Deb enjoyed The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (the audiobook)

Jefferson Mays narration of Simon Mawer's family epic begins in pre-WWII Czechoslovakia. As the Landauer's build their dream house, political events unfold which threaten their home and their lives.  Mays' voice reflects the tension of people whose homeland is about to be torn apart, whose fears include impending pogroms, work camps and Nazi occupation.  The house, built as a "modern house adapted to the future rather than the past, to the openness of modern living" remains standing in stark contrast to unfolding world events.

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Recent Photography Books

Whether you are hoping to take some nice family photos at the beach this summer with your new digital camera, are interested in learning advanced lighting details for your photographic subjects, or enjoy reading essays on photography, you may enjoy some of our newest books in this genre.

Rethinking digital photography : making & using  contemporary & traditional photo tools by John Neel.

The life and death of buildings : on photography and time by Joel Smith

Light essentials : a subject-centric approach to lighting for digital photography by Don Giannatti

Believing is seeing : observations on the mysteries of photography by Errol Morris

Why photographs work : 52 great images - who made them, what makes them special and why by George Barr

Composition : from snapshots to great shots by Laurie Excell

500 Cameras : 170 years of phtographic innovation by Todd Gustavson

Simply beautiful photographs by Annie Griffiths

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Deb enjoyed Bill Cunningham - New York

If you enjoy the New York Times Style section,  you are surely familiar with Bill Cunningham's work. As the pre-eminent chronicler of fashion trends and high society events, Cunningham's photography has graced the pages of the Times for decades. An official selection at the 2010 Silverdocs Documentary Film Festival,  filmmaker Richard Press documents Cunningham's bohemian lifestyle, in stark contrast  to the flamboyance of many of his subjects.  A man of the street, Cunningham's bicycle is his only mode of transportation, in all weather, capturing life in the city.   Well known as one of the most important people in New York fashion,  his 'On the Street' column documents eclectic, individual looks worn by everyday New Yorkers.  Check out this film and watch an artist at work.

Deb suggests listening to Elizabeth and Hazel : Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick

When Elizabeth Eckford tried to enter the newly desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 as part of the Little Rock Nine, she was unaware that photographers would capture her image along with Hazel Bryan, her white tormentor. The photos of the 15 year old girls would come to symbolize the highly charged Civil Rights struggle for school integration. Award-winning narrator Carrington MacDuffie's stellar performance combines perfect timing with her subtle southern softening of the language. Margolick chronicles the girls' tumultous lives into adulthood including their reunion and reconciliation many years later.

The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

1930's New York City - Greenwich Village jazz clubs - disingenuous patrician banker - smart, ambitious working girls looking for glam and glitter - excellent dialog - strong narrative - literary comparisons to Fitzgerald and Wharton.
Mr. Towles, a Massachusetts native, received the Wall Street Journal's rating of 'one of the ten best novels of 2011' for Rules of Civility, his first novel.

Loved this book. Try it.

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Debra recommends: Four Seasons in Rome : on twins, insomnia, and the biggest funeral in the history of the world

The recipient of an American Academy fellowship, the Rome Prize, Anthony Doerr travels to Rome for one year with his wife and six month old twins prepared to complete his novel. He is pleasantly diverted from his writing by the wonders of the Eternal city, the beautiful Italian countryside and the joys and trials of parenting twin baby boys.
Doerr is an outstanding, award winning writer (New York Public Library, National Endowment for the Arts, American Library Association) whose intimate reflections will leave you planning a Roman holiday.

Following is a sample of Doerr's writing describing a rain storm shortly after the family arrives in Rome.

'Our first storm: Lightning lashes the domes of churches. Hail clatters on the terrace. In the early morning, the air seems shinier and purer than I've seen it. Dawn stretches across the gardens, pulling tiny shadows out of the blades of grass, draining through the needles of the umbrella pines. The old walls look washed, almost new: a thousand speckled tints of bronze, trailing lacework of ivy, glossy tangles of capers'

Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

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Eve Arnold - Photographer

Eve Arnold, a grande dame of news photography, died on January 4 at the age of 99. Her celebrity photos included such luminaries as Joan Crawford, Malcom X, Anthony Quinn, Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe with whom she developed a unique rapport. Her interest was not limited to the rich and famous however. Her world travels took her to South African shantytowns, a Havana brothel, a Moscow psychiatric hospital, among others where she documented another side of life. She was the official photographer on over 40 movie sets. Magnum Photos hired Ms. Arnold as one of its first female photographers in 1951 and she became a member of its cooperative in 1957.

Born in Philadelphia, she was one of nine children of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. Arnold died in Britain where she has lived since 1961.

Magna Brava : Magnum's Women Photographers

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And again, Ruth Reichl

The esteemed food writer and longtime Gourmet magazine editor sums up the prevailing 'eat local' message in a beautiful quote published last Saturday in the Wall Street Journal.

