Succumb to the Warmth and Splendor of Antique Shawls

By Victoria Scott

Antique pashminas adorn the walls of Minasian Brothers rug shop on Chicago Avenue; the exhibit is entitled "Wrapped in Beauty."
Antique Kashmiri Shawls at Minasian

Here is the wrap: Pashmina shawls like those coveted by late 20th-century fashionistas are far from new. They were all the rage in the days of grandmothers many "greats" removed.

"Wrapped in Beauty: The Allure of Antique Shawls," an exhibit at Minasian Oriental Rugs, 1244 Chicago Ave., showcases a group of shawls created in the 19th century, when shawls reached their zenith as status symbols.

In the 1870s, after enjoying nearly a century of popularity in the West, shawls fell out of fashion favor. And with the Franco-Prussian war further eroding the European export market and famine ensuing, many Kashmiri shawlmakers - along with their art - died.

"For practical purposes," reads the exhibit handout, "none of these shawls have been made for well over a century."

Joseph W. Fell, a textile expert and consultant to the Minasian family business, curated the show, selecting pieces from the Minasian Textile Arts inventory and his own and others' collections.

With their vibrant colors and kaleidoscopic designs, the shawls represent an art form frequently relegated to Oriental rug dealers' attics and basements, says Stephen Blackwelder, director of the new textile department at Minasian. A classical musician, Mr. Blackwelder is also a textile collector who is anxious to see these stepsiblings of carpets get their due.

"Shawls," he says, "are often not well respected."

The word "shawl" comes from the Persian shal, referring to a class of woven fabric. Shawls may date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1623 an Italian traveler observed Persian noblemen wearing shals in the form of narrow waist girdles and important Indian males wearing them as wide shoulder mantles.

By the 1800s, discovered by explorers and travelers and the British East India Company, Kashmiri shawls had become the wrap of choice for wealthy European women. So popular were they among upper-class females that their owners often embroidered a personal signature or symbol in order to pick them out in a crowded cloakroom. Traces of such "name tags" appear in the exhibit.

One of the first things to notice about the shawls is that they are neither straight-sided nor flat to the wall. "Handmade pieces won't be perfectly flat," says Mr. Blackwelder. Another notable feature is their impressive size, some more than 6 feet square and the largest a rectangle of 131 by 58 inches.

The Kashmiri shawl, the finest of the breed, was woven of wool from the undercoat of the Himalayan mountain goat. The finest fleece came from wild goats and was collected in the spring from bushes the animals used to rub off the coarse outer hair that kept them warm in winter.

But the majority of shawls were woven from pashmina hair (also called cashmere, from the old spelling of Kashmir) from the underbellies of domesticated goats. The term Kashmir is misleading since at no time, according to Internet sources, was pashmina produced in Kashmir. It was always imported from Tibet and Central Asia. Europeans began to imitate Kashmir shawls on hand looms as early as 1790, but the silk or wool they used made them up to 10 times heavier than Kashmiri shawls.

So fine was the pashmina yarn that before the 19th century it took a good weaver two to three years to weave a shawl. By the 1820s one British account describes stepped-up Kashmiri shawl production now involving 12 or more specialists, from spinners and dyers to a warp-threader and pattern-drawer.

As Western demand for the shawls increased, Kashmiris further increased productivity by setting several weavers to work at once on smaller pieces of cloth in different colors. A highly skilled needle worker then sewed them together to create a kind of patchwork shawl. The exhibit contains work so fine it is barely possible to see how the pieces are joined.

Embroidery was also introduced to speed production, as a complicated pattern could be executed faster with a needle than on a loom. Notice examples of all-over embroidery used to "patch" pieces of cloth; it is often so flat it appears to be woven.

Mr. Blackwelder encourages visitors to examine the backs of the shawls. A hand-embroidered shawl tends to have stitches going every which way, he says; machine-made stitches tend to be more even.

He says most experts agree the center medallion design so common in shawls is derived from Oriental rugs. But the most common design element in shawls is the familiar teardrop shape known to most Westerners as a "paisley." Named after the British town that pioneered the mass production of shawls by reducing labor costs through specialization, the paisley evolved over a couple of centuries.

