Truly inpiring and insightful writing - par excellence
359787
The podcast chapter read aloud did me in; these thoughts, sentiments, and statements about your experiences are pure, necessary recollections for all who couldn't possibly have a clue without them...about what it takes...to realize such heroism depicted herein impacts every citizen - US & otherwise. Press on Brandon - may God bless you and yours.
3230361
I read this book start to finish in one sitting (length is brilliantly efficient). In addition to being beautifully written - the prose perfectly balances elegance with understatement - by reading about Kamal's experiences and following the simple steps he lays out, it's impossible not to improve your outlook, equip yourself to deal with future adversity, and lead a fantastic and inspired life. A transformative read.
4582497
The first thing Id say is don't be put off by the young adult tag  although the clear voice is of a young girl on the cusp of adulthood, theres absolutely no simplification or dumbing down here, this is a book full of fine writing that would appeal to any adult, even those of advanced years like me. The format is clever  two diaries, one telling the background to the spread of the infection, the other chronicling Kerrys day-to-day existence when she finds herself alone. The fluidity of her prose is credible  before, she was an avid reader, an outstanding student awaiting the results of her Cambridge entrance exams  and her voice is authentically that of a teenage girl, with all the usual quirks, fears and obsessions.

If I say theres humour here, you might find that strange as the world disintegrates around her  but Kerryl is superbly likeable as you share her thoughts, feelings and reflections, her efforts to apply logic to the unknown and horrific, her effort to survive. Theres a wealth of believable detail about both the before and the during/after. In the former I liked the use of newspaper reports, interviews with government ministers, the hidden websites  and in the latter the domestic detail, the way the electricity had to be kept running on the isolated farm, the care of the animals, the food (or not, as Kerryl continues to try to lose her spare tyre). The visits to town are vividly described: the collection of loved ones ashes, the charging for the urns as civilisation disintegrates, the edge of danger and violence, and  permeating everything  the horrendous smell.

The shift to the slightly surreal  the invention of Adam as reader of the diaries, and what comes thereafter  is exceptionally well done, and the working through of the story to its finely wrought ending is gripping and emotional. I enjoyed the strong sense of place in this book too, the Yorkshire countryside around the hill farm and the Bride Stones vividly described.

Do give this one a try. This is a book that deserves to be read, and which leaves an indelible impression, with images Ill take with me for some time to come. An excellent read, with a depth and emotional engagement I really never expected.
993950
I must confess, I did not open this book without some bias.  I volunteer at a prison and have a deep interest in women's issues, and after reading the other Amazon.com reviews, I was pretty sure I would love this book.  (I was right.)  What I didn't expect was a strong desire to share it with just about everyone I know.  Don't get me wrong, this is no "Chicken Soup for the Soul" -- there are some hard stories in this book.  But the writing is outstanding, and in reading each story I was captivated by the author's personality, struggles, hopes, and essential humanity.  This book was, for me, a powerful aid to compassion and understanding.  I recommend it highly.
2832427
Fine writers don't always produce books as great as their writing talent.  Doing such a thing requires the additional skill of creating or discovering a concept/vehicle into which the writer can apply his/her writing skills.  When such talents are in alignment, the result can be the kind of book that makes you both marvel at its power and wonder why someone hadnt come up with the idea before.  This is exactly the case with Mark Lyonss Brief Eulogies at Roadside Shrines.  This artfully produced short story collections effect on the reader is greater than the sum of its parts.  His characters take us on a tour of Americas soul, making us pause, like honest pilgrims, at obscure and anonymous shrines (mangled whirligigs, found/lost hubcaps, etc.) created to memorialize occasions in personal histories, more often than not experiences of losing or discovering.  Though there are comic moments, it is not a lighthearted tour.  The origin story for each shrine shatters the shrines anonymity, pulling the reader into unexpected intimacy; again and again, immersion into these other lives produces moments that cry out for recognition, for shame and anger, admiration and empathy.  These are rich stories that cohere into a mosaic worth taking time to truly see.
4779540
I enjoyed this excellent piece of writing to the utmost degree.  The insight, intensity, and development of characters submerses one in the tragic surroundings of the inner city of Chicago and depicts the valiant  efforts of indefatigueable volunteers to lift young boys from the throes of  poverty.  The writing style is almost poetic; this writer has a unique  talent for making characters come alive --- he's one to keep an eye on in  the future.  I can't wait for his next book.
4142968
Mark shares a wonderfully written and expertly crafted exploration of the Evolutionary Journey each of us plays a part within. From the beginnings of "Big History" to the current understanding of human evolution Mark provides insights, wisdom, and tools that serve each of us on our personal journey of growth and evolution.
If you would like a deeper understanding of what life is all about, this book ought to be on the top of your list.
As a human race we are transcending into new realms of consciousness and this book guides the reader to a more complete understanding of how we got here, and what we can do to play our role in the transcendence of human consciousness.
Yes, all that in this quick and easy to read book. Pick up a copy today and get ready for an insightful and inspiring experience.
3946305
This book is exceptionally well written. It's entirely worth reading for the quality of writing alone. The chapters are coherent, organized, and easily allow you to vividly picture exactly what's happening. Given the subject, and the amount of time and ground covered, that's saying a lot.

