I do enjoy the books that are published by the Museum of disABILITY, but they do have shortcomings.
This book featured articles written for the local pI do enjoy the books that are published by the Museum of disABILITY, but they do have shortcomings.
This book featured articles written for the local paper. Each article is accompanied by corresponding pictures and often, maps. It gives short summaries on different lost history - more like tidbits of information. I am often left wanting to know so much more, although I do appreciate the effort to share this local knowledge.
The biggest shortfall is the waste of paper. Both books I have read published by the Museum have blank pages between the different topics.
I'm not really into graphic novels, but this was a must read for me, as I LOVE the movie and have always wanted to read the book.
While I enjoyed the nI'm not really into graphic novels, but this was a must read for me, as I LOVE the movie and have always wanted to read the book.
While I enjoyed the novel, I did feel the movie was better - simply because the characters are so much more developed and not to mention Seymour - he's actually a different character in the book.
The ending of the movie made so much more sense now that I have read the novel - I think that would be the number one reason this book is worth reading.
Same dark humor as the movie, although I found it weird that the author had himself inserted in a couple of the pieces....more
So, I think Russell Brand has good messages, I just can't cope with his delivery. This is the second book by him I attempted to read, thinking to myseSo, I think Russell Brand has good messages, I just can't cope with his delivery. This is the second book by him I attempted to read, thinking to myself, maybe he got better.
He didn't.
Here's the problem with Russell Brand's writing - in my opinion: 1) He tries to hard to appear cool. Here for example, he took the 12 steps to Recovery and re-wrote them to seem "hip" basically by adding the word fuck. 2) He talks about himself WAY too much. I guess it's basically that he just repeats himself over and over. I didn't even make it 100 pages in and I think on nearly every page he reminds the reader that they may be fucked up but he was fucked up more. I can't convince myself he was actually trying to help anyone other than to just brag about how fucked up he was until he dedicated himself to the 12 steps of recovery.
Congrats Brand, I'm glad you unfucked yourself....more
Ugh. I tried so hard to stay with this book. It just got to the point that the author was going way too far into detail about things that really had lUgh. I tried so hard to stay with this book. It just got to the point that the author was going way too far into detail about things that really had little to do with Washington’s story. Like, do we really need minute details about a prison Washington never stayed at? Or the life story of the creator of Alabama’s Electric Chair?? The narrative was much more interesting when the author stayed on topic.
I wanted to find out what happened but I just couldn’t waste anymore time trying to get through the mundane parts. ...more
I wanted more from this book than what I got out of it.
Firstly, this really revolves around the beautiful artwork and broadsides that the authors creI wanted more from this book than what I got out of it.
Firstly, this really revolves around the beautiful artwork and broadsides that the authors created together than it really is about the Feminists they chose as their muses. Each feminist's life is described, briefly and then the authors shift to focus on their artwork and who benefited from the sale of their pieces (so many pieces were made and donations made in accordance in spirit of their subject).
I was looking to learn more about feminists than the artwork. Also, some of the "feminists" were loosely so - such as the girl who perished in the concentration camp. Yes, she kept a diary, but I couldn't find where she actually effected women as a whole. Some were very popular, so I think it would have been neat if there were more feminists that people have forgotten but actually had a profound impact on our lives....more
Update: Upon giving this book to the Librarian to review for consideration for the Biography section, the book has been reassigned to Biography, I havUpdate: Upon giving this book to the Librarian to review for consideration for the Biography section, the book has been reassigned to Biography, I have now added it to my Library Biography shelf. Library Biography #22
Random pick for me, surprisingly not included in the Biography section at my library. I wasn't expecting this book to thrill me. But it did.
This narrative reads similar to a college thesis or essay - and I loved that. To me, this made the book easier to understand and comprehensive. Schwartz begins with a biography of Baum & his wife's younger years and then transforms into Baum's life of trials and tribulations. He relates all of Baum's life ordeals to specific parts of "The Wizard of Oz." Part of me wonders if the author inferred this on his own while constructing the biography of Baum, or if these relationships have been confirmed.
