BOOK REVIEW: The Worst Thing I've Done

Ursula Hegi is an author with a special touch; her ability to set a mood and develop characters is exceptional.  THE WORST THING I'VE DONE shows these talents very well.

Annie, Jake, and Mason grew up together and had developed a special bond. It was taken for granted that Annie would marry one of the boys. The day that Annie and Mason marry, Annie’s parents are in a car accident. Her father is killed instantly, and her mother lives long enough to give birth to a daughter, Opal.

Annie and Mason decide to raise Opal with Jake being an extra father to the infant girl. Annie struggles with being a sister and a mother to Opal, a wife to Mason, a friend to Jake, and to develop the artistic talent that is important to her.

When we first meet Annie, she is spending her time driving aimlessly in her car, eating junk food and listening to advice programs on the radio. She has not come to terms with Mason’s recent death and she keeps hearing his voice making his own comments to the people asking for advice on the radio shows.

As Annie remembers the life she had shared with the people around her, we get more and more insight into the relationship that the three friends shared. Little things from the past come back to her, giving her a better understanding of the people she loves.

Watching Annie put all the pieces of her life together, gives us a story of friendship, love, marriage, and motherhood. In a book that is perfectly plotted, Hegi shows us how sorrow and joy can be closely connected and how both help us to grow.

If you are fortunate to have read Ms Hegi’s Stones From The River, you know what a talent she is.

BOOK REVIEW: Jesus' Parables in Today's Language

Joseph E. Faulkner may be a name familiar to some of you. Dr. Faulkner lives in State College, taught at Penn State for 33 years, and has filled the pulpit in various churches in the area. His recent book, JESUS' PARABLES IN TODAY'S LANGUAGE came to my attention recently and I thought that I would share some of it with you.

Dr. Faulkner has retold the stories from the parables in modern settings making this an ideal book for a study with young people.

One of the best known parables is probably The Good Samaritan. In Dr. Faulkner’s book, a man who works at Wal-Mart is traveling to Washington, D.C. when his car starts to sputter. Pulling over to the side of the road, he is trying to fix the problem when a group of young men come up to him, offering to help. Instead of helping, they beat him and take his wallet and watch. They drive off, leaving the man too injured to stand.

Soon a car stops; the driver is a doctor but he is afraid to get involved. The publicity may hurt his career and there is always the fear of a law suit, so he drives on. Moments pass and another car slows down, but drives on because he thinks that it might be a trap, plus he is scheduled to teach a class on criminal law at John Hopkins that evening.

The third car stops, calls 911 for an ambulance, and follows to the nearby hospital. He tells the receptionist to see that the man gets the best of care and if there is no insurance, he would be back to pay all bills. The young man was a Muslim immigrant.  He was a student and had no extra money, but when he told his fellow students the situation, they helped.

The stories in this book are simple, much as the original stories were, and carry the same message as the originals. This makes the book particularly suitable for a study group. JESUS' PARABLES IN TODAY'S LANGUAGE is available as an electronic book only. Copies can be obtained by emailing Dr. Faulkner or through iTunes.

BOOK REVIEW: The Girl With No Shadow

Joanne Harris is an author who can be a hit or a miss; some of her books I have really enjoyed and others have been just average. One that I did enjoy was Chocolat and I have to admit that I even enjoyed the movie. The movie was different from the book, but it did star Johnny Depp. Her latest book is titled THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW and it continues the story of Vianne Rocher. Though the book could stand on its own, it is best read as a sequel.

Vianne has always allowed the wind to dictate her every move. She had left the small French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and arrived in Paris, thinking that she, her daughter Anouk, and baby Rossette can lose themselves in the crowded streets. She takes on the new identity of widowed Yanne Charbonneau and again opens a chocolate shop.

This time though she tries to fit in. She has warned Anouk not to do anything that would appear odd. It seems that each of the three have magical powers and are aware that every action causes a reaction. There is a price to be paid, whether a person is a witch or not.

But this time when the wind blows, it brings Zozie de l’Alba into their lives. Zozie is charming and charismatic. She embodies all of the brightness and joy of life that Vianne was trying to leave behind. Soon Zozie has worked her way into the chocolate shop and into the life of Vianne and her preadolescent daughter Anouk.

Zozie also has powers, maybe even stronger than Vianne had had in the past. Vianne only sees Zozie as a friend who has helped her build her business and become the new confidant for Anouk. She does not see that this wind was a very evil wind and that Zozie will tear her comfortable world to shreds.

As I said, this book can stand on its own, but there is more depth to the story if you know what happened to Vianne in Lansquenet-sous-tannes. The book Chocolat’s ending and the movie’s ending are different, so read the book before seeing the movie. (Then if you are also a Johnny Depp fan, by all means rent the Academy Award nominated movie.)

I enjoyed THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW, but do not think that this is a children’s book because of the magic involved. This is a classic tale of good vs. evil for adults. It is so easy to champion Vianne as she tries to live a normal life, doing what is best for her children. Ms. Harris has a hit with THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW.

