Two Books

The first book today is Hail to the Chef, by Julie Hyzy.  This is the second book in the White House Chef Mystery Series, and I really enjoyed it.  I love to cook, and I thought it was very interesting to read about the behind-the-scenes operations at the White House.  Not just the cooking, but the butlers, florists, electricians, and of course the Secret Service.  The situations were hokey and far-fetched, but a very entertaining read.

The second book I read was Firehouse, by David Halberstam.  This is a true story of Firehouse 40/35 in New York City, that lost 12 of the 13 firemen who responded to the 9/11 disaster.  The book describes each fireman, their families, their path to becoming a fireman, and their strengths and weaknesses. It describes what they know about the fate of these men and talks about their memorial services, the recovery of their bodies and how their families handled their loss.

One of the best things about the book is the description of the life of a fireman.  They really are an extended family, and many of them are 2nd or 3rd generation firemen.  It was a quick read, very informative and not too morbid.