Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine

Few periods in history have captured my imagination like the Cultural Revolution in China. Chinese culture has a long history placing value on education and the wisdom that comes with age. During the Cultural Revolution, however, having both a traditional education and rich life experiences was scorned. Most of the educated, accomplished professionals were sent to work camps in the countryside. Furthermore, young people were encouraged to turn against their parents and grandparents who were not complying with Chairman Mao's orders to burn their books and cut all ties with their bourgeois past.

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party tells the story of a girl named Ling who grew up in China during that time. Ling's parents are both doctors living a productive, happy life in Wuhan when one day, Comrade Li moves in. A member of the communist party, Comrade Li makes life difficult for Ling's family and neighbors. Ling's father burns all their books. It appears that Ling will not be able to attend school. Her father is arrested and the family has very little to eat. She is bullied endlessly because of her elitist past. Ling refuses to cut her long hair, despite the fact that her peers see it as a remnant of her privileged background.

The author's vivid storytelling makes us experience Ling's pain and sorrow as if we were living next door to her. We long for any chance to learn from teachers, peers, or family. Since food is so scarce, we yearn for the simplest of edible delights. It is no wonder that the author has also published several cookbooks. An excellent read!

The Pact: Three Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Drs. Samson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt

Getting through college and medical/dental school seems difficult enough these days with the stiff competition. However, the authors of this book were able to accomplish this and more in spite of the fact that they all grew up in broken homes in Newark, NJ. The Pact is a non-fiction, first person account of their efforts to rise out of a neighborhood of drugs, gangs and violence to become doctors.

The authors all tested into Newark's University High, and like other high school boys were trying to get by doing as little work as possible. George went to a presentation for a Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental recruitment program at Seton Hall University. He was hooked and persuaded his two friends to join the program. The boys made a pact to support each other when the going gets rough so that they could fulfill their dream.

This is not a tale of all going smoothly and living happily ever after. Rather, it is an account of the difficulties they encountered. Many had family members and friends who were addicted to drugs. All three had little or no financial resources. Several got arrested. At one point, they were performing rap and toying with the idea of music as a career.

This book is about second chances and making the right choices. It is an inspiration to all.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

One day the Overlords appear and park their space ships at strategic points around the world. Contrary to our pre-conceived fears about extra terrestrials, the Overlords come in peace with a desire to help humanity. They proceed to wipe out all violence, poverty, disease and war. How they do this is a very fascinating part of the story. Furthermore, the Overlords will not reveal themselves to humans for the first 50 years. When they do, again, we are faced with a peculiar interpretation of our own culture. With time, we discover the Overlords' motives for coming to earth and their final transformation of the human race.

Some of you may be familiar with Arthur C. Clarke's book 2001 A Space Odyssey which was made into what many believe to be the best science fiction movie of all time. However, for science fiction aficionados, Childhood's End is one of Clarke's most successful novels and a true science fiction classic.

Peak by Roland Smith

Peak begins with fourteen-year-old Peak Marcelo climbing the Woolworth Building in Manhattan. The police arrest him and put him in jail. As part of his probation and in an effort to thwart copycat climbers in New York City, Peak is sent to the Himalayas to live with his mountaineering dad. His father, whose expedition business trains teams to climb Mt. Everest, decides that Peak could be the youngest person to reach the peak. He assigns one of the Sherpa guides to get Peak acclimated to the altitude and prepare him for the trek. Peak befriends a Nepalese boy named Sun-Jo and discovers that life in the Himalayas is not as beautiful as it appears in photos.

This is a great adventure story with many twists and turns. The book explores several timely themes and subplots. Is this father/son relationship based on love or exploitation? Are the Sherpas helped or abused by the mountain climbing tourists? How difficult is the political situation for the Tibetans? Check it out and see.

Many of you may have read this book after our thrilling author visit with Roland Smith in the spring. Click here to see Roland Smith talk about writing.