"The Way of Boys," by Anthony Rao

I just read a book that is not typical of my reading, or of the books I usually write about here: “The Way of Boys: The Social and Emotional Development of Young Boys” (Harper, 2010), by the Harvard Medical School child psychologist Anthony Rao (with Michelle Seaton). Why did I read it? Well, I (with my husband) raised a daughter, and now she has a preschool-aged son, and I am learning anew about differences between the way boys and girls behave and develop. The author believes that boys are different, and that parents and teachers need to understand those differences. It is a thoughtful book, informed by the author's years of experience working with young children; there are many examples and much good advice. Over the years, I have read many books about girls, and a few about boys, both from a child-rearing advice point of view, and from an academic and feminist theory perspective. I – like many parents (and grandparents!), educators, therapists, and theorists -- have thought a lot about whether the differences between boys and girls are inherent or socially constructed, or some combination thereof. And of course I understand the many differences within each gender, not to mention the binary and other non-cis identities of some children. I don’t claim to have any conclusive insights (!), but I continue to be interested in the topic, especially now because of my dearly loved grandson. (I now have an equally beloved baby granddaughter as well, making the observation process even more interesting for me). I do have one specific critique of the book: almost all the examples and suggestions refer to “Mom” and her worries, her talks with teachers, her child-raising. The author is very sympathetic to mothers’ concerns. But his emphasis on mothers highlights that child-raising is still – by some, apparently including the author – considered to be mainly the realm of mothers. Fathers are only very occasionally and briefly mentioned. Despite this (rather large, for me) caveat, I found the book interesting, insightful, useful, and very readable. The author has a reassuring and down-to-earth style, and is obviously drawing on a wealth of experience. As a footnote: I am happy to say that my son-in-law (who is very involved with raising the two children) is the one who told me about this book, and is reading it as well.

"My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris," by Alexander Lobrano

Paris and French food – always a great topic! I read many memoirs; one type I have read frequently, nearly always with pleasure, is memoirs of people in the world of food: chefs, restaurateurs, restaurant critics, cookbook writers, television food shows hosts, and so on. I have written about many of these in this blog. Recently, the title of a new such memoir caught my eye: “My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021), by the American food writer Alexander Lobrano. Lobrano writes charmingly and disarmingly about his somewhat accidental path toward this career. He had always loved good food, and seemed to have an instinct for appreciation of its fine points; he also was fascinated by the idea of living and working in Paris. Gradually he made that dream happen. His detailed, astute, and loving descriptions of various types of food he encountered along the way, and how much he learned from so many people he met along the way, are a joy to read. He has a somewhat self-deprecating style at times, one that invites the reader in. His sense of humor adds to the pleasures of reading about his journey. The stories of food are completely embedded in the larger stories of his life and adventures; of the fascinating people he meets; and of the cultures of the different places he lives and eats, most prominently, as the title indicates, in Paris and surroundings. I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and engaging book, and I think you would too!