I am behind on logging what I've read or listened to.
Forsyte Saga, by John Galsworthy. I read this book after my London visit, on the recommendation of a friend. It was good. It took a little work to get into, in part because there are so many characters in the Forsyte family. The family tree at the beginning was helpful, which meant I spent a lot of time flipping back to it to figure out who was whom. Ultimately, most of the characters introduced in the first couple of chapters are mostly minor characters, and the only ones who are important are those who are directly tied to Soames or to one of the many Jolyons--as in three generations of Jolyons, including two Jolyons in one generation.
Either way, about two-thirds of the way through the first "book", I started to get into it, and by the interlude, I was hooked. It wasn't the best book I've read, but it was a good soap opera, well-written with keen social observations.
Your Brain on Music. I don't remember who wrote it. It's rare that I listen to abridged books, but this was probably the right choice here. It was very scientific and technical, but it gave me new appreciation for music in general and the wonder, the miracle of the human brain. That the simple ability to keep tempo is something that takes a very sophisticated software program to do. The fact that most of us actually have something akin to perfect pitch is rather amazing. I enjoyed it, although I can't say I understood all of the technical stuff. My thanks to the author for explaining how jazz works.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. This book regularly makes to the list of banned books, and I now understand how wrong those who object to the book are. Yes, the "N" word appears pretty frequently, and yes, it involves a runaway slave. But of all the characters in the book, Jim comes off as the purest one in the book, bright, resourceful, sympathetic, and caring. I sound trite when I say that Twain's contrast of Jim, as a runaway slave, and Huck as a runaway boy, both of whom society has mostly failed, is pure genius. His understanding of the way boys think makes the book fun. And Twain's points about morality are spot on. The twang of the narrator got to be a little annoying, but after all, the key thing is the story. Two thumbs way up!
So, what am I listening to now? The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Good start so far. We'll see. As for reading, I'm working on Georges, by Alexander Dumas. I didn't realize that Dumas' father was bi-racial, and that consequently, he is as well. The main character in the book is bi-racial. Should be interesting.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Finally. . . !
Done at last, done at last, thank God almighty, I'm done at last.
That's the way I feel about The Brothers K, a book that now holds the record for most time between beginning and finishing this audio book. I started this book in mid-August and finally finished it about a week ago. I never did find a character that I cared about. Yes, there were themes and lessons about a family that is just enough dysfunctional to be more akin to the typical family. Perhaps, if I had been born a few years older so that the 60s and Vietnam war was a more significant part of my life. But I haven't lived through the 1700s or 1800s at all, and I've enjoyed quite a few books set during those centuries. Either way, I just couldn't relate to this. I finished it, so my record of having finished every audio book I began is intact, but I'm at a loss as to why so many people rated this book so highly.
In terms of books read, while in Spain, I finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I loved it. Not as much as Pride and Prejudice, but well enough. Fanny Price was a bit passive in many ways, but like so many of Jane Austen's lead female characters, she was made with a core of steel that precluded her from compromising her values. The Mrs. Norton character was quite a masterful stroke. I'm a little freaked out by Fanny's marriage to the cousin with whom she was raised like brother and sister. All in all, I enjoyed the story.
Current reading/listening.
Reading: The Forsyte Saga, by John Gallsworthy
Listening: Your Brain on Music.
That's the way I feel about The Brothers K, a book that now holds the record for most time between beginning and finishing this audio book. I started this book in mid-August and finally finished it about a week ago. I never did find a character that I cared about. Yes, there were themes and lessons about a family that is just enough dysfunctional to be more akin to the typical family. Perhaps, if I had been born a few years older so that the 60s and Vietnam war was a more significant part of my life. But I haven't lived through the 1700s or 1800s at all, and I've enjoyed quite a few books set during those centuries. Either way, I just couldn't relate to this. I finished it, so my record of having finished every audio book I began is intact, but I'm at a loss as to why so many people rated this book so highly.
In terms of books read, while in Spain, I finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I loved it. Not as much as Pride and Prejudice, but well enough. Fanny Price was a bit passive in many ways, but like so many of Jane Austen's lead female characters, she was made with a core of steel that precluded her from compromising her values. The Mrs. Norton character was quite a masterful stroke. I'm a little freaked out by Fanny's marriage to the cousin with whom she was raised like brother and sister. All in all, I enjoyed the story.
Current reading/listening.
Reading: The Forsyte Saga, by John Gallsworthy
Listening: Your Brain on Music.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Reading, but Not Really Listening
Reading . . .
