Books to read

Amy C. Rea, Eden Prairie. I'm currently reading the second (of five) volume of the "Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery." Who knew the creator of "Anne of Green Gables" was such an accomplished, fascinating diarist? Part writer's evolution, part social history -- particularly the sad role of women in the early 20th century. Here she was, independently wealthy from her books, and still stuck in society's narrow roles.

Josh Anderson, Coon Rapids. "Confederates in the Attic," by Tony Horwitz. An excellent account of the author's investigation into why some people from the southern United States still feel attached to the Confederate flag. Horwitz goes to extreme and hilarious lengths to try to get into the minds of people all across the South, including participating in Civil War re-enactments with a group of "hardcores," and nearly being involved in a bar brawl. This is a creative and entertaining piece of literary journalism.

Willard Shapira, Minneapolis. "The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope In An Age of Extremism" by Ron Suskind. The author contends that President Bush knew well in advance of his attack upon sovereign Iraq that it had no weapons of mass destruction and that he ordered the CIA to conduct a fraudulent scheme to convince Americans that Iraq did have weapons, and that Saddam was connected to Al-Qaida.