Maeve Binchy(1940-2012) always wrote cheerful novels set in and around Dublin. Her novels were like a series of short stories woven together carefully and usually coming to a cheerful optimistic ending.I enjoyed her 2013 title: A Week In Winter.
Sadly it will be her last novel.
Heart and Soul is a good example of her signature style. I enjoyed reading this gem that I missed reading before. I always recommend Binchy to readers looking for a cheerful book, but a romance exactly.
Librarian reviews of recent and upcoming titles: fiction and non-fiction.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Hunting Season (Mirta Ojita)
Librarians help an immigrant community get
access to resources and set in motion a struggle between two communities.
This had unexpected appeal for my libertarian friends. Ojita steps far away
from true crime and makes headline issues real to readers.
Not a bad read.
This had unexpected appeal for my libertarian friends. Ojita steps far away
from true crime and makes headline issues real to readers.
Not a bad read.
The Reason I Jump (Naoki Higashida)
Choosing to write this book in Q+A
format was an excellent idea.
The book gives answers to many of those awkward questions that polite people would never ask directly.
The answers from a 13 yr old boy who has autism are honest and insightful. Along with Temple Grandin, this young man will change how we understand autistic people where ever we meet them.
From the book:
Q24. Would you like to be normal?
... I have learned that every human being, with or without disabilities, needs to strive to do their best, and by striving for happiness you will arrive at happiness.
... But for as long as we can learn to love ourselves, I'm not sure how much it matters if we are normal or autistic.
The book gives answers to many of those awkward questions that polite people would never ask directly.
The answers from a 13 yr old boy who has autism are honest and insightful. Along with Temple Grandin, this young man will change how we understand autistic people where ever we meet them.
From the book:
Q24. Would you like to be normal?
... I have learned that every human being, with or without disabilities, needs to strive to do their best, and by striving for happiness you will arrive at happiness.
... But for as long as we can learn to love ourselves, I'm not sure how much it matters if we are normal or autistic.
My LIfe in Middlemarch (Rebecca Mead)
This book is remarkable. I picked it up thinking - "Middlemarch
-Yawn!" Mead makes the book more interesting than my memory of
the book ever was. I was drawn in by the author's love for the victorian classic original. She weaves her own life into the story, bringing out the connections that make Middlemarch a classic story. There is no mistaking this for Lit. Crit. for English 101. I
will certainly recommend this to readers interested in essays and to
those reading classics.
I also sent this along to a journalism major at UMCP with a strong recommendation to read it and pass the recommendation along.
I also sent this along to a journalism major at UMCP with a strong recommendation to read it and pass the recommendation along.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Two Old Med Books
An Unsettled Mind by Kay Jamison and Brilliant Madness by Patty Duke are both classic older books about patients dealing with Manic Depressive Disorder [now called Bi-Polar disorder].
I read them recently, because they have been re-released despite their dated medical information.
Both books describe the challenge of leading a normal life with a major mental health problem. Ms. Jamison is a psychologist who is very straight forward about how her illness effects her. Ms. Duke's narrative is interspersed with material from her co-author who is a psychologist. The medical material covers personality types, symptoms of manic depression, treatment and outcomes in easy to understand terms.
Both women are wonderful creative and intelligent personalities. In the manic phase they are energetic and productive until the mania goes over the edge into madness. The manias are addictive highs. Before the crash, they feel there is nothing they can't do.
After the mania dissolves into a loss of touch with reality, they frequently crash to a horrifying low. Friends and family are steady supports, but the up and down nature of the illness strains support systems. Both authors intend their works to demonstrate that with proper medical attention, and consitient use of the Litium- a very strong and powerful psycho-active drug, patients can lead valuable normal lives.
In Unsettled Mind, patients are counselled not to let people use words such as whacko, nuts, or squirrelly to label them. Manic episodes can be the cause of very abnormal behavior. Re establishing social connections after such an episode can be hard. Through education about the disease and how it works, both the patient and their social circle can create a better environment that supports good mental health.
In modern times, the disorder is called Bipolar Disorder and there are a range of meds which can be used to address the problem.
I read them recently, because they have been re-released despite their dated medical information.
Both books describe the challenge of leading a normal life with a major mental health problem. Ms. Jamison is a psychologist who is very straight forward about how her illness effects her. Ms. Duke's narrative is interspersed with material from her co-author who is a psychologist. The medical material covers personality types, symptoms of manic depression, treatment and outcomes in easy to understand terms.
Both women are wonderful creative and intelligent personalities. In the manic phase they are energetic and productive until the mania goes over the edge into madness. The manias are addictive highs. Before the crash, they feel there is nothing they can't do.
After the mania dissolves into a loss of touch with reality, they frequently crash to a horrifying low. Friends and family are steady supports, but the up and down nature of the illness strains support systems. Both authors intend their works to demonstrate that with proper medical attention, and consitient use of the Litium- a very strong and powerful psycho-active drug, patients can lead valuable normal lives.
In Unsettled Mind, patients are counselled not to let people use words such as whacko, nuts, or squirrelly to label them. Manic episodes can be the cause of very abnormal behavior. Re establishing social connections after such an episode can be hard. Through education about the disease and how it works, both the patient and their social circle can create a better environment that supports good mental health.
In modern times, the disorder is called Bipolar Disorder and there are a range of meds which can be used to address the problem.
Change or Die By Alan Deutschman
Change or Die is a shock of a title. The author even apologizes for the
dramatic headline. Why? Because Facts, Fear and Force do not cause long
term changes. They Fail. True change comes from The three R's. Relate,
Repeat, Reframe. Relate means you should seek now relationships to
inspire change. Repeat mans you should learn new behaviors and practice
them. Reframe means you should use your new connections to support your
new behaviors.
This seems to work for personal change, but how does this play out in the work environment?
This seems to work for personal change, but how does this play out in the work environment?
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