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. I loved this book! It took a long time to read--I started it while I was in London in August, but it was well worth it. A suspenseful tale of revenge and transformation, as Edmond Dantes, wronged early in the book, learns that no matter how much wealth or intelligence, man is ill-equipped to mete out justice the way only God can. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. As a human, there was a sense of satisfaction as the different characters saw their worlds collapse around them. But for me, there was also a sense of profound sadness as the cost Edmond's plan's inflicted on him became abudantly clear and the cost he inflicted on the bratty Edward starkly made the point of man's imperfection. The action story was good, but the moral lessons blew me away.
The book A Prisoner of Birth inspired me to read this book. I wasn't too terribly impressed with Prisoner, and as it turns out, it truly was a very pale imitation of TCOMC. The best thing I can now say about Prisoner is that I might never have read TCOMC, but for Prisoner.
How to Read the Bible and Enjoy It, by Skip Heitzig. This book is my evidence of my role as a narrator. I read this book to help someone who needed an audio copy of the book. Reading a "book on tape" is hard work! I didn't have characters to create or voices to do, but to read clearly and try to convey my understanding of what the author meant was a bit of a challenge. I learned a little along the way as well, such as that it would take less than 100 hours to read the whole Bible, actually about 70 according to the author. He also suggested an alternative to reading it straight through: using a weekly schedule where one would read the first 5 books each Monday; the Gospels each Tuesday, the prophets each Wed., etc. This would provide some variety to reading it straight through. Heitzig also suggested how to read a passage, including observing the text, interpreting the text, and applying the text. He suggested a series of questions that one should ask in engaging in these three aspects of reading the Bible.
This is not a book that I would have picked up on my own, but it was a relatively quick read and it inspired me to spend more time reading the Bible.
. . . But Not Really Listening
I've been listening to The Brothers K forever! I started this book when I was in London, and still have listened to only about 17 hours of the book. I just can't get into it; I'm missing the story line, such that it is. There are lots of philosophical points made in this rather dysfunctional family, but I have yet to find a character that I really care about. I'm determined to finish slogging through this book. It may be awhile.
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. I loved this book! It took a long time to read--I started it while I was in London in August, but it was well worth it. A suspenseful tale of revenge and transformation, as Edmond Dantes, wronged early in the book, learns that no matter how much wealth or intelligence, man is ill-equipped to mete out justice the way only God can. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. As a human, there was a sense of satisfaction as the different characters saw their worlds collapse around them. But for me, there was also a sense of profound sadness as the cost Edmond's plan's inflicted on him became abudantly clear and the cost he inflicted on the bratty Edward starkly made the point of man's imperfection. The action story was good, but the moral lessons blew me away.
The book A Prisoner of Birth inspired me to read this book. I wasn't too terribly impressed with Prisoner, and as it turns out, it truly was a very pale imitation of TCOMC. The best thing I can now say about Prisoner is that I might never have read TCOMC, but for Prisoner.
How to Read the Bible and Enjoy It, by Skip Heitzig. This book is my evidence of my role as a narrator. I read this book to help someone who needed an audio copy of the book. Reading a "book on tape" is hard work! I didn't have characters to create or voices to do, but to read clearly and try to convey my understanding of what the author meant was a bit of a challenge. I learned a little along the way as well, such as that it would take less than 100 hours to read the whole Bible, actually about 70 according to the author. He also suggested an alternative to reading it straight through: using a weekly schedule where one would read the first 5 books each Monday; the Gospels each Tuesday, the prophets each Wed., etc. This would provide some variety to reading it straight through. Heitzig also suggested how to read a passage, including observing the text, interpreting the text, and applying the text. He suggested a series of questions that one should ask in engaging in these three aspects of reading the Bible.
This is not a book that I would have picked up on my own, but it was a relatively quick read and it inspired me to spend more time reading the Bible.
. . . But Not Really Listening
I've been listening to The Brothers K forever! I started this book when I was in London, and still have listened to only about 17 hours of the book. I just can't get into it; I'm missing the story line, such that it is. There are lots of philosophical points made in this rather dysfunctional family, but I have yet to find a character that I really care about. I'm determined to finish slogging through this book. It may be awhile.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Busy, busy
Travel is good for the reading person. As a result of my recent trip to England, and for that matter, before, I have finished a number of books.
Listened to:
The Art of Racing in the Rain. An okay book, written in first person, by a dog. I chose this book because it was described as touching, funny, and capable of taking the steam out of death. There were a few laugh out loud lines, but not many. I suppose it was touching because there is a death. But the word that most describes this book is predictable. It was clear that Denny, the protagonist, would face a child custody challenge and what grounds there would be for the custody fight. It was clear that there would be a happy ending. So it wasn't a waste of time, but the book was like a snack. Good at the time, but not fulfilling in the end.
