But seven-year-old Werner seems to float. He is undersized and his ears stick out and he speaks with a high, sweet voice; the whiteness of his hair stops people in their tracks. Snowy, milky, chalky. A color that is the absence of color. Every morning he ties his shoes, packs newspaper inside his coat as insulation against the cold, and begins interrogating the world.
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Sacks’ acclaimed book “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” recounts some of the most fascinating and bizarre clinical neuropsychology tales of our time. From people who have fully lost their memories to those who suffer from uncontrollable tics to those who can no longer identify objects, the reader is immediately drawn into the fantastic and mysterious world of the brain.
Being a psychology student, I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Oliver Sacks from all of my professors—I’ve even read a few excerpts from this book over the years. But I’ve never actually sat down and read the entire thing cover-to-cover. Not only is Sacks brilliant in his words, but he humanizes these patients in an endearing way. So often clinical tales in neuropsychology refer to the patients as mere disorders rather than actual human beings. However, Sacks brings each person in their full to the page, something I found wonderfully refreshing. 4 stars. I will be forever grateful for Oliver Sacks and all that he has done for this field.
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In the follow-up to Armentrout’s “Obsidian”, “Onyx” is the second book in the Lux series and does not disappoint! Since Katy and Daemon’s first adventure, LOTS has happened. Daemon is trying to prove to Katy that they have a genuine connection, the Department of Defense shows up and knows something is going on, and a new boy at school knows just a little more than he should.
As an “Obsidian” fangirl, I had high expectations for “Onyx,” and I was not disappointed! I found myself continuing to fall in love each character (especially Katy and Daemon) and absolutely at the edge of my seat throughout the book. Armentrout packed SO much danger and excitement into one book, and I absolutely cannot wait to read the third in the Lux series.
5 stars, without a doubt!
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10% Happier is the memoir of Dan Harris, the ABC News journalist and Good Morning America Co-Anchor, detailing his quest for mindfulness after having a panic attack live on the air. He delved into his own past experiences and explored the world of successful businesspeople and other professionals who attribute their ability to stay on top to the calm and focus that meditation gives them.
I had a love-hate relationship with this book… well, “hate” is a strong word. I’d say it’s a love-dislike relationship. I enjoyed his combination of personal experience tied in with his journalistic take on things. That being said, I did find the whole skepticism thing to get a little old after a while, but that might just be because I’m somewhat more aware of mindfulness than the target audience for this book.
I’m giving this book 3 stars. I highly recommend it for people who are hesitant but thinking about entering into the self-help/mindfulness realm of literature. Harris is a charming fellow who will keep you entertained and educated!
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From the Wreckage follows high school senior Jules Blacklin as and after she survives a major tornado that tears through her tiny town in Texas. The tornado is deadly, killing many people in her town and leaving even more paralyzed with traumatic memories and fear. In a matter of an hour, Jules lost her best friend, her brother’s happy-go-lucky personality, and her school—everything she’s ever known.
I knew this book could fall down a cheesy path, and fall down a cheesy path it did. I found the small-town cheerleader nature to be somewhat cliché, emphasized by the text messages (“OMG” and “LOL”) and obsession with Starbucks despite the absolute terror that tore through the town. Jules, the protagonist, was a fine character, but her love triangle seemed to be pointless, shallow, and somewhat irritating.
Overall, I give this book 2.5 stars. It wasn’t the worst thing I ever read, but I didn’t like it. I feel like I would have liked the story more when I was in middle or high school.
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