The author also gives very detailed accounts of Baum's mother-in-law, which, to me was an added treat. She was obviously very influential on Baum and became parts of his story as well. I also feel like this is the most information one is going to get on Matilda Gage, as I could not locate a formal biography on her. It is sad that such a strong and influential woman has almost been lost to history.
This book should appeal to anyone who is a Wizard of Oz freak, a biography lover, or literary nerd....more
Extremely quick read. It's been a while since I read a book in one day, but I just couldn't put this one down. This book was captLibrary Biography #21
Extremely quick read. It's been a while since I read a book in one day, but I just couldn't put this one down. This book was captivating and a worthwhile read.
Teresa Sullivan recounts her life, which was largely impacted by her severely handicapped sister, Michele aka Mikey. There are moments that she describes of the intimate moments she experiences with her sister, but the book is largely Sullivan's life account, versus the account of just her and Mikey - while I feel like this takes away from the premise of the book, it did not affect my overall opinion of this account.
Sullivan mostly focuses on relationships - the relationship of her family, the relationship she has with her sister, the relationship she has with her (nearly) lifelong best friend, Anne, and the lack of stable relationships with anyone else. Despite the challenges she encounters, there is one thing that stays constant - her sister, her needs, and the family's concern of her well-being. When Sullivan does focus on her sister, many of the accounts are hard to swallow, yet there are also the heartwarming and beautiful moments. To me, this gives the reader the chance to understand growing up with a handicapped sibling. Overall, even though Teresa Sullivan is able to overcome her weaknesses and become her own person and found her overall purpose in life, I still feel overwhelmingly sad for her.
The narrative left me with a lot of questions - what if the nurses had listened to Sullivan's mother and left the oxygen in the incubator alone? What if Mikey's doctors had listened to her parents when they said treatments they were prescribing weren't working? What if Mikey had gotten her eyes removed, like Mrs. Sullivan had wanted? It seems that anytime Mrs. Sullivan tried to interject with her motherly intuition she was blatantly ignored. Part of me really wonders how the Sullivan family and Mikey herself would have fared if Mrs. Sullivan had gotten her way at some point... ...more
I can't say enough about this book. Absolutely perfect, engaging and provides stickers for later activities. Grumpy Cat rocks! (She would probably disI can't say enough about this book. Absolutely perfect, engaging and provides stickers for later activities. Grumpy Cat rocks! (She would probably disapprove of this message)...more
An absolute must read. Rosenthal confronts and exposes the one thing that everyone in our country can generally agree on - our Healthcare system is unAn absolute must read. Rosenthal confronts and exposes the one thing that everyone in our country can generally agree on - our Healthcare system is unfair. Rosenthal does an excellent job explaining what's wrong and what we can do about it right now, although long term solutions will be necessary.
Rosenthal starts the book giving her 10 Economic Rules of the Dysfunctional Medical Market, which she refers back to throughout the book providing examples to back her theories. Some of these include, A lifetime of treatment is preferable to a cure, More competitors vying for business doesn't mean better prices; it can drive prices up, not down and There is no free choice. People are stuck. And they're stuck buying American.
The book is broken down into two parts: History of the Present Illness and Review of Systems & Diagnosis and Treatmeant: Prescriptions for Taking Back our Healthcare. Each chapter covers different parts of the problem - Insurance, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, ACA, etc. Rosenthal wraps up the book by giving concrete advice and sample letters to dispute charges and help patients be more critical of the care they are receiving.
The remainder of my review will highlight some of the areas that particularly rubbed me the wrong way.
After giving background on how health insurance was conceived, she begins explaining how healthcare took a turn from where it started to where it is today - it seems the 1990's were especially pivotal in the change of how healthcare in this country operates and has become, likely, the biggest business in the country. ”To increase profits, all insurers, regardless of their tax status, have been spending less on care in recent years and more on activities like marketing, lobbying, administration, and paying out of dividends."