Read:
Of Human Bondage, by W. Somerset Maugham. Good from start to finish, and so well written, that I found myself shouting out loud to Philip, the main character, and wanting to tell him to run from that skank, Mildred. I rejoiced when Philip found the Altheny family, who provided him a model of a realistically functional family. Life is tough, and maybe we are limited by our human-ness, but doing what we can to live a rich, full, and good life seems to be an elegant statement of the meaning of life.
It was particularly fun to read this book while I was in London, since the book is set there and Maugham makes reference to many London landmarks, including Picadilly Circus, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, the Victoria station, etc., many of which I happened to visit.
Driving with Dead People, by Monica Holloway. The best description of this book: self-indulgent. I can appreciate the painful childhood that Monica recounts in this memoir, including the abusive father and the molestation. I can admire Holloway from having come through the fire and survived mostly intact. And if writing down her story was therapeutic, than all the better. But why this story was published and marketed is beyond me. If there was something more than the message described above, I missed it. Holloway has a compelling story, but nothing that merited sharing with the general public. The publisher's description was nothing short of deceptive.
Listened to:
The Art of Racing in the Rain. An okay book, written in first person, by a dog. I chose this book because it was described as touching, funny, and capable of taking the steam out of death. There were a few laugh out loud lines, but not many. I suppose it was touching because there is a death. But the word that most describes this book is predictable. It was clear that Denny, the protagonist, would face a child custody challenge and what grounds there would be for the custody fight. It was clear that there would be a happy ending. So it wasn't a waste of time, but the book was like a snack. Good at the time, but not fulfilling in the end.
Read:
Of Human Bondage, by W. Somerset Maugham. Good from start to finish, and so well written, that I found myself shouting out loud to Philip, the main character, and wanting to tell him to run from that skank, Mildred. I rejoiced when Philip found the Altheny family, who provided him a model of a realistically functional family. Life is tough, and maybe we are limited by our human-ness, but doing what we can to live a rich, full, and good life seems to be an elegant statement of the meaning of life.
It was particularly fun to read this book while I was in London, since the book is set there and Maugham makes reference to many London landmarks, including Picadilly Circus, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, the Victoria station, etc., many of which I happened to visit.
Driving with Dead People, by Monica Holloway. The best description of this book: self-indulgent. I can appreciate the painful childhood that Monica recounts in this memoir, including the abusive father and the molestation. I can admire Holloway from having come through the fire and survived mostly intact. And if writing down her story was therapeutic, than all the better. But why this story was published and marketed is beyond me. If there was something more than the message described above, I missed it. Holloway has a compelling story, but nothing that merited sharing with the general public. The publisher's description was nothing short of deceptive.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Book heard; book read
Listened to: A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffery Archer. Think fast: name one person whose life you could seamlessly assume without relatives or friends discovering the switch. That's part of the premise of this book. Amazingly, no one discovered that Danny, the protagonist, hadn't really died or that Sir Nick's life had been taken over by Danny until pretty late in the story.
The reviews on Audible were very good, and it was a decent story as long as you could suspend all belief. Danny, who entered prison basically illilterate, in a matter of months is reading Shakespeare. Yeah, right. A lawyer who fails to raise a critical piece of evidence or to do basic investigation, notwithstanding the assistance of his father, a supposed great jurist. Yeah right. I haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo, which inspired this book, but I suspect the TCOMC was a bit more believable.
I suppose, however, the prison scenes were accurate--after all, Lord Archer did spend a few years living that life. Would I recommend it? I suppose so, for light reading.
Book read: Final Exam by Dr. Pauline Chen. Ironically, I found this book on Audible, but chose to read it. What a well-written book by a transplant surgeon and Northwestern Med alum (I'm sure the NU connection did not influence my views of this book.) Her book is more a review of her experiences coming to terms with death as she progressed from a first year med student, working on her cadaver, through her residency, and the year she spent doing organ procurements, ending with her as an a fully-trained attending physician. She recounts many anecdotes of people in their dying days, including an aunt, with whom she was close. The anecdotes are interspersed with observations about herself, the patients, their families, and the other doctors who are involved. While in some ways, it's a bit macabre, it provides a fascinating look at life in the hospital and the true "final exam."
The only minor criticism: like all doctors, her ego shows at times.
The reviews on Audible were very good, and it was a decent story as long as you could suspend all belief. Danny, who entered prison basically illilterate, in a matter of months is reading Shakespeare. Yeah, right. A lawyer who fails to raise a critical piece of evidence or to do basic investigation, notwithstanding the assistance of his father, a supposed great jurist. Yeah right. I haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo, which inspired this book, but I suspect the TCOMC was a bit more believable.
