Not for Sale by David Batstone

Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade-- and How We Can Fight It, David Batstone. New York: HarperCollins e-books, 2007. 228 pps.


Not for Sale talks about the slave trade, a.k.a. human trafficking. In the intro, the author admitted that he had dined at a particular restaurant in Berkeley frequently-- 
     [the case covered in Slaves of Berkeley by Tim Huddleston, reviewed at: http://sapphoqreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/slaves-of-berkeley-by-tim-huddleston.html ]--
without the realization that the imported help from India were part of the labor trafficking done by the rich and well-respected owner.

Chapters cover Cambodia, Thailand, South Asia, Uganda, Europe, Peru, and the United States. Of particular interest to me was the narrative about the child soldiers of Uganda and the woman in Peru who was sheltering street kids. The Lord's Revolutionary Army takes children as it will and forces them into fighting. Once the pressure in Uganda got to be too much, their headquarters was moved to Sudan. I was disgusted to learn that since the U.S.A. does not consider Uganda to be a politically important [to the goals of the United States], nothing has been done by our interfering country in a case where something ought to be done. Lucy Borja of Peru got her start in child trafficking work when she offered shelter to two street boys. She is a true hera. Also mentioned is Ma'am Anna of Florida and the work that she is doing there.

sapphoq reviews says: This inspiring book gives a solid understanding of human trafficking and the evil that people do to each other in the name of greed. Definitely a keeper. In order to change the system, we have to create a meaningful dialogue while disregarding our personal comfort zones and learn how to observe our environment in order to be able to identify possible victims of human trafficking hiding in plain sight around us. No one is a possession. Highly recommended.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto, Ann Patchett.  New York: Harper-Collins, 2001. e-book, 265 pps.

Bel Canto is an excellent book.  I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did.  From the first moment, I was captivated by the almost lyrical language and the characters in the grand room of the vice president in a South American country.  There is a Japanese man whose birthday it is, his translator, an opera singer, a pianist, and the rest of the folks in the room gathered together.  Most of them are strangers to each other, drawn together by fate.  Suddenly, a bunch of militia who are barely out of childhood and their three generals burst in.

The militia are from impoverished jungle settlements.  They speak Quechua and a patois of Quechua and Spanish.  They take over the party.  Unfortunately for them, the object of their kidnapping-- the President-- neglected to attend the party.  He had chosen instead to stay home that night and watch his favorite soap opera.

The hostages represent a mixture of languages.  The translator is the only one who can communicate with all of the other hostages and with the militia.  There is a prolonged standoff.  During that time, the hostages and the militia develop into an awkward, uneasy community.  Friendships are made and romance develops out of the enforced intimacy.

sapphoq reviews says:  I thoroughly enjoyed Bel Canto.  Ann Patchett did a fine job with the storyline and with the characters, emotional tones, and dialogues throughout this prize-winning novel.  The setting and writing style puts Bel Canto above what is usually found in chick lit.  Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to read something not based in American culture.  Although I suspect that women would enjoy this book more than most men would, I cannot help but think that men who skip this offering are missing out.