copyright = 1997
pages = 352
source = purchase
date completed = 06/21/09
challenges: Non-Fiction Five
This was a set of autobiographical essays by physicist Richard Feynman. He is definitely not a writer. The essays were disjointed, out of chronological order, and dry. I really wasn't interested in reading the book after I started, but I finished it for the challenge. I had previously read somewhere this was supposed to be humorous, but I didn't find it that funny. I'm sure he's a great scientist, won the Nobel prize, etc. But I just didn't enjoy reading these essays.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Proust Was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer
copyright = 2007
pages = 200
source = purchase
date completed = 06/03/09
challenges: Non-Fiction Five
This is a very thought-provoking book in which the author relates several artists to current ideas of how the brain works. The problem with this is that after the fact, an association can always be found. Some of the connections seem stretched--did the artist really "discover" the idea or was it just noticed afterwards that this is how the brain works?
Lehrer uses 8 artists to convey his point: Walt Whitman, George Eliot, Auguste Escoffier, Marcel Proust, Paul Cezanne, Igor Stravinsky, Gertrude Stein and Virginia Woolf. I am familiar with all of the names (except Escoffier) but not familiar in detail with their works. I'm quite sure it would have helped if I had been because Lehrer discusses the works and lives of the artists in detail. It seems most of the artists created new ways of doing things--new forms of literature, new painting styles, etc. For example, Cezanne was integral to the postimpressionist movement. He began leaving more and more canvas blank in his paintings which relates to how the brain sees--the brain fills in what isn't there. Of course, the book explains this in much more biological detail.
Overall, this book made me think--often having to put the book down to think about a sentence or two. I enjoyed it, but would have enjoyed it more if I were more familiar with the artists' actual works. Or perhaps, this book is just a jumping point for that.
pages = 200
source = purchase
date completed = 06/03/09
challenges: Non-Fiction Five
This is a very thought-provoking book in which the author relates several artists to current ideas of how the brain works. The problem with this is that after the fact, an association can always be found. Some of the connections seem stretched--did the artist really "discover" the idea or was it just noticed afterwards that this is how the brain works?
Lehrer uses 8 artists to convey his point: Walt Whitman, George Eliot, Auguste Escoffier, Marcel Proust, Paul Cezanne, Igor Stravinsky, Gertrude Stein and Virginia Woolf. I am familiar with all of the names (except Escoffier) but not familiar in detail with their works. I'm quite sure it would have helped if I had been because Lehrer discusses the works and lives of the artists in detail. It seems most of the artists created new ways of doing things--new forms of literature, new painting styles, etc. For example, Cezanne was integral to the postimpressionist movement. He began leaving more and more canvas blank in his paintings which relates to how the brain sees--the brain fills in what isn't there. Of course, the book explains this in much more biological detail.
Overall, this book made me think--often having to put the book down to think about a sentence or two. I enjoyed it, but would have enjoyed it more if I were more familiar with the artists' actual works. Or perhaps, this book is just a jumping point for that.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
copyright = 2009
pages = 284
source = purchase
date completed =
challenges = Non-Fiction Five
The bulk of the book is about Fawcett and his life. Several of his diaries and letters have survived, which the author researched. There is quite a bit of information about fellow (and rival) adventurers and the Royal Geographical Society which supported and funded explorations. Almost as an afterthought though, the author goes to the Amazon as well. Based on what I expected from this book, I would have thought more time would have been spent on the author’s experience. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Fawcett. The trials of the expeditions were fascinating (malaria, bugs, lack of food) and it is hard to imagine someone willingly doing it. Fawcett is supposed to be the inspiration behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World so I look forward to reading that as well.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
A Canticle For Leibowitz
A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr.
copyright = 1959
pages = 338
source = purchase
date completed = 04/03/09
challenges: It's the End of the World II; TBR
The story starts out after a nuclear destruction with Brother Francis of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz in the Utah desert. He is performing his Lenten vigil in order to become a full monk of the order. During this time a wandering traveler “inadvertently” finds an entrance to some ruins that Brother Francis ends up investigating. The Order’s main purpose is to preserve pre-nuclear (called the Flame Deluge in the book) writings for future generations. Brother Francis finds what is reportedly some of Leibowitz’s original writings and takes them back to the order. Much controversy ensues since Leibowitz is currently a candidate for canonization and the validity of the documents is in question. Part one follows Brother Francis through the years as the documents are evaluated.
