Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict (FIC Ben)

When her father's political activities threaten their small tenant farm in Ireland, Clara Kelley is sent to America to find a job and send whatever money she can back home.  Upon her arrival in Philadelphia and without a job, she answers a call for "Clara Kelley" only to find that she has mistakenly taken the place of another woman from Ireland with the same name.  Determined to help her family, Clara jumps at the opportunity that presents itself to her.  And ends up in Pittsburgh as a lady's maid to Mrs. Carnegie, the mother of famous industrialist Andrew Carnegie.

Thrust into a world that is completely foreign to her, Clara becomes the perfect lady's maid.  She must keep the secret of her real origins in order to earn money and help her family. Always with her is the constant fear that her lie will be discovered.  In spite of her efforts, Clara is drawn to Andrew Carnegie and finds they have much in common.  But can she reconcile her sympathy with immigrants and the working poor with the ambition of Carnegie?

This book lays the groundwork for Andrew Carnegie's future philanthropy.  In a note from the author, she explains that history has not provided a clear reason for why, by the time he died, Carnegie had given away his entire fortune - to the building of free public libraries, for one.  Whether it was because of a forbidden relationship, as this book portrays, is unclear.  But why not?

Clara is a likable character and I felt for both her ambition and her worry about her family.  Andrew Carnegie and his rise to wealth, along with his personal ambition, are also well drawn.  I enjoyed the book for a (fictional) look at man whose name I've known all my life but about whom I knew very little.

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser 921 Wilder Fra

Ostensibly a biography of the famous author, this book is really a look at not only Wilder's life but also the times in which she lived.  It is the story of her parents, Charles and Caroline, her sisters, Mary, Carrie and Grace, and her beloved husband, Almanzo.  But it is also the story of her daughter Rose and their relationship - sometimes loving but often contentious.

Interwoven into all of these stories is the story of how the United States grew and changed during the lifespan of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The author's explanation of social and cultural changes is carefully interwoven with the lives of Laura and those who surround her.  These explanations help explain many of Laura's attitudes and opinions.

Loaded with information, this book took me awhile to read.  The portrait of Laura Ingalls Wilder isn't always a nice one but ultimately I found myself liking the real person and not the fictional version I grew up with.  Her daughter, Rose, doesn't come across as very likable and often not very nice to her mother.  Still, according to the author, there was no denying the bond between mother and daughter.

At the end of her life, swamped with letters from an adoring public, Laura often found herself unable to respond to each as personally as she would have liked.  One quote that she used often was this:  "The most valuable thing for life never changes by time or place - it is to be honest and cheerful, to find happiness in what you have, and to have courage in hardships."  Words for all of us to live by.

This book was well worth the time it took me to read it and left me with a new perspective on someone I thought I knew well.

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Endurance A Year In Space: A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly 629.45 Kel

I loved this memoir.  Scott Kelly's story is pretty amazing. Growing up he struggled in school and he seemed destined to fail in life as far as education goes.  Amazingly it was a book that changed his life.  When he read the book The Right Stuff, which tells the story of the Mercury astronauts and the beginning of the space program, he had his dream.  And with hard work and determination he succeeded.

The book invites us into the world of living a year in space which was fascinating.  We also learn the back story of how he ended up fulfilling his dream.  Over the years I have seen videos and stories about space travel but this book is a bit more explicit!

From the trip to Russia for take off to the chores they have to do in order to keep their quarters clean and safe I was totally drawn in.

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