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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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kas has commented on (22) products
He Wanted the Moon The Madness & Medical Genius of Dr Perry Baird & His Daughters Quest to Know Him
by
Mimi Baird, Eve Claxton
kas
, February 27, 2015
Through Daughter, Father Shows Why We All Must Want More than Can Be Found in Whole History of Medicine -- Demand the Moon! Note: In composing this review, I have assumed the reader to have read the summary provided on the page on which this is posted, or, regardless of what information this page does or doesn't provide, or to have found out this book's general topic. I was very excited to read He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him, and I was fortunate enough to win an advance edition (publication expected in February) through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers monthly giveaway program. Having finished the work, I have to say that author Mimi Baird met and then exceeded my high hopes; my five-star rating at the top of this review understates the value of this reading experience in my view. In fact, I think Baird has created a vitally important work that should be among the books everyone should (hope and try to) read at some point in life. I found ideas presented and questions raised in this text that would make it especially valuable reading for any professional engaged in critical services to diverse populations -- doctors, lawyers and teachers come first to my mind. In sum, this book imparts rare wisdom the ignorance of which tangibly impoverishes our society and limits the quality of human life. Given my wholehearted belief in the value of this read, I was somewhat surprised when to find Kirkus presenting a very different perspective in the recently published review of this book. The highlighted excerpt chosen to showcase the review's conclusions evidenced a much more circumscribed view of the value to be found in these pages:"For Mimi Baird, the book serves as closure; for general readers, it's a sobering account of how little we knew and how much we still have to learn about mental illness -- especially how not to treat it." This link connects to the complete review, for your convenience: http://goo.gl/36vUrh Contrary to the implications of that assessment, Mimi Baird's book is more than an insightful discussion of a personal quest. The text consists in large part of her father's own writings; his story is not just uncovered as a set of events that document the behavior that typified the illness for which he was hospitalized, the medical "treatments" he received, and details of the staggering professional and social losses he experienced after hospitalization. As it turns out, Dr. Baird was not only an outstanding practitioner of medicine with peerless academic qualifications for his profession, he was a gifted writer who possessed rich insight into his experiences as a mental patient. His papers provide straightforward, clear and rational descriptions of manifold elements of his life during his hospitalization. I found that Baird never dramatized the hardships he experienced, but he did not soften dismal conclusions about the terrible circumstances that arose directly from his mental illness diagnosis and the medical establishment's conception of what that illness entailed. Despite the rational presentation of Dr. Baird's observations to which the reader is privy, his attempts to relate details of his psychological experience in order to improve knowledge of the disease and find a path to better treatment were unsuccessful. In speaking of his own experience, this brilliant man was not credited by either his treating doctors or his friends and former colleagues in the medical profession. Catherine Mackinnon once wisely observed that power inheres in the ability to speak your truth and have it taken seriously by the wider community (unfortunately, I do not have the direct quotation available right now). There is an increasing amount of scholarship on the persistent powerlessness and substantial life limitations experienced by the mentally ill. Systemic flaws in the perspective on mental illness, present in society as a whole as well as within the medical/psychological professions, collectively create phenomena that have come to be described as sanism. This first-person narrative of sanism at work can do more to raise awareness about the warped perspective on mental illness that exists today and throughout Western history than any academic theory or historical review. However, I think a broader truth is to be found here, and this is what provides the basis for my belief in the great impact this book could have if read widely. Specifically, it seems everywhere I look people who can be found near either end of various spectrums of given human qualities and experiences, are routinely misunderstood and their truth is silenced. It's not always a minority that meets with this effect; I think the persistence of sexism for example is rooted in a similar social process, at least in part. This story of a great genius ignored by everyone has much to teach about the grievous harm that can be done when we fail to pay close attention to human differences -- whether in personal relationships, classrooms, courtrooms, or mental hospitals. This is just one key reason why I heartily encourage others to read this book. The fact is it's a quick read that is packed with stories and insights that are rarely available, let alone in such a convenient way. Thanks for reading my thoughts; I hope they are helpful to you in some respect.