Some of the examples Rosenthal really bothered me to the core. One include testing on a new drug for a sleep disorder that occurs primarily in blind people, when it was all said and done, the new drug was never proved to be any better then widely available melatonin. In fact, the new drug was priced at $267 a dose, whereas a bottle of 100 pills of melatonin is only $6 over the counter and performs the same, if not better. So, now people, who have the sleep disorder may feel this new drug may be a better option but would have to pay exorbitant amounts. This is just one example, I'm sure there are several across the board. Then, what gets me, is those who choose to treat themselves with cheaper options or through alternate means, are labeled and accused of being anti-science. There were other examples of a drug being altered just so companies could hold on to their patents so that generic brands could not be produced - the new drugs not having any benefits, just being changed in appearance. She gives several examples to this end.
”From the manufacturers' standpoint, if diabetes could be cured there would be no need for insulin, pumps, monitors, all lucrative products." This is in response to one doctor who was able to find a way to potentially cure diabetes, but was encouraged to turn her discovery into a business model, rather than provide an actual cure. If this is really what this world is coming to, where business and money are more important than life and preventing suffering - I'm out.
”Our healthcare system today treats illness and wellness as just another object of commerce: Revenue generation. Supply chain optimization. Minimization of tax liability. Innovative business modeling. Things sold. Services rendered. Bills to be paid." Keeping this in mind really explains the shortfalls with the ACA, ”Even the well-intentioned provisions that managed to survive the tortuous congressional negotiations over the ACA have been in practice diluted and perverted, as providers find ways to maximize revenue by gaming its rules." Just remember, ”In healthcare, entrepreneurship outsmarts regulation every time." So comforting to know.
Rosenthal calls on the FDA over and over again to not only do their job but also to expand their duties. She asks that the FDA require better practices when allowing a drug or device to enter the market, set standard pricing so that companies cannot take advantage of the market.
All in all, it's apparent that the citizens of this country are going to have to come together to demand changes to our healthcare system....more
This was my second Chinua Achebe book. To be fair, I feel I am rating him a bit low on this one. It's amazing how in just over 1Library Biography #20.
This was my second Chinua Achebe book. To be fair, I feel I am rating him a bit low on this one. It's amazing how in just over 100 pages of a small sized book can really be so impactful. Achebe's writing is rather dense at times, which makes it better if you are looking for something to make you do the thinking. While I appreciated his narrative, at times it forced me to go back and re-read sections just so I could comprehend his full thought. Also, the three short pieces in this book are more harmonious if you find time to read them in one sitting.
Some quotes I rather enjoyed: "There is really no good reason to continue answering a derogatory name simply because somebody has given it to you."
"In the end I began to understand. There is such a thing as absolute power over narrative. Those who secure this privilege for themselves can arrange stories about others pretty much where, and as, they like. Just as in corrupt, totalitarian regimes, those who exercise power over others can do anything. They can bring out crowds of demonstrators whenever they need them."...more
I felt much of this book was based on the letters written by Abigail Adams, which make for an excellent resource, but was presentLibrary Biography #22
I felt much of this book was based on the letters written by Abigail Adams, which make for an excellent resource, but was presented in such a rather boorish manner. In fact I just decided to get a book out of Abigail & John's letters because they felt butchered at times, and I would just rather read them in their entirety. The way the letters were presented was sometime strange, quoting large parts, then drifting off into a paragraph where more of the letter would be quoted.
I found the first couple chapters, on Abigail's early life, courtship with John Adams, and motherhood most interesting. Then the book seems to transform into just a series of this happened, then this happened, Abigail bought a gift for so & so, etc. It became rather boring to me. I felt like there were many opportunities to expand on certain events to bring the reader in and understand Abigail's point of view instead of a mention of how she felt or her comments.
My opinion of this book does not reflect my opinion on Abigail Adams, however. Instead I find a lot of what she felt and expressed could be mark her as a feminist of her time.
This book may be interesting to someone who isn't interested in lengthy discourse or analysis....more
If you know absolutely NOTHING about Excel, this book would be phenomenal.
If you know the basics about Excel and are looking for step by step instrucIf you know absolutely NOTHING about Excel, this book would be phenomenal.
If you know the basics about Excel and are looking for step by step instructions or explanations on some uses of different Excel functions, then this book will not really help you.
