TrendWarriors

Well, winter is almost here. Officially in Minneapolis winter comes when the snow flies, and that might be at the end of October. This is my favorite time of year. I can tuck in the garden, rake up the last fallen leaves, close the storm windows and start thinking about hibernation!

And that means going to the local bookstore or library and finding some good reads for the long, cold, dark nights. Hurray!

I’m in the mood to read about exotic places. Stories about China, India and Africa are at the top of the list. I don’t want to read a traveler’s account of these places, I want stories written by the citizens.

1) If you enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha, then you might enjoy Snowflower and the Secret Fan. It is a heart-wrenching tale about childhood friends, and a secret written language for women. If you are squeamish– beware: there is excruciating detail about the ancient practise of foot-binding girls in China.

2) The Inheritance of Loss is a modern tale of English colonization and growing up poor in India. The book describes in lucscious landscapes, the rotting decline of a family’s estate, and what can happen when a person leaves the familiarity of family, home and culture to find a better life in the West.

 3) Blink - recommended by Christy Spencer

4) The Purple Cow - by Seth Godin, recommended by Don Freeland

5) Emotional Branding - by Marc Gobe, recommended by Sheryl Westfall

6) Unleashing the Idea Virus - by Seth Godin

7) Orbiting the Giant Hairball - by Gordon McKenzie

Marvericks at Work - by William Taylor and Polly LaBarre

9) The Hummer and the Mini - by Robyn Waters

10) Eveolution - by Faith Popcorn