I suppose, however, the prison scenes were accurate--after all, Lord Archer did spend a few years living that life. Would I recommend it? I suppose so, for light reading.
Book read: Final Exam by Dr. Pauline Chen. Ironically, I found this book on Audible, but chose to read it. What a well-written book by a transplant surgeon and Northwestern Med alum (I'm sure the NU connection did not influence my views of this book.) Her book is more a review of her experiences coming to terms with death as she progressed from a first year med student, working on her cadaver, through her residency, and the year she spent doing organ procurements, ending with her as an a fully-trained attending physician. She recounts many anecdotes of people in their dying days, including an aunt, with whom she was close. The anecdotes are interspersed with observations about herself, the patients, their families, and the other doctors who are involved. While in some ways, it's a bit macabre, it provides a fascinating look at life in the hospital and the true "final exam."
The only minor criticism: like all doctors, her ego shows at times.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Another to add to the list
Eats, Shoots and Leaves, by Lynn Truss. I've had this book for years. I think I bought it when Alex was still in high school. Well, everything in due time.
It was okay. Quick. I recall the reviews describing this book as entertaining for a book on punctuation. I did learn some things about apostrophes; confirmed my basic knowledge on commas; and laughed a bit at some of the cute-isms in the book. I'm fully prepared to speak the King's English should I ever need to discuss the proper use of a period--oops, I mean a full stop, and it was a good refresher course on "inverted commas" bkn quotation marks on this side of the pond.
And I'm ready should "?!" ever be the clue on Jeopardy! (What is an interobang?)
Now to finish The Brain That Changes Itself (reading) and Prisoner of Birth (listening to on iPod).
It was okay. Quick. I recall the reviews describing this book as entertaining for a book on punctuation. I did learn some things about apostrophes; confirmed my basic knowledge on commas; and laughed a bit at some of the cute-isms in the book. I'm fully prepared to speak the King's English should I ever need to discuss the proper use of a period--oops, I mean a full stop, and it was a good refresher course on "inverted commas" bkn quotation marks on this side of the pond.
And I'm ready should "?!" ever be the clue on Jeopardy! (What is an interobang?)
Now to finish The Brain That Changes Itself (reading) and Prisoner of Birth (listening to on iPod).
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Another one bites the dust
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe, by Katrina Firlik. The book recounts the residency of a neurosurgeon, incorporating the stories of various patients with the things she discovered beyond simply the medical knowledge. Best part about the book, she explained the hierarchy of interns, jr. resident, sr. resident, and chief. She describes neurosurgeons as being particuarly competive, and she certainly seems to fit the bill--having made a snarky comment about Dr. Ben Carter, without identifying him specifically, who has accomplished significantly more in his career, thank you very much.
The anecdotes were interesting, the insight into all of the things neurosurgeons do (spine surgery, too) was appreciated. Towards the end, it got a little long, and she lost a little bit of cred as she described herself working essentially for the wealthiest of people. Wow. That's courageous.
It wasn't a waste of time, but when it was all said and done, I'm not sure I'd care to know the author beyond this book.
The anecdotes were interesting, the insight into all of the things neurosurgeons do (spine surgery, too) was appreciated. Towards the end, it got a little long, and she lost a little bit of cred as she described herself working essentially for the wealthiest of people. Wow. That's courageous.
It wasn't a waste of time, but when it was all said and done, I'm not sure I'd care to know the author beyond this book.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Oops! Another one remembered
I forgot that I did a buddy-read with BoilerBaby 3. She chose the book The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, by Julie Andrews Edwards bka Mary Poppins. What a wonderful book. I wish that I had been aware of it when my first two were younger.
Edwards tells a wonderfully fantastic story about three children and one old professor who set out to find the last Whangdoodle, a mystical creature that changes color, depending on his mood, and grows new houseslippers periodically. The story is filled with fantastic creatures like an Oinck, a Whifflebird, a High Behind Splintercat, and of course, the Flutterbyes. I wish I could travel by way of a Jolly Boat, powered by jokes, with a machine that magically creates any kind of ice cream treat one could imagine. In between the lush descriptions, Edwards weaves lessons about the virtues all children should strive to develop: friendship, trust, compassion, perseverence, and most of all imagination. Plus there are bits of science and general knowledge thrown in for good measure.
I will have to remember to read this book with BoilerBaby 4 when he's of the right age.
