and ambitious, she had become crippled by anxiety, lacking the courage required even to attend a dinner party—until inspiration struck one day in the form of a quote on a chalkboard in a coffee shop: "Do one thing every day that scares you." Interesting and entertaining 8 of 10.
"Corduroy Mansions" by Alexander McCall Smith: An interesting mix of characters move into the flats in the apt. building Corduroy Mansions. Some enjoy their neighbors, some fall in love with them. AMS can make a story worth reading. 6 of 10
"Heartbeat" by Sharon Creech. Amazon Reveiw: That's what twelve-year-old Annie loves to do. When she's barefoot and running, she can hear her heart beating . . . thump-THUMP, thump-THUMP. It's a rhythm that makes sense in a year when everything's shifting: Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is forgetful, and her best friend, Max, is always moody. Everything changes over time, just like the apple Annie's been assigned to draw. But as she watches and listens, Annie begins to understand the many rhythms of life, and how she fits within them. GDT: this was a good read 7 of 10, this is an outstanding character.
"Maphead" by Ken Jennings. This was a fun read for me as I an incurable geography addict. Ken Jennings chapters on the National Geography Bee, the nation map repository and geography education in the public schools are all interesting as well as entertaining. Can"t be beat. 9 of 10
"Pigeon English" by Stephen Kellmen. A tragic coming of age story of an urban immigrant youth and the dangers he is exposed to. A tragedy. 6 of 10
"Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley..It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”GDT : good story 7 of 10
"The Healing of America" (2011?) A very interesting comparison of health care systems around the world and an evaluation of the Obama's "Affordable Health Care Act". Very informative, very readable. 8 of 10
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin. Who doesn"t enjoy a reread of the classic romance. Loved it again.
"Father of Frankenstein" by Christopher Bram 1995) Amazon review:James Whale, the elegant director of such classic horror films as"Frankenstein" and "The Bride of Frankenstein, " was found at his Los Angeles mansion in 1957, dead of unnatural causes. Christopher Bram, whose social insight and wit have earned him comparisons to Henry James and Gore Vidal, explores the mystery of Whale's last days in this evocative and suspenseful work of fiction. Home from the hospital after a minor stroke, Whale becomes convinced that his time is nearly over. Increasingly confused and disoriented, he is overwhelmed by images from the past: his working-class childhood in Britain, lavish Hollywood premieres in the 1930s attended with a nervous lover, meeting Garbo, parties with Elsa Manchester, Charles Laughton, and Elizabeth Taylor, nightmares from his own movies. Handsome ex-marine Clayton Boone, an angry loner who is Whale's gardener, becomes the focus of a fantastic plot Whale devises to provide his life with the dramatic ending it deserves. Bram juxtaposes the worlds of two very different men, James Whale and Clayton Boone, deftly shifting between the complex mind of an English exile full of experience and sardonic humor, and that of an American whose attitude toward Whale moves from disgust to fascination to a final shock of disbelief. Suggesting influences as diverse as Sunset Boulevard and the works of Christopher Isherwood, "Father of Frankenstein" is a rich yet cutting look at fame, mortality, and hidden desire. Often praised for his singular take on history, culture, and sex, Bram has surpassed himself with this ingenious new novel. GDT says this book is pretty good 7.5 of 10.
"The Tender Bar" by J.R. Moehringer (2006). A memoir of a young man's coming of age. Having no enduring relationship with his father a Moehringer turns to his uncle who works in a bar. He discovers that all he needs to learn is espoused by the denizens of the bar. He is embraced by the bar and it gives his life a structure. Pretty good, 6 of 10.
"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen (2006). Who hasn't read this colorfully set love story. A good cast of interesting character from too good to too evil. OK story, about a 6 of 10.
“The Tortilla Curtain” by T. C. Boyle. (1995) Boyle's latest book concerns two couples in Southern California:one a pair of wealthy suburbanites, the other illegal immigrants from Mexico. Besides tackling the social issue of illegal immigration, the story gives us close looks at the life styles of both families. There is sympathy both ways. A memorable story, with tensions, excitement and solid conclusions.
“Wood Song” by Gary Paulson. (2007) An exhausting account of a man’s dream to race and finish the Iditarod. Fabulous descriptive passages, especially the encounter with the “ghost trees” in the middle of the night on the race trail.