Part two is several hundred years later, following Dom Paulo, abbot of the abbey. Man has regained an appreciation for literacy and the old documents are to be studied again. They have also started replicating ideas (electric light, for example). But the political landscape is unsettled and in the years of Dom Paulo’s leadership issues break out between warring tribes.
Part three again is several hundred years later, this time following Dom Zerchi. Man has advanced—spaceships, cars—but they are living with the effects of past blunders. Genetic defects and radiation sickness still occur and euthanasia camps are set up for those too sick to be expected to live. It is in this part that Man repeats his mistakes.
There isn’t much I can say about this book that hasn’t already been written/analyzed. There is a wiki on it of course. I found the book compelling, eager to find out what would happen, even knowing Man would probably fail again anyway. I know that I need to read it again because it seems I didn’t quite grasp it all. I definitely recommend it.
copyright = 1959
pages = 338
source = purchase
date completed = 04/03/09
challenges: It's the End of the World II; TBR
The story starts out after a nuclear destruction with Brother Francis of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz in the Utah desert. He is performing his Lenten vigil in order to become a full monk of the order. During this time a wandering traveler “inadvertently” finds an entrance to some ruins that Brother Francis ends up investigating. The Order’s main purpose is to preserve pre-nuclear (called the Flame Deluge in the book) writings for future generations. Brother Francis finds what is reportedly some of Leibowitz’s original writings and takes them back to the order. Much controversy ensues since Leibowitz is currently a candidate for canonization and the validity of the documents is in question. Part one follows Brother Francis through the years as the documents are evaluated.
Part two is several hundred years later, following Dom Paulo, abbot of the abbey. Man has regained an appreciation for literacy and the old documents are to be studied again. They have also started replicating ideas (electric light, for example). But the political landscape is unsettled and in the years of Dom Paulo’s leadership issues break out between warring tribes.
Part three again is several hundred years later, this time following Dom Zerchi. Man has advanced—spaceships, cars—but they are living with the effects of past blunders. Genetic defects and radiation sickness still occur and euthanasia camps are set up for those too sick to be expected to live. It is in this part that Man repeats his mistakes.
There isn’t much I can say about this book that hasn’t already been written/analyzed. There is a wiki on it of course. I found the book compelling, eager to find out what would happen, even knowing Man would probably fail again anyway. I know that I need to read it again because it seems I didn’t quite grasp it all. I definitely recommend it.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Non-Fiction Five Challenge May 1 - Sept 30 2009
Non-Fiction Five challenge
The Rules (unchanged from previous years)
1. Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2009 (please link your reviews on Mister Linky each month; Mister Linky can be found each month on this blog)
2. Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)
3. If interested, please sign up below with the link to your NFF Challenge post (all choices do not need to be posted and may change at any time)
My list:
1. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
2. Proust Was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer
3. Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
4. The Private Life of the Rabbit by R.M. Lockley
5. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
The Rules (unchanged from previous years)
1. Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2009 (please link your reviews on Mister Linky each month; Mister Linky can be found each month on this blog)
2. Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)
3. If interested, please sign up below with the link to your NFF Challenge post (all choices do not need to be posted and may change at any time)
My list:
1. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
2. Proust Was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer
3. Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
4. The Private Life of the Rabbit by R.M. Lockley
5. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
It's the End of the World II Challenge Mar 10 - Oct 9
Another new challenge! :)
It's the End of the World II Challenge
Announcing the second season of the IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD (AS WE KNOW IT) Reading Challenge. I've changed up a few things, but at its heart it remains the same.