Edwards tells a wonderfully fantastic story about three children and one old professor who set out to find the last Whangdoodle, a mystical creature that changes color, depending on his mood, and grows new houseslippers periodically. The story is filled with fantastic creatures like an Oinck, a Whifflebird, a High Behind Splintercat, and of course, the Flutterbyes. I wish I could travel by way of a Jolly Boat, powered by jokes, with a machine that magically creates any kind of ice cream treat one could imagine. In between the lush descriptions, Edwards weaves lessons about the virtues all children should strive to develop: friendship, trust, compassion, perseverence, and most of all imagination. Plus there are bits of science and general knowledge thrown in for good measure.
I will have to remember to read this book with BoilerBaby 4 when he's of the right age.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Another one read (yayy!)
Death Be Not Proud, by John Gunther. Something reminded me of this book not too long ago, and it just so happened that the Book Rack had a copy in good condition. I started this book when I was in high school. I was drawn to it then b/c it recounts the final months of a 17 year old boy, diagnosed with a brain tumor. While I identified with the Johnny Gunther because of his age, I simply was not ready, i.e. mature enough to read the book, so I didn't finish it.
Some 30 years later, I finished it. Now I identify with it as a parent. The horror, the tragedy of a life prematurely ended was heart-wrenching.
Reading about the medical aspects was a reminder of how far medical science has come. Johnny died in 1947. There were no CT scans or MRIs. Locating the tumor prior to an attempt to remove it was done solely with the use of x-ray. Non-experimental treatment consisted of removal of what could be removed and radiation. There was no chemotherapy. Mustard (as in mustard gas) seems to have been an early form of chemotherapy, but was still very much in the experimental stage. Various other treatments were tried in an attempt to save Johnny's life--a very severed diet that limited the fats and proteins a patient could eat may have played some role in staving off deaath for a time, but ultmately, there was so little knowledge.
Yet, in the past 60 years, despite all of the technological and scientific advances, glioblastoma multiformae is still an almost certain death sentence. Senator Kennedy was diagnosed with a glioma about a month ago, and although no one will say it explicitly, his obituary has essentially already been written. My former student Marina died of this affliction less than a year after she was diagnosed. Gliomas are still essentially incurable.
So, Johnny's father describes the grace and courage with which Johnnny faced his illness. I can't say death, because Johnny's parent never told him explicitly that he was dying--it was never clear if he knew. And that highlights another difference between now and then. Now, the conventional wisdom is to tell adults that they are dying and to not hide it from children. Johnny was close enough to legal adulthood that no doubt today, he would have been told of his impending death so that he could prepare in his own way.
Nonetheless, it is powerful book. Life is precious, and one should seek to live a life well, even if the alloted time is short. I understand why it has never been taken out of publication since its publication in 1949.
Some 30 years later, I finished it. Now I identify with it as a parent. The horror, the tragedy of a life prematurely ended was heart-wrenching.
Reading about the medical aspects was a reminder of how far medical science has come. Johnny died in 1947. There were no CT scans or MRIs. Locating the tumor prior to an attempt to remove it was done solely with the use of x-ray. Non-experimental treatment consisted of removal of what could be removed and radiation. There was no chemotherapy. Mustard (as in mustard gas) seems to have been an early form of chemotherapy, but was still very much in the experimental stage. Various other treatments were tried in an attempt to save Johnny's life--a very severed diet that limited the fats and proteins a patient could eat may have played some role in staving off deaath for a time, but ultmately, there was so little knowledge.
Yet, in the past 60 years, despite all of the technological and scientific advances, glioblastoma multiformae is still an almost certain death sentence. Senator Kennedy was diagnosed with a glioma about a month ago, and although no one will say it explicitly, his obituary has essentially already been written. My former student Marina died of this affliction less than a year after she was diagnosed. Gliomas are still essentially incurable.
So, Johnny's father describes the grace and courage with which Johnnny faced his illness. I can't say death, because Johnny's parent never told him explicitly that he was dying--it was never clear if he knew. And that highlights another difference between now and then. Now, the conventional wisdom is to tell adults that they are dying and to not hide it from children. Johnny was close enough to legal adulthood that no doubt today, he would have been told of his impending death so that he could prepare in his own way.
Nonetheless, it is powerful book. Life is precious, and one should seek to live a life well, even if the alloted time is short. I understand why it has never been taken out of publication since its publication in 1949.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Another one remembered
I guess I haven't been a total slacker about reading--just about recording.
