Subject: Plants
Note: GBCL after title means it is available in our library.
Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl
This is a short story, The Sound Machine, about a man named Klausner, who gets to wondering about why humans are not able to hear dog whistles. What if there were higher tones? So he invents a machine and when he tries it out he hears a neighbor’s rose shriek when its stem is cut. Only 18 pages long and worth every page.
Jungle Rescue: Saving the New World Tropical Rain Forest by Christina G. Miller and Louise A. Berry (GBCL)
An easy-to-read description of the variety of plant life that co-exists with each other to form the Tropical Rain Forest, focusing on South America. How modern man is changing it and destroying it. Many photos to illustrate the point and leaves you shaking your head.
Coming Out Of The Woods: The Solitary Life of a Maverick by Wallace Kaufman (GBCL)
As many in the late 1960s and 70s were enthralled by Thoreau’s sabbatical at Walden Pond this author and others attempted to do the same. He is proud of the fact that Thoreau only “lived off nature” for approximately two years before returning to civilization. The author stayed for over 20 years. His adventures of living primitively and observing everything about him and leaving as little of a footprint as possible were fascinating to our reader. He only left after 1996, when Hurricane Frances swung up the eastern coast and came inland following a river and destroying much of his forest. Much information of trees, edible plants, having a garden loved by deer, rabbits and other animals, is told with humor. They had been there first.
The Passionate Olive by Carol Firenze (GBCL)
Our reader did not realize how far back in history humans utilized olives and olive oil. In 6000 BC use of olive oil is mentioned. In 776 BC an olive branch symbolized peace in the first Olympics. Although preparation of the olives for eating is complicated it is commonly used in the Mediterranean area of Eurasia. Locally olives are produced and sold in many venues.
The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart
A gift to our reader about the plants that create the world’s best drinks. Leaving wine and grapes to another volume, the books tells of juniper berries and gin, potatoes and vodka, cactus and mescal, hyssop. The varieties will amaze. Ever wonder what the origin of your favorite poison is? You can now look it up and discover what, where, when and whom. A fun read, just what you need for your next get together.
The Plant Paradox by Steven R. Gundry, M.D.
Did you know that plants grow things in their cells to keep animals (and humans) from eating them? Sometimes it is a bitter flavor. Sometimes it is a hot taste that leaves a burning feeling. Sometimes it is nettles, that sting when you touch it, much less eat it, unless it is cooked a special way. Some plants have a slimy taste or bad texture. It may have thorns that must be removed or avoided, or a hard shell that must be cracked open before enjoyed. Some require special cooking methods. Yet, we love eating them and they are good for us.
– Fran Strauser