Author: Augusten Burroughs
Completed: 12/14/09
This book is a memoir by the brother of John Elder Robison, of whom I've already discussed his book Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's. This tells of the time after Robison left home and it was Burroughs and his mother. His mother was mentally unstable and spent the majority of Burroughs' childhood in and out of psych wards. Eventually, he winds up getting intimately involved with the family of his mother's psychiatrist and spends very little time with her.
Not only could I not put this book down, but it was a very quick read. I was flying through this book and able to read several medium-sized chapters during a 30 minute train ride. This book reads like fiction. The circumstances relayed and the provided stories are so out there that you think they can't possibly be true. I guess the saying that “truth can be stranger than fiction” really is true in this case.
Upon completion of this book, I went and looked up the other books by Burroughs and decided I just had to read them. They have now been added to my extensive reading list, and I am looking forward to getting to them.
10 words or less: Truth really is stranger than fiction.
Showing posts with label Non-Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Non-Fiction. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Priestblock 25487
Author: Jean Bernard
Completed: 11/11/09
This book was written by a Catholic priest from Luxemburg who survived WWII in the concentration camp Dachau. At this camp, priests were housed separately from the general population after the initial acclimation period and originally received special privileges. This did not mean, however, that they were exempt from the horrors of the camp.
The book is a memoir specifically of Fr. Bernard’s time in the camp. He was released approximately two years into his stay primarily due to interventions by his brother. He also experienced an unprecedented temporary release from the camp which allowed him time to travel back to his home country.
This was a very short and gripping read. People tend to forget that non-Jewish people were sent to and killed in concentration camps by the Nazis. In this case, there was a section of Dachau set aside just for Catholic priests, who tended to be charged with resistance against the Nazi movement. This was the case for Fr. Bernard. The details are horrifying. It was like a gruesome car crash, where you are bewildered by the destruction and loss of life by cannot rip your eyes away from it. I flew through this book in a matter of days, primarily because I needed to know what horrors came next.
10 words or less: Quick yet horrifying look into concentration camp life.
Completed: 11/11/09
This book was written by a Catholic priest from Luxemburg who survived WWII in the concentration camp Dachau. At this camp, priests were housed separately from the general population after the initial acclimation period and originally received special privileges. This did not mean, however, that they were exempt from the horrors of the camp.
The book is a memoir specifically of Fr. Bernard’s time in the camp. He was released approximately two years into his stay primarily due to interventions by his brother. He also experienced an unprecedented temporary release from the camp which allowed him time to travel back to his home country.
This was a very short and gripping read. People tend to forget that non-Jewish people were sent to and killed in concentration camps by the Nazis. In this case, there was a section of Dachau set aside just for Catholic priests, who tended to be charged with resistance against the Nazi movement. This was the case for Fr. Bernard. The details are horrifying. It was like a gruesome car crash, where you are bewildered by the destruction and loss of life by cannot rip your eyes away from it. I flew through this book in a matter of days, primarily because I needed to know what horrors came next.
10 words or less: Quick yet horrifying look into concentration camp life.
The Runner's Rulebook
Author: Marc Remy
Completed: 11/16/09
This book is a humorous list of rules that a runner should live by. Examples include (paraphrased as I couldn’t remember the exact wording): Dogs are harmless, unless they’re not; and Get to know and love the snot rocket. It tries to give a glance at runner’s etiquette and yet also describes the contradictions that any list of rules inherently has.
Let me preface this part by saying that I am not a runner, but for years now I have been an “athletic supporter” for my husband. His life revolves around running, thus so does mine. And because I am a voracious reader, any books on running he reads get passed along to me. Therefore, even though I most certainly am not a runner, I have enough background on the subject to understand the inside jokes and parts specifically geared toward runners.
Now then, this book was hilarious. I could totally see the rules playing out, particularly in the section on races. The list of guidelines at the end of the book were also very helpful, and some can even be applied to non-runners or non-running events. Overall, a good book that can probably be enjoyed by all, even if not involved in running.
10 words or less: You’re not a runner if you don’t untie your shoes.
Completed: 11/16/09
This book is a humorous list of rules that a runner should live by. Examples include (paraphrased as I couldn’t remember the exact wording): Dogs are harmless, unless they’re not; and Get to know and love the snot rocket. It tries to give a glance at runner’s etiquette and yet also describes the contradictions that any list of rules inherently has.
Let me preface this part by saying that I am not a runner, but for years now I have been an “athletic supporter” for my husband. His life revolves around running, thus so does mine. And because I am a voracious reader, any books on running he reads get passed along to me. Therefore, even though I most certainly am not a runner, I have enough background on the subject to understand the inside jokes and parts specifically geared toward runners.
