peacefulreader

The Little Stranger; A Novel by Sarah Waters

My book club picked this for its February read. It’s a big book at 463 pages for such a short month but it took me less than a week to read it and for me, that’s pretty good. It kept my interest and I rather enjoyed the lengthy English descriptions but I was left wanting. Waters purposely never ties up the ends, which left me shaking my head.

The Little Stranger is a detailed story about an old house, Hundreds Hall, and the Ayres family that lives within. Our narrator, Dr. Faraday, the son of a former nursemaid at the house, is called out to the house to examine a young maid and begins a relationship with the family members; Mrs. Ayres, her daughter, Caroline and her son, Roderick. He’s a country doctor who grew up in the village and visiting the house as an invited guest and doctor is a bit of thrill for him, even though the house has not weathered well. Something about the family (and the house) intriuges him and he continues his visits to have tea, treating Roddie’s war injuried leg and helping them through one catastrophe after another. The house is driving the family members mad in one way or another and Dr. Faraday is like this outsider who has a front row seat to the show.

This is where it gets a bit tricky. Several incidents are described, leading readers to believe that the old mansion is haunted or cursed, which was creepy and exciting but never explained-just left me on the edge. I wanted some loose ends tied up. Part of the intrigue was that the house tormented each family member in a different way. For Roderick, it played on his insecurities as a landowner/gentleman farmer. For Mrs. Ayres, the mystery “ghost” was Susan, the young daughter she had lost before Caroline and Roderick were born. As for Caroline’s haunt-I leave it a” mystery”-because that one left me more well, mystified than the others. You’ll have to read it for yourselves and post back to share your own explanations.
And Dr. Faraday has some odd pull to the house which did make me wonder once or twice if he was somehow involved. Why does the house never bother him?

Tomorrow night is our book club meeting and I look forward to discussing this story with everyone. I sometimes try and bring a food item to match with the book. Last month I brought Baking Soda Biscuits to share for The Widow of the South discussion but this book they don’t dwell on food much-they do drink a lot of tea and cakes but that didn’t seem as fun to me. I purchased a copy of this from Alibris (a bargain @ $4.00)…just because the library copies were checked out (probably by other members of my bookclub) and PBS didn’t have it listed. The book now resides on my husband’s side of the bed. Creepy and mysterious is right up his alley.

Did I like the book? Yes.
Was I creeped out? Yes, making it tough to read at bedtime.
I disliked the ending. My only issue.
What I enjoyed? The characters and the historical aspect.
Learning more about the class system in England kept me riveted:

Here’s a quote:

The story ran on, Caroline and Roderick prompting more of it; they spoke to each other rather than to me, and, shut out of the game, I looked from mother to daughter to son and finally caught the likenesses between them, not just the similarities of feature-the long limbs, the high-set eyes-but the almost clannish little tricks of gesture and speech. And I felt a flicker of impatience with them-the faintest stirring of a dark dislike-and my pleasure in the lovely room was slightly spoiled. Perhaps it was the peasant blood in me, rising. But Hundreds Hall has been made and maintained, I thought, by the very people they were laughing at now. (25)

Sarah Waters website

Other interesting thoughts on the book:
Wordsmithonia’s review
A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore…
Things mean a lot…

Have you read other books by Sarah Waters? I did enjoy her style.

Weekend Cooking-Clara's Kitchen

I went to the library today after my 75-minute yoga class. I only went in to browse the new cookbook section and I found 3 good ones to bring home. It has been nice here, which makes me hopeful for Spring, but snow is on it’s way tonight so I thought a few new cookbooks would help my Winter depression.

Clara’s Cookbook (2009) is a small book with big ideas. Clara shares her family’s Great Depression stories with recipes scattered throughout. I’ve had a great time reading her thoughts and I’ve already concocted one of her easy recipes.

