Ceremony [Fiction]

Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony is a classic of modern fiction. Published in 1977 it is the story of Tayo a veteran of World War II and his struggles with his place in society. Tayo is a Pueblo Indian who has struggled his entire life to understand his place in white society and a balance with his Pueblo roots. The novel starts with a man psychologically broken by the horrors of war and his attempts to reject his racial background. This is the story of his redemption and healing from the scars of war and the acceptance of his past. Ceremony is not only one of the most interesting novels of the last century it tells a powerful story of forgiveness and respect for tradition. Silko's work is invigorating and thought provoking as well as a book I found very hard to put down.

Salt a World History [nonfiction]

While a history of salt would, on the surface, appear to be a dry narrative Mark Kurlansky's Salt a World History is an engrossing read. The truth is that we need salt to live and this has informed much of human history. Despite the ubiquitous nature of salt in our modern lives it has a complicated past: wars, trade, and more all have depended upon salt. Mr. Kurlansky takes this fact and the intricate, hidden, history involving salt and creates a cohesive intriguing book. The writing is delightful and technically impressive as is the scope of the work. I found myself falling into the rich history he presents in the book. Salt a World History is an amazing read and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good book this summer or a new way of looking at history.