AROUNDTOWN

06 DECEMBER 2010

Grog/Mulled WineThere are a number of mulled wines and prepared grogs imported into the United States for the holiday season, but you can make your own. Add a splash of brandy (try Korbel XS, a citrus-infused brandy), cinnamon sticks, orange or apple slices and perhaps a touch of nutmeg and cloves to an inexpensive red wine. Heat it on the stove for a fun and festive drink. —Tammy Wanchena

Here We Come a-WassailingWarm up your holidays with this suggestion from Eden Prairie Liquor.

DRINKS

The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia KimIn this coming-of-age story from Korea, young Najin finds the strength to forge her own destiny in a world where she has to

choose between an education and the traditional path of a woman. Set against the backdrop of Korea in the first half of the 20th century, Najin grows from a girl into a woman as her country struggles with the horrors of occupation and war.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton MistryIt is the mid-1970s, and the government of India has just declared a state of emergency. Four very different individuals

are thrown together in a crowded urban apartment, each person with a compelling history of sorrow and upheaval. They live a chaotic life together, moving from distrust to friendship, eventually learning to “maintain a fine balance between hope and despair.”

Pearl of China by Anchee MinThis novel tells the story of acclaimed novelist Pearl Buck’s life in China as told through the eyes of a

fictional childhood friend named Willow. As the 20th century unfolds, the girls form a bond that outlasts the violence of the Boxer Rebellion, a romantic rivalry and, ultimately, the distance created by religious persecution and communism. A fascinating blend of historical figures and fictional characters. —Sarah Garbis, librarian, Hennepin County Library–Eden Prairie

READS

After a successful but stressful career in investment banking in New York, Eden Prairie’s Anna Sabiston swapped commerce for clean. Sabiston operates the only EcoMaids franchise in the state, providing residential eco-friendly cleaning services. She offers these suggestions for cleaning more green:

Swap reusable microfiber cleaning cloths (or even old, torn up T-shirts) for paper towels.

Replace scented air fresheners with houseplants that naturally freshen the air, such as chrysanthemums, English ivy, spider plants and Boston ferns.

Clean your microwave with a simple solution of baking soda in two parts vinegar to one part water.

Visit ecomaids.com/minneapolis for more information. —SA

Clean Goes GreenTips from EcoMaids owner Anna Sabistan.

ENVIRONMENT

Book Picks | Travel to other places without leaving your armchair with suggestions from an E.P. librarian.

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SWM1210.at.2lh.indd 6 11/22/10 10:55:30 AM