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The English Patient

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The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Adults

Ondaatje’s novel is a poetic intersection of four stranger’s lives during their stay in an abandoned Italian villa at the end of World War II. There is Hana–the nurse, Caravaggio–the handless thief, Kip–the bomb defuser, and the English patient–the mysterious, bedridden man with severe burns covering the entirety of his body. With a slow and eloquent pace, the book gives each character the time to recount and process their lives and identities during the war. All the while, the mystery of the English patient unravels in the form of fragmented and feverish memories that conclude in a tragic tale of love and loss. What is revealed through their stories speaks to the complexity of identity, “otherness,” and the global consequences of war on cultural and geographical borders.

What I love about this book is how four perfect strangers come to realize that they, as people of the world, share “communal histories” and those cultural borders that suggest otherwise are meaningless in the face of loss. Their self identities, which were previously described in terms of nationalities, become blurred and then reactualized in the presence of the English patient–who is both literally and figuratively someone whose identity has been burned away from his very being. Ondaatje’s book is a deep reflection of the shared human experience and the tragedies of war.

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Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World

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Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Little Dreamers is a collection of true stories about the women creators, inventors, scientists, artists, and thinkers who changed the world with their ideas. From computer programmer Ada Lovelace to activist Wangari Maathai, this book tells the inspirational tales of those women whom perhaps were previously left out of history’s spotlight. The contributions of these women had profound influence in their respective cultures and ultimately helped to shape our world as we know it today.

The recognition given to each of these women’s accomplishments is presented by Vashti Harrison in a format that is both informative and succinct which would appeal well to the younger, targeted age group. However, I do believe that this could be an enjoyable book for readers of all ages. Harrison’s stories paired with her charming illustrations create a visually appealing timeline; one can flip through the book noting the distinct changes to the illustrations for each woman. While each woman is artistically rendered to represent her unique self, there is a standard stylistic format the author uses for her illustrations which implies that these women are of a strong and singular power. I found this book important because it reminds young audiences us that even the visionary, trail-blazing women of history were all once little dreamers, who dared to dream big.

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The Turquoise Table

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Life sure can be busy at times…okay, maybe even verging on hectic most days! Where does the time go? And more importantly, how are we spending this time? Do we often feel like we are missing out on something more important while being caught up in the whirlwind of day-to-day activities?

The philosophy of The Turquoise Table reminds us to take the time to slow down, unwind, and focus our energies on making meaningful connections with others in our community. Author, Kristin Schell, decided on a whim to paint a picnic table a bright shade of turquoise, pop it in her front yard, and open the invitation for neighbors to join her at the table. She was pleasantly surprised by the popularity of this gathering space in her neighborhood and was inspired to encourage others to follow suit, hence the creation of a book, a website, and a podcast all by the same name. Across the United States, and even in several other countries, people have begun setting out turquoise tables as a way of better connecting with friends and neighbors.

Actually doing this of course can seem daunting and feel more like one more chore on our to-do list. But the author reassures us that being mindful in the moment and building neighborly relationships is as simple as showing up and making yourself available. The rest of the details sort of just fall into place from here. To put your own Turquoise Table plan into motion, you simply need a place to gather and a time to meet. A turquoise picnic table was the author’s original idea but you can get creative; a picnic blanket or set of chairs would work just as well! And even if its just for fifteen minutes, making yourself available to converse with neighbors and catch up with old friends can be wonderfully heartwarming.

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The Rules of Magic

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The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Format: Book, Audiobook, eBook, & Digital Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

To protect Franny, Jet, and Vincent Owens from their family’s curse, their lives have been lived in accordance to a list of strict rules: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic, and most importantly, no falling in love. However, this all changes when the Owens trio pays a visit to their Aunt Isabelle, who decidedly rejects all notions of curses determining one’s fate. Between reading magical texts, formulating hexes, brewing up potent teas, and hand-making batches of “cure-all black soap”, the siblings learn an entirely new set of rules to live (and to love) by. Firstly, do as you will, but harm no one. Secondly, what you give will be returned to you in threefold. And lastly, fall in love whenever you can.

Written in a series of distinguished parts, the story is driven forward by each of the sibling’s interpretation of these rules and their evolving understanding of their true identities. Hoffman’s prequel to her widely popular novel, Practical Magic, explores the importance of autonomy and the complexity of legacy.

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