Portraits of Women

Recently I have read three novels which are character studes of the main characters.

Nora Webster by Colin Toibin, We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas,and The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant

Nora Webster is the story of a woman widowed with young children still at home.  As she comes to terms with the death of her husband she finds the strength to create a new life for herself. To Nora, Maurice was the one who saved her from a suffocating small village life. He was her true love and guiding light. After his death, everything is different.  She is overwhelmed by  her grief andthe need of her children. The answers are not simple, but she renews her interest in life and in music as she guides her family into the future.

The Boston Girl is an historical novel told as the memoir of a grandmother as told to her granddaughter.It is less tightly focused on the main character, than Nora Webster.  When the young granddaughter asks 85 year old Addie, "How did you get to be teh woman you are today?" The answer begins in 1915 Boston with the story of Addie a 12 yr old daughter of immigrant Jewish parents.  Addie joined the Girls Club at the Settlement House Library. In the girls club she meets three friends that stay with her to adulthood. The Girls club encourages  girls to be independent and strong individuals. Through the support of friends and the resources of the club, Addie realizes most of her dreams and ambitions.

We Are Not Ourselves is a story about Eileen Tumulty. The novel opens in 1944. Eileen is just a child in a family impacted by financial strains, alcohol and explosive emotions. Her father is a natural politician, popular with the local men; he is a leader in the Irish immigrant community. His daughter has many of his strong characteristics, but she is not continuing in his path.

The second half of the novel focuses on Eileen as a married woman whose husband has early onset altzheimer's disease.  Although she is a nurse with a successful career and credentials. This disease takes her by surprise. Her husband's rapid decline and death are devastating to her relationship with her son and to her understanding of herself. At the close of the novel, Eileen has come to terms with her husband's death and has begun a new relationship with her son.

All three novels portray women at middle age rebuilding their lives. As a society we no longer expect widowhood to be the end of a woman's role in the community and in her family. These three very different takes on midlife all depict woman facing the challenges of starting fresh. All three are hopeful, active characters in their own right. They are  able to effect positive change in their relationships and communities.  Each woman makes many decisions, some emotionally driven. Just like real women, they do not always do the 'right thing'. But in each case the mistakes are not used as a excuse to fail.

Learning about Cookbooks

I have begun to read cookbooks. Not t learn how to cook, but because I am selecting cookbooks for a large urban library collection.

Egg - an entire book devoted to eggs. And the recipes were not exotic - trying to impress a foodie. These were very good easy to do recipes, including advice on hard boiling eggs.

Momofuku - this was a more complicated book. I preferred the Anthony Bourdain  series Mind of a chef which showcased the chef creator of the  Momofuku  restaurant chain, David Chang.

NomNom Paleo Cookbook - Paleo sounds like a very weird way to eat. The paleolitic era was not a cool time for humans.  I loved teh recipies in teh book even though I think the whole philosophy is not for me. NomNom recipies are interesting, easy, and great for families with gluten intolerance or milk/dairy allergy.

The text conveys the author's enthusiasm. This book is related to the blog of the same name.