It originated in the 17th and 18th centuries as a single flowering plant with its roots, inspired by English herbals. This motif changed into an upright bouquet of flowers and then, around 1800, became the stylized boteh, also called the "Paisley pine." During the 19th century the boteh design developed from a squat cone shape to the elongated curve most people associate with the word paisley.

Most shawl designs came from Persia, says Mr. Blackwelder. But he says, because "you make money on trade routes by making what people want," the growing Western market influenced shawl design.

The shape of the shawl also changed with fashions -- from simple, straight shawls (none on exhibit) in the late 18th century to the huge squares Victorian women folded into triangles over their huge skirts.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution the cost of shawl production in Europe plummeted - and along with their cost, their popularity. Now affordable for the middle class, says Mr. Blackwelder, shawls lost their cachet and "the wealthy ceased to be interested."

He and Mr. Fell hope the exhibit will rekindle interest in what they call "a largely vanished art form." Many of the antique shawls are for sale at prices (from around $3,500 to as much as $9,000) reflecting their rarity.

Though beyond most Santas' budgets, they make for lovely viewing on a cold winter's day.

Carbon Offsets: A Cautionary Tale

By Eleanor Revelle

The carbon offset market is booming.  More than 30 companies are ready to help eco-conscious consumers compensate for their carbon emissions by contributing to projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere.   

The idea sounds promising.  By purchasing carbon offsets, consumers can mitigate their climate impact and help finance projects that keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.  In addition, as more people demonstrate their willingness to pay extra for green initiatives, it sends a signal to lawmakers that there is public support for tough climate legislation.

But critics consider promoting offsets to be a flawed approach.  They argue that it encourages a business-as-usual attitude towards climate change by suggesting that consumers can neutralize their emissions without altering their lifestyle.  Compounding the problem, there are as yet no agreed-upon standards to ensure that offset projects deliver the carbon reductions promised.

Nonetheless, well-chosen offsets can be an important part of a broader strategy to address climate change.  They provide an additional opportunity for individuals who have already curtailed their energy consumption to reduce their impact on global warming still further.  And fortunately, there are resources to help consumers find credible high-quality offsets.

How much does it cost?
Most offset providers have online calculators that allow potential customers to calculate their emissions and the cost of offsetting that amount.  The various calculators frequently give quite different estimates of total emissions, however.  This reflects differences in the level of detail users are asked to provide and in the assumptions used in the calculations.  Estimating the climate impacts of air travel is particularly complex. 

Moreover, the offsets that are offered range widely in price, from $5 to $25 per ton of emissions.  For consumers trying to make a choice, analysts suggest that the quality of the offset project rather than the cost should be the determining factor.  It is better, they say, to invest in high quality offsets than to buy as many offsets as possible.

Choosing a high-quality offset
Offset providers fund a wide variety of projects, but how can consumers be sure that the offsets they buy will result in real emissions reductions?  A recent report published by Clean Air-Cool Planet (www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbonOffsets.pdf) suggests a set of characteristics to look for in an offset project:  
•  Additionality. Will the offset revenues make the project happen or would it have occurred anyway (e.g., because it is required by law)?
•  Baseline. Has a reasonable emissions baseline been determined against which reductions will be measured?
•  Quantification. Are rigorous accounting rules used to quantify the greenhouse gas reductions?
•  Permanence.  Will the emissions reductions be permanent, or might they be subject to reversal in the future (e.g., if the trees in a carbon sequestration project burn or are cut down)?
•  Verification.  Are emissions reduction claims independently verified and verifiable?
•  Registration. Are the offsets serialized and tracked to reduce the possibility that they could be sold more than once?

The bulk of the report focuses on the companies that sell the offsets.  It evaluates the providers' understanding of carbon offsets and offset quality as well as the degree to which the information they offer enables consumers to make effective choices.  The authors' longer term goal is to promote greater transparency in the retail offset market.

Another helpful resource for consumers looking for guidance is the Environmental Defense website www.fightglobalwarming.com/dangers.cfm, which identifies a small number of offset projects that meet the organization's quality criteria.

