Laurie in Poland

list #3, what I've read since I've been here

1) Book of Daniel, by E. L. Doctorow
A bit confusing at first, til I figured out that Daniel is referred to in both the 1st and 3rd person. Since I know nothing about the Rosenbergs trial, which the book is loosely based on, I will have to study up on it. The book was most interesting relating that story (Daniel is one of their 2 children) than Daniel's current life story during campus and general unrest during the late 60s.

2) The Final Solution, by Michael Chabon
Since I loved "Kavelier and Clay" so much, I was hoping for more from this book, even though I think I read some lukewarm reviews. It wasn't as much a story line as it was an opportunity for Chabon to show off his flowery, masterful, multi-layered writing style. Even though the book was only a hundred and something pages long, it took about 4 days to read since I wanted to read certain paragraphs over and over and revel in them. One of the small number of hardback books I've bought recently at full price, rather than getting it from Amazon.

3) Swimming to Antarctica, by Lynne Cox
Tufts people will recognize Cox as an author how delighted us with her story during last year's Author Talk series. She as so charismatic in person that I bought the book on the spot. After having read it, I have to have faith in her sincerity and judgement, although a cynic could interpret her swims as self-promotional hoo-haa. It was nice; it kept my interest; I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. However I am skeptical that she played a large role in the thaw in U.S.-Soviet relations.

4) Dear God, Have you Ever Gone Hungry, by Joseph Bau
The memoir of a young man in the Krakow ghetto, later at Plaszow, liberally illustrated with his own drawings. In 'Schindler's List,' he gets married in a very quick ceremony. I don't remember this scene, but it is straight out of Bau's life. He has a map of the ghetto in the book and it clearly shows that the location we're in was in the ghetto. In fact, one of the main thoroughfares, Limanowskeigo, is our street.

Next I will start "By Myself and then some," the autobiography of Lauren Bacall. This was an impulse purchase, not something I was waiting around for for years. It appears as if I've done nothing while here except reading. On the contrary! But 10 hours each way on the train this past weekend by myself with small talk being an impossibility made for some great reading time. Sadly I finished the Cox book with about 6 hours left on the train. I amused myself by looking at the pictures in some Polish cooking and gardening magazines. I found a recipe for a strawberry, raspberry and blueberry pastry that looks divine.
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Next I will start

posted by Laurie Sabol @ 6/28/2005 11:22:00 AM