“Secret Daughter” by Shilpi Gowds. (2010) Somer’s life is everything she imagined it would be—she’s newly married and has started her career as a physician in San Francisco—until she makes the devastating discovery she never will be able to have children.The same year in India, a poor mother makes the heartbreaking choice to save her newborn daughter’s life by giving her away. It is a decision that will haunt Kavita for the rest of her life, and cause a ripple effect that travels across the world and back again.Asha, adopted out of a Mumbai orphanage, is the child that binds the destinies of these two women. We follow both families, invisibly connected until Asha’s journey of self-discovery leads her back to India.Compulsively readable and deeply touching, Secret Daughter is a story of the unforeseen ways in which our choices and families affect our lives, and the indelible power of love in all its many forms. (Amazon review)
“Vestments” by John Reimringer. (2010) A young priest’s struggle with celibacy, and his yearnings for a previous love. Mediocre.
“AWOL on the Appalachian Trail” by David Miller. (2010) If you have read about the Appalachian trail you are either captivated or incredulous. This is a story of one man’s attempt to fulfill his trail dream. Very descriptive of the beauties and travails of the trail. A captivating story, motivating me at least, to try a segment of the trail someday.
“Made in the U.S.A.” by Billie Letts. (2007) Fifteen year old Lutie McFee and her brother Fate have been left with their widowed father in Spearfish, S.D. When he disappears to find his fortune in Las Vegas, leaving Lutie and Fate with Floy, the father’s former girlfriend things go from bad to worse. Floy dies. Luie decides between foster care for herself and her brother or freedom. They leave for Las Vegas to find their father. Captivating coming of age story.
“Beyond the Body Farm” by Dr. Bill Blass and Jan Jefferson. I found this book to be not only fascinating but very informative. Dr. Bass and Mr. Jefferson have managed to write a non-fiction book that reads like a fiction novel and still manages to inform and teach. What happens to the human body after death; what happens to the human body when blown up in an explosion; etc. This book examines the forensics behind the scenes. Interesting.
“Runaway” by Wendelin Van Draanen, c. 2006. Yound Adult Fiction: Holly is in her fifth foster home and had enough. She has run away before, but now she is older. At 12 years old she sets off across the country, hopping trains and bumming rides. Told through her journal entries, Hollies search for family and herself is riveting. A good story. (January)
“Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”, by Jamie Ford, c. 2009. A great story! The discovery of a room in the Panama Hotel in Seattle full of belongings of Japanese families who had been sent to internment camps during WWII. This sends old Henry Lee back to his elementary school years where, as a young Chinese student among the white students, makes a bond with a young Japanese girl, Keiko. She and her family are swept up in the internment process. Henry spends his life searching and wondering, “will she come back”. An engaging story and one of the best reads of 2011.
“The Lost Art of Gratitude” by Alexander McCall Smith, copyright 2010. Isabele Dalhousie is back, investigating, philosophizing, and snooping around. These are always good reads, and I find the philosophical queries that are raised as asides to be just as entertaining as the sleuthing. Fun read. (January)
“Foop” by Chirs Genoa, c. 2005. Nope!
"Eggs" is a quirky and moving novel about two very complicated, damaged children. David has recently lost his mother to a freak accident, his salesman father is constantly on the road, and he is letting his anger out on his grandmother. Primrose lives with her unstable, childlike, fortuneteller mother, and the only evidence of the father she never knew is a framed picture. Despite their age difference (David is 9, Primrose is 13), they forge a tight yet tumultuous friendship, eventually helping each other deal with what is missing in their lives. Amazon review.

Good Reads of 2010

"Book Doctor" by Esther Cohen. A young woman decides to leave her job and help people write their books (or fix their books). The clients she attracts are an interesting and amusing group. This book is outstanding. It is original, touching, amusing and at the end, surprising. I highly recommend this book.
