What an amazing read! Research shows that your brain doesn't *just* have one center for, say, vision. It's neuroplastic -- if the default section of t...moreWhat an amazing read! Research shows that your brain doesn't *just* have one center for, say, vision. It's neuroplastic -- if the default section of the brain is damaged, other sections will take over. Blind folks have had skin linked with the vision centers of the brain, and were able to see! Not as well as with their eyes, but they could recognize individual faces by sight. Criss-crossing the senses isn't the only thing studied. Research has shown similar results with balance, and overcoming issues after strokes.
It takes a very strong commitment to teach a part of the brain to take over the functions of another. We have limited real estate in neurons, so they constantly grow and change to reinforce the behaviors we repeat the most. This is why we lose skills if we don't use them, and why developing new habits is difficult; the real estate is in high demand -- use it or lose it. It's also the reason bad habits are hard to break; we've literally wired our brains to link these habits with satisfaction, pleasure, a sense of well being, etc. The book touches on needing to link our desires and wants with good habits, in order to cause those links to decay and reinforce the new behavior. The more we use the new links, the stronger and more efficient they become in our brain, and the reverse is true of the links for the bad habits. This isn't a how-to or self-help book, but it's a great thing to think about.
The author also discussed the resistance from members of the traditional school of thought. It's always interesting to me to read about scientists as political beings, or stodgy folks who are stuck in their ways and resistant to change. Seems counter to what I would expect from someone devoting their life to science.
The book had a very conversational tone, made the concepts easy to understand, and I could feel the author's excitement. Very, very cool stuff, highly recommended!(less)
This is a book for people who need help recovering from a devastating break-up, but even more important, it's a book for people who are ready to grow,...moreThis is a book for people who need help recovering from a devastating break-up, but even more important, it's a book for people who are ready to grow, to work on overcoming your childhood issues, for taking off the masks you've worn and being truly happy with the real you. You could get a lot out of this book even if you're not ready to grow, but the true beauty of it is when you are, especially if you can combine it with another book, or a support group, or therapy. I think reviewing the lessons learned by others along with the wisdom found here was really key for me.
This is one of those situations where a topic will mean practically nothing to you until the time is right. I really read this book cover-to-cover several times, but it's only recently that I feel like I've completed it. There were chapters I'd read and go "gee, ya think?", and then six months later the same chapter would be exactly what I needed to hear right then. I have (and will continue to have) setbacks from time to time, but I think the authors put it best:
Becoming a healthy person emotionally is like climbing a slide in the playground. You progress up so far, then lose your grip and slide back down. Then the next time you are able to climb to a higher point. Although each relationship that ends may put you back down the slide, when you climb again, you know how to climb higher and become more healthy.(less)
Ah, this takes me back. The first Clive Barker book I ever read. But I barely remembered it, and since I recently picked up Everville (The Second Book...moreAh, this takes me back. The first Clive Barker book I ever read. But I barely remembered it, and since I recently picked up Everville (The Second Book of the Art), I decided to give it another go. So much more focused than Imajica, so much more fantastic than Galilee...I'm really glad I re-read it.
It's the story of a man who learns that magic exists, real power exists. He becomes obsessed, and is transformed into something amazing and horrific. Godlike. To say more would give too much away.
Since this was the first Barker book I'd ever read, I never realized the tie this one has with Everville, let alone with "The Last Illusion" (Lord of Illusions) or his upcoming book, The Scarlet Gospels. Great stuff. Secret stuff. Show stuff.(less)
This was a really hard book to read. Not because of the violence -- I am a big horror fan, after all. I very nearly gave up because I got si...more3.5 stars:
This was a really hard book to read. Not because of the violence -- I am a big horror fan, after all. I very nearly gave up because I got sick and tired of reading descriptions of boring conversations with vapid people, of far too much detail about who was wearing which item by which designer (item by item), of exhausting detail about the dishes eaten at hip new restaurant after hip new restaurant, of how difficult it was to get into this club, to get reservations here, etc etc.
But around 160 pages in, things shifted. Even before that, there were small hints about the protagonist's violent tendencies, and hints that this lifestyle was driving him crazy. And right around the time that I was gonna snap and throw the book across the room, his mind snapped. This was a really clever, very cool way to make me sympathize with a complete monster. He may very well have influenced Danielewski's House of Leaves, because Ellis figured out a way to turn text into white noise in my head. Danielewski's twist was to make the white noise the result of the insanity, where Ellis made it a contributing factor.
