Christmas book suggestions from Heidi

It's hard for me to choose just a few books, but here are some Minnesota books that really stand out from the last year or two of interviews/reviews that might be good for gifts this holiday season.

Travel books:
Catherine Watson's books are wonderful - she is the former travel editor of the Star Tribune and has collected her essays in two volumes "Roads Less Traveled" and "Home on the Road". Her writing is like sneaking into her suitcase and joining the trip.

Minnesota/Midwest history:
Barns 0f Minnesota by photographer Doug Ohman and story by Will Weaver. This is more than just a coffeetable book, this is a great story accompanied by amazing photos that chronicle our state and our vanishing barns. His other books "Cabins of Minnesota" "Courthouses of Minnesota" "Churches of Minnesota" and "Schoolhouses of Minnesota" are wonderful as well.

900 Miles from Nowhere: Voices from the Homestead Frontier by Steven R. Kinsella. It's the chronicle, through photos, diaries and letters, of the people who came to the Midwest for a better life.

Sweetland - this is the independent film based on Will Weaver's short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat". If you haven't seen it, run - don't walk - to the store for a copy. I just took the time to watch the extras and I fell in love with it all over again. The rerelease of Will's short story (along with others) is good too.

Non-Fiction:

Broken by William Cope Moyers. William is the son of veteran journalist Bill Moyers and the vice president of External Affairs at Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota. Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption is gritty and honestly shows the allure of addiction.

The Dog Says How by Kevin Kling. It's a collection of his stories heard on NPR's All Things Considered. Kevin tells a story like no one else can - with a Minnesota twist.


Fiction:
Torch by Cheryl Strayed. A family story of how you keep going when you lose the person that keeps you together. KAXE has a bit part in this one, the mother is a volunteer programmer.

Keeping the House by Minnesota native Ellen Baker. This novel is set in WWI and WWII and examines the roles of women during wartime.

The View from Mount Joy by Lorna Landvik. Set in Minnesota beginning in the 70's, it's the tale of Joe Andresen, a real good guy. This book has sex, drugs AND rock and roll!

Novels for Young Adults:
Will Weaver's Defect - the story of 15 year old boy who was born "defective" and is taunted by bullies until he starts going to an alternative school.
William Durbin's El Lector. Set in Florida, Bella wants to be a lector at a tobacco just like her grandfather. He reads books and newspapers to the cigar rollers until machines take over and the lector isn't needed anymore.
Alison McGhee's Falling Boy - Teenager Joseph is paralyzed and working in a bakery in the heat of the Minneapolis summer. A young girl, Enzo, sees the world through superheroes asking questions like "Did you really rescue your mother from a fate worse than death on a cliff overlooking the sea?"
Mary Casanova's The Klipfish Code. A historical novel set in WWII in Norway, 12 year old Marit's life changes drastically when Norway is occupied by Nazi Germany.

What were your favorite books of the year?

Cooking in the KAXE kitchen

The sun is just coming up over the Mississippi River in Itasca County - the frosted trees and the steam rising is so breathtaking that it's almost haunting. It's as if there's a protective bubble over everything. I didn't relish getting up so early and getting out into the nearly 20 below morning to come to KAXE - but I can't wait for what's going to be happening in the kitchen - there's rumor of Finn biscuits with cardamom and puff pastry.

Iron Range cookbook author Mona Meittunen Abel is going to cook with us in about an hour and a half...her cookbooks are not just recipes, they are stories of life on The Range. "To Mom with Love: Ethnic Recipes and Family Favorites" and "To Dad with Love: Ethnic Recipes and Family Favorites." Mona is also looking for stories and recipes from kids or about kids in this neck of the woods. Email her your submissions....

Here's a recipe from "To Dad With Love"

SARMA BALLS

Sister-in-law Tammi Meittunen's recipe. She brought these to our Meittunen reunion this summer and they were a hit.

1 lb each of ground beef, ground pork and ground ham

1 c. minute rice, uncooked

1 egg

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/2 c. water

1 onion, chopped

1 bag sauerkraut

1 can chicken broth

Butter

Mix first 3 ingredients and shape into meatballs; place 9x13" pan. Saute onion in butter, add garlic. Remove from heat and add sauerkraut, chicken broth and water. Pour mixture over meatballs and bake covered for 1- 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees.

Mona will be signing books at Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing on Saturday and at the Village Bookstore in Grand Rapids from 12-2.

-Heidi

Mary Casanova

Tomorrow morning Minnesota children's author Mary Casanova will be talking with me and John at 7:40. We'll talk about her book "Some Dog" - a beautiful children's book about a basset hound named George. John, parent to Lloyd the basset hound, practically cried when he saw it! Check out Mary's website to see all of her books.

In "Some Dog" George saves the day. Has your dog or cat ever saved the day? Let us know!

Later in the Morning Show we'll talk to Dr. Michael Fox. He'll take your pet questions! Call and join us between 8:15-8:45 for our monthly call-in pet program.

Speaking of Minnesota Christmas gifts, Mary and Dr. Fox are Minnesotans with new books available on their websites!
-Heidi

Friday we're talking Fish Houses!

Kathryn Nordstrom will be joining us tomorrow to talk about her new book that celebrates that crazy thing we do in winter in Minnesota - put houses on frozen water! Kathryn's new book is published by Dovetailed Press and is a photographic journey that shows the ordinary and the extraordinary fish houses. From the Aitkin Fish House Parade to the Brainerd Ice Fishing Extravaganza to the shanty you can see from your window, it's a great exploration of Minnesota's culture of life on the ice. There's fancy fish houses that look better than some of our own houses to the basic no fuss variety. Tune in at 8:10 for a conversation about ice houses.