Now then, this book was hilarious. I could totally see the rules playing out, particularly in the section on races. The list of guidelines at the end of the book were also very helpful, and some can even be applied to non-runners or non-running events. Overall, a good book that can probably be enjoyed by all, even if not involved in running.
10 words or less: You’re not a runner if you don’t untie your shoes.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
Author: John Elder Robeson
Completed: 10/20/09
This book is a memoir of a man who lived the majority of his life not knowing he has Asperger's Syndrome. Most people thought he was “funny”, or a troublemaker, or just plain weird. The author details living with his quirks, which were actually very common traits of Asperger's.
Asperger's Syndrome is on the autism scale of disorders. People with Asperger's tend to have trouble with crowds and do not look at people directly. They are often very mechanically inclined, and have great difficulties making friends and having conversations. Some people have called it “high-functioning autism”, as the two have quite a bit in common, almost like Asperger's is a lesser version of autism.
Despite his childhood of difficulties, the author led quite an amazing life. His interest in mechanics and electronics started when he was young, and later fell into a career using his skills. He toured with some of the biggest music acts of the day creating special lighting effects and customized guitars. He then went to work at a toy company, and used his self-taught knowledge to excel in engineering.
His social life was not quite as smooth as his work, not to say that work was always easy. His home life was difficult to say the least, and he moved out when he was very young. Once out on his own, he did invite his younger brother, memoirist Augusten Burroughs, along on several of his trips. However, the Asperger's interfered as mentioned above in his interactions with others, making for difficult situations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the note submitted by his brother. While some of the situations seemed absolutely ridiculous, I was also able to relate quite closely with some of his idiosyncrasies. Some parts had me absolutely rolling with laughter, which I must say doesn't happen very often.
While particularly interesting for anyone researching problems of the mind, this book is gripping enough for anyone to enjoy. There is something there for everyone, from gearheads to music lovers to geeks.
10 words or less: Highly recommended. Excellent memoir in a true voice.
Completed: 10/20/09
This book is a memoir of a man who lived the majority of his life not knowing he has Asperger's Syndrome. Most people thought he was “funny”, or a troublemaker, or just plain weird. The author details living with his quirks, which were actually very common traits of Asperger's.
Asperger's Syndrome is on the autism scale of disorders. People with Asperger's tend to have trouble with crowds and do not look at people directly. They are often very mechanically inclined, and have great difficulties making friends and having conversations. Some people have called it “high-functioning autism”, as the two have quite a bit in common, almost like Asperger's is a lesser version of autism.
Despite his childhood of difficulties, the author led quite an amazing life. His interest in mechanics and electronics started when he was young, and later fell into a career using his skills. He toured with some of the biggest music acts of the day creating special lighting effects and customized guitars. He then went to work at a toy company, and used his self-taught knowledge to excel in engineering.
His social life was not quite as smooth as his work, not to say that work was always easy. His home life was difficult to say the least, and he moved out when he was very young. Once out on his own, he did invite his younger brother, memoirist Augusten Burroughs, along on several of his trips. However, the Asperger's interfered as mentioned above in his interactions with others, making for difficult situations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the note submitted by his brother. While some of the situations seemed absolutely ridiculous, I was also able to relate quite closely with some of his idiosyncrasies. Some parts had me absolutely rolling with laughter, which I must say doesn't happen very often.
While particularly interesting for anyone researching problems of the mind, this book is gripping enough for anyone to enjoy. There is something there for everyone, from gearheads to music lovers to geeks.
10 words or less: Highly recommended. Excellent memoir in a true voice.
A Brother's Journey / A Teenager's Journey
Author: Richard Pelzer
Completed:
A Brother's Journey: 10/19/09
A Teenager's Journey: 10/23/09
These books are memoirs by a man who, as a child, experienced one of the most horrible cases of child abuse in history. Possibly the only person exposed to worse abuse at the hand of a parent was Mr. Pelzer's older brother, Dave.
Dave, Richard's brother, had previously written about his story in a series of memoirs of his own. When Richard was young, Dave was taken away by child services. Their mother, in both cases, chose to single out an individual sibling and pit all of the others against the one. With Dave gone, Mrs. Pelzer chose Richard as her next victim.
The two books cover his life from prior to his brother leaving to his young adulthood. We got views of his abuse, and also the abuse he inflicted on himself. We got to see his life spiral out of control at the hands of a sadistic and ill mother, then continue at his own hands.
I had read Dave Pelzer's series of memoirs several years ago. So when I heard about these, and the fact that Richard essentially took over Dave's position in the family, I knew I had to read them. These books were good, and fairly quick reads. The story was compelling and shocking, much like that of his brother. The only real down side is that you can't really read these books without having read his brother's. He refers back to them several times, and also mentions throughout the story that he was too young to fully understand what went on while his brother was still living there but knows now from the books.
10 words or less: Read his brother's books, then read these.