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Mexican Eskimo
by
Anker Frankoni
kas
, February 27, 2015
Deeply Personal, Incredibly Worthwhile Journey I received a free audiobook version of this strange new book. I didn't know what to expect at first, but author Anker Frankoni's narrative washed away any initial trepidation with ease as it engaged my deep interest and full sympathy from the outset. I am happy to be able to provide a wholeheartedly stellar review of *Mexican Eskimo Book 1: Exmikan*. A. What *Exmikan* Is Not About: One concern I had about the book upon seeing the title was that it would treat racial/ethnic categories and cultural distinctions lightly. That fear was unwarranted. Inasmuch as Frankoni deals with Eskimo and Mexican peoples and their respective histories as symbols within this autobiographical novel, he demonstrates knowledge of relevant cultural details and never fails to acknowledge his fundamental distance from these subjects. He doesn't pretend to speak to these cultural experiences in an authentic way, or that's my reading anyway. The narrative tone of this work provides the best evidence for my view; it is never without irony or several notes of warm, self-deprecating humor. As such, the presumption necessary for appropriation of a foreign culture for fundamentally inauthentic purposes is a virtual impossibility in this context. This is no lighthearted comedy, so the nature of the work does not suggest light treatment or casual consideration of these topics within the larger context of Frankoni's own narrative. B. What This *Mexican Eskimo* Thing Is About: *Exmikan* is a tremendously personal work of art; Frankoni bravely presents his search for meaning in life, which begins in despair, to the reader. The subject of the story (or rather, stories) is his relatives' lives and of course, by extension, his own. Between Frankoni's two parents' families, an enormous spectrum of human vices and virtues are represented in stark relief. The tales to which the reader is privy are unforgettable -- heartwarming, triumphant, sympathetic, inspiring, horrifying, tragic, alienating, bewildering, tragicomic, magical and absurd. Rich and varied insight, humility, humor, and compassion distinguish Frankoni's narrative voice throughout the work. It is a brave, ambitious artistic project by any measure, and to my mind it is a great success. I am very grateful to have experienced this book and would advise other readers to try this work; in doing so, you will join the author on a personal, strange, resonant once-in-a-lifetime journey. The author gives himself wholly to this work, and we who experience are the beneficiaries indeed. Thank you for reading my ideas; I hope they provide some perspective on what this book has to offer. I fear my comments are too vague, but the stories told are so dramatic and inimitably told that I dare not summarize any part of the plot(s) of these interconnected narratives.
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No Book But the World
by
Leah Hager Cohen
kas
, October 21, 2014
No Book but the World is an excellent work of literary fiction, in my view, because it employs unusual and special skill to elucidate subtle ideas -- and especially to illustrate precise emotional states -- in order to achieve its ultimate artistic purposes. This is an excellent read, which I recommend enthusiastically. I expect it will likely be one of my top 10 reads of 2014 (of 100+). The novel is narrated entirely in the first-person, and by the end of the first page the reader is drawn directly into the whirlwind of the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness. Perhaps what strikes me most about this book is that it does not merely exemplify psychological fiction; it fully embodies this idea. Cohen guides the reader with uncanny fluidity through time, personally significant experiences & different perspectives on these experiences. It's not a pleasant novel at all times. It's unsettling as you can gather from reading the plot summary, but I wouldn't call it disturbing. There is nothing alienating about it -- especially when as a reader we are able to most directly inhabit Ava's perspective, IMHO. This was a surprisingly quick, light read considering its sophistication and depth. Nothing about the form -- or the content -- caused me to stop at a given point and examine a portion of the text with great particularity. It seemed to work organically with my attention, which I guess is one of the ways this work gives the psychological novel added dimension as a form. I am sorry that this review is pretty abstract and general; I find it hard to get into the specifics of the story without saying too much or somehow misrepresenting what it is. Thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope they help inform your opinion on this prospective read somehow. Please be advised I received a free copy of this book to review through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.
