Book Reviews
A Look Back at Julia Sneden's Review of The Emperor of All Maladies
Julia Sneden writes: One of the great strengths of this book is Dr. Mukherjee's willingness to detail the theories and politics and failures and frustrations that have accompanied this War On Cancer. After many years of emphasis on possible treatments for various cancers, it is only in the last years of the 20th century and these first years of the 21st century that the researchers realized they needed to go back to the very nature and core of what cancer really is, in order to understand and possibly manage or cure it. more »
CultureWatch: Provence, 1970: M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste
Jill Norgren Reviews: Luke Barr gives readers a thoughtful contemplation of post-World War II cooking history along with a delicious slice of foodie gossip ... Just below the surface of its telling lurk fundamental social and moral issues well worth contemplating when the last page is read. Who gets to eat? What is the relationship between food and economic status? Why did middle class Americans fall so hard for classic French food in the 1960s? And what makes a cuisine "ethnic? more »
Culture Watch Reviews: Teaching Girls About Women’s Political Gains Crucial For Progress
Nichola Gutgold writes: Preserving women's history and reminding our younger generations, especially girls and young women about it, is crucial for continued progress. The sad truth is women who have run for the United States presidency are frequently left off the history pages. Researchers found that one in four children believed it is illegal for women and minorities to hold the office of president. more »
Culture Watch: Historical Memories, Both Collective and Individual, in Three Compelling World War II Books
Serena Nanda writes: Central to all three is the importance of women in keeping their families together under the most agonizing conditions of exile in Germany and France during WW II. Although similar in setting, narrative and characters, each book provides different perspectives on history, demonstrating that historical memories are both collective and individual. A love affair with "the enemy" is central in each story, causing us to deeply reflect on the impact of war on human relationships. more »