Rush is my all-time favourite band, so needless to say I was excited to hear that Geddy was coming out with a memoir. And I'm even happier to say thatRush is my all-time favourite band, so needless to say I was excited to hear that Geddy was coming out with a memoir. And I'm even happier to say that it lived up to all my expectations. The book was well-written and entertaining, and I plowed through it in just a few days.
Here Geddy regales us with tales of youth, genocide, people who would become lifelong friends, young love, and Young love. It's a great tale of drugs and rock & roll, but without the sex. (The sex part may or may not have happened, but Rush fans know there's a good chance it didn't.) The book appealed to me because of my emotional connection to the band, but it may also be an interesting read for people who are just generally interested in music and musicians.
There's a quote that says something to the effect of, you should never meet your heroes because, once you learn what they are like, you will be disappointed. Well, I was able to get to know Geddy, in a manner of speaking, and I am the opposite of disappointed. In fact, he sounds like an intelligent, loving, and deeply emotional person who would probably be a great friend....more
This is actually a funny book about horrible things: amusing events as seen through the eyes of a woman with depression and anxiety. Lawson acknowledgThis is actually a funny book about horrible things: amusing events as seen through the eyes of a woman with depression and anxiety. Lawson acknowledges and discusses her disorders, but has a keen knack for finding the humor in her life. Honestly, she seems like she's the kind of weirdo I'd like to hang around....more
This book was recommended to me and I enjoyed it. I'm not a fan of Patti Smith, per se (it's not that I don't like her, I just never really listened tThis book was recommended to me and I enjoyed it. I'm not a fan of Patti Smith, per se (it's not that I don't like her, I just never really listened to her music), but this was a very interesting read, regardless. Here she discusses both how she came to leave her family home and get involved with art, poetry, and music as she came of age in NYC, as well as the years of her life she spent with Robert Mapplethorpe. There is a lot of name-dropping within, although she's doing it to describe the environment around her at the time. Too bad I only recognize about 10% of the names....more
A four-year-old boy was imprisoned at Auschwitz during WWII and miraculously survived. A lifetime later he came across photos of himself from that timA four-year-old boy was imprisoned at Auschwitz during WWII and miraculously survived. A lifetime later he came across photos of himself from that time on, of all things, a Holocaust denial site. This prompted him to write about his own personal story.
Bornstein talks not only about his experiences at Auschwitz and how he survived, but also the situation in Poland before and after his incarceration, and subsequent emigration to the U.S. I find it both fascinating and tragic to read first hand descriptions of what went on in Europe at that time. Originally I thought is was important to simply keep those memories alive to honor the deceased and so that we never repeat those actions, but now in the current United States I also think it is important to watch for the warning signs of fascism and genocide. We cannot repeat that....more
I started following the author in Instagram some time ago because who doesn't want to see photos of a cat travelling the world with her rescuer! Now tI started following the author in Instagram some time ago because who doesn't want to see photos of a cat travelling the world with her rescuer! Now that this book is out I was able to read the story of Nala's rescue, and the impact she had on Nicholson's life, and the lives of the people they've met. I've got a whole new respect for the author after hearing about his passion for environmental and animal-related causes, and I'm so happy he's been able to make positive changes in the world around him. It's funny though: I'm still seeing his Instagram posts so I know Dean & Nala are both alive and well, but when the book begins describing an illness or bad situation I get all nervous for them! I take solace in the face they're both still doing well.
I hope the author writes another book once he wraps up his journey. I've love to hear more about their travels....more
Yay, another Allie Brosh book! I really enjoyed this. It's similar to her first book in that it's illustrated with her wonderful drawings. Lots and loYay, another Allie Brosh book! I really enjoyed this. It's similar to her first book in that it's illustrated with her wonderful drawings. Lots and lots of drawings! But it's a little different because the main theme here is not depression, unlike her first book. Solutions... does continue the memoir theme, with Brosh describing events from her life from childhood forward.
Now that I've read this, I can't wait for her next book ;)...more
Although this is advertised as a novel, it is the true story of a man who becomes the tattooist at Auschwitz and how he fell in love with his wife-to-Although this is advertised as a novel, it is the true story of a man who becomes the tattooist at Auschwitz and how he fell in love with his wife-to-be. It is considered a novel because it is not a firsthand account of what happened, and, as such, there was some creative license taken with conversations, but the story came from the mouth of the man who lived it.