"I Know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb. I love this author's books! And this novel did not disappoint. Like his novel, "The Hour I First Believed", this novel examines questions and situations of life that confront us all. The 912 pages fly by, leaving the reader glad for every page. The suffering and searching of life revealed in this story have a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book!! GT (February)
"Mathilda Savitch" by Victor Lodato. Young adult fiction. Mathilda's sister is dead, and the cause of her death might be accepted by the adults, but not by Mathilda. She spends much of her time trying to find the password for her sister's computer, trying to determine who "Louie" is, and trying to figure out how to navigate junior high school. Mathilda's voice rings true to me, and I listen to junior high school kids every day. The mystery of her sister's death and the mystery of Mathilda's life will keep you turning pages. GT (March)
"Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach, 2004. Macabre, humorous, and informative, this book answers the question of what happens to bodies when they are donated for purposes of research. Chapters titled "A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste", "Just A Head: decapitation, reanimation and total head transplant", "Eat Me: Medicinal cannibalism and the case of the human dumpling" consider obvious topics. Especially interesting to me were chapters dealing with the use of human crash test dummies, the use of bodies to recreate aircraft crashes, and the military's use of bodies to determine the effects of weapons. Roach always manages to treat the subjects respectfully. And she spends thoughtful time at the end of the book considering if she will donate her body to research. I know that the book changed my mind about this issue. A very interesting read!
"The Gastronomy of a MarrIage" by Michelle Maisto. This memoir of the year leading up to the authors wedding is delightful. The interpersonal jockeying prior to the nuptials is interesting....who knows how all of those little issues will be resolved until you have lived through them. But the story is interesting and the pairing of an Italian girl and a Chinese man, along with their ethnic cuisines is fun and entertaining. I loved this book and the recipes that were part of every chapter. This book was the reason I planted rapini in my garden last summer. Very good!! GT (January)
"The Great Fire" by Shirley Hazzard takes its title from the atomic bombings at the end of WWII. We meet Aldred Lieth who is an American military man part of the occupying forces in East Asis. The title also could refer to the love that develops between Adrid and the young daughter of an Australian officer. A great love story set against a destroyed world. It adds hope. Good read. GT (January)
"The Ladder of Years" by Amy Tan The family here is the Grinsteads, more particularly restless 40-year-old wife and mom Celia Grinstead. Feeling unappreciated and unnoticed by her husband, a family doctor who took over Celia's father's practice, and increasingly unnecessary in the lives of her nearly grown children, Celia wanders off during a family beach vacation and starts a new life in a small town. She's sad and uncertain about her break with her previous life but oddly determined. This review was from Amazon. I did enjoy this book, but writing about it 10 months later, I have to admit, it is forgettable. GT (January)
"Tinkers" by Paul Harding. This National Book Award winner is a slim volume, but loaded with insights into the lives of several generations of depressives. A bit of a downer.
"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead. This unusual young adult book will captivate any reader who will turn its pages. The sixth grade young protagonist, Miranda, finds her life taking more and more bizarre and unexplainable turns. Her favorite book, "A Wrinkle in Time", gives readers a hint as to where this book is going. Unexpected, exciting, and intimate. You will love this book!! GT (February)
"You Say Tomato, I say 'Shut Up'!" by Anabelle Guerwitch and Jeff Kahn. This memoir begins with a couple that was difficult for me to relate to. But, a turn of fate, and their pulling together in a tragic situation, makes them both more human and more sympathetic. This is a surprising book. How often do you read something that brings you back from throwing it in the garbage, leaving you glad you had read it??? GT (March)
Finished a very nice memoir by Franciso Jememez a day or two ago. Titled "Reaching Out", it follows a young Mexican student's days as a college student in a California college. I have to admire the devotion this young man had for his family, and the dedication he had to his college studies. It was a very inspiring story. The author is my age, so it way easy to relate to the experiences he had. They were somewhat similar to mine (less the fact that I attended college 24 miles from home, in my own country, and I had none of the drive and determination to excellence he had). Still, I recommend the book.
Going Bovine" by Libba Bray. A Don Quixote quest is in store for the readers of this Young Adult novel. Cameron is diagnosed with mad cow disease and must a quest to find the cure for his progressing disease (with many a windmill to tilt at). Entertaining.
Hiding in the Spotlight" by Greg Dawson. Zhanna is a gifted musical prodigy, as is her sister. They are Jewish, living in early Nazi Germany, they narrowly escape their families fate of internment and death and survive by keeping their identity a secret and performing for the Nazis. Their lives are saved by their love of music and their talent.