Here’s what I made:
________________________________________________________________________

Bay Leaf Tea
Here’s an old Sicilian remedy right from the garden that takes care of sore throats, stomachaches, and the flu…

You will need

Hot Water
2 dried bay leaves
1/2 tsp sugar

Boil the water in a pan [I used my kettle]with the bay leaves. After it boils, remove from heat and pour it in a mug, leaves and all. Add the sugar and drink it slowly. [130]
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
My tea cup is next to me-well, tea cup is a bit of an exaggeration. It is a heavy Harry Potter coffee mug but all the same the tea is delicious. Just what my ticklish throat needed and it made lovely, earthy smell in the kitchen as it was steaming.

Spread throughout the book are little sidebar quotes from Clara entitled “Take it from me” and I have to share a few of these wisdoms:

*If you run out of oil, just add a little water to your pan. It will keep food from sticking-and it’s free. [78]

*If you’re adding meat to your sauce, don’t add olive oil or basil. There will be enough oil from the meat, and you shouldn’t eat basil with meat. Use a stalk of fresh rosemary instead. [95]

and I love this piece of advice from a bread recipe:

From “Ma’s Sunday Bread”: With your hands, knead the ingredients together, adding more water as you go to make the mass more doughy. In all, you’ll be adding about 31/2 cups of warm water. This should take about 20 minutes of continuous kneading. (Pretend you’re mad at someone. This will help the time go faster.) [46-47]

I love kneading bread and this quote made me laugh.

This marvelous little book is broken up into six chapters: Goods from the Garden and “found” foods, Bread, the Magic Filler, It’s a Hot Meal-Stop Complaining, Pasta…Again, A Chicken in Every Other Pot and Sweet Rewards. There are many recipes without meat (good for my family) but the recipe for roast chicken looks especially appealing so I know I’m going to take notes for the next time we have a local chicken in our hands.

In the opening, Clara talks about how this book and her You Tube videos came to be thanks to her grandson, Christopher Cannucciari. Of course, I had to check-out the videos and I found she has quite a few. I share with you her video for couscous:

My tea is done. I’m going to make her pasta with beans for dinner. I hope you’re cooking up delicious things today . Has everyone else already heard about dear Clara? This post is linked to Beth Fish Read’s Weekend Cooking. She shares how to make Lora Brody’s Focaccia with Greens. Happy Cooking!

Friday Feature

How many readers are celebrating Black History Month through February? I’ve had a few question why I bother highlighting Black History and not because they thougth it was a waste of time but because they figured by this time black history and white history should have easily merged. Maybe this is true but sadly, not much history is taught at all at the elementary level. That and I love enlightening students with what our country was like during slavery and the Civil Rights movement.

I think they should know about Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, George Washington Carver (the list goes on), as historical figures so they can go beyond their knowledge of Rosa Parks and Dr. King-great people to know-but there is more to understand. We study it because it is the human history of our country. I want my elementary students heading to middle school with a clear idea of what the Underground Railroad was; a path to freedom not an actual train that runs below ground. Uhh, yes, many think just that. Lord.

My 3 featured read-aloud books this week emphasize the Underground Railroad.

1. Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine; illustrated by Kadir Nelson (2007) I loved this book from the moment I laid eyes on it. It is an example of losing those you love and a burning desire for freedom. It begins like this: “Henry Brown wasn’t sure how old he was. Henry was a slave. And slaves weren’t allowed to know their birthdays.” Kids snap to attention when they hear those first words. The idea of not knowing your birthday, no cake, no gifts, no intercom announcement-that and the woeful picture of Nelson’s young Henry sitting on a barrel with no shoes helps students to grasp a tiny piece of this other life. 5 stars

2. Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson; illustrations by Colin Bootman (2003). This title is from a rag doll’s point-of-view. It begins: “I started out no more’n a bunch of rags on a Virginia plantation. Lindy’s mama was my maker. Miz Rachel done a fine job puttin’ me together, takin’ extra time to sew my face on real careful with thread, embroidery they call it. I don’t have no hair. Miz Rachel just made a bandanna from some old cloth and tied it ’round my head like she wore. I used to think about havin’ me some hair, but now it don’t bother me none.” The doll is given to Miz Rachel’s girl, Lindy, who name’s the doll Sally-her new best friend. Lindy, Miz Rachel and Sally escape, heading North, and Sally is lost at one of their secret stops. The doll is eventually found by another young girl traveling to freedom and happy for this new handmade companion. 5 stars

