Next week I will participate in our library's semiannual book club party. We
submit titles of books we have read, talk about them informally and then give an oral review to the group hoping to
generate interest for a shared experience. Here is a preview of two of my three submissions. A third, RACK CANCER: sharing hope has been previously reviewed- see link http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2012_09_09_archive.html
I have said that the memoir genre is my favorite choice for a good read so I will start with one.
Yes, Chef: a memoir
by Marcus Samuelsson.
When
I ate at Aquavit in the early 2000's, I was intrigued by the
combination of chocolate and spice in a dessert. Somewhere I know I have
a photo and a description. Not so unusual to mix sweet and spice now but more than a decade
ago it was. I was told that the creator of the dish was Aquavit's young black Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson. Very up
and coming. This memoir is his life story, so far. I say so far because
he is now only 43. Adopted at three with his sister by a Swedish family
he learns to cook by watching and helping his grandmother, Helga. Later he interns in Europe, suffers,
fails, has a child, succeeds, comes to America, becomes an award chef winning at
24. And that is just the beginning. He has to buy back the use of his
name from Aquavit's owner, he finds his Ethiopian family, he marries, he
does the first state dinner for the Obama White House. He opens his dream restaurant in the meat
packing district. It fails. He opens Red Rooster in Harlem, it thrives, always "chasing flavors" he says. "Food's my only bag. It's my gig, my
art, my life. Always has been, always will be."
"I represent so many things to so many people. In Ethiopia I am ferengi or
"white" because I am an American of means. In Sweden, I represent "new
Sweden," which to them means an integrated Sweden. In America, I'm black
or African American or an immigrant; it depends. For me, the labels
aren't as important as the journey. I took the train from Götesborg to
Switzerland, from Switzerland to Austria, and back again. Along the way,
I became a chef, a father, a husband, a mentor, and a friend."
"After all that traveling, I am, at last, home."
I recommend joining him on the journey.
Bruce
by Peter Ames Carlin
I also like biographies. They can
be tricky. If the person is dead the author might have more leeway with
his/her depiction of the person though it has not stopped unauthorized
biographies of the living, both complimentary and not. Bruce by
Peter Ames Carlin is not exactly authorized but seems to have Bruce's
okay. This book shows more of a real Bruce Springsteen. The author
writes about the not so admirable actions and the character flaws of Bruce. A
reviewer cautioned that we may not feel the same about Bruce after reading
and that was meant for the "worshipers" which I might be. And I sure
understand that can very well happen. I read Kitty Kelley's
unauthorized bio of Oprah. It was a book club pick; I would not
have selected it on my own as I know the author's proclivity for taking down idols in her celeb bios. My feelings changed towards Oprah. I now see her
differently. I am coming back though. My pedestal for her was way too high for a human being. Then there was the The Last Boy
about Mickey Mantle. Paul and Liam read it and during their sessions Paul would share passages. I have not yet read it. I am almost ready. With The Mick I always think what could have been.
The
Bruce book does have more stories and conversations than I had previously known. It delves into
his childhood-a difficult one, by living standards
as well as by behaviors of the adults in it. Bruce's actions indicate a loyal friend, a
powerful writer and a deep thinking man as well as a thoughtless, self-absorbed, cold man. I accept the package. All parts of a complex
person. I like that he has been in therapy, fights depression, is
evolving and uses his performances to beat out his demons. He keeps
trying and knows his value to his fans. During each concert I
feel transported and in communion with the audience and the band. At its end I feel better than when I went in, every time. I can invoke that memory of the end of show Born to Run anthem whenever my natural Irish gloom descends or unwelcome dreams intrude upon the night.
Above I quoted Marcus
and let his words speak. I'll do the same for Bruce-take a listen
has been previously reviewed- see link
I have not yet read it. I am almost ready. With The Mick I always think what could have been.
Woof, Woof
