**spoiler alert** What a privilege to be able to read about this kind of illness straight from the patient's mouth and that she be as articulate as sh**spoiler alert** What a privilege to be able to read about this kind of illness straight from the patient's mouth and that she be as articulate as she is. This was a fascinating and fast read about Susannah Cahalan's descent into madness due to an auto immune disease. This particular disease is linked to what many people believed were demonic possessions but back in the day lumbar punctures were not a thing. Gotta love science. I highly recommend this book....more
This was a great near futuristic take on the age old murder mystery. Lou is a clone of herself who was murdered by a serial killer and she forms part This was a great near futuristic take on the age old murder mystery. Lou is a clone of herself who was murdered by a serial killer and she forms part of a group of women who were brought back to life by the replication committee. This story follows Lou's investigation into her own murder and, of course there are twists and turns along the way. Virtual reality has a big role in the story too. I do, however, feel like clones would have a lot more issues than Williams gave them if they were able to be created and have all the memories except for their murders. It is hard to wrap your head around that and fortunately, we don't have to, for now....more
**spoiler alert** I enjoyed this book and it hooked me but whoa, it is intense and I can see how it might be incredibly triggering for people who may **spoiler alert** I enjoyed this book and it hooked me but whoa, it is intense and I can see how it might be incredibly triggering for people who may be going through or have experienced domestic or sexual violence. It brings to light how nuanced feelings can be and how things are never just black and white. I appreciate the solidarity of the women and that all of them seem like they could be real people. I am not surprised at all that this became a mini series on HBO. The surprise at the end got me good in regards to Jane and the identity of her son's father. ...more
This book is mix of a letter to his son, running train of thought, history lesson and outlook on life. It is short but it is full of information that This book is mix of a letter to his son, running train of thought, history lesson and outlook on life. It is short but it is full of information that I believe every American should read. I truly felt like I could feel what he was feeling as he relayed it all to his son. What I find incredible is how Coates ties everything together with eloquent and precise language. I also feel like he captured the predicament that most parents feel about raising their kids today. We are of a different generation and the world of our kids is so much different than that of our own childhood yet, there are themes that continue on; injustice, racism, prejudice, hypocrisy, security etc. What an letter. ...more
This book was a fast read but definitely not enjoyable in terms of how it really made me feel the agony the protagonist felt. It demonstrated clearly This book was a fast read but definitely not enjoyable in terms of how it really made me feel the agony the protagonist felt. It demonstrated clearly how abuse can be elusive and how the line that is drawn can keep getting moved farther and farther back. I appreciate the author's ability to get right into the head of the protagonist and to show how difficult situations of domestic abuse can be and how it is not as black and white as we like to think it is looking in from the outside. ...more
This book was interesting to say the least. I am convinced that I work at one of the traditional schools mentioned. The motto of the school being abouThis book was interesting to say the least. I am convinced that I work at one of the traditional schools mentioned. The motto of the school being about Maria gave it away. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this and all of my inklings and thoughts on how upper class limeñans use the school system were stated in this book. I do wish there was a bit more numerical data but this book is mostly based on qualitative research through interviews.
I find it fascinating how the elementary school one goes to almost has equal power in the networking process of upper class Limeñans. Unlike in the States where networking tends to really kick into gear in college and afterward, it is precisely the networking that happens among fellow ex alums of particular schools that can have a great influence on its alumnae. I highly recommend reading this book if you want to understand a bit more about the education and upper class in Lima Peru. Hopefully, there will be a translation into English soon if there is not one already. ...more
Kimberly Jones came to fame after her video went viral explaining how we are lucky black people want justice and not revenge. Those words hit hard. I Kimberly Jones came to fame after her video went viral explaining how we are lucky black people want justice and not revenge. Those words hit hard. I listened to this book and I could hear the author pour her heart and soul into what she wrote. She explains the inequities American face citing historical references and she gives us clear ways to make a difference. I appreciate how she used her platform to put this book out. Financial education is important for everyone and it is clear that capitalism works because not everyone is educated. It is systematic. There is intersection everywhere when it comes to race and politics and money. There is no doubt. Jones concisely lays it all there in an easily read but not always easily digested way....more
This book was a bit rough to get through. It is satire to the max and Beatty holds no bars. The concept of a black man deciding to reinstate slavery iThis book was a bit rough to get through. It is satire to the max and Beatty holds no bars. The concept of a black man deciding to reinstate slavery is quite a concept. With any satire though, there are plenty of truths and I appreciate the nuances the author made and I am sure there was plenty that went over my head. I give this book 4 starts because it is really well written even though I felt like I had to slog through to the end....more
I give this book 5 stars not because it is amazing writing but because it gives us a much needed look into how the American government works and what I give this book 5 stars not because it is amazing writing but because it gives us a much needed look into how the American government works and what is at stake. Snowden is considered a traitor by many and a hero by others but no matter what, the information he shares is something everyone should understand as important. We are heading into a full blown matrix. Everything on the internet is never really gone after you delete it. Even this dinky review is something that will go on into cyberspace and saved on the cloud for anyone and everyone. That is understandable as I agreed to make this public when I signed up for goodreads. What is truly shocking is how nothing is really private anymore when it comes to communicating via technology. Assume that you are being watched and do what you will with it. If you are ok with it great. If you are not, you better find your cabin off the grid. We have a dilemma for sure. ...more
I thought this book would be great as I consider myself to be a multiple career person and some of the things she talked about resonated for sure but I thought this book would be great as I consider myself to be a multiple career person and some of the things she talked about resonated for sure but I found it to be more of a presentation of various persons who have two jobs. There was not much about how to actually go about doing it just that it is possible. It is a great book for anecdotes and understanding a bit more about how some people have achieved success with multiple careers at the same time....more
This book is a trip and a half and makes you want to run away from your computer. It is obvious that we are in a new era of war and that hackers are rThis book is a trip and a half and makes you want to run away from your computer. It is obvious that we are in a new era of war and that hackers are really the ones who have the power. Greenberg does a fantastic job of explaining major hacks that have happened in the recent decades in a way that most people can understand. There is no doubt that coding will become a standard course in schools in a matter of time if we are to have any hope of having the future generations able to combat hackers. This book reads like a sci-fi thriller and then you remember that it is all true. It is terrifying and incredible....more
This book demonstrated exactly what people have been experiencing over the past 30-40 years in terms of social ties and opportunities for fellow AmeriThis book demonstrated exactly what people have been experiencing over the past 30-40 years in terms of social ties and opportunities for fellow Americans to advance in life. Putnam relates true stories of Americans and showcases the differences and similarities that they have related to families, parenting, schooling and community. I really appreciate that he gives concrete examples of what is to be done at the end. It is not lost on me that the people who are reading this book are most likely people who are in the middle to upper class and if something is to be done to help the kids at the bottom rungs, it is US who have to do something about it. Call you representative. Go to a school board meeting, town hall. Get civically if not politically active.