I really liked the book once it got going. From that turning point, it got more and more interesting. I can't give 4 stars to a book that spends half the time boring me to tears, even if it is to make a good point about a lifestyle and a low point in the author's life. But I can definitely recommend it, especially if you just skim the lists of yuppiness.(less)
This is a tough book to review. On one hand, I absolutely loved parts of it, laugh out loud funny, especially at the beginning when the concept for th...moreThis is a tough book to review. On one hand, I absolutely loved parts of it, laugh out loud funny, especially at the beginning when the concept for the whole book is being outlined. It’s very clever, and apparently includes 6 “secret codes”, such as the Wheel of Kadab that must be read in a mirror. There are several cute pun names, such as Abra Kadab, Llu Cipher, and Zyk of Asimoth. The book also has a great, odd way of telling a linear story, despite the fact that it’s laid out like an encyclopedia.
But…it’s laid out like an encyclopedia (well, for most of it). Yes, I knew this going it, and I think it’d be fine if it was either shorter or more consistently funny. But reading entry after entry gets tedious, especially when they quickly start to cover the same ground over and over. I would definitely say it’s worth reading unless you’re easily offended, but it’s much more enjoyable in smaller chunks…maybe as a replacement for one of the Bathroom Reader series.(less)
3.5 stars This book is a series of letters sent from a mother in an asylum to her son, the protagonist in House Of Leaves. Until recently, I thought th...more3.5 stars This book is a series of letters sent from a mother in an asylum to her son, the protagonist in House Of Leaves. Until recently, I thought this was all included as an appendix in House, but this stand-alone version adds 11 new letters and a Forward about the mother and how the new letters surfaced.
For House Of Leaves fans, I can't say these additions are a must-read, but the back of Whalestoe calls out which letters are the 11 new ones, and looking back on them they definitely fill out the back story of Johnny and his relationship with his mum. A couple of the new letters are done with the crazy experimental layout much expected of Danielewski by now. Between that and the additional background, I'm glad I've got this, but I don't really think you're missing a lot if you never read it before/during/after House Of Leaves. Cool, but not needed.
But on its own, this is a tragic, touching, and disturbing tale of the disintegration of a mother's mind. Like Flowers For Algernon, it's heartbreaking to witness her descent into madness in her own hand. But unlike Flowers, she doesn't realize it's happening. Worse, she becomes lucid again toward the end, and I was never really sure whether she was correct, lying, or truly deceived in her latter lucid moments. Good stuff, I forgot how good the Letters were.(less)
In my experience, Ursula Le Guin always tells a compelling tale. She has that subtle kind of character building, where I don't need a lot of backgroun...moreIn my experience, Ursula Le Guin always tells a compelling tale. She has that subtle kind of character building, where I don't need a lot of background on a character to feel for them and understand their issues and motives.
This book did a great job of portraying the theme for the cycle -- that despite vast cultural and even physical differences, humanity can find mutual ground and learn to work together. While her premise is very idealist, her stories are not. It's always an uphill battle, and there are always groups and individuals working hard for the status quo. Each novel portrays a different world with vastly different cultures and some extreme variants on our version of "human", and this presents a significant obstacle in itself.
However, Left Hand of Darkness was kind of an uneven read. Much more than her prior books, this throws alien words throughout. It was pretty frustrating to try to guess based on context so often, since my copy had the glossary for these terms at the end and I didn't even see it until I'd finished! Also, the beginning of the book sees the lead trying to understand and work through the machinations of a country, and within a few chapters he's starting it all over in a new country with new motivations, culture, and politics. I really liked the story arch here, but I felt like it lasted too long for what it was.
But once the political portion ended, this book was a very tense read. Lots of darkness and light, all coexisting in each chapter. The low points and high points of humanity expressed in this book really tugged at my emotions. Le Guin definitely told a compelling story, and I'm not using that word lightly.(less)
Another excellent Dresden Files book. For the record, I tried but couldn't even make it through the first episode of the series. Blech.
This time Butch...moreAnother excellent Dresden Files book. For the record, I tried but couldn't even make it through the first episode of the series. Blech.
This time Butcher just jumps right into the larger storyline with Dresden's fairy godmother, catching up new readers as he immediately drives the story forward. I was a little surprised that the war with the Red Court is more of a background event in this book, but I think Butcher made it work.
This was grittier than the prior books, but still had plenty of their trademark dry humor. There were a couple times where Butcher cut a very tense scene with some lol lines, which is a great trick that horror directors have learned to use but that I've rarely (never?) seen in print. Butcher also manages to keep recurring characters, but he's not afraid to kill off major players, so the series has remained fresh and fun. And, even four books in, I still get a kick out his modern-fantasy-meets-film-noir style of writing. Very smart, very good stuff.(less)
I really dig Palahniuk. Now, he definitely has his faults. He tends to re-use the same phrases over and over in his books, and while it's a great effe...moreI really dig Palahniuk. Now, he definitely has his faults. He tends to re-use the same phrases over and over in his books, and while it's a great effect at times, I find it a bit trying overall. Gimmicky. But when it works he makes it work very well. Also, it usually takes a while for me to get into a Palahniuk novel, though that wasn't the case with Choke.