Name: It's The End Of The World II
Host: Me, Becky (of Becky's Book Reviews)
Dates: March 10, 2009 - October 9, 2009
Books Required: at least four
Read at least four books about "the end of the world." This includes both apocalyptic fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction. There is quite a bit of overlap with dystopic fiction as well. The point being something--be it coming from within or without, natural or unnatural--has changed civilization, society, humanity to such a degree that it radically differs from "life as we now know it." (Aliens, evil governments, war, plague, natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, depletion of resources, genetic manipulation, etc.) Here is a wikipedia article on the subject. Also see here. These changes can be small-but-still-significant or huge-and-life-threatening.
Books can be classified as children's, young adult, and adult. (Not many children's books go there. But many teen books do. And they're great.)
Graphic novels can count for this challenge.
Audio books allowed.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
No list for me yet, but I have quite a few of these just lying around. :)
*EDITED* to add my list:
1. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
2. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
4. The Stand by Stephen King (re-read, but it's been more than 15 years)
It's the End of the World II Challenge
Announcing the second season of the IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD (AS WE KNOW IT) Reading Challenge. I've changed up a few things, but at its heart it remains the same.
Name: It's The End Of The World II
Host: Me, Becky (of Becky's Book Reviews)
Dates: March 10, 2009 - October 9, 2009
Books Required: at least four
Read at least four books about "the end of the world." This includes both apocalyptic fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction. There is quite a bit of overlap with dystopic fiction as well. The point being something--be it coming from within or without, natural or unnatural--has changed civilization, society, humanity to such a degree that it radically differs from "life as we now know it." (Aliens, evil governments, war, plague, natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, depletion of resources, genetic manipulation, etc.) Here is a wikipedia article on the subject. Also see here. These changes can be small-but-still-significant or huge-and-life-threatening.
Books can be classified as children's, young adult, and adult. (Not many children's books go there. But many teen books do. And they're great.)
Graphic novels can count for this challenge.
Audio books allowed.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
No list for me yet, but I have quite a few of these just lying around. :)
*EDITED* to add my list:
1. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
2. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
4. The Stand by Stephen King (re-read, but it's been more than 15 years)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Guardian's 1000 Novel Challenge Feb 1 09-Feb 01 10
My 5th challenge:
Guardian 1000 Challenge
Well, here I am, hosting my very first challenge!
The British paper, The Guardian, has come up with a list of 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read Before They Die. (In case they take that link down, I've also posted the list here.)
So, the challenge is toread 10 and review read and review 10 books off the list (that's 1%) between February 1st of 2009 and February 1st of 2010.
Of these 10, you must read 1 from each category and, if possible, 1 should be a book you have never heard of until you saw it on this list.
Feel free to complain about certain books being included or not included.
Also, they have broken the list into smaller sections, with annotations, so you can see what a book is about before you check it out.
I'll have a post every month rounding up your reviews and it'll be lots of fun, so sign up below!
UPDATE There will be prizes! I'm not sure what yet, but at the end, there will be a prize drawing for everyone who finishes, and probably a drawing or two along the way...
I haven't picked any books yet. I just went through the list this afternoon to see what I had already read. I'll work on my list next week. I'm sure I already own quite a few.
*EDIT*
Here are my book choices:
Guardian 1000 Challenge
Well, here I am, hosting my very first challenge!
The British paper, The Guardian, has come up with a list of 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read Before They Die. (In case they take that link down, I've also posted the list here.)
So, the challenge is to
Of these 10, you must read 1 from each category and, if possible, 1 should be a book you have never heard of until you saw it on this list.
Feel free to complain about certain books being included or not included.
Also, they have broken the list into smaller sections, with annotations, so you can see what a book is about before you check it out.
I'll have a post every month rounding up your reviews and it'll be lots of fun, so sign up below!
UPDATE There will be prizes! I'm not sure what yet, but at the end, there will be a prize drawing for everyone who finishes, and probably a drawing or two along the way...
I haven't picked any books yet. I just went through the list this afternoon to see what I had already read. I'll work on my list next week. I'm sure I already own quite a few.
*EDIT*
Here are my book choices:
Comedy
- Money by Martin Amis
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
- V by Thomas Pynchon
- The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
- Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz
- My Antonia by Willa Cather
- The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami
- The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville
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