The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

I don’t usually go for love stories, but this one set in the mist of Niagara Falls won me over.  I love the strong & independent Bess and her growing attachment to Tom the riverman.  I really like the way the story redefines what is a family by having Mrs. Andrews become a surrogate mother & grandmother.  The story also deals with the effects of war on soldiers & how the aftermath touches the whole family.  But what I liked most about the book is how Buchanan creates a sense of place around the falls.  This is a love ode to the beautiful & rugged waterfall & its valley.  Old photos of the area  & fictional newspaper articles open most chapters, adding a lot to the story.  I highly recommend the book.

Bait & Switch by Barbara Ehrenreich

Here Ehrenreich tries to land a middle class white collar job, much as she tried to live on minimum wage in Nickel and Dimed. The similar format has her creating a new identity to try to land that great job. I really like her writing style, but for some reason this book didn’t keep my interest. It’s a timely subject, but maybe it’s too depressing that so many highly educated people can’t find work. One fascinating part is about all the “networking” & “leadership” seminars that she attends. I kept thinking of snake oil salesman as I read these parts. If you’re out of work & your misery loves company, you should read this book