I have been a fan of David Sedaris for years. I look forward to new essays and every Christmas revisit Holidays on Ice.
His latest offering is a departure from his essays as he takes on fiction, but Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is told in true Sedaris fashion. The stories use animals, yet the behavior and topics are truly human. Some of the stories are quite graphic and sordid, but all are funny.
From the two storks talking about their children asking where babies come from (the mice bring them, duh!) to the new lab rat who blames the dying lab rat's illness on his bad attitude, they are smart and witty.
This book has gotten some mixed reviews, so it's probably not for the uptight and unimaginative
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Born Round
Born Round by Frank Bruni is a wonderfully entertaining story from this journalist and former NYT food critic. Growing up in a large Italian family that believes in eating well and eating a lot, Bruni struggled from a young age with his weight.
Bruni tells an honest and funny tale of his struggles throughout his life with weight, exercise and food. When offered the position as the NYT food critic, his love of food and his career intersect and while you fear that he will spiral out of control like in the past, he is able to take that love of food to a new level.
I recommend this to anyone who loves food and has struggled with their weight.
Bruni tells an honest and funny tale of his struggles throughout his life with weight, exercise and food. When offered the position as the NYT food critic, his love of food and his career intersect and while you fear that he will spiral out of control like in the past, he is able to take that love of food to a new level.
I recommend this to anyone who loves food and has struggled with their weight.
Zeitoun
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers was our book club book for September. I was reluctant to read a story about Katrina (I think I avoid books that feel like they are capitalizing on a national tragedy), but this was Dave Eggers so I should have known better than to be worried.
All the proceeds from the book go to various organizations related to New Orleans or that are important to the Zeitoun family and Eggers does an amazing job of telling a story of terrible injustice.
The Zeitoun's lived in New Orleans for years, are Muslim and have a family contracting and painting business. Abdulrahman, the father and a Syrian-American, has much to lose and take care of, so he sends his wife and children out of the city while he stays behind as the storm threatens.
His days before and after the storm are calmer than you would expect, but once the levees break, life for Zeitoun changes. Eventually, he is arrested along with 3 other men and held in horrendous conditions. They are never clearly charged, never told why they are being held - there are indications that someone thought that were terrorists.
I was horrified that this treatment occurred in this country and glad in the end that I read this story and that it was brought to me in the capable hands of Eggers.
All the proceeds from the book go to various organizations related to New Orleans or that are important to the Zeitoun family and Eggers does an amazing job of telling a story of terrible injustice.
The Zeitoun's lived in New Orleans for years, are Muslim and have a family contracting and painting business. Abdulrahman, the father and a Syrian-American, has much to lose and take care of, so he sends his wife and children out of the city while he stays behind as the storm threatens.
His days before and after the storm are calmer than you would expect, but once the levees break, life for Zeitoun changes. Eventually, he is arrested along with 3 other men and held in horrendous conditions. They are never clearly charged, never told why they are being held - there are indications that someone thought that were terrorists.
I was horrified that this treatment occurred in this country and glad in the end that I read this story and that it was brought to me in the capable hands of Eggers.
The Quiet Room, Beautiful Boy and Tweak
I can't believe my last post was August! I have been reading, I just haven't been blogging.
I am going to do my best to catch up, so get ready for a number of new posts!
I read a number of memoirs in late August/early September. They were all stories about dealing with mental illness. As I consider my career change to social work/counseling, I want to do any "prep" work as I wait to apply to programs (and hopefully get in!), so I thought I would read some stories of mental illness.
The Quiet Room by Lori Schiller tells her tale of dealing with schizophrenia staring in her late teens into her 20s and beyond. Her story is sad and heartbreaking as she tries to find help and relief from a disease that was not well understood. While the story jumps around from different point of view, the best are Lori's chapters which feel as if you are reading Lori's journal and getting a raw view of her world of mental illness.
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff provides the parent's view as they watch their child delve into the dark world of drugs. Sheff's son Nic grows up in Northern California, but spends summers with his mother in LA. Sheff tries to determine if there is a causal link between the separation of his families and his drug addiction, but like most mental illnesses, does not get a definitive answer.
Sheff is a journalist, so his story is well written and he researches the various aspects of drug addiction and recovery - particularly methamphetamine which is his son's drug of choice. Beautiful Boy is a beautiful story of a father's love.
After reading his father's account, I tried to read Nic's young adult account, Tweak. Unfortunately, reading Tweak was too much for me. Nic's candid details made me too sad, too worried for all the teens in my life, so I wasn't able to finish it.
I am going to do my best to catch up, so get ready for a number of new posts!
I read a number of memoirs in late August/early September. They were all stories about dealing with mental illness. As I consider my career change to social work/counseling, I want to do any "prep" work as I wait to apply to programs (and hopefully get in!), so I thought I would read some stories of mental illness.
The Quiet Room by Lori Schiller tells her tale of dealing with schizophrenia staring in her late teens into her 20s and beyond. Her story is sad and heartbreaking as she tries to find help and relief from a disease that was not well understood. While the story jumps around from different point of view, the best are Lori's chapters which feel as if you are reading Lori's journal and getting a raw view of her world of mental illness.
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff provides the parent's view as they watch their child delve into the dark world of drugs. Sheff's son Nic grows up in Northern California, but spends summers with his mother in LA. Sheff tries to determine if there is a causal link between the separation of his families and his drug addiction, but like most mental illnesses, does not get a definitive answer.
Sheff is a journalist, so his story is well written and he researches the various aspects of drug addiction and recovery - particularly methamphetamine which is his son's drug of choice. Beautiful Boy is a beautiful story of a father's love.
After reading his father's account, I tried to read Nic's young adult account, Tweak. Unfortunately, reading Tweak was too much for me. Nic's candid details made me too sad, too worried for all the teens in my life, so I wasn't able to finish it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)