Judith_V

My preferred reading does not typically include ancient Greek epics, but this one was very accessible and comprehendible. This was greatly enhanced by the insights from the Oxford scholar who discovered the story, albeit accidentally. The book is laid out very creatively, with the Greek story on the top half of the page, and the scholar's notes on the bottom. Along the way, the reader is presented with an interesting and fresh angle on the Trojan War, but the theme appears to be the similarities between Psoas, the son of nobody, and the man who studied him while at Oxford, Harlow Donne. It seems that both characters are passionate, yet quietly so. They continue their respective quests oblivious to the extremely high personal cost; the outcome for both characters, while dark, leaves a mark and a legacy, however slight.

I had my reservations about this book initially, simply because it is short stories and I prefer novels. But I felt compelled to give it a chance because I love kitchen objects and the subtitle "Love, Loss, and Kitchen Objects" pulled me in. From the very beginning, this book drew me in. Yes, it is short stories but many of them are inter-related and there is definitely an arc that is very compelling. I learned much about why people develop such a bond to kitchen objects, and I learned that I was in good company throughout history in this regard. I also learned about certain customs and traditions around the world - Bee Wilson is a determined author and left no stone unturned to get pictures of and to learn the stories behind many household items. I laughed and I cried, and I celebrated how the author ultimately harbored little bitterness to those in her life who had created unwanted change in her life - she is a lovely person and an even lovelier author.

This book would be appreciated by all who love to create things in the kitchen and who appreciate gathering around the table with "their people", however that is defined. Book clubs would also love this book and could bring a lot of personal reflections about their memorable kitchen items.

This book by Susanna Kwan is a powerful reminder of family and connection and the passage of time. The setting is San Francisco during a period of heavy rain and flooding - the author makes this so real that you literally feel drenched throughout the reading. The main characters, Bo and Mia, are extraordinarily ordinary, which is true of most people we meet. Yet the author makes it evident throughout the book that ordinary and small acts are meaningful, that the elderly are not insignificant, and that it is important to pay attention. The passage of time and the shifting of landmarks and neighborhoods and generations make this a story I will not soon forget.