Red Letter Christians by TonyCampolo. This came as a result of attending the New Baptist Celebration in Atlanta in February. Campolo spoke and of course, his book was available. I bit, I mean bought, and got him to autograph my book. The title comes from trying to live the Christian life and respond to the issues of the day based on the actual words of Jesus Christ, as often printed in red. It was a good reminder that the so-called Christian right has cornered the market on the Christian response to such issues. Sometimes Campolo's suggestions were simplistic or unrealistic, but it was thought provoking and provided another perspective on poverty, the Iraq war, and many other issues of the day.
Red Letter Christians by TonyCampolo. This came as a result of attending the New Baptist Celebration in Atlanta in February. Campolo spoke and of course, his book was available. I bit, I mean bought, and got him to autograph my book. The title comes from trying to live the Christian life and respond to the issues of the day based on the actual words of Jesus Christ, as often printed in red. It was a good reminder that the so-called Christian right has cornered the market on the Christian response to such issues. Sometimes Campolo's suggestions were simplistic or unrealistic, but it was thought provoking and provided another perspective on poverty, the Iraq war, and many other issues of the day.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
One forgotten; two finished
The forgotten book:
A Separate Peace, by John Knowles. Haunting. One moment of jealousy that can affect one the rest ofhis life. The will to live--or not--is force not measurable by the experts. (Read)
The finished books:
Better by Atul Gwande. Very good. A different perspective on the medical system, what's good and what's unbelievable in this world and in this country. Some things--like the Apgar score--so simple but yet something that made such a difference. The chapter on the bell curve, and the fact that most hospitals are just average, was eye-opening. I liked the tips at the end for being better:
1) Ask an unscripted question, to personalize the patient.
2) Don't complain.
3) Count something.
4) Write something for some audience.
5) Seek change; be an early adopter.
Very good book to read.
The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. I finished listening to the book. What a book that ultimately forces one to consider human nature, and the human coping mechanism. A fantastic story that questions the true nature of humans in stressful situations. We're used to cute animals with humanistic characteristics. Human characters that act more like animals--well that's another story. Good book.
A Separate Peace, by John Knowles. Haunting. One moment of jealousy that can affect one the rest ofhis life. The will to live--or not--is force not measurable by the experts. (Read)
The finished books:
Better by Atul Gwande. Very good. A different perspective on the medical system, what's good and what's unbelievable in this world and in this country. Some things--like the Apgar score--so simple but yet something that made such a difference. The chapter on the bell curve, and the fact that most hospitals are just average, was eye-opening. I liked the tips at the end for being better:
1) Ask an unscripted question, to personalize the patient.
2) Don't complain.
3) Count something.
4) Write something for some audience.
5) Seek change; be an early adopter.
Very good book to read.
The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. I finished listening to the book. What a book that ultimately forces one to consider human nature, and the human coping mechanism. A fantastic story that questions the true nature of humans in stressful situations. We're used to cute animals with humanistic characteristics. Human characters that act more like animals--well that's another story. Good book.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Can't believe how long it's been!
Books read:
Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James. I finally finished it. It was good, but hard b/c of long paragraphs and complex sentences. Disappointing in that Isabel decided to stay in a mistake of a marriage after passing on several that truly loved her.
Candide, Voltaire. I felt like such a philsophy-type person. I need to go back and read it and rethink some of the points made about human nature and the world, but I enjoyed it.
Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe. Sin and then repentance. That's the story in a nutshell of a woman who sleeps with one brother, marries another, passively tricks another man into marrying her, only to find out he's her half-brother, carries on with a married man, tricks another man into marrying her, engages in a life of thievery, earning the infamy of being one of the best in town, and eventually is caught and threatened with hanging. She repents, so that's good. But ultimately, after living a depraved life and facing hanging, repentance becomes easy. Plus, old age is sobering. She was 60 when she was finally caught. How voluntary is it when your starting to hear St. Pete beckoning.
My Stroke of Insight, by some brain specialist. She writes of her stroke, which she could understand as it was happening (she's a brain specialist), and of her recovery, and what she learned from it all. The first part, that described the operation of the brain, and the second part that described the stroke and the 8 year recovery were intriguing, particularly her descriptions of how she perceived the world (the lack of understanding color or boundaries) when limited to only her right brain. Towards the end, it got a little New Age-ish, and that was kind of a turn-off. The message is good: you can choose which part of your brain will dominate. She chose not be as sarcastic or to get as angry, but it was the presentation of the material that detracted from the quality of the end materials.
Books listened to:
The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin. Insight to the workings of the court, the personalities of the justices, and the influences on them. Who knew that Thomas is still bitter after all these years, but that yet one of his favorite clerks (not his own) is a lesbian. The insider's view of Casey v. Planned Parenthood was fascinating. Well worth the time.