Renewable Energy Certificates
Another way in which consumers are encouraged to "offset" their carbon emissions is to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also known as green tags.  RECs are created when a renewable energy facility generates electricity.  One REC represents 1,000 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity that is added to the nation's energy grid in place of conventional electricity generated from fossil fuels.

Buying RECs helps build a market for renewable electricity.  As a general rule, however, RECs are not considered equivalent to carbon offsets because they cannot be assumed to be "additional."  This is an important consideration for consumers whose goal is to become carbon neutral.  Only if the sale of RECs is a decisive factor in a company's decision to pursue a renewable energy project can the associated RECs legitimately be used to offset carbon emissions.  

An important resource for potential REC purchasers is Green-e Energy, an independent certification and verification program www.green-e.org/gogreene.shtml. Green-e certified renewable energy options meet strict consumer protection and environmental standards.  Among the two-dozen-plus Green-e certified REC marketers are the non-profit organization Bonneville Environmental Foundation, www.b-e-f.org, and the Native American for-profit company, NativeEnergy www.nativeenergy.com.

The bottom line
For those who are serious about reducing their carbon footprint, the focus must be on cutting their energy consumption.  And for real impact, everyone's goal must be effective public policy on climate change.

Banjo Duo Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn At Evanston's Unitarian Church

By Natalie Wainwright

The "concert created in kindness," in the introductory words of Rev. Barbara Pescan, was packed with an audience comprising members of the congregation  and other aficionados fortunate enough to snag a ticket.

World-renowned musician Bela Fleck (named for Hungarian composer Bela Bartok) and banjo-player-singer Abigail Washburn, member of "Uncle Earl," a string band that plays at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, played two long and brilliant sets. Among the numbers they played were duets and solos, some of them Ms. Washburn's signature pieces in Chinese - in which she is fluent - and some of them Mr. Fleck's, such as the Bach partita for violin he played - on the banjo, of course - in the second half.

Mr. Fleck returned recently from a European tour with Chick Corea. He has played with his own group, the Flecktones, as well as with such other artists such as Bruce Hornsby, Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, and classical bassist and composer Edgar Meyer, with whom he recorded the classical-genre CD, "Perpetual Motion." With Chick Corea, he has recorded "The Enchantment," his newest to date. Mr. Fleck has been awarded 8 Grammys and been nominated for 20 - in more different categories than anyone else in Grammy history: country, pop, jazz, bluegrass, classical, folk, spoken word, composition and arranging.

The concert was brought about by the efforts of Ms. Washburn's grandmother, June Carvell, a long-time member of the Unitarian Church, 1330 Ridge Ave. Ms. Washburn said, dedicating a song to her, "It's been a dream of mine for a long time to come here and play a concert. Mom grew up in this church, and Grandma's been a member for 51 years." She also performed a song, "Halo," simple but moving, that she wrote with her grandfather. Ms. Carvell, sitting in the front rows reserved for "friends and family," beamed.

To the YWCA, which will share the proceeds of the concert for use in their program against domestic violence, the duo dedicated their unique and powerful version of the hymn, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

Mr. Fleck and Ms. Washburn both project their love for music in no uncertain terms. That they play with a sense of humor is an extra - on their return to the auditorium platform at the beginning of the second half, Mr. Fleck said, deadpan, to the audience, " Wow, you're still here. That's totally unprecedented at a banjo performance."

Ms. Washburn and Mr. Fleck clearly enjoyed playing together, and it came as no surprise to learn that they will be recording together in 2008

Green Gift Ideas

By Mayre Press

Ready for the next round of green gift ideas? Look no further than Greenfeet, (greenfeet.com) an online retailer that calls itself "the Planet's Homestore." In their stocking-stuffers section are items ranging from bamboo tongs and slotted spoons to bicycle-chain bottle openers, key chains and business-card holders. The site has a huge variety of gifts for the whole family and is for all budgets.

Taraluna (taraluna.com) is another online retailer that sells fair trade, organic and green gifts for babies, pets, children and grownups. They sell beautiful handmade jewelry and purses, tote bags, toys, dolls, accessories, stationery and cards, baskets and kitchen décor, tea sets and organic tea and chocolates.