The book paints a very sympathetic/empathetic picture of families struggling to do their best by children with autism, from long before it was something that could even be diagnosed to modern day. The book is broken down into sections by rough "eras" such as institutionalization, "redefining a diagnosis", "how autism became famous", etc.; it's an approach that definitely works to make everything easy to follow. The authors work very hard to paint a clear portrait of the challenges of raising an autistic child, as well as the depth of parents' love and dedication to getting their children the care that they need and the challenges they faced in doing so.

Ultimately, the book lost a star from me for two reasons. First, I was less than thrilled with the section on Wakefield, vaccines, and vaccine court. I know that is a very controversial subject, and certainly everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the authors made it all look very streamlined and simplified. While their approach was understandable within the context and purpose of the book, I didn't feel it gave due respect (let alone did justice) to families struggling with autism who might come down on the opposite side of the table than they do on the question.

Second, I had really hoped the book would provide a look into the science of autism. Yes, the book is "the story" of the condition, but I'd anticipated that there would be more discussion of some of the many health/science aspects that play key roles in that story, at least in its modern context. There is nothing here about special diets (which decidedly improve some kids' experiences), neuro-chemistry/biology, or any of the other fascinating science - at least as much as we know - underpinning autism and our current understanding of it. Instead, the book focused solely on the social/psychological aspects of autism's history. Not a bad choice, just not what I was hoping for.

All things considered, this is absolutely worth a read for everyone. Autism's presence continues to expand, and this book is a great place to start developing the kind of understanding necessary to interact productively and positively with people and organizations touched by, working with, or further exploring the subject.
3520647
I found this story about the beginning of the end of the Hapsburg Empire to be a carefully written psychological novel full of insights into the human condition, as well as a fascinating collection of character portraits of various extremely interesting personalities.

  The subtlety and precision with which Mr. Bernstein unveils his tale are impressive and highly appreciated by someone who reads widely and often.  This is a novel that must have taken a long period of time to write.

  Imagine the difficulty of writing every word of dialogue between an extremely intelligent, charismatic rabbi and an equally intelligent, and shrewd Jewish millionaire, which lasts for ten pages or more.  To be convincing, the writer must create lines for us that only someone who is charismatic could generally think of saying, and words also that only a brilliant businessman might utter, and do so in a way that both entertains and informs, and which meaningfully furthers the plot.

  All that and more Mr. Bernstein manages to accomplish both with those two characters, as well as many other equally well-drawn characters who populate the entirety of this book.  Also, I stayed very interested in all of these people despite the fact that few of them are entirely likable.

  That is a testament to Mr. Bernstein's great writing ability, as well as to the fact that these people are all struggling in some way, wrestling with demons that they can't always control--but still trying nonetheless, still valiantly attempting to overcome the ghosts that haunt them.

  But isn't this part of the essence of being human?  Isn't this what each of us goes through at some point or points in our lives?  Aren't we all struggling to be happy, to be successful, to figure this whole life thing out?

  Perhaps then, this book is just as much about the reader as it is those who are written about, which may be why it is such a fascinating tale.

  With that said, my only complaint, which echoes others, is that the plot moved too slowly.  These wonderfully drawn characters should have been allowed to do more, and to be more.  Mr. Bernstein has built a gorgeous red Ferrari with his bare hands, from the ground up, but doesn't drive it past 55 mph.  The fact that he doesn't get it out of second or third gear is a shame, because Wow, what a beauty it is!

  Nonetheless, this novel has enough beauty and humanity and hope and struggle (and redemption?) in it to make it a very entertaining and richly rewarding story worthy of your time and patience.
949431
If you are a writer or a discerning reader, you really should read this book! If you appreciate inspiring, non-cliche prose, GAIL CALDWELL'S A STRONG WEST WIND is a must-read. In fact, it is a must-read twice. Her story fascinates. But it is the richness and density of her writing that makes it live and captivates the reader.

This is a flat-out outstanding work of high prose and perception, rendered with down-to-earth honesty that isn't always what you want to hear. Peppered with multi-demensional imagery, the sheer beauty of her gutsy account inspires awe. The saga of a brilliant, willful, yet sensitive child-of-the-50s-and-60s and her uneasy oddysey to find her true calling captures the essence of the times better than anything I know.