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O Africa A Novel
by
Andrew Lewis Conn
kas
, September 04, 2014
O Africa!: A Novel is nothing more and nothing less than a beautifully realized story of intellectual depth and palpable soul that includes as its central theme the challenging, multi-dimensional nature of perspective in the creation and interpretation of narrative art itself. This Andrew Lewis Conn guy is nothing if not ambitious! A key element that distinguishes this novel as a great book is the light, easily digestible, yet richly evocative prose which is a unique enough pleasure in and of itself without the presence of other features which render this type of read a downright bizarre find in this novel, according to my mind. Firstly, given the aforementioned theme, one can expect some notable navel-gazing of the artist protagonists in the substance of the story as well as various signs of the entanglement of the author's writing process with our experience as readers interpreting the text. I would expect this kind of work, if successful, to be very textually rich but inevitably somewhat unwieldy as a read with some stagnation at different points in the plot. Instead, I found the narrative to be light, beautiful, effervescent, organic in its transitions and incorporation of various stylistic elements; innovatively engaged in reverent dialogue with a living literary tradition, and last but not least; steadily flowing and never stagnating. All in all, it was an oddly brisk (and briskly odd) read. I cannot recommend this book more highly -- enjoy! Please be advised I received my copy of this book for free as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
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Troika
by
Adam Pelzman
kas
, September 04, 2014
Adam Pelzman's novel Troika is an unquestionably relevant work for contemporary readers, as it could be for readers of many (if not all) ages. From the first sentence to the very last, Pelzman signals the radical primacy of humanity to this work. What in the world do I mean by that? First of all, on a basic level, Troika is a story about a complicated relationship between a wife, a husband, and the woman with whom he is has an extramarital liaison at the beginning of the book that is told in first-person narration from multiple perspectives. There is no filter between the reader and character's psychology. And indeed, I found the characters to be not only multi-dimensional and believable, they were likable and so relatable that they provided an effective bridge for me to understand and appreciate values contrary to my own and actions I would never take. The first narrator is the "other woman" in the triangle; a young stripper named Perla. When the story begins, she is at work. Despite the vulgar language and number of vulgar people populating this first setting, Perla's proud and irreverent -- but not unkind personality --is definitely compelling. The one word I would use to describe my impression of Perla and the opening of the novel itself is definitely "charming." The original partner of the male protagonist brings a witty, wise and generous perspective to the narrative. In addition to the centrality of realistic, incredibly well-drawn characters -- and in particular two strong and unusual women -- and the privileging of their unique perspectives through the structure of the novel, I would also call this a truly humane book due to: the generosity shown by the characters (implicit in the plot's nature & structure) and the hope the story can engender in the reader concerning the expansive potential of human relationships. I recommend this novel without reservation. Please be advised I received a free ARC of this novel for an honest review through the LibraryThing.com Early Reviewers Program. Thanks for reading my thoughts
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Guts
by
Roddy Doyle
kas
, March 01, 2014
***The Guts: Not the Literary Fiction Style I Know & Love, But More Valuable Reading Experience for that Very Reason Bottom Line: Whether old fan or new initiate, I recommend Roddy Doyle's The Guts highly. I believe most readers would be sorry to miss the example of masterful literary craftsmanship that is evidenced throughout this book in the form of Doyle's distinctive dialogue. Discussion: The Guts wasn't exactly what I expected; I cannot remember the last time I read a novel that included so much dialogue. I read a lot of literary fiction, and certainly the authors of these works typically include a significantly higher percentage of narration than dialogue. One wonders if the author more easily maintains greater control over the text's meaning in a narrative style; is some strength or ability to be direct lost when putting more of the story in characters' mouths? In any case, it was a very interesting -- and unusually valuable -- diversion in form from most novels I read, but it took some time for me to get used to it. I had to become familiar with the rhythm, local Irish vocabulary and sense of humor of the characters. I got the hang of it eventually and found the novel a decidedly rewarding read. I particularly recommend it to any reader who, like myself, reads narrator-dominated novels. It's good to switch things up I find; it exercises the intellect and the imagination in my experience. For other readers, this work has plenty of appeal. To understate it grossly, I'll say that Roddy Doyle is a strong writer whose dialogue is not without some semblance to poetry. You can just imagine the effusive praise that would be here if I were totally truthful. Or, just go check it out! Thanks for reading my views. I appreciate the opportunity to explore this major release in advance of official publication provided through the First to Read program of Penguin Books.