THEATER: Local High School Isaac Awards

The Isaacs were presented by the Altoona Community Theatre (ACT) at the historic Mishler Theatre on May 29, 2011. The Isaacs, the high school equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Award, are awarded each year to encourage and support excellence in high school musical theatre. The program was established in 2005 by ACT and involves 13 area high schools.

Our local winners were:

•  Best Production, The Pajama Game, State College High School

•  Best Featured Dance, Runner-Up, “Hernado’s Hideaway”, The Pajama Game, State College High School.

•  Best Actress in a leading role, Ashley Lope as Babe,  The Pajama Game, State College High School.

•  Best Musical Number, “Once a Year Day”,  The Pajama Game, State College High School.

•  Best Actress or Actor in a Featured Role, Runner-up, Elise Mortensen as Gladys,  The Pajama Game, State College High School

•  Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Richard Spicer as Lumiere, Beauty and The Beast, Bald Eagle Area High School.

The winner in each category made a Tony-worthy acceptance speech and received a $500 scholarship for any field of study at any accredited post-secondary institution.

The Gazette would like to extend congratulations to each of our local winners and runners-up. Thank you, also, to all of you who support high school drama.

For the complete list of schools involved and all the winners, go to ACT's website:  http://www.altoonacommunitytheatre.com/

BOOK REVIEW: Going Local, Volume 2

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a book signing by Ken Hull, go! Ken is the author of the Going Local books and his enthusiasm is contagious. His informative books list the locally owned eating places with a critique and a bit of history on each place. GOING LOCAL, VOLUME 2 has just been released and therefore Ken is doing the book signing circuit.

Ken is very vocal about the importance of supporting our local establishments; or, as Ken puts it, “Un-chain yourself.” To help us to do just that, Ken has drawn a 75 mile circle in the center of Pennsylvania, using Boalsburg as the center. Within this 360 degree area he has highlighted some of the most interesting places to eat.

For example: People who call Bellefonte home have been familiar with Bonfatto’s. Those of us who have been here for some time remember when it was a small grocery store; after they started to sell a sandwich that was trademarked as the “Bonanza”, we watched Bonfatto’s grow to become a full restaurant. The family’s interesting history is included in the book as well as comments on the food.

Opening GOING LOCAL to any page and you find an eating place that needs to be checked. The best use of this publication may be that of a guide book. If you want to take a day trip to Renovo, you will know that Darlene’s Country Cottage is waiting for you. Just reading about Darlene’s Campfire Breakfast made me consider this a destination stop.

The book includes a map that makes finding these places easy and also includes the important information on each: owner’s name, type of cuisine, price range, hours, location, contact numbers, as well as nearby attractions and accommodations. Ken has given us all of the material we would need to make a trip for a good meal, an adventure.

The book is also fun to read. If you do get a chance to meet Ken, you will quickly see how he gets so much information from the people at each restaurant. His love of what he does, as well as his pure joy of doing all of this on his trusty motorcycle, is catching. Reading the book is like sitting down with a friend while he shares these passions with you. Open GOING LOCAL, pick a location, take a day, and enjoy.

BOOK REVIEW: Can't Wait To Get To Heaven

After spending almost half an hour in Hell, 45 minutes in Heaven, and being reassured that both are real in recent books, I was ready for a lighter touch on the subject. Serious subjects with just the right light touch usually mean a book by Fannie Flagg. Sure enough, her CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO HEAVEN was just what I was looking for.

Elner Shimfissle had promised her niece Norma that she would not climb the fig tree again. But she had wanted to make some fig preserves and knew that she could be up the ladder, gather the few figs that she needed, and be back down making the preserves before Norma’s husband could get there to pick them for her. She had not counted on the wasps’ nest and now she is watching herself in the emergency room at the hospital.

Elner’s death has an impact on everyone in the small town of Elmwood Springs. The whole town is thrown in a loop with some touching and some humorous results. As word spreads we hear the stories of how Elner had made a difference in each life.

No one is more surprised than Elner. She finds herself in Heaven getting a chance to meet some of her favorite people, including her hero Thomas Edison. Heaven is not quite what she expected; it might be even better than anyone could imagine.

Fanny Flagg has the talent to give us our lessons with a spoonful of humor. This is not to say that she overlooks the dark moments of life; it is that she believes that most things can be handled if kept in perspective.

One of my favorite themes in literature deals with the impact that each of us has on those around us and Fanny Flagg uses Elner to show the difference one person can make.

Any time that you need a funny, charming, feel-good, testament to the joys of life, may I suggest Fanny Flagg. Her characters are a delight and will help you to look at life in the best, possible manner.

Oh, this book also contains recipes for Aunt Elner’s liver and onions, neighbor Dorothy’s heavenly caramel cake, and Mrs. McWilliams’ corn bread.

Enjoy.