Three Rivers Press

The Gerbil Farmer’s Daughter

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Holly Robinson begins this book by saying that, essentially, this is a story she has never told. That this is a story she didn’t want to talk about. I am so glad she did.

I am not much for holding back information about my own life and it is completely unfathomable to me how anyone could manage to grow up with a father who raised, became an expert on, and built an empire out of gerbils. I suppose if one was squeamish about having others think you were quirky or odd, you might hesitate, but the story of Robinson’s childhood growing up with a retired Navy captain-turned gerbil farmer is absolutely delightful in its implausibility. I, for one, would not only share the story, but wear it like a badge of honor. I hope she does now that the word is out!

Robinson’s writing is conversational and comfortable. It was like listening to an old friend roll her eyes as she recalled the things her ignorant, dorky parents used to do. We all had embarrassing parents growing up, and it is simply lovely to read about someone whose family was undoubtedly weirder than your own. For anyone who still has secrets locked away in her closet, frightened that her friends or her children or her children’s friends might someday discover, The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter is a huge sigh of relief.

Robinson, while no doubt mortified by her father’s obsession with gerbils, was also mystified by her mother’s tacit refusal to have anything to do with them. She was raised by two individuals who, for all their weaknesses, modeled the notion of following your dreams for their children. Those dreams didn’t necessarily coincide or even complement each other, but Robinson may have benefited heartily from her mother’s example that a wife need not blindly follow her husband’s ambitions, military leader or no.

This story is a lighthearted, entertaining read and Robinson does a lovely job of reminding us that there is no such thing as a “normal” childhood.

Written by: Kari O’Driscoll, August 19th 2010

Female Nomad and Friends: Tales of Breaking Free and Breaking Bread Around the World

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:01:00 +0000

By Rita Golden Gelman

Three Rivers Press

I love reading essay collections. For a voracious reader without much free time, the ability to pick up a book, read a few self-contained pages that pack a punch, and go on to the next task is so rewarding. And unlike reading blog posts, I don’t feel the need to comment or otherwise let the author know that I was there.

Female Nomad and Friends is an absolute treat for women who love to travel and connect with new people. Even for those who simply dream about it, but don’t have the means or the fearlessness to travel to exotic places, this book offers funny stories, unbelievable adventures, and... recipes.

Rita Golden Gelman received such tremendous feedback from her book of travel stories, Tales of a Female Nomad, that she decided to collect some of her favorite fan responses and publish them. Another friend suggested she add recipes and, voila, the book was born.

The essays are organized into different themes: Connecting, Language, Food, Passion, etc. and give the reader a colorful array of experiences that span the globe. The women who contributed stories to the book had predictably unpredictable mishaps, some titillating moments, a few frightening culinary experiences, and ultimately learned some universal truths about people and themselves along the way. In the past few decades, the world has gotten smaller and it is easy to take for granted how easily we can glean facts about life halfway across the world. Thanks to this book, we are reminded that there is just no substitute for face-to-face contact. Reading about personal interactions between people who don’t share languages or cultural norms but who nonetheless show kindness and respect for each other is both heartwarming and hilarious.

I must admit I’ve dog-eared a few recipes to go back and try once I get some free time in the kitchen. There is just something special about re-creating something you first experienced abroad, especially if it is a time honored tradition in someone else’s kitchen. Many of my favorite discussions have occurred in the kitchen, hanging out with a group of women, working away, everyone doing their part to create something magical and special for their families and friends. The travel stories and recipes go hand-in-hand as they create a wonderful tapestry of travel images for the reader.

Written by: Kari O’Driscoll, July 9th 2010

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:17:00 +0000

By Barack Obama

Three Rivers Press

The one most important thing I can say about this book is "Read it!" As a fan of Barack Obama since reading his 1995 book, Dreams From My Father, I was thrilled to see his new book, The Audacity of Hope on the New York Times Bestseller list.

The Audacity of Hope is the first political book I've read in awhile that doesn't point fingers, seek to destroy or make divisive "us v. them" statements. Instead, it turns the reader's attention to the similarities and common values that Americans share regardless of their political persuasions. The further you break down an issue, the closer you get to the core values that unite us, and Senator Barack Obama explains the necessity of understanding opposing views in order to find common-ground solutions. But his is more than just a spirit of compromise; it is audacious hope, which he learned to apply to his own faith and character from a sermon he heard in his own church. "It's easy to be cynical," Obama said during a recent book-tour appearance, "but what requires risk is hope."

The intensity and wise words are pure Obama, as is the message of cooperation. This is not to say he has stepped away from his democratic ideals, but he calls to task the strategies and policies of those who deserve it be they Republican or Democrat. One difference he touches on is that between the traditional conservatism that espouses temperance and restraint and the so-called "compassionate conservatism" that has been driving the policy debate of the past six years. Obama characterizes the George W. Bush brand of conservatism at the core of today's GOP as "absolutism."

"There is the absolutism of the free market, an ideology of no taxes, no regulation, no safety net—indeed no government beyond what's required to protect private property and provide for the national defense. There's the religious absolutism...and there is the absolute belief in the authority of majority will... a disdain for those institutional checks (the Courts, the Constitution, the press, the Geneva Conventions, the rules of the Senate, or the traditions governing redistricting."

He also describes the Democratic Party as having becoming one of reaction, and believes that Democratic activists who "pursue a more sharply partisan and ideological strategy" in an attempt to keep up with Republicans misapprehend the moment we're in. In his encounters among ordinary citizens, Obama imagines "...they are waiting for a politics with the maturity to balance idealism and realism."

In addition to partisanship, Obama offers his thoughts on values, the Constitution, politics, opportunity, faith, race, the global picture and family. The point is not to solve every problem with a magic wand although he does offer sensible suggestions which could clearly jumpstart real solutions. The point is that we, as a nation, can solve problems and we can start by listening to, learning from and respecting each other's views. His deference to our solidarity as these United States of America is infectious.

Written by: Diana Raabe, November 3rd 2007