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Tireless
by
Spaid, Graham
kas
, February 28, 2014
his is an abstract work of literature -- a very good one, mind, but it's not for every taste. The stream-of-consciousness novella, with its playful and mysterious style, is bound to leave impressions at least as varied and numerous as its readership. During my own reading of tireless:, Nabokov's literary masterpiece Lolita and the 2003 Crispin Glover cinematic vehicle Willard appeared at the forefront of my consciousness more than once. That's what I call some evocative stuff...Cheers, Graham Spaid. Please be advised I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
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Mecca Pimp: A Novel of Love and Human Trafficking
by
Bernard Radfar
kas
, February 26, 2014
Mecca Pimp really surprised me. It challenged me, angered me, stimulated me, and I think it deserves another read -- which is a high compliment for a book IMHO. It has a definite point of view, and I was worried author Bernard Radfar would use some gimmicks to draw attention to his ideas. There are no cheap gimmicks here -- just food for thought that may or may not agree with your palate. It definitely earned my respect as a reader. I accessed this truly unique text through gracious permission of the publisher on NetGalley.
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Kill or Cure
by
Steve Parker
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Excellent Introduction to History of Medicine--Inspired Interest to Learn More!*** A friend who is very interested in the subject matter of the material of *Kill or Cure: An Illustrated History of Medicine* perhaps summed it up best when he described this book, upon a lengthy perusal, as kind of a coffee table book, which just makes other, actual coffee table books look bad. This is a smart and thorough layman's survey of the history of medicine. I really enjoyed reading this book! It made me interested to seek out more in-depth historical sources on several subjects covered. One thing I especially appreciated about author Steve Parker's approach to his introduction to medicine's history was his notable attention to several underacknowledged groups' contributions to medicine. I speak specifically of non-Western cultures and women in medicine. In sum, I highly recommend this book. Thank you for reading my thoughts--I hope they are helpful. Note: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through a GoodReads Giveaway.
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Parent's Playbook for Learning: 8 Types of Learners
by
Jen Lilienstein
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Practical Tips for the Individualized Needs of Children - Useful!*** There is a lot to like about Jen Lilienstein's book. First of all, it's based on the foundational idea that all children are different learners. Insights into the child's personality, whatever typology is used to describe differences as far as they are explored, would seem to be a source of valuable insight into how to maximize that child's learning. A Parent's Playbook for Learning does a great job of mining the gold of that concept for the reader. Lilienstein gives practical advice about a variety of aspects of a child's learning -- consisting substantially of actual concrete strategies and tips parents and educators can try themselves, as well as in the form of more general insights about particular approaches for children with particular traits. I read the book with a certain child in mind and while I had trouble on fixing on which "type" was the best fit, there were definitely traits in a few types I keyed into based on their accuracy. For those traits, I could see that her insights and her suggested approaches seemed smart and well-tailored to the child I had in mind at least. Perhaps obviously, the usefulness of this book is grounded in its discussion of educationally relevant aspects of personality that are furthermore common enough that I could recognize most (perhaps all, I just don't remember whether there were any exceptions) by thinking of people I've known. Moreover, I think Lilienstein did a very good job of articulating what each trait looked like, so you could spot it in children effectively. Certainly, the book would be useless if was not consistently successful in this respect. There was one part of the book that really stuck in my craw, as it were. This would be the fairly extensive discussion of group learning and relevant strategies. I personally think that group learning is best used to teach team collaboration and not traditional academic content. Even assuming a neutral or positive stance on group learning as a pedagogical method among readers generally, Lilienstein's lengthy discussion of related strategies seems to demonstrate her valuation of the method more than it provides tools that every child will frequently draw upon. I may be wrong about that, I admit. If nothing else, it seems weird to give this pedagogy primacy in a book that stresses the needs of children as unique individual learners who need different approaches and not a one-size-fits-all sort of educational approach. Group learning is not fairly described that way altogether, but it doesn't allow for much tailoring to children's needs by informed adults relative to other styles of teaching. I hope this review is helpful somewhat in deciding whether to read this book. Thank you for reading my thoughts. Please be advised I received a free electronic edition from NetGalley by permission of the publisher.
