Anyone ever read any of Ursula Hegi's books? I just finished "The Worst Thing I've Done" and really enjoyed it. I've also read her books "Floating in My Mother's Palm" and "Stones From a River." Her stories are mostly about complex human relationships. This last one is set in the U.S., while the other two are set in Germany. Hegi, who is of German descent, touches on issues relating to the Holocaust and Nazism, but always through the eyes of "average people."
I just finished "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". I found it OK but I had higher expectations of it.
That's so funny Pelagia. My cousin recently gave me the 6 CD set of David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day". I confess that I've only listened to the first one so far but it's pretty good.
Salt: A World HistoryIt's interesting. The production and distribution of salt has been a pillar of all economies since prehistoric times. You had to have it to preserve food. Without being salted food - meat and fish mostly - will spoil in a few days. Unlike the production of food which is widely dispersed salt production was centered in certain areas which made it easy for governments to control and tax. Salt funded the development of political entities.I've just been reading the role salt played in the Civil War. One of the South's problems was that the North kept attacking their salt works. Without salt the South had a hard time supplying food to the soldiers.
Quote from: Bill Peckham on March 21, 2009, 10:17:51 AMSalt: A World HistoryIt's interesting. The production and distribution of salt has been a pillar of all economies since prehistoric times. You had to have it to preserve food. Without being salted food - meat and fish mostly - will spoil in a few days. Unlike the production of food which is widely dispersed salt production was centered in certain areas which made it easy for governments to control and tax. Salt funded the development of political entities.I've just been reading the role salt played in the Civil War. One of the South's problems was that the North kept attacking their salt works. Without salt the South had a hard time supplying food to the soldiers.Quote from: pelagia on March 21, 2009, 05:00:43 PMSome irony in this, Bill!
Some irony in this, Bill!
Have you read Guns, Germs and Steel? My husband liked it, and it's still on my list...