Locally, holiday shoppers can visit two retailers that sell green items suitable for gift-giving. Ethical Planet carries all-vegan food and a variety of vegan and/or organic clothing, accessories, household goods and much more. The website, ethicalplanet.com, gives the store location, hours and other information. Healthy Green Goods places its emphasis on toxin-free cleaning supplies, body care, home furnishings and clothing. The store's website, healthygreengoods.com, has a complete list of their products, as well as the address, phone, hours and other details.

For fair-trade gift items Ten Thousand Villages at 719 Main St. is also a good shopping destination. They carry coffee, tea, home furnishings and clothing from third-world countries that follow fair-trade practices. Additionally, Evanston is fortunate to have not one but two natural-food retailers, Wild Oats and Whole Foods. A gift certificate to any of these establishments would be well received.

For the athletes on the list, Fair Trade Sports (fairtradesports.com) sells sports balls stitched by adult workers paid fair wages and ensured healthy working conditions. All of their apparel is sweat-shop free, and the company's after-tax profits are donated to children's charities. Good  green sports will want to explore their products.

Techno-wizards will love the solar-powered flashlights, radios and chargers sold by solar style (solarstyle.com). Using one solar charger eliminates the need to carry additional batteries for digital devices, and it charges cell phones, PDAs, MP3s, CD players, gaming devices and digital cameras. Simplify someone's life - and be kind to planet earth - by giving a multi-function solar charger.

Nearly everyone has a person on their list who has everything. This is the person who might love a polar bear, a moose, a gray wolf or a desert tortoise. The National Wildlife Federation's adoption center offers packages starting at $30 for these and other imperiled animals. Visit the website at nwf.org for details.

A gift option for the diehard environmentalist is to buy carbon offsets from Terra Pass. The money from carbon offsets funds clean energy and other projects that reduce greenhouse gases to balance the impact of driving, air travel and household appliance use. Their website, terrapass.com, has other green gift ideas, such as a smart surge protector that automatically turns off peripherals when the computer is off, even if the owner forgets.

So grab the phone or click that mouse and start green shopping.

Contact Eco Gal at info@evanstonroundtable.com or ecogal247@yahoo.com.

St Athanasius holiday food drive

Top, left to right, fourth-graders Zachary Boylan, Anna Buettell, Max Blaul and Olivia Kaminski, helping to bag and organize cans and boxes.

 

St. A's students painting a snowplow for the City-sponsored competition.

 

 

 

Winter Break Camps Spice Up the Holidays
   

Whether it's basketball, tennis, chess or art that captures a child's imagination, parents can probably find it at one of the 13 winter-break camps being offered this holiday season by the City of Evanston's Recreation Division. With options that range from drop-in programs to those that meet for one week or two, half-day or full-day, there is a camp to meet almost every interest and schedule.

Choose from such specialty camps as the Ecology Center's EcoFreeze Camp on global warming or the Young Artists Program (YAP) for youth ages 12-15. There are also camps devoted to specific sports, including Winter Soccer with ETHS's Marx Succes and the Youth Holiday Tennis Camps.

Most camps start Wednesday, Dec. 26. For more information, call 847-866-2900 or go to www.cityofevanston.org.

First-Night Winner

Mayor Lorraine Morton congratulated 8th-grade student Max Metzler from Chute Middle School for his winning design for the First Night Evanston children's button at the October Evanston City Council meeting.  (l to r) Elizabeth M. Brasher, President First Night Evanston; Mayor Morton; Max Metzler; and Emma Frankel, Max's mother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evanston Environmentalist Honored by EEA.

On Dec. 1, the Evanston Environmental Association honored Debbie Hillman (center) with the 2007 Charlotte Omohundro Environmental Service Award. A long-time Evanston resident and environmental activist, Ms. Hillman has demonstrated a firm commitment to helping create a sustainable Evanston. Since 2000, she has been active in the Network for Evanston's Future; in 2005 she co-founded Evanston Food Policy Council. Pictured left to right are (back row) Fred Schneider, Zane Robbins, Gordon Guth, Dick Peach and Dan Pyne; front row: Marti Bjornsen, Ms. Hillman, Elizabeth O'Connor and Jean Esch.