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Sense of an Ending
by
Julian Barnes
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Profoundly Impressive, Unforgettable Read*** Personally, The Sense of an Ending is a novel that I expect will prove unforgettable. That is, it made some very strong emotional and intellectual impressions on me that I expect will come to mind in situational contexts and mental frames -- regardless of consistency of the memory content -- longer and more often than most novels I've read. Part of the reason for this effect is that I simply loved this book! The most compelling books stick out more in the mind for the reasons they were compelling in the first place, right? Also, my reading inspired a deep admiration for Julian Barnes as an artist, so I will remember it as part of my exploration contemporary literary fiction. But, my expectations of how important this book will be in my future thoughts cannot be accounted for by these reasons alone. In discussing why this novel feels so sticky, as it were, I hope to give better sense of whether you'd also find this work compelling or valuable: 1) The Sense of an Ending deals with a few themes very specifically, directly and consistently through it's brief duration (approximately 163 pages). For me, the ideas in this novel were very emotionally resonant, and the issues raised engaged some strongly-rooted values as well as pre-existing philosophical questions I had about how and why to live. Some thematic descriptors that come to my mind are: --the differences between an event and what any given person will perceive about the event; --the differences between perception and memory; --the variability in depth as well as content in personal memory over the course of life; --self-concept - how does it develop and change? --Is there any absolute truth that can be known about oneself or another person? --our level of responsibility for the consequences of our actions when knowledge is incomplete --the dangers of recriminating emotional injuries by purposeful infliction of a seemingly lesser or equivalent injury ("eye for an eye") --what we feel guilty about and ruminate about remorsefully vs. other potentially questionable things people do that we just let slide, as it were, in our psychology --Narrator's deep-seated discomfort with as well as acceptance of "complacency" as a way of life in adulthood. --Good reasons to live or die vs. bad ones, the unquantifiably damaging nature of human experience, you know -- that stuff. ;) 2) All this is done through a first person stream-of-consciousness narration of events and his reflections. The threads of his tale ultimately come together in a truly dramatic story of life, love and death. I, for one, was surprised and always interested by the twists of the plot. Thanks for reading this. I hope this provides someone with a better idea of what this book is.
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Custer's Last Battle: Red Hawk's Account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
by
Paul Goble
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Unusual Artifact*** Well, this thing sure is an interesting artifact. I was intrigued by the description of the book, so I entered a GoodReads Giveaway for a copy and was lucky enough to win. This is structured as a children's book -- short, straightforward text with each 2-page layout dominated by stimulating imagery with comparatively less verbal content. It is not a very detailed story, and there's nothing I would call truly original about its actual content according to my own perspective and experience with related history and adult historical fiction. However, the story is not an oversimplified or facile one. The reader gets a historically informed fictional account from an underrepresented perspective. And, this perspective speaks directly about big picture issues -- how events were shaped and interpreted by the narrator and his community. These interpretations, implicitly if not explicitly, are clearly depicted as being rooted in particular culture and history. Make what you will of that. It's not like most books, I don't think, and nothing like my typical reading.
