Clymer Library Reader's Advisory

James McBride grew up one of twelve siblings in the all-black housing projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn, the son of a black minister and a woman who would not admit that she was white.

The author alternates between his own first person voice and his mother's own words.
For the most part, the book takes place in the past tense, as it recounts the past lives of James and his mother Ruth. James uses the present tense when he talks about his current life, activities and beliefs.

Ruth McBride was born to Polish Jewish immigrants. Her early childhood was spent traveling the country as her father, Tateh, looked for work as a rabbi. He eventually gave that idea up and settled in Virginia and opened a store in the mostly black section of town where he overcharged his customers and expressed racist opinions.

Ruth moved to Harlem to escape her abusive father and the South. In Harlem, Ruth met Dennis a black man, to whom she was immediately attracted. She married him, converted to Christianity, and became very involved with church activities.

James weaves his own life story into his mother's story. Ruth's philosophies on race, religion, and work influence him greatly. Ruth sent her children to the best schools. She demanded respect and hard work from her children, and issues of race and identiy took secondary importance to moral beliefs.

This is an amazing book of a woman's courage, strength, faith and love for her family. I highly recommend this book. You can find it in the non-fiction section of the library.

From the woman who brought us "When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Heartburn" comes a collection of essays that women will relate to. Yes, I too have hated my purse, especially when I am standing in the rain trying to locate the car keys from it ! Thanks to her, the aging process can be a laughing matter. I too have pairs of glasses strewn all over my house, but can I find a pair when in need? Since reading her essay on hating her neck, I have taken to checking out every aging TV star and a few close friends. Yup, I can now relate to those turkeys that parade through my yard!.When Nora Ephron bashed Bill Clinton, I wanted to yell, "Right On!' How dare he lied over and over again to us! Trust him- Never! I especially loved her essay "Me and JFK: Now it can be told". Read on to find out-did she have an affair with JKF? What was the writer phillip Roth like as a young man, and the three stages of parenting.

I read this book after hearing so many good things about it and it was a very quick read. The book is basically about Morrie Schwartz, a history professor at Brandeis University, who has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and is dying. Mitch Albom is a former student of Schwartz's and has become a fairly well known sports writer. He hears about his teacher from an interview with Ted Koppel on Nightline and decided to pay a visit, soon his visits turn into regular meetings, on Tuesdays, 14 to be exact.

Morrie teaches Albom how to live the life you really want all while dying the way he wants. Albom plots Morrie's declining health, which is is a little depressing, but at the same time imparts Morrie's wisdom. You can get a sense of what the important things in life are from someone who has little left, but Morrie is particularly eloquent and seems to carry an upbeat dignity to the end.

by Isabel Allende