The Getaway Guys Go To...
Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park

By Alan Barney and Neil Cogbill

Frank Lloyd Wright's
Nathan G. Moore House
(1895, built;
1923, remodeled after 1922 fire),
333 Forest Ave., Oak Park
Photo by the Getaway Guys.

If, like we Getaway Guys, the traveler is not up for a long drive on a wintry day (or any day, for that matter), a trip to nearby Oak Park and Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio (1889-1909) is well worth the time and the price of admission. In addition to the obvious visual attributes of the home and studio, the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust Research Center maintains an archive of more than 20,000 visual resources available to the public and scholars at no charge. The Home and Studio, at 931 Chicago Ave., hosts about 90,000 visitors each year.

The guided tour we took was a bit cheek-by-jowl (we mean that literally, too; the spaces are small and the tour groups are tightly scheduled) and was geared toward anecdotal tid-bits about Mr. Wright's family life. The tour guide was well-informed and an engaging speaker, but we had expected a more in-depth discourse about the overall influence of Mr. Wright's architecture.

Despite his third or fourth visit in 20 years, one of us (Neil) had forgotten the significance of this particular Wright structure. As the tour illustrates, the home and studio encapsulate Mr. Wright's early evolution as an architect of revolutionary domestic space. The tour starts with a rather typical early twentieth-century shingle dwelling, replete with fussy interior embellishments, then begins to encounter Wright nuances more in keeping with his signature innovations. There seemed to be a billion different reasons for the smallness of the spaces - everything from Mr. Wright's small stature to his supposed belief in womb-like enclosures.

With or without Mr. Wright, Oak Park is a pretty interesting place anyway. Although Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kettlestrings (sounds like a name made up by either Dickens or W.C. Fields) are credited with being the first permanent settlers, in 1837, Oak Park was not officially incorporated until 1902, some 13 years after Frank Lloyd Wright moved to town. Its development from rural backwater to a Chicago suburb is attributable to the construction of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (1850) and the supposed desire of more affluent homeowners to put some distance between themselves and the City of Chicago following the fire of 1871.

If someone likes Wright-inspired stuff, prairie school doodads, and arts-and-crafts reproductions, the gift shop and bookstore at the home and studio is the place to shop. It is well-stocked with quality merchandise and a very nice selection of books about Wright, as well as related material about the Prairie School and the Arts and Crafts movements. The gift shop and bookstore occupies what once was Mr. Wright's garage and is accessible without having to take (and pay for) a tour of the home and studio. Coincidentally, while visiting the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Ind. (see our RoundTable installment of Oct. 17), the Guys saw a very snappy, restored Auburn roadster once owned by Mr. Wright. Just how groovy was this guy?

There are other organized architecture walking tours, but we chose a stroll along Forest Avenue to take in the various Wright residences at our own pace. The mixing of late 19th-century Victorian and Queen Anne residences with early 20th century Wright structures raises some interesting questions. The presence of radically different design elements along Forest Avenue struck us as funny: Did the staid avenue residents complain about "those Bolsheviks" with their weird houses?

In addition to Mr. Wright's "native son" stature in Oak Park, there is that other guy, Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) who is memorialized by his birthplace at 339 N. Oak Park Ave., and Museum at 200 N. Oak Park Ave. The creator of Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) lived in Oak Park for a long time. And modern dance practitioner Doris Humphrey (1895-1958) was born there, as were comedians Bob Newhart (1929- ) and Betty White (1921- ).

A visitor not already fatigued by the residual presences of Wright and Hemingway, could embark on an extensive architectural walking tour of Oak Park and nearby River Forest where something in the vicinity of 63 structures by various well-known architects (Wright included) can be viewed. The works of George Maher, William Drummond, John Van Bergen, Vernon Watson and Thomas Tallmadge (to name a few) are well-documented.  All in all, Oak Park has tastefully turned residential architecture into a cottage industry.

Lunch in Oak Park proved to be more of a challenge than looking at architecture. One or two interesting places beckoned, but were not open until dinner time. A recommended bistro named for a famous writer proved to be disappointing.  On our second foray into Oak Park, the Guys went to Winberie's at Lake and Oak Park.  The atmosphere was neutral, but the service was good and the prices very reasonable.

