Lehigh Valley Marketplace

By Christine Krahling

With the cold weather upon us, autumn is a great time to curl up in our favorite chair–perhaps in front of a roaring fireplace–with a good book and reflect on life’s blessings. Whether you’re looking to clear the clutter in your mind or for a way to de-stress before the mad holiday rush sets in, take a look at one or more of these selections:

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
by Michael J. Fox
Perhaps best remembered as Alex P. Keaton on the hit TV series, “Family Ties,” or as Marty McFly in the “Back to the Future” movies, Fox is a man of many talents. In this, his second memoir, readers will learn about Fox the family man, political activist and advocate for those with Parkinson’s disease. Not once will readers feel sorry for Fox as he discusses what it means to live with this illness but rather will gain strength from his positive outlook and unbreakable spirit.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
a Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz
Don’t be wary of the new age-y sounding title. The concept is simple and, according to the author, all you need is a strong will. Live your life by these four agreements and you’re on your way to a life of happiness, love and freedom. They are: Be impeccable with your word; don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions and always do your best. Sounds simple enough…

The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver
It’s 1959. Your father is an evangelical Baptist missionary and comes home one day to tell you that your family is headed into the Belgian Congo. What would you bring? Told from the perspective of the women of the Price family (the missionary’s wife and four daughters), readers quickly find that what the Price women thought they needed to survive could be found only within themselves. The Poisonwood Bible is an enduring book club classic.

Take this Bread: The Spiritual Memoir of a Twenty-First Century Christian
by Sara Miles
Miles, who was raised an atheist, wanders into a church one day as an adult, receives communion for the first time and is apparently transformed. Focusing not on religion but on the hunger for a real connection, Miles’ belief is that “at the heart of Christianity is a power that continues to speak, and transforms us.” Within a few years following her epiphany, Miles turns her hunger into several dozen food pantries in the poorest parts of San Francisco.

The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
If the literary powers-that-be are looking to add a new title to what they would consider a “classic,” this title should surely be added. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan returns home to Mississippi a college graduate in 1962, eager to become a published writer. Intimidated by a New York editor she’s dying to impress, Skeeter begins interviewing some of the local black maids–including her own family’s–about what it’s like to work for white employers during this racially tense time. What results from Skeeter’s findings is both shocking and emotional. It is no surprise that this book continues to be a bestseller.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life
by Anna Quindlen
We’ve all heard the expression, “Get a life.” Perhaps we’ve been told it from time to time as well. Quindlen, in her seemingly effortless prose, reflects on what that means in this short but valuable tome. From sharing her perspective of her mother’s death to what it means to take things for granted, she talks about living deeply rather than just merely existing. After all, isn’t that what life is about?

At press time, all books were available at Moravian Book Shop or through their website: www.moravianbookshop.com.

Christine A. Krahling is the founder of the Friends of Fiction Book Club and the editor of Lehigh Valley Marketplace.