Savy by Ingrid Law. The Beaumant family is remarkable. They all gain a superpower of one sort or another when they turn 13. Mib's 13th birthday is approaching when her grandfather is gravely injured and in a far off hospital. Her odyssey to reach him and save him with her yet unknown superpower is the content of the novel. A good Young adult novel with several layers of meaning. Engaging. GT (January)
“Blind Descent” by James Tabor, 2010. (This book is approved for Geography book report.) This book follows a competition between a team of cavers from the United States (headed by Bill Stone) and cavers from Russia (headed by Alexander Kimchouk) to find the deepest cave on the planet. I found the technical aspects of this extreme sport very interesting, and the author is adept at teaching the reader much of the minutia involved, from arcane rope knots to ascending and descending techniques. This book is not for the claustrophobic! I found myself wincing my way through tiny crevasses, while twisting and turning in my chair to navigate its narrow confines. This is a very readable account of a very dangerous sport. Add to this two larger than life personalities of Stone and Kimchouk and one has a real page turner.
“Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof” by Blaize Clemient, 2009. Another Dixie Hemmingway mystery. What can I say… set in the exotic Florida Keys, this detective is reminiscent of Kinsey Miilhone. Dixie is capable, smart and a warm human being whose career centers around the animals she cares for. She solves crimes as an afterthought. A good beach read.
“Fly Boys” by James Bradley, 2003. I usually wait a few months after reading a book before writing its review. Sometimes this “fermenting” process brings new insights. In the case of this book, however, the intervening months have relegated this read to the bottom of my list. I did not enjoy this book at the time I read it, and on further reflection now really dislike it. The author blames much of the Japanese cruelty on the American forces. Really!?!
“Good Faith”, by Jane Smiley, c.2004. The action here centers around real estate brokers, making some honest money in their home town. Enter Marcus Burns, a character with a possibly tainted past, and the transactions become more speculative and less honest. This was a long read with the climax coming so close to the end of the book that we really don’t get a feeling as to how the major characters are going to pull their lives back together. Not up to the same standard as Smiley’s “A Thousand Acres”.
“I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith. Copyrighted in 1948 and set in the 1930s this reissue is still fresh and fun. Told from the point of view of a 17 year old, the protagonist shares her family’s adventure in renting a crumbling castle (with the last of their funds) in hopes that father will be able to write another successful novel to support the family. Almost a gothic romance, this is fun stuff. I especially recommend this to teenagers who are stuck in the vampire rut! (July)
“In Defense of Food:An Eater’s Manifesto” by Michael Pollan, c.2008. The clarity the author brings to the issue of what “food” is changed my mind about what I am seeing while strolling the aisles of the supermarket. Food like products have taken over our diet, but have robbed us of the nutrients that we need for health and healing. Every parent should read the chapter titled “Nutritionism and Children” and learn the duplicitous research that went into early infant formula products and baby foods. The message of this book is on the cover: “EAT FOOD. NOT TOO MUCH. MOSTLY PLANTS”. This book has made me a better eater. (October)
“One Day” by David Nicholls, 2009. Operates on the same premise as “Same Time Next Year”, a young man and woman who got together on the college graduation day continue to see each other one day each year for the next twenty years. They love each other, of course, but are not together. Their lives and careers take them in different directions until his crashes and burns. Then they get together, only to have her killed in the final pages of the book. She died riding her bicycle to meet him. This book was only sort of engaging, and quite predictable. Being made into a movie, where it will play better than the book.
“Purple Hibiscus” by Chiamamanda Adichie, 2004. (Approved for Geography book report) 15 year old Kambili Achiki is an engaging narrator from an affluent and influential Nigerian family. At first her life looks idyllic, but as one reads it becomes obvious that something is seriously wrong with this family. The father is abusive to Kambili and her brother as well as to his wife. As the abusive grows the children make a “visit” to an aunt who works as a professor in a Nigerian university; they vow to never return. This memoir of a young African women on the cusp of womanhood with a backdrop of family and national turmoil make for an especially riveting read.
