iBrain, by Dr. Gary Small
This book looks at how technology, and it’s exponential impact on our daily lives, affects the brain of both digital natives and digital immigrants. Not very far yet, but it confirms already a good amount of what I’ve been thinking (fearing)…
I finished this one. I found it to be great for the person who is not quite sure about computers and how they can somehow keep their lives in balance, as well as the lives of loved ones. It’s about being able to detect when someone has become, or is becoming addicted/distracted by computers. What Dr. Small confirms is that computers are changing our lives, the way we think, expect, react, and live. Without realizing it, we get hooked into the computer and can actually lose touch with reality. For younger children who have known nothing else, social skills are being impacted. People can text on their phone and even argue on the phone, when they could easily speak to each other and work things out. They are both sitting with their phones in hand. Toward the end of the book, he begins to make recommendations and discuss how you can avoid having your life so greatly impacted. I lost interest here because I was not looking for this type of insight. I was more fascinated with the impact on the brain.
My biggest criticism is that there is a lacking of pictures and diagrams. The content gets quite biological, talking about sections of the brain and when they are accessed, what effect they have. Yet there was no graphic available to refer to. It would have been very helpful.
A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini
This book was well written, captivating, and heartwarming, yet very violent and disturbing at the same time. It is the story of two womens’ lives in Afghanistan in more recent times, of their suffering, of the politics around them that attempted to destroy their lives, of their mistreatment by the men who control them, and of their survival. Beyond a story of life during war, I found it to be a statement of the need for womens’ rights in male dominated countries (of which there seem to be many). It was impressive that a man wrote this book, which was so in touch with how women feel in general, and when being dominated. I recommend this book highly. It opened my eyes to what is going on in Afghanistan, how spoiled (and fortunate) I am to be an American woman, and how I cannot sit back and watch this happen.
In the August 23 issue of the NY Times Magazine, there are many articles about “Why Women’s Rights Are the Cause of Our Time”…I’ll start there.
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
I started reading this a couple of days ago. It’s very politically educational. As did Hosseini’s Kite Runner, I am carried away into the lives of the Afghans. The struggle, the horror, the pain, and the love that exists is strong. Politics are clarified for me, but still confusing. I’m about to begin looking up information about Afghan history, not because I want to understand the book better, but because I want to understand Afghanistan’s history. From rising above Soviet domination to turmoil within their own country…this book is the life of two Afghani women whose lives are difficult (an understatement), and whose lives seem to complement each others. Hosseini has a way of getting readers to connect with characters, to give them a great amount of depth and therefore, from me, a great deal of empathy.
The Angel’s Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
http://pdxwriting.blogspot.com/2009/06/literary-arts-andrew-proctor-talks-with.html
Image from http://www.audiobooksonline.com
Although I haven’t heard great reviews, I’m looking forward to reading this on my vacation.
The Host, by Stephanie Meyer
OK, I needed a quick read, and Stephanie gave that to me. She has a knack for writing conversations that flow, and for description that paints a vivid image in my mind. She writes love stories that aren’t mushy, with characters that are somewhat complex. I got caught up in this novel and couldn’t put it down. Although my two sons cannot stomach the Meyer novels (yes, I guess they’re chick books), and my husband won’t consider reading them, I find them to be refreshing, touching, and they even leave me with a sense of hope. This novel is about an alien race of Souls, Healers, and Seekers who invade planets by taking over the minds of their “hosts”. Contrary to what one might think from the sound of this, they are a peaceful species. They felt that humans “deserved” to be taken over since they were angry, violent, and destructive as evidenced by their media of all sorts. This novel is the path of enlightenment for one of these Souls in her quest to understand the human frailty. It is about acceptance, goodness, unity, trust, and truly…all things good. Not realistic, no. But what’s so great about reality? I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to other women/girls (or open minded men who don’t laugh at Twilight and Harry Potter) who are looking for a fast, well written read. I liken it to a Harry Potter book. Not incredibly great literature, but entertaining reading.
For more information, check out the Stephanie Meyer website…there’s an exerpt…http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/thehost.html
The Book of Air and Shadows, Michael Gruber
I finally finished this book, but it took me a while. I found it to be shallow, with weak and flawed characters. The plot was thin…focused on two men. One an egotistical intellectual property attorney with many “issues” (he was the main character) and the other a well-meaning, somewhat timid bookstore bookkeeper. Their connection is a Shakespeare manuscript and a woman, a mysterious woman. Now I must explain that I was intrigued by this book because I thought that it would be of the same ilk as “Shadow of the Wind” and “The Rule of Four”, both literary intrigue novels. I was sorely mistaken to put this one into the same category. I found, when finished, that the plot was really secondary. The book was more a self-centered search into the egotistical and troubled psyche of Jake Mishkin. I will say, on a positive note, that at times, Jake Mishkin made me laugh in his writing style.
The Book of Air and Shadows, by Michael Gruber
So I’m now on page 323. Only 140 or so to go. I am waiting for the pace to pick up and for the book to get exciting, but it’s not happening. It seems that this is more of an insight into the personality of an IP lawyer – womanizer, self-absorbed. But the undiscovered Shakespeare play looms in the story – the characters have all begun to circle, so I’m thinking that the climax is just around the corner. The jury is still out on this one. I hope to finish tonight.
Edgar Sawtelle and Hamlet
So I’ve been conversing about this book, because it did leave so many unanswered questions in my mind. It was pointed out to me that I should look to Hamlet for answers. And in fact, I did. No, I didn’t read the play but I looked at a summary on the Internet. So Claude must represent Claudius, Ophelia is Almondine, Edgar is Hamlet..but with no voice as opposed to a grand and open voice, Trudy is Gertrude, and Edgar’s dad is King Hamlet, who is killed by Claudius, just like in the play. Also, the dog, Forte, is tied in. He was Fortinbras in the play, and he wanted to avenge his father’s death, who was killed by Hamlet’s dad (King Hamlet), Henry??? So it begins to come together. See Sparknotes or Wikipedia if interested. Personally, I’m not really thrilled about the author taking Hamlet’s tale and turning it into Edgar’s tale. This was, however, a good brush up on Hamlet 
The Book of Air and Shadows, by Michael Gruber
I am only on page 60 or so, but the style of wriging seems to be clear. Humorous narrative, with some odd personalities entwined (and lots of them!), but intriguing. The olde English prose, which seems to be a part of the mysterious manuscript found that is worth killing for, is a bit difficult to get through, but fascinating. I’m seeing the pattern in the language and getting through it faster each time a section of the manuscript is revealed. In only 60 pages I’ve met quite a few people, and it’s a little overwhelming, but enjoyable. So far, so good.