I wanted to learn how to do Macros, the book gives a very basic and simple explanation on how to record Macros. Ok. But then I wanted to do something as simple as use a drop down box and I wasn't sure where I had to go to start it - this is a fairly simple task - but not included in the book. I ended up googling and watching Mircosoft videos on what I needed instead of using the book....more
I initially picked up this book to better understand the issues with the race issues that currently exist in our country. To me, there were hits and mI initially picked up this book to better understand the issues with the race issues that currently exist in our country. To me, there were hits and misses in this book - from my perspective.
My parents raised me, pretty much to the effect of Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of people being judged by the content of their character. So for me, I always saw people for who they were - not what they looked liked. Furthermore, I learned skin color is determined by your ancestor's exposure to the sun - so it's rather silly to make skin color matter when it comes to how to view or treat someone. I'm sure Eddie Glaude Jr. would say I'm colorblind. And well, perhaps I am - although I am not denying that problems don't exist - for the simple fact that race issues still exist, nor do I think everything needs to stay the same.
The first four chapters were difficult for me, because either I still had questions (i.e. Why were the mortgage rates all of a sudden raised for some?) or I felt much the material didn't just apply to blacks - but to all poor and low-income communities. The closing of small shops and cultural places has decreased for EVERYONE with the shift to big corporate stores and chains taking over nearly EVERY community it one fashion or another. I do not believe that black communities were solely targeted. I feel that America as a whole was targeted. Also many of the problems and issues discussed are any race vs. white, the "fear" is instilled as anyone who might be different, it's not exclusive to just black or African Americans. I also felt at times the author twisted things to his benefit at times.
Chapters five to eight were the chapters I felt like I learned from and that I could clearly understand the author's POV. Here he talks about the fight for equality post-Martin Luther King Jr. and criticizes everyone from Obama to Rev. Sharpton to Jesse Jackson and even including the NACCP- rightly so - he defines these politicians to be a group of black liberals that are enforcing status quo rather than making any radical moves. Glaube isn't necessary rude but rather honest. He asks that to invoke change that we need new, younger leaders. Likely those that know more first hand what is going on and who are creating peaceful demonstrations (I would have liked his commentary on the violence that was not planned but came out of many protests - were these people part of the original group? Those protesters seemed to be omitted from much of this narrative).
Glaube states that we have "disremembered" King's message and that many times King's image is used for things that he may or may not have actually been in support of. "The ritual act of disremembering became a ritual of expiation: the sins of our racial past gave way to an emphasis on individual merit and responsibility. Racial inequality was not seen as the result of deeply ingrained habits, racist policies, or actual discrimination, but rather, as the result of a culture of pathology, which produced bad, irresponsible black people." Here was when I began to understand Glaube's plight and our wrong perceptions of issues.
In the end, Glaube calls for a "blank-out" meaning that voters go to vote, but cast blank ballots. He believes that this will send a message. I am not so certain. In fact, all that angers me is that there seems to be so many different groups who want to make a change but that they keep just voting for the two biggest parties - why not pull together to make a real 3rd party option? I'm not talking about the party lines that Republicans and Democrats take over so they are running on more than one party line - but a true third party. Similar to the Greens or Libertarians. Help build a base! I think that is still worth reading this book because I think that everyone will gain something of value from it - even a small understanding of perspective. ...more
I sincerely debated rating this book a 4 based on the last few chapters, but decided to go with my overall love of this book and give it a 5 rating.
WhI sincerely debated rating this book a 4 based on the last few chapters, but decided to go with my overall love of this book and give it a 5 rating.
When you fall in love with a book, it becomes a quick read. Despite being 300 pages, I couldn't help myself when it came to finding time to read this one.
Stapinski is a tremendous writer. I completely fell in love with this book upon reading the first couple pages. I did not want to put it down and she writes so clearly, which makes it even better and easier to love. Stapinski goes on a journey to find the truth behind old family stories - convinced that her family escaped Italy on devious terms. Stapinski takes the time to study and discover Italy - the history and how people lived. This all comes to light in her book and is tied in directly with the story so that it is not boring. That's what I loved about it - there was so much to learn and Stapinski finds a way to make it worthwhile.