And what a story it is, sometimes with the main character (Lale) experiencing some amazing luck, and an occasional decent soul - quite a rarity for someone imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. The fact that he met and fell in love with a woman in a camp, then they both survived despite the incredible odds against them, was pretty amazing. It's almost too good to be true....more
I like Sedaris' memoir writings so much better than his fiction. This is the former, and quite entertaining.I like Sedaris' memoir writings so much better than his fiction. This is the former, and quite entertaining....more
This is a novel, but it also the story of a Jewish family in Poland who miraculously survived the Holocaust. The author's father, his parents, siblingThis is a novel, but it also the story of a Jewish family in Poland who miraculously survived the Holocaust. The author's father, his parents, siblings, and their families all somehow were able to live through the slaughter that occurred during World War II, although the author did not even know about this until she was an adult. Once she found out, she interviewed the surviving family members and wrote this book, based on actual events. ...more
Congresswoman Spiers' autobiography, including information about her experiences and injuries incurred during the infamous Jonestown Massacre. Congresswoman Spiers' autobiography, including information about her experiences and injuries incurred during the infamous Jonestown Massacre. ...more
I never expected Idle's autobiography to be a tale of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll (and actors and comedians), but it is. It turns out that he had quI never expected Idle's autobiography to be a tale of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll (and actors and comedians), but it is. It turns out that he had quite a wild youth, and when the Pythons were at the height of their popularity it put him on par with like likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Harrison Ford, Robin Williams, and the like, and they apparently hung out and partied a lot. But, more importantly, this was an amusing read.
A paragraph from the book: "A party broke out and, if you can believe this, all of the Rolling Stones turned up. I of course pretended to the Star Wars folk that this was no big deal and happened all the time, but it began an epic night which ended only at 6:00 a.m. when the cars came to pick up the actors for work and the Stones sloped off to hang upside down in their caves. When I saw The Empire Strikes Back, I was so proud. The scene they shot that morning bears the scars of the evening. Carrie lurches out of a spaceship to meet Billy Dee Williams and says, "Hi!" Harrison is still clearly drunk. I remain inordinately proud of the scene I spoiled and hope that one day George Lucas will forgive me."...more
This is a reprint of three books from the 1950s detailing the author's animal collection expeditions. In the introduction, Attenborough acknowledges tThis is a reprint of three books from the 1950s detailing the author's animal collection expeditions. In the introduction, Attenborough acknowledges the different world today, where naturalists would not go out and collect whatever species they could capture, and with good reason. While it was interesting to read, I would have rather have read an actual autobiography....more
This is the story about Barack Obama's search for information about his father and the African side of his heritage, as well as his own biography up tThis is the story about Barack Obama's search for information about his father and the African side of his heritage, as well as his own biography up through his twenties. Obama's parents split when he was about age two, and as a result, he never knew his father except for one visit at age 10. His father was a larger-than-life figure with a slightly mysterious background, having come from Kenya. So Obama eventually travelled there to meet the African side of his family and learn more about them, about his now-deceased father, and himself.
Obama did not grow up in a wealthy family, and he struggled with finances in his college years and early 20s. It's a bit odd to read about the president of the U.S. sleeping on a doorstep because his NYC contact was not available and he didn't have money for a hotel room! It is also sad to read about how some people treated him and the racism he experienced; I just wanted to yell at those people, "Don't you know you're speaking to the president?!"
Speaking of racism, that is another topic that Obama attacks head-on. He speaks frankly of racism in the U.S., in Chicago (where he did/does pretty much all of his political work outside the White House), and even in Kenya. As a white person, I very much appreciate hearing about this topic from a person of color; at the same time, I feel that too many whites don't want to speak of racism, not because they want to perpetuate it, but possibly because they don't know what to say. Sadly, that puts the burden to discuss it on Blacks, and it is a topic that cannot be ignored.
This book ends after Obama's trip to Kenya, before he begins work as a senator. This edition does have an epilogue which mentions his completion of law school and briefly describes his marriage to Michelle. I would love to read another book by him talking about his years in D.C....more
An amazing memoir written by a woman who, as a teenager, was imprisoned in German concentration camps. It is a story of her experiences, her survival,An amazing memoir written by a woman who, as a teenager, was imprisoned in German concentration camps. It is a story of her experiences, her survival, but most importantly, her psychological recovery from such a horrific experience.
As an adult post-war immigrant to America, Eger went to college and eventually got her PhD in Psychology. Despite the fact that she could help other people, for decades after her liberation, she was tormented by PTSD and would get nervous and often cower if she heard a siren or saw a military figure. Eventually she confronted her own worst memories head-on; she made a choice to deal with those fears and memories rather than just trying to bury them.
I found this incredibly inspiring. If she can get past experiences more awful than most of us can imagine, then I can get through my own life....more
Spinster. This term was used to describe an "older" unmarried woman back in the days when it was considered "normal" for a woman to be married by her Spinster. This term was used to describe an "older" unmarried woman back in the days when it was considered "normal" for a woman to be married by her early 20s. Nowadays that word is used as a derogatory term, usually to mean a woman that for whatever reason is not considered marriage material. So it's a bit unusual for the author to aspire to be a spinster, yet she does. What's odd though is this is a book called Spinster about a woman who dreams of being a spinster, yet she seems to always be in a relationship or otherwise involved with a man. Although in reading the book, it seems what Bolick truly aspires to is to be an independent woman, free of the cultural and gender roles that society tends to push people into.