3. Freedom River by Doreen Rappaport; illustrated by Bryan Collier (2000). Plantation owners would go to great lengths to keep slave families from running. This book illustrates the vast difference between Ohio, a free state and Kentucky, a slave state and how the river between facilitates the Underground Railroad. It begins: “Listen. Listen. ‘I heard last night someone helped a slave woman cross the river,’ said one of the workers at John Parker’s foundry. John Parker couldn’t take credit for this escape, but it pleased him enormously to hear about it.” We see how Parker helps one family, terribly afraid of their master, finally get to freedom. Collier’s collage and paint illustrations are beautiful. 5 stars

Three more exceptional choices I’ll use next week:

The Patchwork Path; A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud, illustrated by Erin Susanne Bennett (2005).
Friend on Freedom River by Gloria Whelen, illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuzen (2004).
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by Hudson Talbott (2005).

What are you reading this week? Does your school celebrate Black History Month?
Check out these other Friday Features:
Valentine’s Day
Exciting New Books

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf

A Choreopoem by Ntozake Shange

1975, 1976,1977, 2010 (big leap inbetween)

96 pages

I admit I’d never heard of this title before. I’m not an actor like my husband or my friend, V. They’ve heard it used many times for auditions and readings. I’m happy to say I did recognize the author’s name though as it is attached to a beautiful Coretta Scott King book and Ellington was not a street-both illustrated by my favorite, Kadir Nelson.

For Colored Girls is a little more in your face than those children’s books…here is a sample:

finally
i asked this silly ol boy
‘WELL WHO ARE YOU?’
he say
‘MY NAME IS TOUSSAINT JONES’
well
i looked right at him
those skidded out cordoroy pants
a striped teashirt wid holes in both elbows
a new scab over his left eye
& i said
‘what’s yr name again’
he say
‘i’m toussaint jones’
‘wow
i am on my way to see
TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE in HAITI
are ya any kin to him
he do’t take no stuff from no white folks
& they gotta country all they own
& there aint no slaves’
that silly ol boy squinted his face all up
‘looka heah girl
i am TOUSSAINT JONES
& i’m right heah lookin at ya (43-44)

It was a joy to read this choreopoem. It was encouraged in the prologue to read it outloud, so I did. The words and rhythm flowed sometimes smoothly and others rougher, jagged but still good. It helped to make a audiovision of friends who might talk this way on occasion. It worked. It has a powerful message for all people, especially women, but not just black women. And it isn’t anti-men although it surely doesn’t sugar coat in anyway possible.

While researching the author I found this excellent interview about her life, her new-ish work, Some Sing, Some Cry, a collaborative novel she wrote with her sister and the Tyler Perry movie about For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide. I plan to watch this movie, even though it didn’t get great reviews, because I like the cast and I would love to hear the language. I have to wait to watch the movie until I see the play and lucky for me, I will have the thrilling opportunity in mid-March, when my family heads to Little Rock to visit V and her family. She is directing and acting in a local production and I’m so EXCITED to see it. I was inspired to read the book because she was involved and I only found out later that I would be able to watch a rehearsal of the play. Yeah… [me, jumping up and down]!!!

This is an author worth checking out.

Have you read her books?

Mailbox Monday

Happy Valentine’s Day! A day of love, a day to celebrate friendships, a day to eat more chocolate, a money maker…

In the last week or so I’ve received a bunch of books in my mail box. I ordered a used copy of The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters from Alibris and was anxiously awaiting it last week. My son texted me one afternoon and said I had a box in the mail and he thought it was probably that book. When I got home he handed it to me but I knew right away it was not the pkg. It was a medium size box with four books inside from Zoe Luderitz at Little, Brown and Company! I was delighted. (picture me jumping with glee)

Inside I found:

1. Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney-It is 1936. America is in the middle of the Great Depression, and three children-Otis, Willie and Hibernia-are about to become friends. (a snippet from the back cover)

2. I’ll Be There by Holly Goldbert Sloan-This is an innovative portrait of two brothers who cross paths with a family that will change their lives forever. (from publicity letter)

3. The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky– When Louise Lambert receives a mysterious invitation to a traveling vintage sale in the mail, her normal life in suburban Connecticut is magically transformed into a time-travel adventure. (back cover)

4. Bitter End by Jennifer Brown-The second novel in the Hate List series tackles abusive relationships in one teen’s life. (publicity letter)

Each one of these titles has something that intrigues me so I’m looking forward to slipping these ARC’s into my reading schedule.

