Good Reads & Views

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Nonfiction

What it is: The history of an ordinary substance, the only rock humans consume. Throughout civilization, salt has been used as currency, influenced the establishment of trade routes, financed wars and secured empires. And flavored our food, of course.

Want a taste? “The Romans salted their greens, believing this to counteract the natural bitterness, which is the origin of the word salad, salted.” “It takes two years for the salt to reach the center of a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.”

Reviewers say: “Throughout his engaging, well-researched history, Kurlansky sprinkles witty asides and amusing anecdotes. A piquant blend of the historic, political, commercial, scientific and culinary, the book is sure to entertain as well as educate” (Publishers Weekly).

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The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+ by Suze Orman
Nonfiction

What it is: Nine chapters of solid financial information about your retirement for those still years removed from retirement, those approaching retirement, and those already in retirement.

What sets it apart: There are many books that cover the same territory, but Orman has a very straightforward (at times even brutally honest) style. She considers pros and cons and couples it all with a lot of common sense and plenty of humor to boot. Chapters 2-9 feature a checklist at the end of each chapter that summarizes its main points.

Want a taste? “Remember: You are the best financial advisor you will ever have. When you aren’t sure about something, slow down and learn more. It is better to do nothing than to do something you don’t understand.”

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Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
Fiction

What it’s about: First one of her neighbors turns up dead, then other bodies follow. Janina, or Duszejko, as she prefers to be called, is of an advanced age and lives in a remote Polish village. She does not eat meat, prefers the company of animals over humans, and quotes William Blake. She is absolutely sure she knows who is behind the deaths and inserts herself into the investigation.

Want a taste? “The best conversations are with yourself. At least there's no risk of a misunderstanding.” “Being healthy is an insecure state and does not bode well. It's better to be ill in a quiet way, then at least we know what we're going to die of.”

Reviewers say: “Tokarczuk's novel succeeds as both a suspenseful murder mystery and a powerful and profound meditation on human existence and how a life fits into the world around it. Novels this thrilling don't come along very often” (Publishers Weekly). “In her depictions of her characters and their worlds both internal and external Tokarczuk has created something entirely new” (Kirkus Reviews).

Author info: in 2018 Tokarczuk won the Man Booker Prize International for her novel Flights and in 2019 she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

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Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Fiction

What it’s about: Retired math teacher Olive is back, and like its predecessor, Pulitzer Prize winning Olive Kitteridge, the novel is told in interlinking stories. Olive is now older and dealing with various changes in her life. Has age mellowed her? You be the judge of that.

Want a taste? “But we’re both old enough to know things now, and that’s good.” “What things?” “When to shut up, mainly.”

Reviewers say: “Beautifully written and alive with compassion, at times almost unbearably poignant. A thrilling book in every way” (Kirkus Reviews); “Exquisite” (Library Journal).

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How Not to Diet by Michael Greger
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Referencing cutting-edge science about weight-loss (nearly 5,000 references to medical literature), this book analyzes the problem of obesity, its causes and consequences, and then offers solutions, recommending a lifestyle change to a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Who it’s for: Anyone who thinks they know everything there is to know about dieting, anyone looking to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy weight, anyone who likes new and interesting information that on occasion is even laugh out loud funny, and anyone who enjoyed Greger's previous NYT bestseller How Not to Die.

About the author:  Dr. Greger is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. He is a physician, author, internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues, a founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the founder of the website NutritionFacts.org, and formerly served as the Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States.

Of note: Dr. Greger donates all proceeds he receives from his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements to charity.

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Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us by Ruth Kassinger
Nonfiction

What it’s about: The story of algae, the origins of life, and the multi-billion dollar industry with innovators, farmers and scientists all trying to use algae to solve our urgent energy problems.

Reviewers say: “A fun and fascinating deep dive into the natural history, current uses, and vast potential of algae. Who knew that the slimy green stuff we commonly encounter as seaweed and pond scum is a driving force behind all of life as we know it?...Accessible and enthralling” (Kirkus). "Even readers who never expected to enjoy a book about slime will find this an informative and charming primer to "the world's most powerful engines"" (Publishers Weekly).

Extras: Recipes for Dulse and Cheddar Scones, and Irish Moss Blancmange, among others.

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The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone
Nonfiction

What it’s about: The true adventures of one David Fairchild, 19th-century botanist and food explorer, who was responsible for the introduction of various crops to the American marketplace, ranging from avocadoes and mangoes to seedless grapes and pomegranates.

Why you might like it: This adventure story reads like fiction and provides lots of “did you know…” tidbits, like who the Myer lemon is named after and why there are all those avocados being grown in California.

Reviewers say: “An erudite and entertaining historical biography of a food pioneer with particular interest for gastronomes and agriculture enthusiasts” (Kirkus Review).

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The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
Fiction

What it is: This first installment in the new Two rivers series by Ann Cleeves, author of the excellent Vera and Shetland series, introduces detective Matthew Venn. An investigation into the stabbing death of a man and the disappearance of two girls with Down Syndrome all turn up connections to the Woodyard Centre, a multi-use community arts centre in Devon, England, run by Matthew’s husband Jonathan.

Want a taste? “The road climbed steeply and then they were looking down at the village of Lovacott: a group of houses clustered around a small square, which was hardly more than the main street widened. A shop that seemed to sell everything, a pub. There was nothing picturesque here. No thatch. It would never have featured in an episode of Midsomer Murders.”

Reviewers say: “Cleeves makes good use of Devon local color and populates this subtle, expertly paced mystery with distinctive supporting characters” (Publishers Weekly).

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The Plague Charmer by Karen Maitland
Fiction

What it’s about: 14^th century England; the plague is spreading from village to village. There is a dwarf who was banished from his life as a jester, dead children and one alive wild woman retrieved from a shipwreck, superstition and holy relics, an apocalyptic cult, and the all-around breakdown of society.

Who it’s for: If you like dark and atmospheric, with interesting characters, give this one a try. It is a fascinating look at the Middle Ages and the ways society dealt with the Black Death and superstition.

Want a taste? “What I have to offer you cannot be bought with coins. I have a price, but it is not to be paid in gold or silver.”

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The Mausoleum by David Mark
Fiction

What it’s about: The year is 2010. Two old women are waiting for a dying old man to wake up so they can find out what he knows. The women’s story is told in alternating narratives and skips back to 1967 when the women first met in the graveyard of an isolated village by the Scottish border. WWII, espionage, POWs, Nazis, betrayal, they are all part of the story.

Reviewers say: “Deft writing, a plot filled with strange and unexpected twists, vivid characters, and a constant feeling of foreboding make this a gripping and unusual read” (Booklist). “Mark is writing at the top of his game” (Publishers Weekly).

Author notes: Mark is also the author of an excellent series of police procedurals, starting with The Dark Winter, which introduces DS Aector McAvoy.

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