As a literary person, Bolick is influenced by five female writers and she devotes at least one chapter to each of them. She intertwines information about each author with her own story growing up and moving through early adulthood. While it's always nice to know a person's influences, I found I didn't really care about the writers themselves, as they had no influence on me at all; I would have rather heard more about the author. I believe the book would have been better if she instead devoted that space to the concept of extinguishing gender roles and instead letting people do what they want, rather than what society thinks they should do. That, in fact, is what the author was learning to do with her life, and at least once she leaves what seemed to be an ideal relationship heading towards marriage because that was not making her happy.
In the last chapter she does say the aim of her book is to offer that word "as shorthand for holding on to that in you which is independent and self-sufficient, whether you're single or coupled." I do wish that had been explicit at the beginning of the book so I didn't spend the whole time thinking "You're not a real spinster."...more
A biography of English surgeon Dr. Joseph Lister, and his journey through medicine as he learns about "germs" that cause infection. Up until Lister's A biography of English surgeon Dr. Joseph Lister, and his journey through medicine as he learns about "germs" that cause infection. Up until Lister's work in the mid- to late-1800s, doctors were unaware of the presence of bacteria, and as a result did not know how infections were caused and spread. As a result, filthy surgical tools and settings were the norm, as were postoperative infections and deaths. Lister piggybacked off Louis Pasteur's work, and using a microscope discovered that microbes were present. He also discovered that using antibacterial cleansers would kill the microbes and prevent infection. While many people don't know his name (although most of us are familiar with Listerine, which was named after him), Lister is one of the most important medical researchers in modern history. His biography, while interesting, does read a bit slow at times....more
I picked up this book because I am a fan of Dickinson's band, Iron Maiden, and thought it would be fun to learn more about him. On that note, I give tI picked up this book because I am a fan of Dickinson's band, Iron Maiden, and thought it would be fun to learn more about him. On that note, I give the book three or four stars.
Here, Dickinson talks about his youth, how he got into music, and jumping on the runaway freight train that was a wildly successful Maiden. What I learned was that he wasn't necessarily a little punk kid; he seems to be quite an intelligent man with a diverse set of interests, from competitive fencing to piloting of personal and commercial aircraft to writing, and much more.
Where the book is lacking is in details. Dickinson often only briefly describes things when I wished he would have instead spent more time describing events and his thoughts and feelings surrounding it all. That, of course, would have created a much longer book and I believe he was trying to avoid that, possibly so he didn't alienate casual readers.
What this book does not contain are tales of band gossip and rock star debauchery, nor does it talk about his marriages and children. He acknowledges the latter in the book's afterwards, stating he specifically left out information about his family and some other personal endeavours otherwise the book would have more than doubled in size.
All in all, I found it a very enjoyable read, even if it wasn't as in-depth as I would have liked....more
I picked this book up because I had heard of (and would love to visit!) the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, but I knew absolutely nothing about the perI picked this book up because I had heard of (and would love to visit!) the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, but I knew absolutely nothing about the person who founded it. Now I know a lot about him!
Dr. Thomas Mütter was an American physician in the first half of the 19th century, and reading about his life and career means you are also learning about the history of modern medicine. As a surgeon, Mütter created and popularized new surgery techniques including plastic surgeries to revise birth defects and injuries, some of which are still being used today; he promoted cleanliness in surgical and post-operative settings in the days before bacteria and microbes were discovered; and he was one of the first surgeons to use and encourage others to use anesthesia during surgery. (Yes, prior to primitive anesthesias patients were given, at most, some wine or liquor for the pain.) In short, Mütter was a groundbreaking physician who changed medicine for the better, and whose life was cut way too short. A very interesting read....more
This is a memoir by a British Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT) describing the path she took through her career working with the dead, as well aThis is a memoir by a British Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT) describing the path she took through her career working with the dead, as well as some brief case studies. A have a fascination with the general topic of forensic pathology and anthropology and have read several books on death, bodies, and what happens to us after we die. This is the first I've read by a UK professional so it was interesting to learn about the differences between job titles and roles in England and America....more
Anyone that walks across Afghanistan, let alone a Westerner, has got to have nerves of steel in addition to a lot of guts. The experiences described iAnyone that walks across Afghanistan, let alone a Westerner, has got to have nerves of steel in addition to a lot of guts. The experiences described in this book were just amazing, and by reading about them you learn a little bit about what life is like in rural Afghanistan (and then you know more about that culture than most other people). After reading the author's bio here on Goodreads I better understand how he was prepared for this journey - and why he speaks Indonesian....more
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