I also received a nonfiction title, Astro, The Steller Sea Lion by Jeanne Walker Harvey, from the author-love to get those big manilla envelopes.

And Saraswati’s Way came from Monika Schroder.

From Paperback Book Swap I received two books:

Elin Hilderbrand’s A Summer Affair and Barefoot. We are heading to the NC beach in June and these will be my beach reads.

This has been a busy week and a half for my mailbox…

Hope you’ve had a lovely Valentine holiday with lots of chocolate and books!

Lazy Sunday

Crushing cumin for chili

I got left behind(on purpose) for church this morning because I didn’t get another good night sleep and my throat hurt. As a librarian I use my voice all day long during the week and by Friday night my voice is taxed. This was one of those weeks. As I made bread on Friday night I could feel the scratchiness, which was made worse by staying up late with my non-rising bread. I feel better today thanks to my extra morning sleep, tea and Vick’s.

I have chili on the stove cooking for a late dinner. I googled vegetarian chili because I’ve made all the chili’s from my cookbooks and I was looking for something new. I picked the one with unsweetened cocoa because it sounded warming. I made it as spicy as the recipe called for and hope my kids will try it. I made a back-up small pot of chili without all the spices for Groovy Girl, just in case. I altered the recipe by taking out the bulgar, using only two onions, and I didn’t have any cilantro.

I never (okay, occasionally) cook seperate meals for my children but I wanted the chili to kick and I don’t think she’ll be able to handle it. She likes kidney and black beans and she likes tomato soup so I just basically put those items together for her own chili. Just in case. I’m only going to serve it to her if she complains about the spice. I made cornbread from the directions on Bob’s Corn Meal package. This is a one of my husband’s favorite meals so let’s call it a pre-Valentine treat, shall we.

Tomorrow night we are making homemade pizzas for our family Valentine dinner. I already have the yeast proofing. Love to watch it bubble. Groovy Girl had a special dessert picked out from an American Girl calendar that arrived inside her first issue. I’m more of a bake-from-scratch kinda woman but this little recipe called for a boxed cake mix and canned frosting.

In hindsight we should have done the frosting ourselves because she picked a lemon cake mix and fluffy vanilla frosting for this sandwich cookie recipe. Myself I would have leaned more toward a chocolate cake mix with peanut butter frosting but hey, it was her dessert. We made it just as is but the dough was crumbly and dry so we added some water. They are out of the oven, frosted and hidden so when Teenage Boy and Big Daddy arrive home they won’t be the wiser.

Because I was left home today I had an unprecedented several (!) hours alone to read my book club choice for February; Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger. At one point I started getting a little creeped out so I had to put the book down and fold some mundane laundry. I’m more than 3/4 done and bookclub is still a week away-wow, rare for me. Usually I’m rushing to finish my book over my lunchbreak the day of our meeting.

“A.G. “Sweetwiches”-our Valentine dessert)

How was your Sunday…
Are you ready for Monday?

I, sadly, had to purchase two plastic containers at the grocery store today. I’ve been doing really well on my plastic free February. I guess two isn’t too bad for the first 13 days of the month.

Weekend Cooking; Bread Uprising

Potato Bread on its 2nd rise-looking plump and airy.

Last week I wrote about an Oooey Gooey Bread but I hadn’t made the bread yet. After making it I had a revelation…I should generally test drive the recipes before sharing. Brilliant, I know. The bread was good but it didn’t rise as much as I expected. The recipe did make three loaves and I did share the love. I took one to church and they ate the whole thing. I took one to school and they ate the whole thing. I have half a loaf still on my counter that we are whittling away at. I enjoyed rolling out the dough and folding it but when I got to throwing down all that sugar into the middle I couldn’t do it. I changed it up, adding the cinnamon and brown sugar but just a little cane sugar. This sugar mix worked for me. The cinnamon was intensely wonderful. I was only disappointed in the rise. I love to watch the rise and this one didn’t do that-it was flat. I’d love feedback on this if anyone has any clues.