The meal that changed my life was in Crete, when I was about 20, on my honeymoon with my then-husband. We walked up this mountain and at the top there was a hut and an old woman. She sat us on chairs outside and brought us olive oil that she had pressed, a plate of onions she had grown, some olives and some wine that her neighbor had made. Then she went down the hill to go fishing. She came back up and built a fire, and sprinkled the fish she'd caught with herbs from the hillside. We sat there eating this grilled fish and bread and the olive oil, ending with yogurt from her own goats. I had never had food that simple or so much of its place. This was 1970, when you couldn't get good olive oil in America. I thought, This is how I want to eat for the rest of my life.

Ms Reichl's books may be found in our cookbook section on the second floor.

Please share your own food story with us. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Recipes Remembered is a treasure

Recipes Remembered, A Celebration of Survival by June Hersh, is most definitely not your typical cookbook. It is a journey which takes the reader from one of the most harrowing times in history to the possibility of endurance and triumph through chance, luck, perseverance and personal faith. The recipes and personal stories were gathered from survivors around the map of Europe who fell victim to hatred from Poland, Germany, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium and France. The 170 recipes are as diverse as the survivors themselves, whose recollections and photographs will touch you in countless ways. With the publication of this special cookbook, Ms. Hersh ensures the legacy of the courageous people who shared their stories with her.

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Food Memoirs

The current explosion of cooking blogs has triggered a renewed interest in food memoirs, including the popular Julie and Julia : my year of cooking dangerously by Julie Powell. Some of my favorites have appeared in previous blog posts. Following are some worth repeating and several additional titles.

A homemade life : stories and recipes from my kitchen table by Molly Wizenberg. Molly offers 50 recipes and lessons from the kitchen and beyond about love and life. Molly's blog, Orangette.blogspot.com, is a showstopping photo essay as well as a food blog.

Eating my words : an appetite for life by Mimi Sheraton. Veteran food writer Sheraton was the New York Times' restaurant critic in the 70's and 80's. Her enthusiastic memoir tells of her adventures as a food lover and journalist.

Tender at the bone : growing up at the table and Comfort me with apples : more adventures at the table by Ruth Reichl. Two delightful memoirs by restaurant critic Reichl.

Trail of crumbs : hunger, love and the search for home : a memoir by Kim Sunee. When tragedy interrupts her life as a 3 year old in South Korea, Sunee is transplanted to New Orleans and adopted by a young couple. Throughout her life, feelings of being an outsider persist and food and cooking are where she finds solace and a sense of belonging.

The tenth muse : my life in food by Judith Jones. From the legendary editor who published Mastering the art of French cooking by Julia Child, a truly inspiring memoir.

Do you have personal favorites? Please share them with us!

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Jim Dale narrates the Night Circus

Jim Dale, who narrates The Night Circus, is best known for his outstanding narration of the Harry Potter series, which made him a Guinness World Record holder for creating 146 voices. Dale has won a record 10 "Audie Awards", the 'Oscars' of the audiobook world, including 4 "Narrator of the Year Awards" and 13 "Earphones Awards". With such stellar credentials, you may enjoy listening to his reading of Erin Morgenstern's debut novel, a critically acclaimed magical circus tale of imagination, greed and intrigue set in early 20th century America and Europe.
If you enjoy audiobooks, who are your favorite narrators? We'd love to hear from you!

Deb's Gluten-Free Choices

The current demand for gluten-free recipes and products is being met with a slew of new cookbooks devoted to this regimen. Come browse our collection on the second floor. Following are some of our holdings.


Artisanal gluten-free cupcakes : 50 from scratch recipes to delight every cupcake devotee - gluten-free and otherwise by Kelli and Peter Bronski

Gluten-free Asian kitchen by Laura B. Russell

BabyCakes : vegan, gluten-free, and (mostly) sugar0free recipes from New York's most talked-about bakery by Erin McKenna

The gloriously gluten-free cookbook spicing up life with Italian, Asian and Mexican recipes by Vanessa Maltin

Allergy free desserts : gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free delights by Susan Gordon

Listen to Madeleine Peyroux sing

Singer Madeeline Peyroux began her career in the Latin Quarter of Paris at age 15. Inspired by the early American blues and jazz repertoire, she honed her vocal and guitar skills in Europe. She developed an uncanny likeness in sound to Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf. The New York Times said she could "inhabit Holiday and Piaf, doing the tragic, pinched-voice thing perfectly." Her solo albums include Bare Bones, Half the Perfect World, Careless Love and Dreamland.