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Almond Tree
by
Michelle Cohen Corasanti
kas
, October 26, 2013
I found The Almond Tree to be rather uneven altogether. It was likable in a lot of ways and has a few truly admirable qualities. However, I noticed a few clear weaknesses of this novel. That said, I would recommend this book overall because the weaknesses do not diminish the reader's enjoyment of its better qualities. In particular, the characters are drawn with great warmth, and I found I could empathize with the protagonist even when I disagreed with his actions or views. Moreover, Corasanti portrayed the profound suffering of various characters sympathetically and highlighted moments of ordinary human tenderness, but I think she managed to avoid melodrama in the former case and maudlin narration in the latter. This book was written with love -- it's not overwrought. Another reason I found the novel worthwhile is that the author, an American Jew, depicted a Palestinian protagonist and other characters not only positively and as multi-faceted characters, but she gave a relatable voice to the suffering experienced by many Palestinians, due in significant part to Israeli policies -- in a way that respected rather than discredited the sufferings of all people affected as a result of the instability and cycles of violence in the Mideast. Her characters and the societies they inhabit are filled with real human beings -- not just forces who affect certain characters' lives. I am not at all surprised that a Jewish woman could and/or would so tenderly depict the torments and joys of a young Palestinian man! That wouldn't be consistent with an understanding of the range of goodness in every people -- or more specifically, show basic knowledge of the spectrum of opinion among Israelis and American Jews on Israeli policies and the future of the Palestinians. But, I think it makes an important political statement in support of human rights to publish a novel that inspires this level of constant empathy with an Arab. It's an important book that way, I think. The two primary weaknesses of the novel include: A) an uninteresting, emotionally out of tune, cheesy ending to the story, and; B) the book is not really well-written. I mean it's clean; Corasanti tells her story and connects the reader to her strong characters. But the structure of the novel and the style of her prose leave much to be desired. I would read it again -- definitely worthwhile for me, but this is a poor example of literary fiction, as such. I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
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John Quincy Adams
by
Harlow Giles Unger
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Satisfactory for Those Hungry for JQA Info*** A) Some Criticisms To start, I'll point out that this book does not make any clear historical argument. It is certainly unabashedly positive in its portrayal of its subject. For example, I was surprised the author was so uncritical of John Quincy Adams's insistence on a point of courtesy in negotiating a key treaty between the US and Britain; although he did portray the opposition to the strategy of standing on courtesy by his fellow American diplomats working on the matter, including Henry Clay. Also, the author passes over some atrocities uncritically. This could be a very individualized reaction, but as I read the part concerning Andrew Jackson's actions in Florida against the Seminoles and African-American communities there, I felt as though one could append the phrase "like you do" to statements like, "And then Jackson killed the entire town of black residents, giving no quarter to women and children." In other words, the book was uncritical, and the narration accordingly was nonchalant. B) My Overall Impression All that said, I was satisfied with this book. I wanted to learn new things about this President, and it certainly allowed me to do just that. I enjoyed a lot of it
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Attention Deficit Disorders & Comorbidit
by
Thomas Brown
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Informative and Empowering*** A) Review of Dr. Thomas Brown's own ADHD scholarship: Original, nuanced, accessible, life-changing in my case. B) Review of this collection of ADHD scholarship he edited: great for an overview of current discoveries about ADHD and complexities of treatment in various cases and current psychiatric treatment options. This is not a great book if you do not have a real interest in understanding the scientific and medical issues fully - not at all written for a general audience. It does not directly provide any guidance for patients who want to educate themselves about their condition or how to get the most appropriate treatment. That said, with sufficient background in the scholarly discourse at the time, I was able to find insight into my psychology that allowed me to develop some informed coping practices without access to professional therapy. I speak specifically of the article on the particular susceptibility to harmful belief schemas among ADHDers. If anyone involved with that work reads this, thank you -- it helped me directly.
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Floating Life
by
Tad Crawford
kas
, October 26, 2013
***Weird and Pretty Darn Wonderful*** Speaking (or writing) as of the mythic, the absurd, the strange, or the monstrous can often be apt choices when trying to effectively illustrate one's ideas about things that are pedestrian, commonplace, and/or so normal as to avoid frequent examination. Such styles must be carefully employed to reveal specific truths by a writer who really knows what he's about. Tad Crawford knows what he's about and employs surrealism as well as good old-fashioned whimsy and weirdness to give the reader insight into the psychological journey of an ordinary man. Also, you should know this book is full of wit -- don't worry about a narrative voice that takes itself too seriously to enjoy with this book. I was smiling uncontrollably by the beginning of the second chapter. Speaking of that chapter, one thing that bothered me is how clever I found the protagonist to be at improvising during his "job interview" (this is right at the beginning of the book -- no spoiler). I envy his skills; I know so much more in job interviews and am so much slower on my feet. Stop shaming me, Tad Crawford! At least I don't pretend to be a novelist because Tad would make me a downright disgrace in that line of endeavor with this amazing book to measure my efforts against! I recommend this to all without reservation; it's as fun and smart as one could wish an unknown book to be. BTW, I read this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads program.