In last week’s post I mentioned another potato bread recipe (from Barefoot Kitchen Witch) I was going to try and that one gave a good rise as well as a great kneading experience. I even got my KitchenAid out with the dough hook (first time I used the dough hook) because her photos and commentary told me this would be good. I generally just mix it myself with a wooden spoon or my hands but I liked watching it come together with the dough hook so I might be a new convert. I don’t get my Kitchen Aid out much because it’s heavy and in a tight cupboard space. This bread looked beautiful in the two different rising stages but once I put it in the pan it didn’t rise over the top as much as I expected. I don’t know if it is the yeast or the cold, but my bread is not becoming airy and light, but dense is okay as long as the taste is good. I toasted two slices for breakfast and it was yummy. I plan to try this recipe again.

I made this Baked Penne with Broccoli and Smoked Mozzarrella from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe for dinner last night. It was good but my kids didn’t like it. I left the chicken out and it tasted great (the smoked mozzarella was amazing) for my husband and I. My kids are really in a disappointing eating phase. They eat tofu, endamame, sushi, Thai food but I make a simple baked pasta dish and they squirm. They do not like things mixed up so much. Groovy Girl separated the broccoli from the penne pasta. It is so disconcerting. Hmmm.

First loaf out of the oven and ready to toast.

Hope your cooking up something good.

Weekend cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads-click on her name to see her reviews of several story book inspired cookbooks. I would love the Mary Poppins Cook Book.

Happy Saturday.

I’ve been to a 4-H breakfast and two soccer games so far today and still have a speed theatre event to attend

Friday Feature (a wee bit late)

Here I was going to be good about writing a post every Friday with some of my favorites from the week. I had a librarian’s district meeting today and completely forgot. I don’t even know if I want to get into how the meeting was so I am just going to focus on the books.

1. Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane de Groat-read this to first grade students; I love Gilbert- he makes mistakes-this time he goofs up by writing two mean Valentine poems to classmates. This is a great book about making choices and making amends. Kids laugh right when you read the title-you can’t go wrong with that! 5 stars

2. Louane Pig and the Mysterious Valentine by Nancy Carlson-I read this to kindergarten and first grade students and they solved the mystery! I’m happy to report that at least one child in every class figured out just who gave Louanne her BIG Valentine. But I have to admit I love all the other silly answers that the other kids give…like it was a DOG, her mom (even after it states in the book that the sender was a guy, I know, crazy), Gilbert (yes.) , oh the joy of spontaneous children. Priceless. 5 stars

3. The Valentine Express by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace– Her books-all of them-are beautiful. I love their craftiness (i’m not) and their simple yet delightful themes. Valentine’s Day is not just for romance but for showing how much we care for our friends, parents, and neighbors and this book gently shares that with easily little crafts and caring bunnies. It’s way better than Hallmark, really. 5 stars

Do you have Valentine books you love?

Kids love it but need to be reminded it is about caring about your friends and family not about the mushy stuff. Leave that to the teenagers, like my son who took it upon himself to locate and send flowers to his girlfriend-arriving on the day, a mixed bouquet. Hmmm. On that note I’m finishing my tea and heading to bed. Another busy Saturday awaits me.

**Stop back next Friday…I haveoh, so many Black History books to share.

A letter to Alan Silberberg- (creator of Milo; Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze)

Dear Mr. Silberberg;

I just wanted to write you a quick thank you note for writing such an outstanding middle grade book! Milo is a one-of-a-kind-kinda guy! There isn’t a part of this book that I didn’t love…parts of it I loved so much they made me weep. I learned quickly that Milo has some obstacles-he’s not graceful or popular but he does have big ideas and a kind heart. I also learned Milo misses his mom everyday and that her memory has been cleaned right out of their house by his grieving father. Since his mother’s death Milo’s been walking around in a fog, moving from house to house, never getting a grip on the simple fact that his mother is no longer there for him.

