Book Recommendations

Some of these books I have had on my "Books I am Reading" section of my Blog - I don't want to lose them as recommendations, so I am posting them for you in case you are looking for something good to read.

1. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People - can't remember the author just at the moment - he is an author from India. Fab book - if you like Alexander McCall Smith, you will love this book and learn a LOT about Indian culture. An man from India and his wife start a marriage bureau because although marriages are arranged in India, young people want more of a say about to whom it is they are betrothed so the Marriage Bureau for Rich People is sort of the "dating"/marriage service for them. The family tells the Marriage Bureau what sort of person the family is looking for (what caste, what jobs)and the single person gets to make some input too and look at pictures/profiles of others looking for mates too. LOVED it.

2. The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith - the latest in his Isabel Dalhousie series, my favorite series of his. I want to be Isabel, the way she is, smile. You could read this particular book out of sequence, it doesn't matter

3. A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson, very good - set in Kenya - unexpectedly delightful. Malik, the main character, and his nemesis have a contest to see who can identify the most birds in Kenya in one week. The prize? The winner gets to invite Rose Mbikwa to a dance . . .sounds corny, I know - it was really good. It also touches on the subject of AIDS and the taboo of talking about it in Africa - and the main character also gets car jacked basically. Great read.

4. Baking Cakes in Kigali was a recommendation by Shonda. This book is tremendous. The main character, Angel, bakes cakes for special ocassions - and you get to meet all of the people in her community via the cakes she is asked to make. It is set in Rwanda and really highlights the recovering from the genocide between the Ttusi's and the Hutu's. I learned a lot while I enjoyed the read.