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Bestiary for Business: Adapted from the Fables of Aesop for Gentle Corporate Readers and Raiders
by
Erika Schelby
kas
, October 26, 2013
I received Bestiary for Business as a prize in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaway. To sum things up for would-be readers, I'll share how my view of this book transformed from when I discovered it to when I finished reading my copy: 1) Upon discovering it among the giveaways on goodreads: "Ok, I'll read that for free; it sounds like it could be good." 2) When I received my copy and perused it a little: "This book sure deserves a place in my personal library or on my coffee table as much as the next -- what a worthwhile and timely project author Erika Schelby has taken on here." 3) Upon finishing: "This is a deeply ambitious and important work in the form of a simple coffee table book. How rare to find a book that speaks to matters of the highest import and most common significance so accessibly and so humbly. Somehow, the illustrated 77 page text doesn't undermine the scope or depth of the themes handled or ideas presented -- that is to say, it doesn't oversimplify or dumb things down. That's a fine line for Schelby to have maintained! What an achievement. There need to be more books of this kind published and read." Now, I am not of the opinion that this will become a classic of American literature. Some fables are more clever and finely wrought than others. But Schelby's choice of form for examining her chosen topic -- various present-day economic realities -- is nothing short of brilliant. Nothing could speak more eloquently to the absurdity of what is familiar to us all than this humorous, accessible collection of fables. It raises questions in the reader's mind and makes her laugh simultaneously -- and both the questioning and laughing feel easy. A critical mark of the seriousness of Schelby's purpose is her use of quotations to accompany each tale she presents; she features the words of such literary giants as Keats, William Blake, Byron, Shakespeare, and Stevie Nicks. Alexander Pope is a very frequent source. The quotations are frequently very apt and always adds meaning to the adjoining story. They serve to tie the humor to larger themes that have been contemplated throughout history while allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about the connection and significance of the story. Schelby couldn't be less didactic or presumptuous. She offers readers food for thought, but she doesn't tell us what or how much to "eat" -- let alone what effect the meal should have. It's tough to imagine someone disliking this book, and I think it's a worthwhile read for many, many people. Why not pick it up?
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Let Him Go
by
Watson, Larry
kas
, October 26, 2013
This book makes a surprisingly quick read. The edition I received yesterday as part of the GoodReads First Reads program is 269 not-too-densely-packed pages. The spare prose of Larry Watson enabled my quick consumption of the story, and I think almost any reader would find his style well-suited to moving through as a pageturner over one or two sittings, if desired. The rapidity with which I moved through it surprises me only because of the sophistication of the novel's structure, the perfectly apt word choice to construct this intricate work, and the suitability of each detail of plot, setting, and character to the novel as it had been framed from the first page. This is literature that not only would bear but indeed would reward careful scrutiny. I could have mined every detail, every elegantly simple phrase in the entire text and gained more insight into the novel with every ounce of effort. I will test this opinion pretty soon as I reread the entire book. So if you're looking for a good story that is as well-written as it is easy to read, or if you've got your eye out for the newest big thing in contemporary literature, Let Him Go is quite unlikely to disappoint. The atmosphere and setting of this novel have their own powerful magnetism. The protagonist, George, ruminates within the first few pages: "The alarm clock ticks on the bedside table. If he stays, he'll need reminders of hours and obligations, while she'll be traveling to where time obeys human need and not the other way around." Certainly the destiny, big and small, of the characters seems tied to place. But I'm not sure whether I'd agree that time and place dictate to human need. Rather, they are interwoven inextricably -- at least as far as I could tell in my ultra-quick reading. I'll finish by pointing out that I usually find spare writing styles -- especially in American stories, particularly those American stories set out West -- somehow phony or at least distancing for me as a reader. Watson's style is inviting and organic -- at least it feels that way to me
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We Are Water
by
Wally Lamb
kas
, October 23, 2013
I had never read Wally Lamb's work before I received We Are Water in a Goodreads Giveaway. Talk about a prize! I just finished the book, and I recommend it with great enthusiasm to readers generally with one caveat. Namely, I would warn readers to maintain an emotional release valve when engaging with as intense a novel as this one. This book is a pretty massive tome, even at 576 pages, and sometimes it feels longer. The reader is completely immersed in the characters' respective psyches -- characters at crossroads and under significant stress, who even count sexual abuse victims and perpetrators among their number. There may be places some readers don't want to go; in any case, it can be draining. Unintentionally, I ended up reading a really un-psychological, action-oriented novel alongside this one. I was grateful for something that bore less scrutiny and so had less pull on my emotions and intellect...perhaps some guilty pleasure television would serve many readers well? I am very grateful to have read this book, and I look forward to reading more of Lamb's writing.