“The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World” by Eric Weiner, c.2009. The author, a former foreign correspondent for NPR, traveled to many places in the world during his working years. Now he is determined to locate the most “happy” nation in the world. He starts his trek at the World Database of Happiness in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This repository of behavioral data points him in many directions around the world. He visits Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, Iceland, Moldova, Thailand, Great Britain, India and finally turns his eyes on the United States. Each chapter is devoted to one of these countries and it examines what happiness is in the confines of that culture. It is an interesting read, though a little short on conclusions. One can’t fault the author entirely as happiness is difficult to define, let alone locate. Perhaps the most encouraging thing about the book is the fact that the author maybe found his happiness closest to home. (November)
“The Passage” by Justin Cronin, c.2010. I loved Stephen King’s “The Stand” which is what I thought I getting when I started this book. But, when the story made the jump to the future I really didn’t know or care about the characters anymore. Repeated situations and dynamics drain this book of enjoyment and turn it into a marathon slog. Overly promoted for a mediocre work. NPR what were you thinking?? No sequel for me please. (July)
“The Witch Doctor’s Wife” by Tamara Myers, 2009. (This book can be use for a Geography book report). Set in Africa’s Belgium Congo in 1958 a young female missionary crash lands in Belle Vue, settles in, then hires the wife of the local witch doctor for her housekeeper. The wife, known locally as Cripple, soon becomes charged with murder surrounding the mysterious appearance, then disappearance, of a huge diamond. A very well written mystery set in an interesting period of the Congo’s history. This book gives interesting and entertaining insights into the tribal culture of the area.
“With The Old Breed- Peleliu and Okinawa” by E. B. Sledge, 2007. My father, Donald S. Thomas served in the Marines Pacific Theatre during WWII. I saw my father in so much of this book, beginning with basic training and later, in the battle scenes. Dad led an amphibious tank group on the landings of 5 islands before he was released for medical reasons. I gave this book to both of my sons, Ben and Sam Thomas, who thought a lot of their grampa. This book is a great memoir of a soldier's experience in these campaigns.

Reads of 2009

“This Water Goes North” by Dennis Weidmann. (Approved for a Geography book report.) This travel adventure chronicles the canoe trip by four Iowa college age boys from East Leaf Lake, MN to the Hudson Bay. The book is copyrighted 2008, but trip occurred in 1979. Operating on a shoestring budget, they used the equipment they had: an old Grumman sternback and an Alumacraft Quitico 17 (a tank). In addition they used the two best tents the group owned and pooled other necessary equipment from their own supplies. New equipment was not purchased. This true adventure story will keep you turning pages. Harrowing escapes from dangerous rapids, extreme weather and mosquitoes made me glad I was following this adventure from the luxury of my easy chair. But, the camaraderie of this group is infectious, as is the unfailing help of people along the way. The four paddlers probably would not have made their destination without the generosity of people who lived along the river. This is a very quick read and one I think that will be enjoyed by anyone who has wondered, “What would it be like to paddle off into the wilderness with a mostly uncharted destination 1,400 miles away?”
“What the World Eats”, by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio, copyright 2008. Menzel and D’Aluisio visited families around the world and documented what they ate in one week. The twenty-five families visited in twenty-one countries represent an interesting documentary on the cultural and economic differences served on dinner plates around the globe.
"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. (copyright 2009). (Approved for Geography class book report.) This epistolary novel set in the Channel Islands gives the reader a great place with which to become acquainted. The island of Guernsey is the setting of this historical novel, set right after the close of WWII. Juliet, a young women sent to the island to do research for a novel by her publisher, falls in love with an orphan child and a local man of modest means. The story unfolds through the exchange of letters and telegrams between the various parties. Populated by memorable characters, the island residents are beginning to recover from the Nazi occupation of their world. This is an entertaining read, reminiscent of Jane Austin.
"Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya, copyright 1954.(Approved for Geography book report.) Millions of copies of this novel have been sold. This beautiful and eloquent story tells of a simple peasant woman in primitive village in India whose life was a gallant and persistent battle to care for those she loved. An unforgettable novel." (The Associated Press) (November)
“The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon” by David Gramm. (This book isapproved for Geography book report.) This book explores the puzzle of what happened to the Percy Fawcett expedition after it entered the Amazon rain forest in 1925. The intrepid Fawcett was a well known British explorer supported by the Royal Geographical Society, as well as a national super hero known for his exploits in the Amazon basin. But his life long obsession to discover a major city and civilization were never realized. This book is well researched and well documented, perhaps to a fault. The author follows the early expeditionary work of Fawcett leading up to his last attempt at finding Z. In addition he spends much time explaining a follow up expedition that attempted to “rescue” Fawcett launched in 1925 by Commander George M. Dyott. Finally, the author himself launches an expedition in 2005 to see if he can solve the mystery of what happened to the Fawcett expedition. This book is at its best recounting the early expeditions of Fawcett and Dyott. The deprivation and disease faced by these parties were extreme. Horrible afflictions awaited those who ventured into the jungles before the advent of antibiotics and effective insecticides. A criticism of the book would be its over ambitious attempt to fully cover the expeditions of Fawcett, then Dyott and, finally, the author. It was too much…. I felt a fatigue and tedium akin to the buzzing heat of an Amazon afternoon Still, if you want an idea of how an obsession can shape the life of a man and his family, this provides a good example. And if you have any romantic notions of “strolling” through the Amazon rain forest, this book will put them to rest. August, 2009
“Yukon Alone” by John Balzar. (1999) (Approved for Geography book report.) This insider version of the event known as the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will make you reach for your comforter and slippers. This race, run in February, from Canada’s Yukon through the frozen interior of Alaska to Fairbanks is 1,023 miles long. The Iditerod is a sprint race compared to the Quest. Just to earn the finisher badge is an Alaskan mark of honor. This story of the 1998 race fully recounts the men and dogs who participated and suffered. Best make some hot cocoa before starting this one.
“Desert Sojourn” by Debi Holmes-Binney. (2000)(Approved for a geography book report) At age 31, having left behind a stifling marriage, Debi Holmes-Binney set off into the harsh Great Salt Lake Desert with basic supplies- rice, lentils, 64 gallons of water- to spend 40 days in solitude to sort out her life. Nature hardly cooperated throwing thunder storms, flash floods and a blizzard that buried her under snow and ice. She took risks and found some answers.
“Stranger in the Forest: on Foot Across Borneo” by Eric Hansen. (1988)(Approve for a geography book report)] Hansen is a compulsive traveler. In Borneo he found true adventure in the rain forests. He prepared for and undertook a trek across the island on foot, with a minimum of equipment and support, hiring guides as he could find them (or afford them). Many interesting adventures and situations, particularly when he found himself among tribes who only recently had given up headhunting. (September, 09)
“That Old Cape Magic” by Richard Russo. 2009. This is a deeply introspective novel of a middle-aged man examining the ties that bind his life: his marriage, his childhood family, his job(s), etc. The examination of these very mature issues may not appeal to high school students. The novel examines questions of how much of ourselves is truly “ours” or are we largely the product of many factors in our past. I did not enjoy this Russo novel as much as “Empire Falls” or “Nobody’s Fool”. (September, 2009)
"Until They Bring The Streetcars Back", by Stanley Gordon West. WOW!! This book stays at the top of my list so far this year! A wonderfully suspenseful and engaging book! This riveting tale of a high school senior boy's attempt to add some joy to an ostracized senior classmate uncovers haunting aspects of her life. The more he discovers, the more danger he is in. This book has a great balance of humor and suspense. Set in St. Paul in the 1950s, Kudos.
“Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson, 2009 (Qualifies for geography book report) In 1993, Greg Mortenson tried to climb K2 in honor of his younger sister, but when another member of his group got sick, the turned around, and Greg became lost in the mountains of Pakistan. He wandered into a poor village, where the village chief and his people took him in. Moved by their kindness, he promised to return and build a school for the children. Over the next decade Mortenson built more than sixty schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has endured death threats, a kidnapping, and more to dedicate his life to building literacy and peace, one child at a time. An inspiring read. (September)
Fortune’s Daughter” by Isabelle Allende. (Qualifies for a Geography book report.) This is a compelling story of Eliza, an orphan deposited on the doorstep of a wealthy family. Set in Chile around 1845, this novel follows the life of Eliza as she grows up, falls in love, and then follows her lover to California during the gold rush of 1849. Allende always draws such great characters. This novel is no exception. The plot of this novel takes interesting, sometimes heartrending, turns. This is an exceptional, memorable story.
