Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words

Travels with Mom in the Land of Dementia
Author: Kate Whouley
Subject: Biography, medicine
My rating: 4.5*


About the book:
Another free read from LT. And not only free- a great book! It is a beautiful, compassionate, and genuine account of living and caring for a person with dementia. Kate Whouley writes effortlessly, and her story is unveiled at a perfect pace; she kept me captivated from her first chapter. If you know someone with dementia, or you are a caregiver, look no further. This is a book that will make you believe you are not alone, and that looking at your own fears with faith will change your perspective. The only reason I didn't give this book a maximum rating is because of the spotty editing- some spelling and grammar errors that kept repeating. However, this did not stop me from enjoying the book. I will definitely look for more of this author's works!

I Shall Not Hate

A Gaza Doctor's Journey On The Road To Peace and Human Dignity
Author: Izzeldin Abuelaish
Subject: humanitarian
My rating: 5*
Author's Foundation: click here



About the book
What an inspiring and emotional story of this man who lost his 3 daughters in a Gaza attack on his Palestinian home! I have started reading this book not knowing much about the long term conflict in the Gaza strip, and I am glad I did so with a beginner's mind; Dr. Abuelaish' recount and amazingly neutral position in this history of conflict only helped me look at this sad and long overdue political argument through his eyes, free of preconceived ideas, stereotyping and generalizations. As a health care professional, I agree with his view on seeing medicine as a link between people, a bridge that can unite us all. Although his loss is inconceivably sad and unnecessary, it brought to life a book that should be read by anyone. This book reminds us all that truth is always in the middle, and that humanity is about what we all have in common, and not what sets us apart. A brilliant lesson in how to live and love despite all challenges.

From the book:
"...violence is futile. It is a waste of time, lives, and resources, and has been proven only to beget more violence. It does not work. It just perpetuates a vicious cycle".

Holy Cow

An Indian Adventure

Author: Sarah MacDonald

Subject: biography

My rating: 4.5*

About the book

A funny and smart story written by an Australian journalist about her tribulations in India. For those who think of India as a place of spiritual enlightenment, with quiet and serene surroundings this book is a must read. It's revealing, smart and funny, and reads like fiction. You will gain knowledge about religion and the Indian society, and see through the sometimes dirty glass to what is actually real. I enjoyed this book!

From the book

'India is beyond statement, for anything you say the opposite is also true. It's rich and poor, ugly and beautiful, and smart but stupid. It's all the extremes" (107)

Open

An Autobiography
Author: Andre Agassi
Subject: biography
Author's website: click here
My rating: 4*


About the book:
This book raised some controversy at the time of publishing. I planned to read it for a while now, and I finally got the chance to do it. Probably the most unexpected statement Andre makes throughout the book (several times) is that he hates tennis (and always did). This should come as a surprise for those who know his amazingly successful career as a professional tennis player. Becoming world no.1 and being considered the best service returner prove that one can achieve excellence by doing the things you hate (sic). Andre's tone is sincere and matter of factly; he comes out talking about the incredible pain, anguish and mental struggles the spectators never see. It makes this book a great resource for those who are searching for the secret of success. I would give this book to any parent who ever pushed their kids in their' sports endevours. It will bring up some interesting questions...

From the book:
'Our best intentions are often thwarted by external forces- forces that we ourselves set in motion long ago. Decisions, especially bad ones, create their own kind of momentum, and momentum can be a bitch to stop- as every athlete knows [...]. Momentum rules the world.'

'This is why we're here. To fight through the pain and, when possible, to relieve the pain of others. So simple. So hard to see.'

The Translator

A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur
Author: Daoud Hari
Subject: Africa, biography, humanitarian
About the book and the author: click here
My rating: 4*


About the book:
An uncomplicated and heart breaking account of atrocities in Darfur, as experienced by a Sudanese translator working for various journalists. The author now lives in the U.S. and continues his work to raise awareness about the situation in refugee camps. The book contains an easy to understand explanation of the situation in Darfur and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Same Kind of Different As Me

A modern day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together
Authors: Ron Hall, Denver Moore, Lynn Vincent
Subject: biography (of Denver Moore)
My rating: 3*


About the book:
This is the life story of Denver Moore, who lived on a Louisiana plantation in the early 1900; a 'modern day slave'. The book describes each person's story and intertwines destinies and lives. The story is inspiring and uplifting; somehow I had higher expectations from the book after reading the title, subtitle and reviews. Religion is a big part of this book (Christianity), and if I would have to put this book into a category, I would start with religion. It is a book worth reading though, if you can accept one point of view when it comes to religion and the few exaggerations along the way. It looks like this book will be brought to life (or should I say to screen) next year (2011), with Samuel L. Jackson playing Denver. Interesting to see if the movie will have the same take on religion...?

