So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
4 stars out of 5Enriched with three medical subplots that also explore the human costs of American health care, So Much for That follows the profound transformation of a marriage, for which grave illness proves an unexpected opportunity for tenderness, renewed intimacy, and dry humor. In defiance of her dark subject matter, Shriver writes a page-turner that presses the question: How much is one life worth?
This was really dark and depressing view of what the US health care system can be like for many. The characters were full of annoying and frustrating traits and while it did irritate me at times, it made them very real. Typical of Lionel Shriver, there were a few shocking turns as well.
One Hundred Names for Love by Diane Ackerman
4 stars out of 5One day Ackerman's husband, Paul West, an exceptionally gifted wordsmith and intellectual, suffered a terrible stroke. When he regained awareness he was afflicted with aphasia—loss of language—and could utter only a single syllable: "mem." The standard therapies yielded little result but frustration. Diane soon found, however, that by harnessing their deep knowledge of each other and her scientific understanding of language and the brain she could guide Paul back to the world of words. This triumphant book is both a humane and revealing addition to the medical literature on stroke and aphasia and an exquisitely written love story: a magnificent addition to literature, period.
I enjoyed this. It was heartwarming and terrifying all at once. There was a lot of information about stroke recovery but it was done in a way that wasn't "textbook-ish" or overwhelming.
33 Men: Inside the Miraculous Survival and Dramatic Rescue of the Chilean Miners by Jonathan Franklin
3 stars out of 5Based on more than 110 interviews with the miners, their families, and the rescue team, Franklin's account combines an expert eye for detail and dialogue with the remarkable human interest story of these miners struggling to survive in a savage environment.
Very interesting. Sadly I was living under a rock when this happened (also known as being pregnant and having a toddler) and knew little to nothing of this as it was happening so most of what I read was completely new to me.
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
4 stars out of 5
One miscarriage too many spelled the end of Max and Zoe Baxter's marriage. Though the former couple went quite separate ways, their fates remained entangled: After veering into alcoholism, Max is saved in multiple senses by his fundamentalist conversion; Zoe, for her part, finds healing relief in music therapy and the friendship, then romantic love with Vanessa, her counselor. After Zoe and Vanessa, now married, decide to have a baby, they realize that they must join battle with Max, who objects on both religious and financial grounds.
A typical Picoult. I really enjoyed it and it never hurts to have a nice ending!
How to be Idle: A Loafer's Manifesto by Tom Hodgkinson
3 stars out of 5From the founding editor of The Idler, the celebrated magazine about the freedom and fine art of doing nothing, comes not simply a book, but an antidote to our work-obsessed culture. In How to Be Idle, Tom Hodgkinson presents his learned yet whimsical argument for a new universal standard of living: being happy doing nothing. He covers a whole spectrum of issues affecting the modern idler—sleep, work, pleasure, relationships—while reflecting on the writing of such famous apologists for it as Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Nietzsche—all of whom have admitted to doing their very best work in bed.
This was quite charming and witty. He goes into the lost art of napping, long lunches, sleeping in and essentially doing nothing. It was funny and made me long for the days where doing nothing (especially sleeping in) was actually possible!
Mommy Tracked by Whitney Gaskell
2 stars out of 5A wise new story of four women coping with the challenges of motherhood, men, and each other.
It's funny because before I started branching out and reading different genres of books this year, this would have been the EXACT book I would always go for. And yet it took me forever to read and I had to push myself to finish it. It was okay, worth finishing but all the characters annoyed me in some way or another.
What are you reading/watching right now?
4 comments:
Did you say Picoult's book had a happy ending? I have read a handful of her's, but needed to take an emotional break. I just couldn't handle any more depressing stories.
I just finished Alice Munro s Too Much Happiness.I enjoy her writing-this one had a threads from different storiesspun so well-yes some sadness-guess the title should have told me that.
Picked up Greg Mortsen s story-a mountaineer who starts to help Pakistani and Afghantani build schools-a friend had the the first so just starting to read.
Thought of you young mothers-I watched the Daycare group in Lilliput Park behind me-one lady with about 10 3 or 4 year olds lining up to go down the slide-one kept pushing ahead of the others-one changed his mind at the top of the slide-had to be coaxed to slide down so the other nine on the steps could get another turn-funny to me but I think she was getting a little exhausted
I find that now that I've branched out and started reading "meatier" stuff, I am not drawn to the "fluff" books that I normally would have gone for. Strange how that happens.
My theory is that I liked the fluffy, chick lit stuff when I didn't really want to think too much but now I find I want to be challenged in my beliefs and knowledge and am drawn to books that do that for me. My brain can't handle the mundane of cleaning, laundry, groceries, school, etc and needs some stimulation!
You've reminded me to go do my post of books. Yes, I'm actually going to post! ;)
I have the third tatto girl book, Pioneer Woman's romance novel, and that jodi picoult book you mentioned sitting on my bedside table. I also hvae that happiness project book to restart and finish...from over a year ago. Lots to read. hoping with less tv on now I will have more motivation to crawl into bed and read. Or there is always when I am lounging at the beach...yeah, right. haha!
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