By car, the drive to Oak Park is not too arduous, but for less hassle, the CTA Green Line stops at Oak Park
Avenue and downtown, both just a five- or six-block walk to the home and studio, with great architecture to see along the way.

The authors maintain a free website, getaway-chicago.com, which offers recommended outings to nearby destinations, that are often over-looked, but of genuine interest and delight.

Evanston Children's Choir Performs Country Music
(But the audience has to figure out the countries)

By Jeff Balch

Gary Geiger of the Evanston Children's Choir directs a rehearsal for the choir's Dec. 16 concert at Alice Millar Chapel.

Besides being music of traditional celebration, the songs "Happy Kwanzaa," "Noel, Noel," "Bidi Bom," "Troika," and "Riu, Riu, Chiu" have another thing in common: These five songs, rooted in five different cultures, will be performed by the Evanston Children's Choir at its fifth annual multicultural holiday concert, along with other songs from around the world.

The free concert, to be held at 4 p.m. on Dec. 16, will take place at Alice Millar Chapel, Sheridan Road at Chicago Avenue.  It is the third in a series of local performances by the choir. They sang earlier this week at the Harold Washington Library, and at the Robert Crown Center, in conjunction with the annual presentation of "Nutcracker on Ice."

"We were born about five years ago," said founder and conductor Gary Geiger. "I had been a pianist for the Chicago Children's Choir since 1996, and I was growing out of my position as a choir accompanist. I had felt determined to learn everything I could about every aspect of running a choir and start my own  group."

Mr. Geiger contacted a former colleague from Northwestern, Rick Ferguson, in 2001, having heard about Mr. Ferguson's small music school in Evanston, the Musical Offering. "Actually I looked him up to try to sell him some of my books of original piano music for his students," Mr. Geiger explained. "I sold him a couple  books, and on a whim I asked if the Musical Offering had a children's choir, and he said no. Before I could even think, I heard myself ask, 'Do you want one?'

"So in 2002 we announced the founding of the Musical Offering Children's  Choir ... and three kids showed up for the first try-out and rehearsal. But the  next week seven kids came, and I thought, wow, 133 percent growth in one week! Then the third week we were back down to five."

But by the following year a core group of ten was in place, and it soon grew to 17 - and all 17 returned in 2004. "A 100 percent return rate," marveled Mr. Geiger. "That just doesn't happen. Plus, we quickly added about 10 more kids on top of that. And over the course of that year we  started to sound good."

The group has grown steadily since then.  Total membership now exceeds sixty  children, necessitating a division into a Main Choir and a Junior Choir.

Both choirs will perform on Dec. 16.

"The songs that we sing are beautiful," said Eliza McDaniel, a choir member since age six. "We all sing with joy because
Gary sometimes is a little crazy and funny and we all start to laugh. I really like 'Old Dan Tucker' with the stomping and clapping."

"[The choir] raises self-esteem," said Kathy Byron, mother of a member. "My daughter is obtaining a love for music,
exposure to many diverse musical styles, the great satisfaction of being part of a successful group - one voice contributing
to make beautiful music."

Languages featured in the choir's songs include Spanish, French, Swahili, Hebrew, and Russian, as well as English.

The upcoming concert will feature guest artist Meret Fon-Revutzsky, a flutist with the Musical Institute of Chicago, who has also performed with Concertante di Chicago and the Rockford Symphony.

RoundTable Artist's Weekend Features Beth Steffen

Beth Steffen, a self-taught artist who works primarily in oils, will be featured at the Dec. 21-23 RoundTable Artist's weekend at the Frame Warehouse, 814 Dempster St.  

 

After spending many years painting and teaching language in Bordeaux, France, Beth returned to Evanston, where she has continued to teach and paint. At present she is extending her observation of her subjects by working in thematic series. Each subject is chosen for its design and the way it plays in visual memory - for example, a reflected image in a window.

Her fascination with light and reflection has led her to choose the chandelier through the ages as her latest motif.

There will be a wine and cheese reception on Dec. 21 from 7-9 p.m. at the Frame Warehouse.