Summer by Edith Wharton. It's Edith Wharton--I knew this couldn't end well. I didn't expect it to be disturbing. Llike a million other stories, young innocent girl is seduced by the worldly new guy in town, only to discover that he's become engaged to someone else. You know the drill: wine, dine, screw, knock up, leave. So what's disturbing? Upon finding that she's pregnant, Summer first returns to the mountains where she was born, but quickly learns that she can't really return to that home. Back to her caretaker, whom she ultimately marries. Yep, as in her adoptive father. A little incestuous? Not clear. He never consummates the marriage (at least not before the book ends), so maybe he just wanted to give her child a name and save her from the fate she would have suffered otherwise. Hmmm.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I was reluctant to select this book. A book about cathedral building? Come on. What a pleasant surprise! One part architecture, five parts soap opera. I could have done without the rape scenes, but it held my attention through all 40-some hours of audio.
World Without End by Ken Follett. Pillars was so good, I had to go with this sequel. There were some similarities, but enough differences that it was worth the time as well. The Black Death; life in the nunnery, star-crossed lovers, and so on.
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. An allegory about the life of Christian and his struggle to stay on the straight and narrow to make it to the Celestial City. After Christian abandons his wife, he suffers many trials and tribulations, but eventually makes it, inspiring her to set on one her own pilgrimage with her sons. In addition to the story, it's like a book-long Bible drill, challenging the reader or listener to remember the Bible verses from which Bunyan drew the story.
Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James. I finally finished it. It was good, but hard b/c of long paragraphs and complex sentences. Disappointing in that Isabel decided to stay in a mistake of a marriage after passing on several that truly loved her.
Candide, Voltaire. I felt like such a philsophy-type person. I need to go back and read it and rethink some of the points made about human nature and the world, but I enjoyed it.
Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe. Sin and then repentance. That's the story in a nutshell of a woman who sleeps with one brother, marries another, passively tricks another man into marrying her, only to find out he's her half-brother, carries on with a married man, tricks another man into marrying her, engages in a life of thievery, earning the infamy of being one of the best in town, and eventually is caught and threatened with hanging. She repents, so that's good. But ultimately, after living a depraved life and facing hanging, repentance becomes easy. Plus, old age is sobering. She was 60 when she was finally caught. How voluntary is it when your starting to hear St. Pete beckoning.
My Stroke of Insight, by some brain specialist. She writes of her stroke, which she could understand as it was happening (she's a brain specialist), and of her recovery, and what she learned from it all. The first part, that described the operation of the brain, and the second part that described the stroke and the 8 year recovery were intriguing, particularly her descriptions of how she perceived the world (the lack of understanding color or boundaries) when limited to only her right brain. Towards the end, it got a little New Age-ish, and that was kind of a turn-off. The message is good: you can choose which part of your brain will dominate. She chose not be as sarcastic or to get as angry, but it was the presentation of the material that detracted from the quality of the end materials.
Books listened to:
The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin. Insight to the workings of the court, the personalities of the justices, and the influences on them. Who knew that Thomas is still bitter after all these years, but that yet one of his favorite clerks (not his own) is a lesbian. The insider's view of Casey v. Planned Parenthood was fascinating. Well worth the time.
Summer by Edith Wharton. It's Edith Wharton--I knew this couldn't end well. I didn't expect it to be disturbing. Llike a million other stories, young innocent girl is seduced by the worldly new guy in town, only to discover that he's become engaged to someone else. You know the drill: wine, dine, screw, knock up, leave. So what's disturbing? Upon finding that she's pregnant, Summer first returns to the mountains where she was born, but quickly learns that she can't really return to that home. Back to her caretaker, whom she ultimately marries. Yep, as in her adoptive father. A little incestuous? Not clear. He never consummates the marriage (at least not before the book ends), so maybe he just wanted to give her child a name and save her from the fate she would have suffered otherwise. Hmmm.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I was reluctant to select this book. A book about cathedral building? Come on. What a pleasant surprise! One part architecture, five parts soap opera. I could have done without the rape scenes, but it held my attention through all 40-some hours of audio.
World Without End by Ken Follett. Pillars was so good, I had to go with this sequel. There were some similarities, but enough differences that it was worth the time as well. The Black Death; life in the nunnery, star-crossed lovers, and so on.
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. An allegory about the life of Christian and his struggle to stay on the straight and narrow to make it to the Celestial City. After Christian abandons his wife, he suffers many trials and tribulations, but eventually makes it, inspiring her to set on one her own pilgrimage with her sons. In addition to the story, it's like a book-long Bible drill, challenging the reader or listener to remember the Bible verses from which Bunyan drew the story.
