Holiday gift guide: Keeping it real this year
I have had pleasure of reading many fantastic nonfiction and historical books this year. Then again, I've read some real snorers.
So let me share with you which ones you should snag and which you should avoid, whether for your loved ones or yourself.
My most recent read was Doomed Queens, by Kris Waldherr. The paperback goes through history, highlighting tragic royals the world over, from the biblical Athaliah to the legendary Eva Peron.
Waldherr is quite a wit, ending each mini-biography with a "cautionary tale," such as Cleopatra's: "Choose your allies well, or they will come back to bite you in the asp."
Bad puns aside, it's refreshing to read history from a distinctly female point of view. And did you know Cleopatra had two sisters who had royal ambitions of their own? Of course, they didn't seduce two powerful Romans, so you don't hear much about Berenice and Arsinoe.
And to make the book more universally charming, Waldherr has included paper dolls you can cut out and assassinate over and over and over again. Just pick your poison or bonfire or whatever morbidity strikes your fancy.
For those who want a little less death and bit more cheer, Sarah Vowell's The Wordy Shipmates may be just the ticket.
While it wasn't the nonstop laughfest that Assassination Vacation proved to be, Vowell's history of the Pilgrims was heartfelt and personal. She blended anecdotes about Sept. 11, the war on terror and helping her grandfather out on the farm -- as well as the adorable Owen stories that should be mandatory in everything she writes -- with our Puritan ancestors' rise to power in the New World. While she doesn't maintain the light touch that I prefer throughout, any history buff would appreciate her view of the City Upon a Hill and how it affects us even today.
If your tastes run closer to the Revolutionary set, I suggest you pick up The United States Constiution: A Graphic Adaptation, by Jonathan Hennessy and illustrated by Aaron McConnell. It's a gorgeous piece of work that gives context to each of the articles and all 27 Amendments.
And since this was the Year of Lincoln, I will make a long story short and tell you to pick up Manhunt, by James L. Swanson and avoid The Lincolns. While I appreciated all of the details local author Daniel Mark Epstein included in his portrayal of the Lincoln marriage, I feel the reader would have been better served if it had been published in two different tomes, instead of one.
It was riveting through the early years, dragged through the middle years and became untenable by the time Abe made the White House. Or maybe the book was just reflecting the truth a little too well.
Moving away from history, if you want to read something that will keep you fired up for weeks afterward, I suggest Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food. During every meal I found myself lecturing and cajoling everyone around me about the dangers of refined breads, chickens that lack a free-range label and Go-gurt. I probably wasn't much fun to be around, so thanks for those who still love me, and I'm sorry to those who don't. Also, go read it!
For economy nerds, whose ranks are currently growing, The Gridlock Economy, by Michael Heller is amazing -- and there's even a Chesapeake Bay chapter.
And I will continue to push the Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore! series for any and all Marylanders. It's funny, touching and does a much better job describing the Baltimorean mindset than I ever will.
(Illustration of Catherine of Aragon from Doomed Queens)
Comments
I'd recommend Baltimore's Alley Houses by Mary Ellen Hayward
Posted by: John | December 11, 2008 1:49 PM