At some point in the book, when she begins to uncover more about her great-great-grandmother, Vita, she starts to write chapters that are fictional, but evidently based on her research of the period. She bases her writing on how she thinks a family member would react - their particular communication. The imagined chapters are so obviously fiction that it shouldn't be an issue for the reader to recognize that it is not fact. The last couple of chapters are fictional and it seems to drag on, I appreciated these interludes when they were just short breaks from her intensive research.
I have read similar non-fiction books of a similar topic - looking for the mystery behind one's great-great-grandmother (see An American Ghost by Hannah Nordhaus ) or even with memoir/murder case/fictionalized events (see The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich). I feel like Helene Stapinski stays on point and the fictionalized parts don't bother me because they are so obvious and because she explains what she imagined at the end. Perhaps we need another genre for this type of writing....more
Sybrina Fulton & Tracey Martin tell their side of the murder of their son, Trayvon Martin. They take tBiography #19 of my Library Biography challenge.
Sybrina Fulton & Tracey Martin tell their side of the murder of their son, Trayvon Martin. They take the reader through the story of the days leading up to the murder, the murder, the seeking of justice, the trial, the verdict. The book flip flops between Sybrina's narrative & Tracey's. The problem with that is we often hear the same parts of the story multiple times - even quotations are repeated. Some of parts drag on and sometimes it becomes boring, which is such a shame for such an important narrative. This also took me longer to read the book because my interest in sections faded.
Martin & Fulton's story of their death of their son is a necessary one to read - due to the particulars of the case - racial profiling (whether you believe race was an issue or not, Trayvon was undoubtedly profiled due to his hoodie), the question if self defense was even plausible, and the logistics of the trial itself. I get the feeling that Fulton & Martin do not feel that the prosecutors in the case did enough to negate the images the defense painted of their son. Trayvon seemed like a typical teenager, who hit a rough patch in his life, but was not known as aggressive. He is attacked on his way back from the corner store. Really, what do people think he should have done under the circumstances of being stalked by someone you don't know, when you've done nothing? While I am not surprised that the justice system failed, I do blame the police for not taking necessary evidence just because this was a murder - i.e. not taking pictures of Zimmerman, if he was attacked, where was all the physical evidence, the background checks, drug/alcohol analysis. They jumped too soon to say that the "Stand your Ground" law stood in this case. I would also think that protocols would still stand to follow even though the possibility of self-defense - and really who makes that call? The police alone? Should it not have gone to a jury regardless, just because it was a murder?
Although I appreciated the book, I do think some necessary editing was needed, the book would have been so much more powerful.
Also, I guess I'm not really sure this should even be considered a biography - I've read other books written by parents of slain children a- most memorable - Goneboy by Gregory Gibson, A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold, The Meaning of Matthew by Judy Shepard - all of which were not considered Biographies but were along the same lines of Trayvon Martin's death (well, save Sue Klebold, but I put her in here for the simple fact that she is telling her family story)....more
Once again, I had not idea who Chinua Achebe was, which I was quite surprised, since he is known as thBiography #18 of my Library Biography Challenge.
Once again, I had not idea who Chinua Achebe was, which I was quite surprised, since he is known as the "Father of African Literature."
This was an extremely hard book for me to get through. Honestly, it was my mind got lost in my thoughts as I was reading, so I wasn't really reading what he was saying. This happened for the majority of the book.
There were however some really stellar essays that I truly appreciated and I would read again to analyze and reflect on. These were: - Martin Luther King and Africa - The University and the Leadership Factor in Nigerian Politics - Africa is People
Another Achebe book is coming up on my Biography reads so I am not giving up on reading him, I just didn't really connect with this book. Could be that it was a collection of essays rather than a direct narrative....more
Biography number 17. Quick, easy read. This book befuddled me to an extent. When I read the book flap and decided to read it, I expected this to be ablBiography number 17. Quick, easy read. This book befuddled me to an extent. When I read the book flap and decided to read it, I expected this to be able the bond of sisterhood and how the death of a sister ultimately changed that. I expected to weep, to feel the heart strings pulled.
I felt none of that. None.
