A non-fiction medical mystery. That's all I needed to hear.
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
Genre: Autobiography, medicine
Publication date: November 2012
A shocking true story about a twenty-something journalist living in NYC who suddenly goes mad, due to a mysterious disorder that doctors cannot diagnose. Susannah first shows symptoms of madness as she imagines bugs in her Hells Kitchen apartment (not unrealistic) and uncharacteristically and exhaustingly snoops through her boyfriends belongings. Eventually, these small signs develop into grander and more severe signs (paranoia, hallucinations, seizures). She is admitted into NYU's hospital, thought to be psychotic, and losing her mind and most of her facilities.
A Dr. House mystery medical case told from the perspective of the patient. However, this patient loses about a month of her life, as after she has difficulty remembering the trying times in psychosis. She relies on family and friends' recollections, interviews with her doctors, and video surveillance of her time in the hospital. The medical drama is made personal as her loved ones stay by her side and through her recovery, demonstrating how an illness not only affects the patient but those around them.
DD's rating: A
Another book I read in two days. Terrifying and fascinating to read about someone losing their mind, from their perspective. How they dealt with conflicting positions (paranoia vs. reality) and being aware of ensuing madness.
Next read: Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
The Time Traveler's Wife
I was desperately in need for a feel-good/fun, girly and quick book and my Back Mountain library had this available. I had seen the movie a while ago, but the 500+ page novel seemed sure to offer more heart.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2003
Setting: Chicago, 1970s-early 2000s
The charming story about a man, Henry, who lives out of time, and his romance with Clare. Clare meets Henry when she is a young girl, and grows up knowing him. But Henry doesn't meet Clare until he is in his 20s. So who fell in love first? What are the emotional/social implications of a young girl falling for an older man? Of course when Henry meets Clare (when they are both in their 20s) he doesn't have a difficult time falling for her (even though he hasn't yet experienced the history she has with him). Theirs is romance that feeds my love for science fiction.
This book also gets a little deep, as questions about destiny and free will arise. If Henry from the future is meeting young Clare (and they are married), does Clare really have a say in the matter? Can you change the future or is it all pre-determined? And if it is, by who? So far as I know, time travel does not exist and I won't hurt my head trying to think about it too much (or about future Henry and present Henry in bed together, a scene that was not well explained). As well as the predicament of conceiving/pregnancy and genetic testing - would you want your child to have a disorder? would you try to treat them as a child? or wait until they are old enough to make their own decision?
The most interesting theme I found was the loneliness in the relationship - Clare sometimes enjoys when Henry is away in time, but is very happy when he returns. Sometimes you want the other person gone (or better said: you want time to be alone/independent) but that doesn't mean you don't miss or enjoy having them around.
Finished reading: Monday, August 10, 2015
DD's Rating: A-
Another book I read in under 24 hours, which I enjoyed. I wish the author would've taken the issue of genetic testing a little further, to have a real debate, but this is supposed to be chick-lit. Full points for the exploration of free will and determinism. I also find it interesting that, for the most part, the chronology of "present" follows Clare's, although the book is narrated from both perspectives. I guess it is so the novel is as "current" as possible.
Next read: Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 2003
Setting: Chicago, 1970s-early 2000s
The charming story about a man, Henry, who lives out of time, and his romance with Clare. Clare meets Henry when she is a young girl, and grows up knowing him. But Henry doesn't meet Clare until he is in his 20s. So who fell in love first? What are the emotional/social implications of a young girl falling for an older man? Of course when Henry meets Clare (when they are both in their 20s) he doesn't have a difficult time falling for her (even though he hasn't yet experienced the history she has with him). Theirs is romance that feeds my love for science fiction.
This book also gets a little deep, as questions about destiny and free will arise. If Henry from the future is meeting young Clare (and they are married), does Clare really have a say in the matter? Can you change the future or is it all pre-determined? And if it is, by who? So far as I know, time travel does not exist and I won't hurt my head trying to think about it too much (or about future Henry and present Henry in bed together, a scene that was not well explained). As well as the predicament of conceiving/pregnancy and genetic testing - would you want your child to have a disorder? would you try to treat them as a child? or wait until they are old enough to make their own decision?
The most interesting theme I found was the loneliness in the relationship - Clare sometimes enjoys when Henry is away in time, but is very happy when he returns. Sometimes you want the other person gone (or better said: you want time to be alone/independent) but that doesn't mean you don't miss or enjoy having them around.
Finished reading: Monday, August 10, 2015
DD's Rating: A-
Another book I read in under 24 hours, which I enjoyed. I wish the author would've taken the issue of genetic testing a little further, to have a real debate, but this is supposed to be chick-lit. Full points for the exploration of free will and determinism. I also find it interesting that, for the most part, the chronology of "present" follows Clare's, although the book is narrated from both perspectives. I guess it is so the novel is as "current" as possible.