Completed:
A Brother's Journey: 10/19/09
A Teenager's Journey: 10/23/09
These books are memoirs by a man who, as a child, experienced one of the most horrible cases of child abuse in history. Possibly the only person exposed to worse abuse at the hand of a parent was Mr. Pelzer's older brother, Dave.
Dave, Richard's brother, had previously written about his story in a series of memoirs of his own. When Richard was young, Dave was taken away by child services. Their mother, in both cases, chose to single out an individual sibling and pit all of the others against the one. With Dave gone, Mrs. Pelzer chose Richard as her next victim.
The two books cover his life from prior to his brother leaving to his young adulthood. We got views of his abuse, and also the abuse he inflicted on himself. We got to see his life spiral out of control at the hands of a sadistic and ill mother, then continue at his own hands.
I had read Dave Pelzer's series of memoirs several years ago. So when I heard about these, and the fact that Richard essentially took over Dave's position in the family, I knew I had to read them. These books were good, and fairly quick reads. The story was compelling and shocking, much like that of his brother. The only real down side is that you can't really read these books without having read his brother's. He refers back to them several times, and also mentions throughout the story that he was too young to fully understand what went on while his brother was still living there but knows now from the books.
10 words or less: Read his brother's books, then read these.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Searching for Schindler
Author: Thomas Keneally
Completed: 10/14/09
This book, by the author of Schindler's List, about the writing of the book and then the production of the movie. Basically, this is the tale of the author's involvement in the story of Schindler. It starts with Mr. Keneally learning about Schindler from a salesperson and store owner who was saved by him in the war and had been collecting information for years. As the author learned more about the history of the Schindler Jews through interviews, letters, and historical documents, he felt more and more compelled to write the tale.
The book Schindler's List was written and became a critically acclaimed and award winning hit. It got into the hands of Stephen Spielberg, who wanted to make it into a movie but was involved with other projects at the time. He did keep it in the queue. 10-15 years after the book was written, the movie director felt it was finally time to make the film, and that he could do it the justice it deserved. Keneally and the person who started the book's journey were on-site during the construction and filming. They were even able to accompany the filmmakers to awards shows.
This was a very interesting book. Prior to reading this, I had only seen the movie. Since seeing this and learning more of the story behind the film, I have decided that I need to read the book and learn the parts the movie left out or changed. And anything that leads me to want to read and learn more is good in my book.
10 words or less: Made me want to read more of the story.
Completed: 10/14/09
This book, by the author of Schindler's List, about the writing of the book and then the production of the movie. Basically, this is the tale of the author's involvement in the story of Schindler. It starts with Mr. Keneally learning about Schindler from a salesperson and store owner who was saved by him in the war and had been collecting information for years. As the author learned more about the history of the Schindler Jews through interviews, letters, and historical documents, he felt more and more compelled to write the tale.
The book Schindler's List was written and became a critically acclaimed and award winning hit. It got into the hands of Stephen Spielberg, who wanted to make it into a movie but was involved with other projects at the time. He did keep it in the queue. 10-15 years after the book was written, the movie director felt it was finally time to make the film, and that he could do it the justice it deserved. Keneally and the person who started the book's journey were on-site during the construction and filming. They were even able to accompany the filmmakers to awards shows.
This was a very interesting book. Prior to reading this, I had only seen the movie. Since seeing this and learning more of the story behind the film, I have decided that I need to read the book and learn the parts the movie left out or changed. And anything that leads me to want to read and learn more is good in my book.
10 words or less: Made me want to read more of the story.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way
Author: Bruce Campbell
Completed: 7/3/09
This book has been on my "to read" list for a very long time, and it didn't disappoint. I haven't read any other books by Bruce Campbell, but they are on my list as well.
Bruce Campbell, if you don't know, is today's ultimate B-movie actor. He played Ash in the Evil Dead trilogy, and has had bit parts in pretty much every Sam Raimi vehicle. His characters are usually comic relief, and very minor, but fun nonetheless.
This was a fun book, and that's all it was meant to be. Therefore, it fulfilled its purpose. It was light and humorous, with funny anecdotes that I'm still trying to determine if they actually happened or are completely fictitious.
10 words or less: Fun and light, an enjoyable read.
Completed: 7/3/09
This book has been on my "to read" list for a very long time, and it didn't disappoint. I haven't read any other books by Bruce Campbell, but they are on my list as well.
Bruce Campbell, if you don't know, is today's ultimate B-movie actor. He played Ash in the Evil Dead trilogy, and has had bit parts in pretty much every Sam Raimi vehicle. His characters are usually comic relief, and very minor, but fun nonetheless.
This was a fun book, and that's all it was meant to be. Therefore, it fulfilled its purpose. It was light and humorous, with funny anecdotes that I'm still trying to determine if they actually happened or are completely fictitious.
10 words or less: Fun and light, an enjoyable read.
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