I loved how you gave him someone to pine for in Summer Goodman and a suave alter-ego in Dabney St. Claire. You gave him a wonderful friend, Marshall, who is there to be silly with but through Marshall’s family you gave Milo a way to experience a happy family. You developed another friendship for Milo by introducing him to Hillary, his annoying next-door-neighbor, who turns out to be not so annoying after all. Hillary shares with readers that we all have our secrets and our strong points. Yeah Hillary! You gave Milo an adult neighbor and friend, Sylvia Poole, who shares her experiences with grief and helps Milo clear away some of his fog. You gave him a kind teacher, Mr. Shivnesky, who cares enough to give Milo a 5-minute break when things get tough.

Mr. Silberberg, you gave us other tensions like the Halloween party and the box of Barbie parts to keep our minds shifted away from just MILO’S GRIEF. This was brilliant because Milo is an easy read-I want to hear about his grief but not be hit over the head with it. For a kid his age life keeps moving on. You are a funny guy-a really naturally funny guy. I give you a standing ovation for writing and illustrating Milo; Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze. {picture me standing, clapping loudly}

Sincerely in awe,

Peaceful Reader

p.s. Thank you for giving Summer, the crush, some last minute redemming qualities-because after all we all have something that makes us unique!
p.p.s could you please write your next book for elementary kids because I noticed your first book, Pond Scum, is also for middle school kids and I think they’ve had enough of your attention. PLEASE; I will be your friend for life.

Check out Alan Silberberg’s kooky website-Silberbooks.com.
Silberberg’s blog-with a book trailer.

Every page has a gem but I leave you with just two quotes:

Dabney St. Claire says that “timing is everything,” which is why i make sure to wear a watch every day so I’m always ready just in case. I figure it’s like when you go to a baseball game and bring your glove because it’s possible a foul ball will come right at you. And even though you’re sitting under the grandstand roof where no balls ever go, you wear that baseball glove through the whole game, which makes the popcorn you buy taste like dirt and oil and other stuff you can’t even put a finger on-but probably already did-and all that matters is you feel ready for the slimmest-ever chance that the first stray ball in the history of baseball is going to be hit right at your impossible seats. (39-41) (what an optimist!)

and this:

I mention this at dinner my first night at Marshall’s house, and you know what? They all laugh, and it’s so weird to hear people laughing at the dinner table that I feel really bad and stare into my plate, but Mrs. Hickler says, “No, Milo-that’s really funny. My mother does act a little like she’s still in high school. You should see her yoga clothes.” And it’s so shocking that laughing even coexists with eating, and it’s while I’m having broiled chicken (which I love) and green beans (which I hate but eat anyway) that I want to go home and pack up all my stuff and move right into Marshall’s house forever. (134-135) (see-you want to give him a hug too!)

Other magnificent reviews:

The Boy Reader
Chocolate Air

and Stacy @ Welcome to my Tweendom

To purchase your own beloved copy of this book at an IndieBound bookstore near you click on the title…Milo; Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze

Bread Givers

I purchased Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska a few years back while my family and I were in Washington D.C. We toured The Holocaust Museum, which was heartbreaking but informative and well worth the tour. Afterward we spent a few minutes browsing the museum kiosk store. This book’s synopsis caught my attention so I bought it, brought it home and added it to my bookshelf. Maybe I should have read it right then but I waited four years and pulled it off just recently.