BOOK REVIEW

"Red Rover "

A Book Review By Sue Brooke

"Red Rover," by Deirdre McNamer, is a haunting novel spanning the lives of three boys who were raised on the Montana plains in the 1930s. Brothers Aiden and Neil, with miles separating them from any other playmates, became best friends, often to riding across the unfenced prairie, pretending to be gauchos. In another part of the state Roland Taliaferro is struggling against poverty and his drunken father's lack of approval.

Just before the United State's entry into World War II, Aiden and Roland meet in law school and become friends, sharing an ambition to join the FBI. They are young and idealistic and want to do heroic things for the war effort. Younger brother Neil becomes a fighter pilot, flying over Saipan. Roland becomes a finger-print expert with the FBI in New York. Aiden volunteers for hazardous duty in Argentina, hunting down Nazi sympathizers
for the FBI.

Aiden becomes disillusioned before long, writing back to Roland. "If the FBI, the Nazis, the Church, the Argentinian
despot, and the American industrialists agree on a common enemy - well, then, we might have some problems. If they agree that the Communist is the worst enemy, then we might have a nightmare of hidden collaborations." Then the war ends, bringing the three men home. In 1946 a frail and sick Aiden dies of a shotgun blast. At the time it is ruled an accident and considered a possible suicide.

In 2003, Neil and Roland meet once again, and the past begins to unravel. This book is beautifully written, bringing to life townspeople during the Depression, when the world seemed simple and uncluttered. 

In Missoula, Mont., everyone was connected in some way, either by knowing someone directly or finding common friends and acquaintances. Everyone was awed by Lindbergh, who had dared to cross the Atlantic. J. Edgar Hoover was after people like Al Capone. Little boys could be Junior G Men. There were the good guys and the bad guys. This wonderful little novel brings to life those innocent times and articulates the despair as that innocence flows away.

Brian's Family Movie Picks

Here are some movies that families can enjoy over the holidays - without a lot of under-breath muttering and gnashing of teeth.

"Parenthood" - (1989) Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen are terrific in Ron Howard's family comedy as a middle-class couple trying to raise their children the best they can. Kids do not always act the way parents would hope, and parents cannot cure all ills. None of this means that a family is dysfunctional or that it lacks love. Also stars Diane Wiest, Rick Moranis, Jason Robards, Martha Plimpton and Keanu Reeves in perhaps his funniest role.

"The Princess Bride" - (1987) A story within a story. As Grandpa (Peter Falk) reads a story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage), the child envisions the magical tale of a villainous prince (Chris Sarandon), a heroic stable boy (Cary Elwes) and a beautiful princess (Robin Wright Penn). Adventure and comedy propelled this movie to classic status. Also stars Christopher Guest, Andre the Giant, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal and Mandy Patinkin as the unforgettable Inigo Montoya.

"Monster House" -  (2006)
Plenty of kids grew up in a neighborhood that had at the end of the block a creepy, dilapidated house with a cantankerous old man (voiced here by Steve Buscemi) whose only communication with children was to yell, "Get off of my lawn!"  Some spooky moments are offset by humor, adventure and stunning animation. Every boy dreams of saving the day, and DJ (Mitchell Musso) may get his chance. Voice actors include Fred Willard, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Lee, Kevin James, Nick Cannon and Jon Heder.
Which brings us to ...

"Napoleon Dynamite" -  (2004) Jon Heder plays one of the most memorable of recent screen characters, a geeky yet likeable teen who sets out to be his own man, regardless of what others think. Writer/director Jared Hess's comedy, set
in the farmlands of Idaho, has a colorful cast of unforgettable characters: Uncle Rico, Pedro, Kip, Rex and LaFawnduh.

"Gremlins" - (1984) Not for the little ones, but perfect for teenagers groaning over the prospect of being forced to watch a more traditional holiday film ("It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street," for example) with their parents. When Billy Peltzer's (Zach Galligan) dad buys him an unusual pet for Christmas, it's time to learn the three rules and follow them. When the rules are broken, it is up to
Billy, Kate (Phoebe Cates), Pete (Corey Feldman) and Gizmo (a cute ball of fur voiced by Howie Mandel) to save the
town from a mob of mischievous little creatures.