Dr. Alfred Jones is a henpecked, slightly pompous middle-agedscientist at the National Centre for Fisheries Excellence in Londonwhen he is approached by a mysterious sheikh about an outlandishplan to introduce the sport of salmon fishing into the Yemen. Dr.Jones refuses, but the project, however scientifically absurd,catches the eye of British politicians, who pressure him to work onit. His diaries of the Yemen Salmon Project, from beginning toglorious, tragic end, form the narrative backbone of this novel;interspersed throughout are government memos, e-mails, letters, andinterview tran*s that deftly capture the absurdity ofbureaucratic dysfunction.With a wickedly wonderful cast ofcharacters--including a weasel-like spin doctor, a missing soldierand his intrepid fiancee, and Dr. Jones's own devilish wife--SalmonFishing in the Yemen is the whimsical story of an unlikely hero whodiscovers true love, finds himself first a pawn and then a victimof political spin, and learns to believe in the impossible.
The engrossing historical series of three sisters living ineleventh-century Troyes, France, continues with the tale of Miriam,the lively and daring middle child of Salomon ben Isaac, the greatTalmudic authority. Having no sons, he teaches his daughters theintricacies of Mishnah and Gemara in an era when educating women inJewish scholarship was unheard of. His middle daughter, Miriam, isdetermined to bring new life safely into the Troyes Jewishcommunity and becomes a midwife. As devoted as she is to her chosenpath, she cannot foresee the ways in which she will be tested andhow heavily she will need to rely on her faith. With "RashiasDaughters," author Maggie Anton brings the Talmud andeleventh-century France to vivid life and poignantly captures thestruggles and triumphs of strong Jewish women.
Part culinary travelogue, part cultural history, Save the Deliis a must-read for anyone whose idea of perfect happiness istucking into a pastrami on rye with a pickle on the side Cornedbeef. Pastrami. Brisket. Matzo balls. Knishes. Mustard and rye. Inthis book about Jewish delicatessens, about deli's history andcharacters, its greatest triumphs, spectacular failures, andultimately the very future of its existence, David Sax goes deepinto the world of the Jewish deli. He explores the histories andexperiences of the immigrant counterman and kvetching customer;examines the pressures that many delis face; and enjoys the foodthat is deli's signature. In New York and Chicago, Florida, L.A.,Montreal, Toronto, Paris, and beyond, Sax strives to answer thequestion, Can Jewish deli thrive, and if so, how? Funny, poignant,and impeccably written, Save the Deli is the story of one man'ssearch to save a defining element of a culture -- and thesandwiches -- he loves.
A REVEALING AND DRAMATIC LOOK AT THE INSIDE OF THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM FROM ONE OF ITS PIONEERS. This is the astronaut story never before told--about the fear, love, and sacrifice demanded of the few men who dared to reach beyond the heavens for the biggest prize of all: the Moon.