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture
Author: Randy Pausch
Subject: biography
My rating: 4*

Book's website: click here
Watch the last lecture on YouTube (1hr16min): click here

About the book:
On September 18, 2007, Carnegie Mellon professor and alumnus Randy Pausch delivered a one-of-a-kind last lecture that made the world stop and pay attention. It became an Internet sensation viewed by millions, an international media story, and a best-selling book that has been published in 35 languages. His last lecture was about 'really achieving your childhood dreams'. What resulted is an emotional and inspirational account about life as it is when you find out you have only little time left on this earth. A refreshing read, available also to watch on the Internet. If you have 1 hour available, watch the YouTube lecture. Or read this little book. You won't regret it.

From the book:
'When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you'.

'Brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people'.

'Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer'.

Man's Search for Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning
Author: Viktor E. Frankl
Subject: biography
My rating: 5*



About the book:
This book makes me believe in the power of the words, and makes me realize once again why I love reading so much. It should be read by everyone who ever had doubts about why live and how to do it better. This book is a gift to the reader, brought by the unbelievable experience of the author. Just like the neuroscientist who had a stroke and wrote a book about her experience ("My stroke of insight", see review below), Frankl, one of the greatest psychotherapist of this century, survived 4 different concentration camps and lived to write about his experience on dying, why not dying and why live. At the core of his theory of logotherapy is the belief that humans' primarily motivational force is the search of meaning. His living experience and working with numerous suicidal patients has been a constant source for his therapy practice. "Man's Search for Meaning" has sold approximately nine million copies worldwide and been translated into twenty-three languages. The Library of Congress called the book one of the ten most influential books of the twentieth century. All I can say is...read it!

From the book:
According to logotherapy, meaning can be discovered by three ways: "(1) by creating a work or doing a deed; (2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering."

"There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one's life."

"Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long-run - in the long-run, I say! - success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think about it."

"I had wanted simply to convey to the reader by way of concrete example that life holds a potential meaning under any conditions, even the most miserable ones. And I thought that if the point were demonstrated in a situation as extreme as that in a concentration camp, my book might gain a hearing. I therefore felt responsible for writing down what I had gone through, for I thought it might be helpful to people who are prone to despair."

Always Looking Up

The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
Author: Michael J. Fox
Subject: Biography
My rating: 3+*

Awards: Grammy for the audiobook
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, an excellent resource for everything on Parkinson's and much more- click here

About the book:
This is Michael's second memoir, published in 2009. His first biography- Lucky Man was released in 2002, and was also nominated for a Grammy. Although 'Always Looking Up' won the Grammy, I enjoyed his first book much more, hence my 3 star rating for his second one. I find this book a bit repetitive, picking up on the happenings in his first book. I found that especially the first chapter on politics was tedious and less interesting- perhaps because politics is not a subject I am very interested in. But the book has many interesting takes, and it brings the issue of stem cell research more into perspective. I also liked his narrative on the efforts he makes for his foundation for Parkinson research. Looking forward to his third book that is up for publication later this year (2010).

From the book:
'At the turn from our bedroom into the hallway, there is an old full-length mirror in a wooden frame. I can't help but catch a glimpse of myself as I pass. Turning fully toward the glass, I consider what I see. This reflected version of myself, wet, shaking, rumpled, pinched, and slightly stooped, would be alarming were it not for the self-satisfied expression pasted across my face. I would ask the obvious question, "What are you smiling about?," but I already know the answer: "It just gets better from here."

'For everything this disease has taken, something with greater value has been given—sometimes just a marker that points me in a new direction that I might not otherwise have traveled. So, sure, it may be one step forward and two steps back, but after a time with Parkinson's, I've learned that what is important is making that one step count; always looking up.'

The Year of Magical Thinking

Author: Joan Didion
Subject: Biography, non-fiction
Interview by Katie Couric (7 min)- click here
My rating: 5*
Keywords: grief, mourning, widow, acute infarct
Winner of the National Book Award

About the book:
In December 2003, the only daughter of Didion and her husband, the writer John Gregory Dunne, fell into septic shock from a runaway pneumonia infection. Her doctors put the young woman - she was married only five months earlier - into an induced coma. On the evening of Dec. 30, her parents returned from the hospital to their apartment. While the couple were talking over supper, John Gregory Dunne slumped in his chair with one hand raised, dying so suddenly that for a moment his wife mistook the event for a failed joke.
This powerful book is Didion's attempt to make sense of the "weeks and then months that cut loose any fixed idea I ever had about death, about illness . . . about marriage and children and memory . . . about the shallowness of sanity, about life itself."

From the book:
'Life changes fast.
Life changes in an instant.
You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.'

'In the midst of life we are in death, Episcopalians say at the graveside.'