As with all of Chuck's books (at least, those I've read so far), this was more about the self-discovery of the character than about the plot listed on the back cover. And, like the others I've read, in the course of this self-discovery, Mr Palahniuk holds up a not-too-flattering mirror showing our society. I can't really say why I was able to get into Choke more easily than his other books; experience with his style? just the right mood? *shrug* But I really enjoyed it -- lots of elements from the fringe of society (as always with Chuck), several poignant moments (more than the norm for Chuck), fewer quotable quotes than normal, but a wonderful balance of hope and despair. Bleak, but extremely human. Great stuff.(less)
This book was great, classic Laumer. The premise is your typical alien-invaders plot, but he takes it in some really cool directions. For the last thi...moreThis book was great, classic Laumer. The premise is your typical alien-invaders plot, but he takes it in some really cool directions. For the last third of the book he twists everything upside-down, almost like a completely different story. Great stuff, and maybe you'd see it coming but it totally caught me off guard. Very well executed.
If you haven't read any of my prior Laumer reviews, let me just say that he's all about action and moving the story along. This is not to say that his stories are simple; they're almost always complex and riddled with subversion to make them almost Bond-meets-SciFi (but very gritty).
As always, this book was far too short at only 250 pages, but I loved it. My 2nd favorite of his novels so far.(less)
From a long-neglected bookshelf, I pulled this tome. Covered with dust and smelling of putrescence, even the cover of the vile thing spoke of madness...moreFrom a long-neglected bookshelf, I pulled this tome. Covered with dust and smelling of putrescence, even the cover of the vile thing spoke of madness and secrets best left buried. But long had I resisted its siren call, and the stars had aligned against me. It was Time. In other words, I've owned this for years and finally got around to reading it. ;)
The Necronomicon is a make-believe book of Vile Things. Invented by Lovecraft, he used it as a prop in his tales, as a source of dark magic, forbidden knowledge, and of ancients gods whose names Must Not Be Spoken. Unlike other Lovecraftian books I've read, and (as far as I know) unlike other books called Necronomicon, this collection was made up of tales about the book itself. About half of the collection was made up of interesting ideas about the book, such as the "Forthcoming Inexpensive Paperback Edition"! One of my favorites was about a man safekeeping the book for his uncle, then discovering that the book itself was growing stronger and younger as it consumed the text from nearby books. Fun stuff!!
Sadly, the other half of the book lost my interest. It was largely supposed to be excerpts from the Necronomicon, lost chapters, critical analysis and commentary, etc. While I enjoy reading ABOUT this book, this part took it too far. I did enjoy the little cautionary tales that were supposed to be a prologue to the original book, but there's a certain point where a straight-faced work that's really *nudge-nudge, wink-wink* in nature just bores me. With chapters like "Concerning the Phases of the Moon and Their Effects on Summonings", etc., this was just too much, and I skipped over these parts. I supposed that's why I'm not interested in the Zombie Survival Guide, even though I loved World War Z by the same author. But I digress.
I really dug about half of this book, and would rate it 4 stars, but the rest dragged the rating down. Next time I'll read another collection by Lovecraft himself.(less)
When I spent a couple months in Arizona, Wonka showed me a book called The Zombie Survival Guide. It was written as a handbook, with no tongue-in-chee...moreWhen I spent a couple months in Arizona, Wonka showed me a book called The Zombie Survival Guide. It was written as a handbook, with no tongue-in-cheek tone, of what to do in various environments and situations in the event of a zombie attack. Cute idea, I even thought about picking it up. But when Wonka loaned me a full-on novel by the same guy, I was in. I'd never read a zombie book before, despite my love of horror. It seemed very limited to me, but I thought I'd give it a shot, and I'm really glad I did. Brooks manages to include a lot of subtlety for a genre known for its conspicuousness. The book is framed as a series of interviews with survivors from around the world. The "editor" arranged the descriptions so they're in chronological order, and it nicely forms a cohesive story. But, I think more importantly, Brooks manages to capture some of the social commentary of Romero's original films -- and he often does an even better job of it. Highly recommended for fans of zombies, but even more so for fans of statements on the human animal.(less)
3.5 stars: My third Palahniuk novel, and I dug it. The bleakness of his outlook means that I have to be in the right mood to read one of his books, but...more3.5 stars: My third Palahniuk novel, and I dug it. The bleakness of his outlook means that I have to be in the right mood to read one of his books, but I'm always extremely glad I did. The basic plot is about guy who has hijacked an airplane and is currently on a suicide run to crash into the Outback (this novel was published in '99), and his story of events leading up to this.