“Trawler: A Journey Through the North Atlantic” by Redmond O’Hanlon, 2003 (Qualifies for geography book report)This is the author’s first hand account of life on a fishing trawler in the North Atlantic. O’Hanlon’s eye-opening account of the difficult working and living conditions aboard the trawler will give you pause next time you buy a pack of frozen cod. And his visceral description of his days of seasickness will make you cringe. Despite all of this, his writing style is extremely overblown and wordy. I can’t really recommend this book to high school readers as I could not finish it myself.
“River” by Lowen Clausen, 2008. Another “paddle down the river” book. (A book approved for a Geography report) This time the protagonist, a past middle aged rancher and bereaved father begins a journey down the river that has been an inseparable part of his life. At its origin the river courses through the ranch where he was born. But as it courses to the ocean it becomes larger and more complicated. This is a man’s search for wholeness. I was transported by this book to months on the river. I loved the trip.
“Shanghai Girls” by Lisa See. (Approved for Geography book report.) This novel follows two Shanghai sisters, May and Pearl, as their life as “beautiful girls” crumbles around them. The Japanese occupation of China at the beginning of World War II forces the sisters to flee their beloved homeland and immigrate to the U.S. This story focus on the organized and sanctioned programs of discrimination against Chinese immigrants. Their lives forever changed, Pearl and May each scratch out new lives in San Francisco. This is a somewhat engaging story. It is at its best revealing some of the despicable practices of the INS and FBI regarding the Chinese immigrant citizens. I found it difficult to fully relate to Pearl and May…and though I deplore the discriminatory practices of white citizens and the government towards the new immigrants, I sometimes could not really dig up any real emotion for Pearl and May.
“The Hour I First Believed” by Wally Lamb. This extraordinary book is usual Wally Lamb fare. In this extensive novel he follows Alden and Maureen (Mo) Quirk through several years of their adult lives. Alden and Mo are both employed at Columbine High School and the tragic shootings that occurred there are a significant event in both of their lives. Against this backdrop of a shattered life in Colorado, the couple returns to Connecticut where Alden has inherited a farm that has been in his family for generations. Their life becomes only more chaotic as Mo’s depression and PTSD force her to make choices that land her in the Quirk Penal Facility for Women. Yes, Alden’s family history is linked to the prison’s founder. Much of the novel examines two central questions: what part does family history play in Alden’s (and the reader’s) life; and Alden’s and Mo’s search for a higher being and a higher order in their lives. Both of these central questions seem to be recurring themes in Lamb’s works. This is a sprawling novel. Long passages are quoted from letters and journal entries by Alden’s great-great-grandmother. These solve some of the mysteries of Alden’s own past: who is really his mother? Who were the two infant corpses buried under the apple storage building in the orchard? As always, Lamb creates memorable characters and situations. This bildungsroman left me satisfied that some of the angst experience by many of the characters had a resolution, or the beginning of a process that could lead to enlightenment. One interesting theme kept coming up: When you go looking for what you want, you may end up finding what you need. This novel contained some of that for me.
“Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik” by Marie Javins.(Approved for a Geography book report.) This travel adventure is just what the travel doctor ordered. It is a narrative of a young woman’s trip from Cape Town to Cairo. Ms. Javin eschews air travel and takes us on a nitty, gritty, dusty trip up the African continent. I enjoyed and recommend this book. I am going to add this title to the book list for my elective high school geography class. Our small rural community in western Minnesota doesn’t produce many world travelers. I’m hoping that this quick read will encourage some of them to give it a try. By the way, do you know why it would be catastrophic to pass gas in public in Tanzania?? Read the book to find out.
"Being Caribou" by Kaston Hauer. (Approved for a Geography book report.) An ecoadventure story of a newly married couple who follow the caribou migration at the North Slope of Alaska from their winter grounds to the calving fields. This 5 1/2 month trek, on foot, is filled with privation and starvation. Their conclusion; that the proposed oil drilling and pipeline will be harmful to the caribou population. This is an interesting and engrossing book.
