Also, P.S. - As someone who once knew Elna Baker, I think your characterization of her memoir as "shallow and silly" is pretty accurate. It is sort of how she was as a person. In comparision to something written by a thoughtful person like Joanna Brooks, it obviously comes up lacking.
Great review! Can I ask, are you all comfortable with Brooks' notion of cultural Mormonism? I know it is part of her experience having grown up in the "Mormon Belt", but as someone who grew up Mormon but never identified with those cultural monikers - jello, casseroles, the Osmonds, I find this part of Brooks' writing sometimes to be incredibly annoying. I just feel like she overuses those things that really have no relevance to the rest of our religion. Actually, I think that it is only the minority of members who now identify with those things. Instead of "cream-of-chicken" casseroles, isn't it okay if we feast on gumbo, fufu, empananadas, curries, and a thousand other varieties? Maybe I am making a big deal about something so small, but I feel like she really overplays this stuff and frankly, those stereotypes annoy me almost as much as the political ones.
Thankfully, I do not. But my sister does. She was a high school chemistry teacher with a masters degree who was recently laid off in Texas with thousands of other teachers because of the severe cuts in the education budget there. Her only crime - being a relatively new teacher there. She was in her current school district for less than two years. He certainly hasn't "renewed her economy" nor has he "restored any respect" that I have either for the state of Texas or for him.
I don't think that Rick Perry is single handedly responsible for the fact that there isn't income taxes in the state of Texas. However, he might be responsible for the fact that that you have to pay high tolls to travel on many Texas roads and high fees to go to any Texas state parks. Neither of those things exist in my state. But even if he was responsible for single-handedly doing away with income taxes in Texas, then I still am not sure how that "renews our economy" or even more so how it "restores our respect abroad." You have to actually connect the two with a cohesive argument as to why doing away with income taxes would lead to renewing our economy and restoring our respect abroad. That is my point. Platitudes get you nowhere.
I don't think that the article questioned whether or not Mr. Perry is smart solely based on the fact he went to Texas A&M, which is a fine institution. Rather, it actually used statements made by Mr. Perry himself as well as the point of view of others who know him. I think that the immediate questioning of the motives of any journalist who writes anything critical of a politician is worrisome. We, as Americans, have the right to be critical and question. The media has the right to do it too. Obviously Andrew Breitbart doesn't think Obama is smart. Why is that any more valid and truthful than another journalist who simply poses a question about Rick Perry? That is the only double standard I am seeing here...
And explain to me just how Perry will "renew our economy and restore our respect"? I have yet to hear anything that comes out of his mouth that convinces me that he is up to the task. Just saying something doesn't make it true.
I am from the South and didn't go to an Ivy League college. So did all of my family and friends, and none of us will vote for Rick Perry. We are all fairly moderate people. I can't stand when people generalize about red states versus blue states and liberals versus conservatives. When people question, legitimately in my view, whether or not Rick Perry has the mental prowess and complex understanding to be President of our country, then that doesn't mean they do it because he is from Texas and didn't go to an Ivy League college. That is, unless they state that is the reason. I don't think the Politico piece did. Let's not generalize, America! It diminishes the level of public discourse in our country and makes us all fools.
I am glad that you all like the list! There are so many great writers from Africa to choose from! Some of their best writers, like Achebe are incredibly prolific, so even trying to read works by one author can be incredibly rewarding because they have so many good books individually.
I love Eloise, good pick! I loved those books when I was younger, and I love the name. My favorite boy's name from a children's book is Milo, from The Phantom Tollbooth, which is my hands down favorite young reader book.
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zanzibarannie 
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