But in truth the book is about the credibly twisted life of an innocent teenager, shielded from the 20th century, suddenly plunged into it and how he finds his way. If that sounds touchie-feelie it shouldn't -- he loses his innocence in a big way (and yet, he really doesn't). Very dark but very telling, I enjoyed this more than Lullaby and almost as much as Diary.(less)
This is a cute series, not too many laugh-out-loud parts, but still very enjoyable. You've got a pet dragon with breath that can peel paint, Deveels a...moreThis is a cute series, not too many laugh-out-loud parts, but still very enjoyable. You've got a pet dragon with breath that can peel paint, Deveels are actually just beings from Deva, the female counterparts of Trolls are Trollops, and apparently most humans are Klahds. Although this sounds like a Xanth novel, it's not all that similar. The lessons are fewer and farther between, the books are much less formulatic, and the puns are actually more in check. Still, if you liked Xanth, you'll like this. If you didn't like Xanth, you still might like this.
Something Myth Inc. is the twelfth book, and it's actually the best Myth novel written in a while...okay, Myth-ion Improbable was also good, but that was set farther back in the timeline. I tend to enjoy the Myth-Inc books a bit less, but this was very fun (if the title includes the phrase "Myth Inc.", then it's being told from the point of view of other members of the crew, instead of just Skeeve's perspective). It occurs simultaneous to Sweet Myth-tery of Life, but you can barely tell, and it advances the timeline a little farther than that book as well. Aside from Myth-ion, the last few Myth books have gotten a bit angsty for Skeeve and Aahz, and it definitely detracted from the comedy for me. But Something Myth Inc left that on the back-burner and worked with other characters, so the angst sorta worked itself out behind the scenes. I'm looking forward to more Myths soon -- Asprin's finally on a role.(less)
I'm finally nearing the end of this series (only 2 books left!). Snicket is starting to reveal some of the secrets, or at least hints at the...more3.5 stars:
I'm finally nearing the end of this series (only 2 books left!). Snicket is starting to reveal some of the secrets, or at least hints at the answers. The Baudelaires are starting to see and hear more mentions of the Snicket family, although Lemony himself is still only serving as the narrator...for now?
This volume didn't really grab me as much as the last few have. There were no moments of "oh, they're growing up!", and it stuck with the original 3-fighting-against-baddies dynamics of the early series.
But it was still fun. I liked the undersea setting here, and the mysteries and dangers encountered sucked me in. Besides, I just can't resist the melodrama of this series. It's like reading a silent movie, complete with a mustache-twirling villain tying them to the train tracks. I'm just hoping The Penultimate Peril kicks it back up a notch or two.(less)
This book was...odd. It was essentially a cyberpunk gritty detective story that felt nothing like cyberpunk. It felt a lot like Butcher's Dresden nove...moreThis book was...odd. It was essentially a cyberpunk gritty detective story that felt nothing like cyberpunk. It felt a lot like Butcher's Dresden novels, and that's a good thing. It's also got an Arabic setting, which was refreshing and added interesting cultural tidbits to the mix.
But...I only remember reading about 2 women in the novel. Let me clarify: only two women who didn't start life as men. There are LOTS of transgenders in the book, and the sheer number mentioned in the book seems forced. I've read that the book is very obviously based on the French Quarter in New Orleans, and that's cool, but there have GOT to be more woman than this in the French Quarter. Right? No? Interesting to include, obsessive to inundate.
Despite this oddity, the book was really good. The protagonist is seriously flawed, constantly doing drugs, being emotionally self-destructive, knowing there are smarter ways to do things but choosing not to do them, etc. The plot twists were good and very original -- the book takes a couple very dark turns for the final third that were really surprising.
Effinger's writing didn't immediately grab me as impressive, but the sum of the parts left me wanting more.(less)
My second book by John Connolly, I think this was every bit as good as his first novel in the series. The first book was more immediate; Charlie Parke...moreMy second book by John Connolly, I think this was every bit as good as his first novel in the series. The first book was more immediate; Charlie Parker (AKA "Bird") seeks the killer of his wife and child. But Dark Hollow expands a bit on the horror/supernatural elements, which was very cool. I've heard that this comes out more and more as the Charlie Parker books progress.
Connolly has a talent for creating an atmosphere, and he can poetically create creepy imagery. Usually I find serial killer thrillers to be a bit cliche for me, but Connolly's a really good writer. Even more engaging is that there's a bigger picture to this series that remains vague at this point. He drops hints, makes references, but so far he just teases with the idea of the overall story arc, and I can't wait for the next tease.(less)
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