Caldwell's skill with language is deceptively simple. Words are her instrument. The thoughts sound. The cadences flow like a fine jazz musician improvises. And like a musician, a coarse grittiness takes hold at times and shakes you from your reverie.

Love good writing? Read it. Highly recomended. However, if you're a 'good ole boy', don't bother. You might be tone deaf or too set in your ways to appreciate what's happening here.
4335810
And even then, you have a very good chance of appreciating the amount of insight that Dr. Oliver Sacks has into the minds and lives of his patients, and into life and the human condition in general. Sacks, both the author and the narrator in this book, has chosen some of his favorite, poignant, and exemplary cases from the many patients he has worked with in his home for those with neurological disorders (or, more romantically, a home for those who see the world in a completely different way.). Not only does he describe the disease and condition of the patient, he describes the life, the person, behind the disease. In some cases, he also updates the information he has with the specific patient, i.e., what the patient has gone on to do, or not to do, with their life.

Since this book is a reprint of the original version, a postscript after some of the stories describe similar patients, revelations that he has had, and the medical advances that have been made since the original writing. These also include incredible insight, as well as a sense of hindsight and fondness on the part of Sacks.

As both the writer and the narrator, Sacks exhibits both his impressive clinical knowledge and his personal feelings on each case: it is obvious in reading this book that he cared about and was interested in the well being (or, if well being was impossible, simply the being) of his patients. His writing makes each of these stories, for the most part, assessable to anyone, regardless of their previous knowledge on the subjects of psychology and neurology or attention span: these short stories are comprehendible and, for the most part, concise, and are written in such a way that the reader gets drawn into the story of the patient and feel, at least partially, invested in their health as well, and make you want to keep on reading to find out how, if at all, they were cured or treated.

Whether the story is comic or tragic, whether you want to do a little more general research on neurological disorders, or if you just want to feel lucky that your body and mind work to the capacity that they do, Dr. Sacks' book The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat will keep you both informed and entertained. You don't have to be crazy to read this book, but if you are, I'm sure Dr. Sacks would understand.
2079066
Simply marvelous!  Love the writing and insight in this book.  Del, at 12 years old and growing up in a small Canadian town, has a best friend, Naomi.  This is the exquisitely-told story of a young lady making her way toward adulthood, the family and people in her life, things she learns and yearns for, and the everyday events that inform Del's choices.  Art is what the mundane becomes under the direction of a master author.  The big events in Del's life are folded gently into daily happenings in such a way that one is not more than the other.  Del is ordinary, extraordinary, and curious.  She explores her world and the people in it, unafraid.
3452850
In mordant and insightful prose, Ms. O'Connor nails both the mood of the Southern writer and the story they want to tell. Her emphasis on "manners" underscores the timeless mores of the Southern culture. Ms. O'Connors' insights into the hypocrisy of conventional Protestant religious observance and her comparison with her own intense devotion to her Catholicism leads us to her admiration for the Pentacostal approach to "true" Christianity. I have become a great fan of both her and her works, gruesome that they may be: they tell a story of salvation that is available to everyone. Read everything she has written. You will discover a truly insightful writer who is not afraid to address eternal issues.
4847516
Recently discovered this author and really hope he will give us more of this excellent writing - an engaging, thought-provoking book, both witty and poignant.  Mr. Hury unflinchingly shines a light on the times we live in and our very human nature. I will be eagerly watching for more from him!
160163
Such wonderful writing. Certainly I appreciated learning about Haiti, and about building, but what makes the book special is the author, and how he take those subjects and uses them as a prism to understand himself and the world. He has a style and approach that make me want to read whatever he chooses to write about. There's information, to be sure, but the richness is in Paul Fallon's insights and confusions and struggles and soul.
4169739
Wendell Berry is a tremendously insightful, yet humble essayist. Where many writers wishing to make similar points do so in a condemning, judgmental, assuming way, Berry offers life experience as he's lived it, retells real stories of people he knows, gives background to his own biases, which he willingly identifies and admits. Due to the nature in which he expresses his convictions, I enjoyed the process of having many of my opinions challenged. There's a lot to chew on in this book which is why I would gladly read it again and have already recommended it to a few friends and lent my copy out.
324127
The writing is crisp, clear, and insightful. This novel offers a powerful glimpse into life in rural Philippines, the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship, and how religion warps the psyche of even the most accomplished and educated women in the Philippines. If you conceal the village names, the historical characters involved, the references to identifiable religious associations and rituals, etc..., and focused only on the dilemmas arising from the situations described in the novel, it is possible to conjure images of life in a fundamentalist Islamic society - in the way that faith is used to glue the structures in society that perpetuate the oppression of women. This is a novel that could not have been written had Romero opted for continued intellectual containment in Manila instead of migrating to Canada. A truly gifted writer, Romero should come up with a follow up novel soon!