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Exiles
by
Allison Lynn
kas
, October 06, 2013
Allison Lynn is an extraordinary writer, and *The Exiles* deserves more than four stars -- I just need to read it a second time to know for sure if I think it merits a full five. It's a witty, brilliantly written piece of work throughout, but it's better than the sum of its parts. That is, upon finishing this book, I thought it was really beautiful and life-affirming. I think people who like to laugh at life's (often cruel) absurdity and fans of dramedies will very probably find this to be a truly enjoyable read. I would also recommend it very highly to any aficionado of contemporary, literary novels. If this extract from the inside jacket appeals to you, I'd say you are not being misled in believing you'd like to read *The Exiles*: "...as Emily and Nate watch their...cash dwindle and tensions increase, the secrets they kept from each other...emerge, threatening to destroy their hope for a shared future. [This is a] story about losing it all, the complexities of family histories...and the mad grab for the American dream..." I was lucky enough to receive my copy of this novel through winning a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
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Mother Mother A Novel
by
Koren Zailckas
kas
, October 03, 2013
Zailckas has crafted a very original work that will stick in readers' minds -- at least my mind, certainly -- for a lot longer than most novels. Reading this book makes me eager to get another taste of her authorial voice by picking up her bestseller *Smashed*. One of the greatest strengths of *Mother, Mother* is its structure as a tale told through two characters' perspectives. The two perspectives are those of the children of the titular mother, Josephine -- namely, William and Violet Hurst. It is the idiosyncratic, yet deeply human voices of William and Violet that make this novel so touching and compelling -- and often downright masterful. Needless to say, the two young people do not view their unique familial situation in the same light, so this opens up many new layers for the reader to consider than if the tale were told through the use of a third-person omniscient narrator. Another feature of this novel I admire is Zailckas's use of all sorts of absurd, informal language to describe serious matters. Sometimes nothing less than the absurd is sufficiently descriptive, and it's a great way to give the reader the flavor of the psychological perspective -- whether William's or Violet's -- currently being employed. This book is a lot more than a tale of disturbing familial dysfunction -- it's a truly great multi-faceted psychological novel. Please be advised I won an Advance Reader's Edition of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program; I'm obligated to point that out.
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Pym
by
Mat Johnson
kas
, October 01, 2013
Mat Johnson's Pym is nothing less than an absolute masterpiece. It is easily among the top 5 books I have ever read in my life. Johnson continually shows a razor sharp wit in crafting his protagonist's consciousness -- at different moments, his observations had me heartily laughing out loud at his incisive or absurd insights, giggling at the silliness of the fantastical realm he finds himself in, and chuckling bittersweetly at the comically framed horrors that are sometimes described. A lot of the genius of this work inheres in Johnson's deep understanding of how absurdity can resonate profoundly with reality and his sensitivity to the poignancy of its actual presence in real life. If you like literary heavyweights who write compelling plots in sophisticated and original ways, try this book. If some of your favorite comedy (in any medium) is dramedy, try this book. If you are sensitive to the presence of race in American life, try this book. If you appreciate the absurd, try this book.
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