Book Clubbin' with my Son and My Week in Reading 3/3/19

​It’s a sleepy Sunday after an otherwise eventful weekend, but I did have a very important appointment for a book club meeting this morning with Vinnie.  Last week, he asked me to read his favorite book and we made a plan to have a discussion in his room as soon as I finished up.
Our conversation about superpowers and plot twists was certainly a high point of the weekend, and I hope we’re talking books 30 years from now! 
A busy couple of weeks caused my reading to slow down some, but I did manage to finish a couple of pretty solid reads.

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Nine Parts of Desire:  The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
Where do you draw the line between “Who are we to say what cultural or religious practices are wrong?” and “Wow, no, that’s just wrong!”
This book exposes the seemingly pretty cruddy treatment of women within the Islamic faith, which in some cases, extends beyond those who practice to those who even visit the region.  At the time of the writing, the author couldn’t check into a hotel room in Saudi Arabia because women are not permitted to travel alone.  What the heck?
I’ve been interested in learning more about women’s struggles in other countries because I often lean on these struggles to justify my eye rolling at some of our first-world women’s issues.  True, there are any number of well-known and some less well-known legitimate concerns women face in America, but when actresses complain of being asked who they’re wearing on the red carpet, I cringe.  There are places on Earth in 2019 where women are still legally beaten into submission by their husbands and you’re frustrated because all of America just can’t even with how beautiful you look tonight?
I don’t want to be the person with strong opinions shaped exclusively by what I’ve mainly only observed by accident in my 38 years of pursuing happiness.  Thus, I grabbed Nine Parts of Desire to learn a bit more.  I found it well-written and extremely frustrating, but want to read more on the subject – perhaps something that is more up-to-date.   

​Tender at the Bone:  Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
I became a Ruth Reichl fan after reading her relatively recent fictional work, Delicious, featuring a food magazine.  The way she writes about food – amazing!  No wonder she is FAMOUS for writing about food.  Even her tweets make my mouth water.
This is a memoir from her earlier days.  It was good and I’m not sorry I read it, but hands down the best parts were when she described food she ate (obviously).  The most boring parts were about her life and stuff.  This leads me to believe that I appreciate food more than life.  After having an otherworldly experience with some chocolate caramel bars at last night’s Euchre party, I realize it’s probably true. 
Reichl has had a pretty cool life I suppose, and this was a fun little book with some recipes included.  Check it out if you’re a fan.
 
Next up:  Today I’ll be finishing a new release of short stories that was underwhelming and I’m also soon to finish an expose on reality television that only confirms what a crock it all is.  It’s a juicy tell-all about a show I’ve never even watched and I’m loving every page.   (Brain candy for the win!)
 

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