Instead, we are given a collection of memories of life through the eyes of the younger of two well-off South African girls. They are simply oblivious to the outside world, as everything that occurred in South Africa during their upbringing had little effect on their lives. While Kohler's sister was someone special to her, I just don't really get the feeling. Were they close? It seems so, but you cannot feel their closeness through the writing. Well, life continues and due to their naive nature, they seem to rush into relationships. These relationships, aka their husbands, seem to be their undoing. I feel that Kohler has a lot of pent up anger toward her former brother-in-law. The whole family knew he was abusive, but nobody dared help the sister or her children. Her sister dies in a car accident - and even after that no one challenges the brother-in-law, even though he gets much of his wife's money (remember they are very rich and the sisters support their husbands for the most part). Kohler goes through her own turmoil in life. But as this book carries on, it becomes really less about the bonds of sisterhood and sister stories, and more and more about Kohler. It doesn't bother me that Kohler writes of her life - but this wasn't, to me, what the book was supposed to be about. She does incorporate her mother's relationship with her sisters at one point - but it only seems to be so she can make jabs at them and be upset that they got her mother's money and she didn't. ...more
This book was rather short and left me wanting so much more. Al-Khatahtbeh is capable of writing much Biography #16 of my library biography challenge.
This book was rather short and left me wanting so much more. Al-Khatahtbeh is capable of writing much more to connect to the reader - young, but wise - she certainly has a lot to offer. I felt there was so much she could expand on - but also felt that perhaps she was trying to push this book out due to the awkward times we are living in. Very powerful writing.
There were a number of passages I felt the need to quote & react upon..
"Sexism has been employed in many ways throughout history to uphold racism." "Because out racist society is quick to view minorities as monoliths, and because our sexist society is quick to reduce women to the attire they wear, Muslim women who wear headscarves have undoubtedly become the involuntary representatives of an entire religion."
"And seeing as how America should be the 'salad bowl' of the modern world, it doesn't make sense that being 'unassimilated' should be seen as unordinary or viewed so negatively in today's society." Yes, yes, yes. This has been going on for ages - it has always bewildered me that the country built upon immigration is so judgy on immigrates and their differing ways.
"Injustices were taking place under our nose, often financed by our tax dollars, and the absolute least we could do was muster up the courage to speak up about them when the opportunity arose." All citizens need to see this light - stop being so proud and realize when we are in the wrong - fight for what's right!
"...could be considered a reflection of the immigrant experience, the most basic premise of which was the underlying assumption that if you left your home country for here, then your home country is inferior. Meanwhile, we have selective memory and conveniently forget that Western countries are often to blame for the issues prompting immigration in the first place." So true!!
"... she planned to host Draw Muhammad Day in Garland, Texas - an occasion for, I guess, other bigots to compete over who could draw the most offensive carton of our prophet for a cash prize, and then put all submissions on display in an art gallery.... we figured the only way to talk back to such ridiculous hate would be with humor and love." What decade is this that this type of insanity is occurring in the first place??
"...it's important for us to recognize that those works and accomplishments deserve recognition in their own right - not solely because they were produced by a Muslim woman. That's not what makes them valuable. ...The only thing that makes their work special is that it's done by a woman whom we would otherwise presume to be prevented from doing so, because she is oppressed, or uneducated, or weak, and her success is something of anomaly. ...The story becomes not about the hard work to which she has dedicated herself, but ironically about the hurdles in place to prevent her from doing it." I believe this is a plight for all women - more so for those of color, but we can all relate to this.
"What happens is that whenever Muslims do something wrong, they are always in the news and identified as their religion. When people of other faiths commit horrible acts, we are never told what religion they are because it's deemed irrelevant, and they get to enjoy the privilege of being held accountable as individuals for their actions rather than having their background be collectively held accountable or blamed on their behalf." This is so very true, when a Christian performs heinous acts - it's a side note. I feel like this is the exact reason that so many people have false fear in anyone who identifies as Muslim.
"We were the little girls who were told to sit down and shut up while our world betrayed us. We are rising up - we are the ones reclaiming our voices, the ones talking back, and the ones reminding the world that no, we haven't forgotten. We grew to become our own saviors." And thankfully you were strong enough to do so....more