Snynopsis: Sara Smolinsky, the youngest daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, watches as her father marries off her sisters to men they don’t love. The sadness and injustice of their broken lives leads her to rebel against her father’s rigid conception of Jewish womanhood. “No girl can live without her father or a husband to look out for her,” he proclaims. “It says in the Torah, only through a man has a woman an existence.” But Sara replies, “My will is as strong as yours. I’m going to live my own life. Nobody can stop me. I’m not from the old country. I’m American!” She leaves home, takes a job as an ironer, and rents a room with a door: “This door was life…the bottom starting point of becoming a person.” Set during the 1920s on New York’s Lower East Side, the story of Sara’s struggle toward independence and self-fullfillment-through education, work, and love-is universal and resonates with a passionate intensity that all can share. (from the back cover)

My thoughts: You can see why the book appealed to me. Sara is an intense character who, as the youngest, watches all these family mistakes play out. Rather than allow her father to ruin her own life she strikes out on her own, leaving behind her mother, father and sisters. Her sisters make fun of her even as they complain about the terrible marriages their father has forced them into. Father’s love of the Torah and studying are completely (for lack of a better word at the moment) CRAZY! He takes the Torah at it’s word only as it applies to help his cause.

The struggle between family members, old and new traditions, right and wrong are so fanatical and vivid-I raced home every night to read a few more pages before making dinner. It made me grateful for my own father who was very forward thinking and giving of his time and thoughts, unlike Sara’s father, who never listens and always talks with bitterness. Not only were the characters memorable but the language was extraordinary. This book will stay with me for a long time but only in spirit because as per the Reading From My Own Shelves Project I must depart with it-I’m glad it is going to a good home. Tina graciously accepted to take it home with her.

Memorable quotes:

and this one from a particular blue day while she is living alone working hard each day to put away money to go to school:

Had a miracle happened? My father come to see me? In a rush of gladness words from Isaiah flashed before me as in letters of fire: “I will join the hearts of the parents and the children.” Never had there been any show of feeling between Father and us children. Only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, he put his hands over our heads to bless us. Now, as I looked at him, he seemed to me like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Solomon, and David, all joined together in the one wise old face. An this man with all the ancient prophets shining out of his eyes-my father. (she’s so happy to see him even after all the bad)

“Father,” I cried. An then my voice stopped. For I suddenly became aware of his cold, hard glance on me.

“Is it true what Max Goldstein said?” His eyes glared. “Is it true you refused him?” Not a word could force itself out of my tight throat. “Answer me! Answer me!” His voice grew louder and harsher.

“It wasn’t the real love,” I stammered, hardly aware what I was saying.

“Love you want yet? What do you know about love? How could any man love a lawless, conscienceless thing like you? I never dreamed that a decent man would want to marry you. You had a chance to make a good ending to a bad play, and you push away such a luck match with your own hands. I always knew you were crazy. Now I see you’re your worst enemy.” (204)

There is so much wonderful in this book-this newer version has a great forward and introduction written by Alice Kessler-Harris, which gave me a lot of insight into Anzia Yezierska’s life. It’s not often I wax poetic about an intro to a book but it’s a great opening. I wish this book would be mandatory reading for high school or college. It’s fits into many different themes: history, gender studies, religion, philosophy, early immigration to the U.S., and American labor in the 1920’s. It shows what it was really like to work hard and hope for a better life. I’m so glad the forces that be made me pick this book and purchase it. I’m trying to get Teen-age Boy to read it before I pass it over to Tina. Purchase this classic book from an IndieBound bookstore near year…click on the title to find it-Bread Givers

Whatever you’re reading today-I hope you are enjoying it! I’ll be reading and lesson planning while the game goes on but if I had to root for a team it would be the Green Bay Packers. Why? Because I’ve read about both quarterbacks and Aaron Rodgers wins in my book.

“I’ll show you how quickly I can marry off the girls when I put my head on it.” “Yah,” sneered Mother.

“You showed me enough how quickly you can spoil your daughters’ chances the minute you mix yourself in.

If you had only let Mashah alone, she would have been married to a piano-player.”“Did you want me to let in a man who plays on the Sabbath in our family? A piano player has no more character than a poet.” “Nu-Berel Bernstein was a man of character, a man who was about to become a manufacturer.”

“But he was a stingy piker. For my daughters’ husbands I want to pick out men who are people in the world.”
“Where will you find better men than those they can find for themselves?”
“I’ll go to old Zaretzky, the matchmaker. All the men on his list are guaranteed characters.”
“But the minute you begin with the matchmaker you must have dowries like in Russia yet.”
“With me for their father they get their dowries in their brains and in their good looks.” (71)