YCReads

After finishing To Kill a Mockingbird in 1961, Harper Lee never published another book.  What happened to her?   This book tries to answer that question but without the help of the Harper Lee it’s a little hard to find the answer.  And really, Harper Lee herself may not know the answer to that question.  The book follows Miss Lee from childhood through the present.  The most interesting part of the book are the sections on her helping Truman Capote with the interviews for In Cold Blood and the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird.  Mr. Shields has written a book about about a nice oridinary woman who is the author of one of the best loved books of all time.

 Karen - Fort Mill                                   ISBN 9780805079197

Ever wonder what Polysorbate 60 is? Did you know some food ingredients start out as rocks? Steve Ettlinger takes all of the mystification out of the ingredient list on the Twinkie package. When his daughter asked him what Polysorbate 60 was and he didn’t know he decided to find out. He explains all the processes to make ingredients for the Twinkie in very straight forward (and humorous) way we all can understand. I really thought I would never be able to eat again before beginning this book, but actually although names are very chemically sounding (mono and diglycerides) what they are really makes sense, after all what is cooking but science.

Karen E. - Rock Hill                                  ISBN 9781594630187

Author Joanne Oppenheim tells the riveting story of Clara Breed, the children’s librarian of the San Diego Public Library who befriended many of her Japanese American young patrons when war began with Imperial Japan in December of 1941.

Four months after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, all Americans of Japanese descent were forced to leave the lives they knew and go to internment camps. This was done despite their allegiance to America and their desire for American citizenship.

Clara Breed was strongly opposed to this action and put her personal and professional safety at risk by speaking out openly. She wrote several articles voicing her opinions in Horn Book Magazine. Miss Breed had developed strong friendships with “her children” and their families. They were heartbroken to leave behind their friends and homes. The San Diego librarian said her tearful goodbyes to the families as they were taken away by train to internment camps throughout the United States. But she also provided the children and young adults with her address and she promised to stay in touch with them.

Through their return letters, the children portrayed the experiences of the incarcerated. Oppenheim provides photographs of these same letters, journal entries, and propaganda used to incite fear of Japanese Americans. As examples of such propaganda, the author includes in her book a copy of a brochure entitled “How to Spot a Jap” and a political cartoon created by Ted Geisel, our beloved Dr. Seuss.

Even though the events in this book took place many decades ago, its message is an important one. After the tragedy that happened on September 11, 2001 we must not see someone as our enemy simply because of their heritage.

Abbie - Rock Hill                                  ISBN  0439569923

Anatomy of the Spirit is a New York Times Best-Seller by medical intuitive, Caroline Myss. For anyone who is interested in the realm of personal growth, alternative health, and spirituality, this book is a must. Without overwhelming the reader, Dr. Myss explains how emotional, psychological, and spiritual stresses, as well as beliefs and attitudes, lead to a startling array of physical illnesses. Anatomy of the Spirit presents an enlightening model of the human energy system as it correlates to three major spiritual traditions: the Hindu chakras, the Christian sacraments, and the Sefirot of the Kabbalah’s Tree of Life.

In Part I, Dr. Myss explains the human energy field and how it works. She also provides an explanation of how the chakras, sacraments, and sefirot can be symbolically combined to work together. In Part II, she breaks down each individual chakra and thoroughly explains the organs, mental and emotional issues, and physical disfunctions associated with that chakra. Readers who are less versed in the field of energy medicine need not be intimidated, as Dr. Myss provides numerous personal stories which function as explanations for the topics she discusses, making this book a fairly easy read overall. Each chapter is concluded with a list of questions for self-examination.

Anatomy of the Spirit is a wonderful resource and an invaluable tool for anyone who is interested in personal health and spiritual growth.

Jason - York                                          ISBN  0517703912

This story follows Fiona “Fi” Sweeney and her journey to Africa.  Fi is an American librarian who wants to make a difference with her life by helping others.  She leaves her family and friends behind in New York City and travels to Africa to start a traveling library. The books are packed in crates and put onto the backs of camels.  There is a limited amount of books because they are donated so the people in the settlements can only keep them for two weeks.  The fine is stiff; if the books are not returned when the bookmobile comes back the camel bookmobile doesn’t return.  Scar boy, a young boy refuses to return his books and brings shame on his tribe.  The bookmobile stops coming but Fi returns to the village alone to try to get him to return his books.  Although Fi wants to help the people she is serving she doesn’t understand the cultural differences and values collide.

Robin - Lake Wylie                                                ISBN  9780061173486

Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays have collaberated on two books, both set in their native Mississippi, both very funny.  The first, Being dead is no excuse : the official southern ladies guide to hosting the perfect funeral, is their take on funerals in the south, especially in the Delta.  They explain what to do when someone dies and what you should never do under any circumstances.  Their take on funerals and weddings (in their second book), Somebody is going to die if Lilly Beth doesn’t catch that bouquet : the official southern ladies guide to hosting the perfect wedding, is very tongue in cheek.  They will make you laugh with their many pronouncements of what is “tacky” and what is not. 

Karen - Fort Mill 

The full title of this book is Stop Dressing Your Six-Year Old Like a Skank: and Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom and Celia Rivenbark is just the person to dispense them.   A resident of North Carolina and a columnist for the Myrtle Beach Sun Times, Celia gives her opinion on such important subjects as reality tv (she loves it), lizards (she hates them) and many other important topics.  This is the third book by this author and each has been funnier than the last.  Even if you regularly read her column online like I do or if you live near enough to get her weekly column in the paper you will enjoy the expanded tirades or new words of wisdom.

Karen - Fort Mill                                             ISBN 0312339933 

This is the story of Anne Lamott’s journey to find her place in the Christian faith. This is not your typical Christian story because Anne Lamott is not your typical Christian. While reading this book Anne Lamott would take my breath away with the honest details of her life, but on the flip side she could make me laugh out loud. This is her story of how she found Jesus and lives with Him day to day.

Ellen - Fort Mill                                                            ISBN 0679442405

This book was too funny! Ruth Reichl became loved and hated at the New York Times as a food critic for her famous double review. As an ordinary unrecognized individual her food and service remained at best to be adequate. As the heavily touted new food critic she found her raspberries to be three times as big, her food faster and hotter, and the service impeccable. When she wanted to give the restaurant 1 star as an ordinary citizen and 4 stars as the critic people went wild. She quickly learned that eating in disguise gave her a more authentic experience. I loved reading her evolve each new character. Like a good actress, she did not just dress up but also developed a background story, a new voice, and a fresh demeanor for each new creation. And the descriptions of the food! One minute I was salivating and the next gagging. This was a very fun vicarious experience since I know I will personally never be able to afford to eat at such establishments. I highly recommend the read.

Riana - York                                                               ISBN 1594200319

Judith Viorst writes about the trials and tribulations of turning fifty and beyond. Her poems are short and funny and will make you smile, especially if you’re approaching the traumatic age of fifty.

She addresses fading memory, “The fact that you’ve known a person for thirty-five years Doesn’t mean, when you go to introduce him, that you can count on remembering his name.” family “Our last child was gone for a month when we started receiving bad news from the eldest. Her marriage was through. She was leaving. And soon she moved back to her room to do yoga and weatving” and finally death “Before I go, I’d like to make things better. I’d like to be told I’ve been more of a joy than a pain. And I’d like those I love to know that they are the ones, if I could do it again, I’d do it with.” It’s lines such as these that makes you love these poems and identify with Viorst’s writings.

Karen - Fort Mill                                                    ISBN 0684832372