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avriette

avriette

has 12 followers and is following 19 people

The Diving Lead.

I work for the military-industrial complex. Thanks, Ike.
  • Arlington, VA, USA
  • member since March 12, 2007
  1. Hal

    Hal commented on a "Best of" list.

    'Best of' list
    An Ecletic Look in the Back of the Book!

    I am definitely a fan of Oliver Sacks. Have you read his latest? I haven not. Musicophiia was wonderful!


  2. yesterday | Comments (8)
    •    …
    • Courtney G. H
      Courtney G. H: I would recommend pretty much anything by Oliver Sacks. Not only does he usually have an index and extensive bibliography, but he also peppers his work with fascinating footnotes, which I very much enjoy. Two of my favorites are "Uncle Tungsten" and "The Island of the Colorblind," though I don't have them in hand to verify that they have the bibliography section that the two on my desk ("The... I would recommend pretty much anything by Oliver Sacks. Not only does he usually have an index and extensive bibliography, but he also peppers his work with fascinating footnotes, which I very much enjoy. Two of my favorites are "Uncle Tungsten" and "The Island of the Colorblind," though I don't have them in hand to verify that they have the bibliography section that the two on my desk ("The Mind's Eye" and "An Anthropologist on Mars") do have. But his bibliography for "An Anthropologist on Mars" is amazing - divided into the same chapters as the book, even including the preface! He doesn't just give lists of books (that comes later in his "References" section); he writes about why he chose these books and what their interesting characteristics are. (see more)
      12 days ago | reply
    • Courtney G. H
      Courtney G. H: Do you mean "Hallucinations"? I haven't, but I'm very excited about it. I've been fascinated with hallucinations ever since, years ago, I had a strange experience while parking a car that made me wonder if that was what a hallucination felt like. (You've probably done this: pulled into a spot and stopped exactly as the car next to you starts to back up, so that you feel like you are still... Do you mean "Hallucinations"? I haven't, but I'm very excited about it. I've been fascinated with hallucinations ever since, years ago, I had a strange experience while parking a car that made me wonder if that was what a hallucination felt like. (You've probably done this: pulled into a spot and stopped exactly as the car next to you starts to back up, so that you feel like you are still moving forward - not just visually, but physically as well.) Or maybe it WAS a kind of hallucination. Thanks for reminding me that I still need to pick this one up. Also on my "to-read" list is his "Oaxaca Journal." My husband and I took our honeymoon in Oaxaca and were completely in thrall to the place and its residents (and food, and art, and everything else). I can't wait to see what Mr. Sacks has to say about it. (see more)
      yesterday | reply
  3. Hal

    Hal finished reading a book. (see 6 more books added to shelf)

  4. yesterday | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  5. Hal

    Hal reviewed a book.

    Anathem

    I read about 150 pages and only knew approximately what was happening.


  6. yesterday | Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? Yes (0) | No (0)
  7. Hal

    Hal rated a book.

    Infinite Jest

    • Rated 4 stars

  8. yesterday | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  9. Hal

    Hal rated a book.

    Canada

    • Rated 4 stars

  10. yesterday | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  11. Hal

    Hal rated a book.

  12. yesterday | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  13. Kristal

    Kristal is now reading a book.

  14. yesterday | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  15. Amanda

    Amanda recommended a "Best of" list.

    'Best of' list
  16. Kristal

    Kristal is now following Lego Loco.

    Lego Loco

  17. 6 days ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  18. Kristal

    Kristal would like to own a book.

  19. 8 days ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  20. Amanda

    Amanda finished reading a book.

  21. 9 days ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  22. Kristal

    Kristal would like to own a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)

  23. 11 days ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  24. Kristal

    Kristal reviewed a book.

    Still Alice

    I thought that since my own father has dementia, that this would be a good time to read this book. And maybe it did, but it was a raw kind of hurt. When I sit at the nursing home now and try to communicate with him, there are all kinds of thoughts running through my head as which parts he is...

    I thought that since my own father has dementia, that this would be a good time to read this book. And maybe it did, but it was a raw kind of hurt. When I sit at the nursing home now and try to communicate with him, there are all kinds of thoughts running through my head as which parts he is following and understanding and when he is somewhere that I can not reach.