Next read: Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
The Silent Wife
I had to break up my non-fiction streak with some crazy chick-lit. I found some book list on Pinterest that recommended this. It also had a list of other goodies that I will have to resort to checking out hardcopy from my Back Mountain library.
The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison
Genre: Fiction, suspense
Publication Date: June 2013
Setting: Chicago, present day
A "thriller" told from the perspectives of man and wife. Man is a womanizing entrepreneur and wife is a dull, albeit intelligent, home psychologist. Man has affair (well he has many, but this last one causes him trouble), and woman gets pissed. Neither character shows much affection to anyone, which makes empathizing with either character impossible.
Finished reading: Saturday, August 1, 2015
DD's rating: C-
I would not call this a thriller nor would I call it suspense... Both narrators are incredibly monotone and display no emotion besides some frustration. The Silent Wife is better than The Girl on the Train but not as good as Gone Girl. Hard to write review because I just didn't care very much about the book, although it was an easy read.
Next read: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison
Genre: Fiction, suspense
Publication Date: June 2013
Setting: Chicago, present day
A "thriller" told from the perspectives of man and wife. Man is a womanizing entrepreneur and wife is a dull, albeit intelligent, home psychologist. Man has affair (well he has many, but this last one causes him trouble), and woman gets pissed. Neither character shows much affection to anyone, which makes empathizing with either character impossible.
Finished reading: Saturday, August 1, 2015
DD's rating: C-
I would not call this a thriller nor would I call it suspense... Both narrators are incredibly monotone and display no emotion besides some frustration. The Silent Wife is better than The Girl on the Train but not as good as Gone Girl. Hard to write review because I just didn't care very much about the book, although it was an easy read.
Next read: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Monday, August 10, 2015
Killing Kennedy
I'm still chasing that book-high I got from reading Killing Jesus (which I couldn't find in military-full Killing Patton and Killing Lincoln). Combined with my love for fellow Mass./Cape Cod families. Also, one of my favorite Stephen King books is 11/22/63, so I was interested about a non-fiction version of the assassination of Jack Kennedy.
Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard
Genre: Non-fiction, John F. Kennedy
Publication Date: October 2012
This book chronicles the last few years of Jack Kennedy's life, with some detail on how he became President of the U.S. O'Reilly and Dugard takes us into Kennedy's misadventure in the Navy, his marriage with Jackie, his many affairs, and his policy. The life and ambitions of Lee Harvey Oswald are also displayed, a young man with dreams of being a great man with a legacy.
Difficult to write a synopsis because I've already heard the Kennedy story so much, and he had a very short stint as president (only three years). He was a pained man (with a myriad of diseases and conditions), a playboy, arrogant, tied perhaps too closely to his family (especially Bobby), a doting father, and a socially popular President (with the help of Jackie and their open relationship with the media).
This is a good book for someone unfamiliar with the 35th, but I can't say if it was any more entertaining or informative than the miniseries.
Finished reading: Tuesday, July 28, 2015
DD's rating: A
Who doesn't love the Kennedy's?? However, this book did not present me with any information I had not already heard, either from 11/22/63 or The Kennedy's TV series, thus it does not get a "+."
**BTW 11/22/63 is hitting the little screen as a mini-series and starring James Franco. I am very excited.
Next read: The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison
Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard
Genre: Non-fiction, John F. Kennedy
Publication Date: October 2012
This book chronicles the last few years of Jack Kennedy's life, with some detail on how he became President of the U.S. O'Reilly and Dugard takes us into Kennedy's misadventure in the Navy, his marriage with Jackie, his many affairs, and his policy. The life and ambitions of Lee Harvey Oswald are also displayed, a young man with dreams of being a great man with a legacy.
Difficult to write a synopsis because I've already heard the Kennedy story so much, and he had a very short stint as president (only three years). He was a pained man (with a myriad of diseases and conditions), a playboy, arrogant, tied perhaps too closely to his family (especially Bobby), a doting father, and a socially popular President (with the help of Jackie and their open relationship with the media).
This is a good book for someone unfamiliar with the 35th, but I can't say if it was any more entertaining or informative than the miniseries.
Finished reading: Tuesday, July 28, 2015
DD's rating: A
Who doesn't love the Kennedy's?? However, this book did not present me with any information I had not already heard, either from 11/22/63 or The Kennedy's TV series, thus it does not get a "+."
**BTW 11/22/63 is hitting the little screen as a mini-series and starring James Franco. I am very excited.
Next read: The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison
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