Current reads/listens:
Reading: Better, by Atul Gwande. He wrote Complications, which I read last year about this time, chronicling his surgical residency and his thoughts about the medical system. This book addresses three themes so it seems. I've finished the section on diligence the looked at the effort to totally eradicate polio from the world and the response of WHO and UNICEF when there're reports of polio as well as the efforts that have reduced the combat deaths in the Iraq war. I'm now in the section that addresses "doing right". It started with a discussion of what is appropriate when doctors physically examine patients--to chaperone or not. I'm currently in the chapter that looks at med malpractice.
Listening: The Life of Pi, by Yan Martel. Some interesting concepts about the life of animals, the moral issues of zoos, and the different religions, from the perspective of a 16 year old boy. All bilding up to the ship in which he and his family and a few zoo animals are traveling sinking. Pi, the protagonist, and a Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, appear to be the only survivors, having made their way to a life boat. I'll see what happens.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
update on books
Every now and then I feel guilty about,
1) not reading as much as I should; and
2) not recordng what I have read
because, then I'm reminded that I haven't read as much as I should and as I would like. A vicious cycle.
So, a quick update of what I've been up to, which ain't much.
Books listened to:
Middlemarch: a little long; dry in some spots. It's grown on me since I finished it, and like other books, it reminds me of how glad I am to be a woman in the 21st century, not dependent on marrying well to have a good life, and not required to wait and hope that the right guy will come along.
Blessings, by Anna Quindlen. A good read, if a little unrealistic to think that a man, who'd never cared for a baby or spent much time around babies, could not only manage to care for one, but could manage to keep it a secret. Ultimately, I wanted it to have a happy ending, but the ending probably was more realistic.
Lords of Discipline, by Pat Conroy. Excellent book! Suspenseful, unexpected, with insight into what military school might be like, sans the electric prod!
My Losing Season, by Pat Conroy. Autobiographical info, some of which made its way into The Lords of Discipline. Gave me more insight to what it's like for my own son to be part of a basketball team, the lessons learned, and the camraderie he enjoys.
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy. Sweeping; tragic. I can understand why so many people list AK as their favorite book. Once again, a reminder of how good is to be a woman today as opposed to living in the 19th century. Although, in some ways, the more things change, the more the remain the same. The AKs of today are still likely to be scorned, and risk the same fate with their children as Anna suffered with her own son.
I was particularly struck by the peasant women who didn't see children as a blessing, and reminded that for us, children are generally a blessing because we have the ability to control whether and when they are conceived.
Read:
The Kite Runner. Read at the insistence of Boiler Baby 1. She insisted that I read it before we went to see the movie which finally made its way to us. Great story, in the best tradition of storytelling. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but I did.
Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James. I've been working my way through it forever. I will finish it, but it's been a tough slog.
1) not reading as much as I should; and
2) not recordng what I have read
because, then I'm reminded that I haven't read as much as I should and as I would like. A vicious cycle.
So, a quick update of what I've been up to, which ain't much.
Books listened to:
Middlemarch: a little long; dry in some spots. It's grown on me since I finished it, and like other books, it reminds me of how glad I am to be a woman in the 21st century, not dependent on marrying well to have a good life, and not required to wait and hope that the right guy will come along.
Blessings, by Anna Quindlen. A good read, if a little unrealistic to think that a man, who'd never cared for a baby or spent much time around babies, could not only manage to care for one, but could manage to keep it a secret. Ultimately, I wanted it to have a happy ending, but the ending probably was more realistic.
Lords of Discipline, by Pat Conroy. Excellent book! Suspenseful, unexpected, with insight into what military school might be like, sans the electric prod!
My Losing Season, by Pat Conroy. Autobiographical info, some of which made its way into The Lords of Discipline. Gave me more insight to what it's like for my own son to be part of a basketball team, the lessons learned, and the camraderie he enjoys.
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy. Sweeping; tragic. I can understand why so many people list AK as their favorite book. Once again, a reminder of how good is to be a woman today as opposed to living in the 19th century. Although, in some ways, the more things change, the more the remain the same. The AKs of today are still likely to be scorned, and risk the same fate with their children as Anna suffered with her own son.
I was particularly struck by the peasant women who didn't see children as a blessing, and reminded that for us, children are generally a blessing because we have the ability to control whether and when they are conceived.
Read:
The Kite Runner. Read at the insistence of Boiler Baby 1. She insisted that I read it before we went to see the movie which finally made its way to us. Great story, in the best tradition of storytelling. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but I did.
Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James. I've been working my way through it forever. I will finish it, but it's been a tough slog.
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