Saturday, October 16, 2010

Left to Tell

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
by: Immaculee Ilibagiza

I read this book at home this past weekend. Both of my sisters had to read it for highschool, in which the Rwandan Holocaust was incorporated into their curriculum and Immaculee Ilibagiza came to the school and told her story.

Chilling. It's very difficult to read, because of how vivid the deaths are. Hard to imagine how someone could live through such horrific difficulties.

All her life, Immaculee was taught that everyone was equal. In school, she learned otherwise, having been born to the Tutsi tribe. This forever changes her life.

Throughout the book, she relies on God. Praying to keep her safe, praying to keep her family safe. Learning that God works in mysterious ways, she doesn't get mad at God when things don't go her way. Religion and prayer are spread throughout the book, but it is not a book about religion. It is a book about how Imaculee's faith saved her life.

The only thing I did not like about this book, is the end. There were several places the book could have wrapped up, but it keeps going. The story about how she meets her husband is unnecessary to telling the story of the Rwandan Holocaust. The book could have ended sooner.

She's the Anne Frank of the Rwandan Holocaust. Immaculee's story told after the fact, whereas Anne Frank is writing her diary during hiding.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously

Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
by Julie Powell

Just like most- the book was better than the movie. The movie added drama (like movies should). Having watched the movie before reading the book, I kept waiting for things that happened in the movie...and they never happened in the book. The book explored more of Julie's job and how cooking was her outlet. The movie explored her marriage and how cooking helped/hurt the relationship. The movie also paralleled the story of Julia Child with the story of Julie Powell; whereas the book inserts Julia's letters and quotes.

I admire Julie's stubbornness, I mean persistence, in setting her mind to a project and not quitting until the job is done. I have had several "big plans" to do a project until it's finished, or every day for a year, but most of the time those "big ideas" fizzle and fade away after day three. So, congrats Julie for finishing, unlike so many of us out here. I also have to compliment Julie's husband for sticking with it, even at the crazy times.

This book reminds me of my best friend, Heather. She's very much a foodie and always makes magical meals when I visit. Her husband brews his own beer and creates cocktail creations. I'm sure that she could finish Julia Child's cookbook, complete with breakdowns and amazingness!