I really felt this quote regarding what is to be done to help poor kids catch up to the rich kids.
"...in our increasingly 'red' versus 'blue' America, it is the ultimate "purple" problem, with many contributing factors. Some causes (like nominal births) are seen more clearly through 'red' conservative lenses, while others (like growing income inequality) are accentuated by 'blue' liberal lenses. Our civic leaders will need to reach across boundaries of party and ideology if we are to offer more opportunity to our children."
Seriously though, polarization is not helpful when change is needed and man is are the States polarized.
On another note, Putnam mentions how expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and the existing child tax credit could go a long way in helping families and children succeed. I wholeheartedly agree and it is a shame that recently congress voted not to extend it.
I strongly urge every American to read this book.
It will be interesting to see the follow up to this book that includes how the pandemic exacerbated all of the problems he mentions in this book.
This a story about a middle aged gay man who left on tour of the world after his long time lover decided to marry another man. He is a lesser known auThis a story about a middle aged gay man who left on tour of the world after his long time lover decided to marry another man. He is a lesser known author who is trying to come up with his next book and wants it to be about a middle aged gay man and his woes in San Francisco.
I really enjoyed the interaction he had with one of his long time friends who was breaking up with his partner of 20 years because their relationship had run its course. Less (the main character) was super upset about it but his friend said his relationship was successful and just because it had run its course doesn't mean it was a failure. I really liked that addition and it is something that I think gay and straight couples grapple with.
I enjoyed how Greer included comedy and tragedy and a little of everything in between. The writing was excellent but maybe the life of the main character was not someone I found particularly interesting. It was a good book though overall....more
I can honestly say that it makes a lot of sense that as a whole we are terrible at understanding others, especially those from different cultural, socI can honestly say that it makes a lot of sense that as a whole we are terrible at understanding others, especially those from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds. We are bound to have terribly misguided notions and when our sense of what is normal is challenged, it can end up in disaster. This is a fantastic and insightful book....more
Totally sucked me in. It is not that the book was profound but I liked that it is part thriller, part dark comedy. It fits very well right now with alTotally sucked me in. It is not that the book was profound but I liked that it is part thriller, part dark comedy. It fits very well right now with all the health and well-being stuff throughout our media and pop culture these days. It is not surprising this became a mini series....more
This should be a required reading for EVERYONE. It covers 87 emotions and gives fantastic examples of those emotions and how we may not be using the cThis should be a required reading for EVERYONE. It covers 87 emotions and gives fantastic examples of those emotions and how we may not be using the correct vocabulary when we feel certain things. The more vocabulary we have the easier it will be to tend to our own emotional needs as well as others. This is such a fantastic book. ...more
This book was an excellent example of how nuanced personal identity is. The US is notorious for labeling everyone with even the slightest bit (one droThis book was an excellent example of how nuanced personal identity is. The US is notorious for labeling everyone with even the slightest bit (one drop) of black ancestry as black with a variety of labels that gave the supposed exact amount of blackness. But blackness is much more than just the amount of melanin one has.
What it means to be black takes many forms and Dr. Blay provides a space in this book for people within the US and throughout the African diaspora to explain how they identify and why. I find it incredibly interesting how some people latch onto the cultural aspect of race while others the physical characteristics. The dynamics of being black enough within the black community is also discussed. There is no debate that identity is much more than black and white.
I think this book should be a required reading for Americans. ...more
The nuance in this book is great and the character development too. Zadie Smith is a fantastic writer and this book does not disappoint. It is about fThe nuance in this book is great and the character development too. Zadie Smith is a fantastic writer and this book does not disappoint. It is about friendship and growing up, relationships with mothers, society and saviourism. For details of the plot look for another review but I liked this book a lot....more
This book is intense. I had to go at it slow and steady to take it all in. Wilkerson does a fantastic job weaving her story into the story of the US aThis book is intense. I had to go at it slow and steady to take it all in. Wilkerson does a fantastic job weaving her story into the story of the US and how India´s caste system has a lot to teach us about how US society works. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the social and political state of the United States and how race is undeniably weaved into all of it in a way that will not cause many people to think twice....more