Category Archives: Uncategorized

Barbara Jean Kobe Munger Tourville, the eldest daughter of John “Jack” Kobe and Eloise “Marie” Barber Kobe, was born on September 21, 1928, in Wadena, Minnesota. Jack, an immigrant from Slovenia, grew up and worked in the iron mines of … Continue reading →

A Promised Land by President Barack Obama (2020. Crown. ISBN 9781524763169) I’ll be upfront. I am a Liberal reviewing a memoir penned by one of my favorite Liberal politicians. But I’m not here to evaluate President Obama’s politics (though I deplore … Continue reading →

                                                            EULOGY FOR SCOTT MORK Longtime friend, Scott Mork, passed away on September 12, 2023, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Many of you likely didn’t know Scott. The first thing I’ll say about Scott is that he was an Eagle Scout, attaining … Continue reading →

MM: Where do you hang your hat, the place you call home? How is that location connected to Finnish American or Finnish culture, heritage, and history? SS: I don’t actually remember being born, but I (never) “grew up” in Palo … Continue reading →

                                    INTERVIEW OF NATALIE SALMINEN RUDE MM: Your last name, Salminen, is definitely Finnish. NR: My Finnish heritage stems from my father. My great-grandfather, Alfred, moved from Vaasa, Finland to Toronto in 1903. He fled Finland as a young husband … Continue reading →

Strangers in a Strange Land by John B. Simon (2019. Hamilton. ISBN 978-0-7618-7149-1) I had never heard of this author or this title until I found myself invited to be part of a panel at this year’s Finn Fest in my … Continue reading →

The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith (2017. Audible. ISBN 978-1439140246) So, this was another book I “cheated” on as a book club assignment. I listened to most of this while walking the track at the local YMCA and finished … Continue reading →

Found on Goodreads: “INCREDIBLE book. As a Minnesota gal with Finnish ancestry and relatives from Michigan that moved to Minnesota. It felt as though this could have been one of my ancestors. Beautiful storytelling and realistic representations of life during … Continue reading →

The Kids Are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony (2020. Park Row. ISBN 978-0-7783-0874-4) My title says it all. I did not toss this novel in the trash as I did one of John Irving’s worst. I did not stop reading … Continue reading →

Pedaling on Purpose by Ken Rogers and Steve Anderson (2008. Inspirit. ISBN 978-1-60461-634-7) Another “read” loaned to me by my friend, Ronaldo. It’s actually not his book but one he borrowed from mutual friends. The book is personally signed to those … Continue reading →