"Ines of My Soul" by Isabelle Allende.(Approved for Geography book report.) This amazing tale of the early Chilean Conquistadores is amazing. The advanced military might and strategies of the Conquistadores gave them a tremendous advantage over the native populations. A great love story too. This is the first book that I have read by this South American author. I will read more.
"Father Water, Mother Woods" by Gary Paulson. (Approved for Geography book report.) This collection of essays by Paulson extolls the wonders of Minnesota north country and at the same time calls for increased vigilance to preserve these fragile treasures. A good read.
“City of Thieves” by David Benioff. This historical novel is set in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the Nazi invasion of World War II. This book was recommended to me by Jenny Haven. The plot centers around 2 characters: Lev is a gawky Jewish teenagerntrying to survive with a few friends in the besieged city, and Koyla a young Russian Army officer who is separated from his unit. These two become acquainted in jail, both being arrested for being out in the city after curfew. They gain their freedom by agreeing to return with a dozen eggs for the wedding cake of the adjudicator’s daughter. This task takes them far from the city into the battle zone inhabited by armies from both sides of the war. Two great characters and a plot that is riveting keep one turning the pages. A very good novel.
"Saving Fish From Drowning" by Amy Tan. A travel group of a dozen Americans adventure into Burma (Mayanmar), and are eventually kidnapped by a native tribe because one of the members (a teenage boy) might be their long awaited deity. Ho-hum. Adult relations...oh, who cares.
"Lincoln: A Photobiography" by Russell Freedman. This book is a Newberry winner, and for good reason. It contains an excellent photographic history of Lincoln's life and the accompanying text is informative and concise. This is a good first "Lincoln" book for middle school students.
"Box Out" by John Coy. YA book that features a high school sophomore boy's tale of being unexpectedly advanced to the varsity basketball team. He's happy and successful, yes, but the coach has odd ideas about prayer and race. Add to the mix a girlfriend off in France as a foreign exchange student and we have a fairly engaging tale. There is an interesting examination of values advocacy that should engage a high school reader.
"The Miracle At Speedy Motors" by Alexander McCall Smith. The setting for these African novels is harsh. The recurring characters, however, are people of comfort and value. Everyone should read the books in this series. They will bring tears to your eyes because they celebrate the true values of a well lived life.
"Teen Empower" by Eric Chester. A collection of essays aimed at today's teens. These are meant to inspire, but after 2 or 3 the reader goes into overload. Not particularly inspiring. Chester is a "motivational speaker". He probably does better in a speaking forum than in book format.
"The New Woman" by John Hassler. Another entertaining novel following the aging characters from Staggerford, Minnesota. Hasstler manages to always create sympathetic and pathetic characters that ring true. Who says life ends at 60? or 70??
"Christmas in Harmony" by Phillip Gulley. If you haven't read any of the "Harmony" books you should start. "Christmas...." is a light weight addition to this series, only about 130 pages, but it is as inspiring as the others. This series follows a Quaker leader (pastor) and his family through the travails of small town, small church life. If you read it you will recognize Dale Hinshaw. Every church has one. These are wonderful!!
"Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen. This Young Adult book is a fun, fast read. Relates the campaign a middle school child wages to save endangered owls on a construction site. Has all of the elements of suspense needed to keep you turning pages. It even has a few sympathetic adult characters.
"Packinghouse Daughter" by Cheri Register. This is one of the better books of the year so far. Ms. Register grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota. This is the story of her growing up in a meatpacker town in a union family. This is the best account of the meatpacker strikes I have ever read. I especially appreciate the way she relates the value of education in her life.
"Paradise" by Toni Morrison. I shouldn't even include this book in the list as I couldn't finish it. Morrison had too many characters, none of whom I cared about.
"Spirit Car" by Diane Wilson. This memoir follows a Minnesota women's journey (historically and figuratively) as she tries to recover her Indian ancestry in Minnesota and South Dakota. Riveting at times, especially economic hardships of her previous generations.
"Redwood County: The Early Years" This is a photo history of RC; quite interesting. I loved the old photos of Wabasso, particularly of the Wabasso Hotel.
"The Old Curiosity Shop" by Charles Dickens

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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Xcountry skiing in 2011

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