More on the recommendations trail today. :-)

When Seattle Reader saw The Way We Never Were on the May 3, 2016 post, she told me about Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage, also by Stephanie Coontz. What might be considered the "traditional" marriage is actually not all that old. For centuries marriages were for reasons that had nothing to do with love. Watching how the role of women changed was both depressing and illuminating. Spanning the globe and covering centuries, this is an interesting social history read. A good companion for this book would be A History of the Wife (July 26, 2014 post).

If you or someone you know is caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer's then this is a must read! Creating Moments of Joy, by Jolene Brackey is filled with suggestions for interacting with those who are no longer able to think the way they once did. These are wonderful, positive methods that allow them to be involved, keep their dignity, and have control over their lives. There are also explanations of how they are viewing the world (a care giver in a white lab coat, standing in front of a white wall, looks like a floating head and hands). If Aunt Martha wants to wear the same yellow outfit every day, is that really a problem? (I loved the three questions the author suggests you ask yourself). The best part, Ms. Brackey offers, is that if you make mistakes one day, it's no problem, the person you are caring for won't remember! Crafty Reader was right, this is an incredible book!

I lost my notes on just who recommend this book, but when I find out I will say Thank you. Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi covers eight generations of two families from a common mother 'way back when' in Africa. One side of the family is from tribes who raid and capture rival tribes and sell them to the slave trade, the other family comes from those who were slaves. Vivid details of conditions in dungeons (where slaves were held until stuffed into ships) or what it was like to have dark skin in a white town were chilling. Each chapter follows a different family member in his or her time frame while they make decisions (good and bad), marry, work, setting the stage for the next generation.

Reading Hermit With Dog