So, the new job that I started this year involves working with people who study brains. I don't have any experience like that so I'm reading to play catch up. I learned SO many interesting things about how the human brain works (but in a fun ,easy to read book!) that I still think about it all the time.
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| This book photographs TERRIBLY. It's shiny silver. |
What this book lacks in a photograph friendly cover it makes up for in the fact that it could save your life. It sounds ominous, I know, but this book basically tells you to listen to your intuition and to trust your instincts. If you think you might be in a dangerous situation and you're wrong you might be a little embarrassed, but if you are right you could save your own life. Review here!
First of all, cover is so interesting. The thing that I think I love most about this book is how detailed and complete the world building is. That -ish is thorough. Also, that the characters all have realistic and reasonabl feelings, which frankly is sometimes hard to come by in books. I was sucked into this book hard and read it at an almost alarming speed. Review here!
I'm incapable of describing this book well. All I can say is that you need to give this book 100 pages. If you're not intrigued enough by page 100 then you probably won't be. I was incredibly confused for awhile and then was confused and in love. Two animals owned by an asshole rapper who named them after two of the worst bombings in world history? Bring me into your twisted, crazy, ridiculousness Mount Char, it is where I want to be.
I know I've talked about this book, kind of ad nauseum, but it will always bear repeating, so here I am saying it again. This is a great book. If you think you know a lot about WWII read this book and learn about 1000 things that you didn't even know you didn't know.Etcetera etcetera etcetera, all of the good superlatives in my voabulary, and so on.
I keep hearing fantastic things about Library at Mount Char, but the premise does not intrigue me. I appreciate your 100 pages advice...that makes me much more willing to give it a shot!
ReplyDeleteOh the 100 page rule is MADE for books like this. It's nuts and not for everyone, but so creative and interesting I couldn't put it down.
DeleteBlack Earth was definitely a mind blowing read - SO MUCH INFORMATION. I don't know how I managed to keep it in my brain.
ReplyDeleteIf I retain a quarter of what I read in that book I will be pretty happy!
DeleteYou picked some great ones! I read The Gift of Fear years ago for an independent study project, and I really enjoyed that one. And cheers to Mount Char! Really enjoyed that one.
ReplyDeleteOh Mount Char, it's so nuts. But in such a great way.
DeleteI don't know any of these except the last one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your list, and Happy New Year!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My A Month of Faves
Black Earth was getting a lot of buzz! Well deserved in my opinion :)
DeleteSam Kean! The Disappearing Spoon is really good, too.
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten to that one yet but I definitely will. Such interesting stuff!
DeleteI have Black Earth already on my shelf. Sounds like I'd better get to reading it. Also, the Sam Kean book sounds really interesting. Brains are pretty nifty. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, brains. Those are impressive things.
DeleteI also read another one of Kean's books (The Violinist's Thumb) and it was ALSO mind blowing.
Two animals owned by an asshole rapper who named them after two of the worst bombings in world history? --
ReplyDeleteSay what now? I'm definitely intrigued by that description.
haha right? They're two lions and one of them is named Dresden and the other is Nagasaki.
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