In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by Ann Goldstein

In this autobiographic bilingual book, Lahiri explores the parallels between language and identity, reflecting on her parents' and sometimes her sense of belonging among the U.S., India and Italian cultures. Lahiri chronicles her journey in acquiring the Italian language.  She fell in love with Italy when she visited Florence with her sister after college and was determined to learn the language.  Besides years of discipline and hard work, she even moved her family to Rome for three years in order to fully immerse herself and her family in the country and culture. She only allowed herself to read, speak and write in Italian.  Despite having mastered the language, Lahiri still feels the occasional inadequacies.  Anyone who has studied a foreign language will understand her struggles and triumphs of the process. 

Baby Brights by Kathleen McCafferty

This book is filled with patterns to crochet for babies. I recently took classes to re-learn the art of crochet. When I noticed this book on our NEW shelves, I picked it up to browse through. I didn't realize at the time how much I would love the projects inside. I was able to make the cute Mary Jane shoes on the front cover. I also made the pixie gnome hat and the pom pom hat. I am still planning to make the high top shoes, the bear hat, and the wavy stripes baby blanket. I now have many gifts for the new babies in my family circle! I highly recommend this one for any crochet lovers.

Zero Night by Mark Felton

If you have ever read Paul Brickhill's book, The Great Escape, or seen the movie adaptation of it, then you might find that Mark Felton's Zero Night to your liking. I will warn you, however, there is no Steve McQueen-type character zipping around Nazi Germany on his motorcycle - the soldiers in Zero Night were far less Hollywood, and far more heroic.
Zero Night details the first mass escape of Allied prisoners of war in World War II. Taking place around the escape of August 1942, Felton details the planning and execution of the escape in great and riveting detail. This prison escape did not involve tunneling, it found the prisoners going over the wire and trying to make their way to freedom.
Though several prisoners did make it out of the German camp, very few found success in the end and managed to keep their freedom. What they did do, however, was disrupt the Nazi war machine as the Germans searched throughout Europe for the escapees.
The book is a quick, enjoyable read that shows you the extent of the planning and execution the prisoners used in their bid for freedom.

Hamilton (Broadway Cast Recording) (available on hoopla)

Alexander Hamilton — what did he do, anyway?  Aren’t we trying to take him off the $10 bill?  The answer is — he was present at nearly every pivotal moment in the early history of the US, and we would not be the nation we are without his contributions. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s amazing hip-hop musical (based on the biography by Ron Chernow) captures Hamilton’s life, struggles, and achievements with tightly written lyrics and catchy music.  Even if you don’t think you like hip-hop, give this recording a try (there are other musical styles as well) — it’s the most amazing musical I’ve ever heard, and I learned a lot of American history in the process of listening to it. 

 

The Plant Recipe Book by Baylor Chapman

This plant book is unique in that the author creates arrangements that can be used for special events or occasions, and than used for weeks or months in your home, or repurposed in the garden or other arrangements. Some of the designs can last for years with care, while others are more temporary, but can be reused later.
You begin with a toolbox, containers, soil, plants, techniques, and the ingredient chart. Then follows 100 beautiful arrangements. The pictures are gorgeous, and the author is obviously gifted and talented in her ability to put plants together so skillfully. I frequently will start to long for green things this time of the year, and yes, I did buy a few succulents to try my own hand at making an arrangement. Such a cool book that you too can check out form the library!

Andy and Don by Daniel de Vise

If you are feeling a little nostalgic as the winter comes to a close, I recommend picking up Daniel de Vise's Andy and Don. Even if you are not a huge fan of The Andy Griffith Show, the book makes for an enjoyable read of our country's television past and the rise of two of its biggest stars - Andy Griffith and Don Knotts. If you are a huge Mayberry aficionado, this book may not open a lot of doors for you information-wise, but de Vise still manages to tell a good story of how Griffith and Knotts became friends, worked together, and enjoyed each other's company until the death of Knotts in 2006.
Both Griffith and Knotts were big influences in the American comedy scene of the 1940s and 50s, Griffith with "What it Was, Was Football" and Knotts with his television characters, including the Nervous Man. de Vise explores what came before these creations in their careers, and then how they lead the way to the humor of the Griffith show in the 1960s and beyond.
Andy and Don is a quick read; I read it all in the course of one day. It is at times both funny and sad as you think back on simpler times, simpler ideas and the fact that these two television greats are no longer with us. Overall, I lean to the happy, however, as there is plenty of humor to go around in this book.

A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories by Lucia Berlin

I learned about the author from the editor and forward of the book.  Berlin was an amazing writer raising four sons despite her health and alcoholism, which she overcame later in life.  The short stories are semi-biographical depicting switchboard operators, cleaning ladies, physician's assistants and laundromat attendants. - professions she had before teaching at the University of Colorado. These workers try to make a living and face all kinds of hardships, but are at peace with their situations.  Berlin wrote about the nuances of everyday lives, the decisions and ramifications one must face up to.  In Unmanageable a mother tries her best to cope with her alcoholism to function.  Some of these stories reflect time she spent with her sister dying of cancer, and police brutality long before it came in the news.  I'm glad to discover the author and hope to read more of her works.