Her newest album, Standing on the Rooftop, explores American roots music. One of my favorite tracks, Jerome Kern's The Way You Look Tonight, is recorded on the album Got You on My Mind with William Gallison on harmonica. A somewhat overdone classic, Peyroux' version is well worth listening to - you will definitely sing along and put a smile on your face.

Listen to Learning to Die in Miami

Carlos Eire, the National Book Award winner of Waiting for Snow in Havana, continues his memoir of exile from Cuba and arduous assimilation into American society in 1960's Miami in Learning to Die in Miami. Eire is sent To Florida with his older brother, Tony and
14,000 other Cuban children as part of Operation Pedro Pan. His parents' plan to join him in his relocation away from Castro eventually fails when the Cuban missile crisis intercedes and closes Cuba's borders permanently. His life in foster homes is painfully but humorously detailed. The challenges he faces living as an 11 year old 'orphan' in a strange country trying to learn a new language may be familiar to all immigrants thrust into unknown worlds, desperately wishing to fit in and belong. With excellent narration by Robert Fass, Learning to Die in Miami may give you a peek into the immigrant experience of a child struggling to survive in a foreign culture. Do you have your own story of assimilation to share? We welcome your comments!

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Got Vegan?

If you've been thinking about going vegan but don't know where to start, peruse the following popular titles in our cookbook section for ideas. And remember - you can even eat cupcakes and remain faithful to a vegan diet.

Vegan Cupcakes take over the world : 75 dairy-free recipes for cupcakes that rule by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.

The gluten-free vegan : 150 delicious gluten-free, animal-free recipes by Susan O'Brien.

The 30-minute vegan's taste of the East : 150 Asian-inspired recipes from soba noodles to summer rolls by Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray.

The get healthy, go vegan cookbook by Neal Barnard and Robyn Webb.

Vegan Diner : classic comfort food for the body & soul by Julie Hasson.


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She Walks in Beauty : A Woman's Journey Through Poems

Caroline Kennedy's collection of contemporary and classic poetry represent the passages in a woman's life. A personal tribute to the human experience, Kennedy is inspired by her own life as she offers poetry to express the joys and challenges of being a woman. Read by Jane Alexander, Hope Davis and others, She Walks in Beauty is a winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award, 2011.

Listen to Faithful Place

Tim Gerard Reynolds' narration of Faithful Place by Tana French is captivating. The subtleties of each character's voice are perfectly timed and cadenced. Frank Mackey, a Dublin undercover cop, comes home to his hard-scrabble neighborhood of violence, alcoholism and ignorance after a hiatus of 20+ years to deal with the deaths of both his former girlfriend and his brother. He gets sucked back into a life he desperately tried to put behind him. French's writing is brilliant and the dialogue is often searing and brutally funny. Try this audiobook and you won't want to put it down.

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Deb likes 'I Shall Not Hate'

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish's heartbreaking but hopeful memoir, I Shall Not Hate : A Gaza doctor's journey on the road to peace and dignity, is a must read for anyone wishing to begin to understand daily life in the Gaza Strip. Rising above his impoverished life in Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish becomes the first Palestinian doctor on staff at an Israeli hospital. He strives on a human level to bridge the divide between the Palestinian community and his Israeli counterparts, many of whom have become like family to him. His message of coexistence, essential for all humanity, is critical in this bubble of war and hatred which he has occupied his entire life. After the unimaginable loss of three of his children when an Israeli tank mistakenly shells his house in Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish's subsequent torment is matched only by his wish to insure that his daughters are the last sacrifice on the road to peace.

Listen to an outstanding audiobook

Little Bee by Chris Cleave and narrated by Anne Flosnik is an astonishing novel about lives thrown into terrifying chaos in war-torm Nigeria and middle-class London. Cleave deals with the timely topic of immigration, the daily struggle to survive terror in much of the world, and the undeniable human right of access to clean water and food. Flosnik's narration is unparalleled as she navigates a variety of accents with incredible skill.

Who are your favorite narrators? Feel free to share your listening experiences with us by responding to our blog. We welcome your feedback!

We offer Little Bee in two audio formats : compact disc and MP3. You may also access the audio version from the Overdrive website on our homepage. Enjoy!

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Debra's picks : 10 Great Dance Films

Dirty Dancing Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Jack Weston
Strictly Ballroom Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson, Gia Carides, Peter Whitford, Barry Otto.
Take the Lead Antonio Banderas
Swing Time Ginger Rogers, Fred Astair

Mad Hot Ballroom Eleven-year-old New York City public school children journey into the world of ballroom dancing

An American in Paris Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron
Singin' in the Rain Gene Kelly, Donald O'connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen
Chicago
Taye Diggs, Renee Zellweger, Queen Latifah, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucy Liu, John C. Reilly, Richard Gere
Burn the Floor Filmed at the Canberra Theatre, Australia.

42nd Street George Brent, Dick Powell, Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers