I picked this book up because it has an interesting title, was small, and was on David Bowie’s booklist that was published soon after his death. This is a book about coming to terms with living a kind of freeform and incorporeal life. And I couldn’t care less about it. I won’t rate it, because it might be good and might connect with others, but since I am not part of that audience, I couldn’t get much out of it, and it doesn’t make any […]
“Every note played is a life and death.”
Lisa Genova is a brilliant writer who uses her real world neuroscience degree to educate and entertain (if you can call these stories entertaining) a mass audience about a variety of brain disorders. Her most famous novel, Still Alice, tackles Alzheimer’s and was turned into a movie but she has also written about Huntington’s, Autism and unilateral neglect. Her latest novel, Every Note Played, focuses on the cheery topic of ALS, or Lou Gherig’s disease and its March 20th release date feels eerily timely next to Stephen Hawking’s […]
If our author could focus
I liked this more than that review title implies, but I was frustrated by the inconsistent tone and structure of this book. I like a good “random facts barely strung together” or “fake q&a” style book a la the imponderables series, the bathroom readers, or “what Einstein told his chef.” I also enjoy a good medical narrative. I like case histories, especially in service of a greater overarching theme. This book was all of those and none of them by not picking a strategy, and […]
You Can Tell It Was Written By A Dude
Best for: Women interested in strength training who aren’t overwhelmed with a million (733, to be specific) options. In a nutshell: Author Campbell provides an overview of lifting, a diet plan (boo), and chapters with body-part-specific target exercises. Line that sticks with me: “So whether you’re toting groceries or holding a baby, you’ll notice the difference.” Really, dude? Women use their arms for two things: shopping or children? Awesome. Why I chose it: I’ve been consistent with my non-strength exercise for many years (running, elliptical, […]