    This was a very moving story, concerning a well-educated woman, a Harvard professor as a matter of fact, named Alice. Her 'senior' moments seem to be happening too much for her and when she finally gathers the courage to seek a doctor, she finds out that she has early-onset Alzheimer's. It takes her awhile to revel this fact to her husband and when she does, he doesn't believe it at first. Throughout the rest of the book, he seems to be in a kind of denial, constantly looking for a cure, thinking he will be able to restore his wife back to the smart, intelligent person she use to be.

    Alice's children each deal with it differently also. The illness actually helps to bring Alice and her younger daughter together and whereas before they had no common ground of things to discuss, they now have something to talk about. In the end, each person finds a way to deal with their mother's decline into this awful disease and helps her in the best way they know how.

    (read full review)
  25. 11 days ago | Comments (2) | Was this review helpful? Yes (1) | No (0)
    • Ladyslott
      Ladyslott: I can understand how this book could be difficult at this time in your life.
      11 days ago | 1 reply | reply
      • Kristal
        Kristal:

        Thanks Linda. My Dad was one of the smartest people I knew (maybe we all think that of our father's) and to see him like this is very, very hard.

        11 days ago
  26. Kristal

    Kristal is now following uplandpoet.

    uplandpoet

    NOTE: If you want to be my friend but do not accept a note from me, then I will decline!! love books, love to write, pretty good poet, but trying to make a dent in fiction, tough going... As to my favorites: 1 William Faulkner 2 Graham Greene 3 Gloria Naylor 4 Barbara Kingsolver 5 Toni Morrison...

  27. 2 weeks ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  28. Kristal

    Kristal plans to read a book. (see 16 more books added to shelf)

  29. 2 weeks ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  30. Hal

    Hal added a book.

  31. 2 weeks ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
  32. Kristal

    Kristal reviewed a book.

    The Monsters of Templeton

    Funny how we all react differently to various books. It seems as if this is one of those that you either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. As for myself, this will become one of my heart reads for this year. I was totally sweep away into the town of Templeton, into...

    Funny how we all react differently to various books. It seems as if this is one of those that you either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. As for myself, this will become one of my heart reads for this year. I was totally sweep away into the town of Templeton, into the quirky characters of present day and days past. I felt a strong connection to Willie, the protagonist and her flower-child turned bible-thumping single mother. I loved reading the different chapters written by various past family members and was eager for Willie to unravel the mystery of who her father was. And I especially loved the monster in the lake and the ghost in the bedroom. I didn't want to leave Templeton. Mystery, historical fiction, magical realism all blended well and made for a truly remarkable story.

    (read full review)
  33. 2 weeks ago | Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? Yes (1) | No (0)
  34. Kristal

    Kristal reviewed a book.

    Of Mice and Men

    Odd how such a short book can have such an impact. I have only read one other novel by Steinbeck - the one where he travels across America with a poodle - not a great work of literature. However in this one, in less than one hundred pages, Steinbeck delivers is all - heart-break, greed, lust,...

    Odd how such a short book can have such an impact. I have only read one other novel by Steinbeck - the one where he travels across America with a poodle - not a great work of literature. However in this one, in less than one hundred pages, Steinbeck delivers is all - heart-break, greed, lust, friendship, inspiration.

    Lennie and George are migrant workers in California. Lennie is the brains of the bunch and George is the brawn. George has a problem with not realizing his own strength and has a tendency to pet things a little too hard, especially mice. Lennie is frustrated sometimes with having to take care of George. He dreams of all the things he could do with his life if he weren't watching after him. But then he realizes that George is his best friend and wouldn't trade him for anything in the whole world.

    It might be presumptuous of me to say that I am a Steinbeck fan after only reading two of his novels, but I am going to say I am. This was brilliant.

    (read full review)
  35. 2 weeks ago | Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? Yes (1) | No (0)
  36. Hal

    Hal reviewed a book.

    Tenth of December

    I was probably expecting too much with many of my favorite authors praising Saunders on the cover. He's very good, very clever, but he may go over the line for me, but I am not sure. I have to let him settle in. I read him in a today,

    I was probably expecting too much with many of my favorite authors praising Saunders on the cover. He's very good, very clever, but he may go over the line for me, but I am not sure. I have to let him settle in. I read him in a today,

    (read full review)
  37. 3 weeks ago | Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? Yes (0) | No (0)
  38. Hal

    Hal plans to read a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)

  39. 3 weeks ago | Comments (0) | (0 Likes)
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