Nonfiction Review: Soul of an Octopus

Soul of an Octopus
by Sy Montgomery

Overall Rating: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5

Summary: Sy Montgomery explores the science around octopuses while sharing her emotional and sometimes philosophical experiences volunteering with New England aquariums and her own personal diving trips. 

Impression: Most of the time I was reading this book, my husband got used to me wandering out into the living room to say, "Hey, listen to this! Did you know..." and then reading something randomly amazing about octopuses. Montgomery's prose is engaging and colorful, mixing both hard science and personal observation in a manner that keeps your attention on how incredible these animals really are.

Conclusion/Recommendations: I thoroughly enjoyed the book, though it was heavier on the philosophy and lighter on the science for my personal tastes. It's definitely a great book to whet your appetite for deeper exploration into cephalopod research.

Non-fiction Review: The Happiness Hypothesis

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
by Jonathan Haidt

Overall Rating: 4/5
Subject Presentation: 4/5
Characters: n/a
Writing: 4/5

The Happiness Hypothesis delves deep into the simple origins of psychology and philosophy to discover the relevant truths in old wisdom. A fascinating study melding science and philosophy, this book gives simple, clear explanations for the concepts presented and is firmly grounded in modern psychological science. An excellent read for mildly jaded cynics (like me) seeking a simple approach to finding some peace in a fast-paced world.

On a more personal note, I read this book for my Psychology of Happiness class a few summers ago and it really changed how I looked at things like "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and some of the older origins of mindfulness and meditation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and refused to give my copy up to the bookstore at the end of the summer session.

Non-fiction Review: Women Who Work

Women Who Work
Ivanka Trump

Rating: 2/5

I want to preface this review with a note. I dislike Donald Trump. Intensely. But I'm also a professional and this review is as fair and balanced as I can make it. I will not attack, only review the book as it is.

Ivanka Trump aims to provide support and fresh ideas to the business-oriented woman. She covers several subjects including how best to organize one's life to maximize efficiency, recognizing the joy in the little moments rather than striving always for a perfect balance, and the importance of communication. Ivanka's first-person narrative style is engaging and the book itself is excellently readable. Concepts are well organized and presented, developed with Ivanka's personal touches and references back to her website community.

The ultimate failing of this book is that, like so many other books about being successful, it is aimed at a very narrow target audience: women with privilege. It assumes a level of pre-existing success to which the average reader has not had access. Many of her tips and tricks are sound and can be traced back to realistic business practices, but there is very little original material here, not to mention a complete blind spot regarding the working poor, women of color, and professional issues of the middle and lower classes. This book was written for white women who are educated and have been supported throughout their lives to a standard far about the average. This book was written to the self-purchasing women who buy clothing for the name and jewelry from collections. There may be some tips to be found here that might aid those women in their journey, but for most people, there really is very little to recommend.

Non-fiction Review: Happiness Like Water

Happiness Like Water
by Chinelo Okparanta

Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 3/5

This collection of short stories and essays is written by a Nigerian immigrant in scenes from her homeland.

While I found the stories and characters fascinating, I struggled greatly with the voice. I didn't finish the material, but I hope to go back when I have more cognitive space to give this collection the attention it deserves. I can tell it's important and meaningful, but I just wasn't in the right place to read it this time around.

Watch this space.

Teen Review: March: Book Two

March: Book Two
by John Robert Lewis and Andrew Aydin, artist Nate Powell

Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5

This title is the second in a planned trilogy of nonfiction graphic novels following the life of Congressman John Robert Lewis and his activities during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The story progresses through flashbacks with Lewis' narrative descriptions and storytelling interspersed with flash-forward sequences centered on President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony.

I am wildly in love with this series for a variety of reasons. I am personally very much a product of my culture and time period. I grew up in the 80s and 90s in an entirely white area of northern Michigan. My American history was focused mostly on the Civil War and WWII. I have a smattering of information about what happened during the Civil Rights Movement, but mostly, I admit that I have no idea. None at all.

This graphic novel series has helped me realize how little I actually know. I didn't know about the Freedom Riders. I didn't know what they went through, the choices they made, the way political and social decisions shaped the movement. I don't know anything about it and reading this and it's predecessor makes me both ashamed that I know so little and ravenous to learn more. This is part of American history that we should not be ignorant of and I am profoundly grateful that these graphic novels are making that history easily accessible to the public, both young and old.

The artwork is fantastic, the writing is accessible and easily understood. The subject matter is graphic in the violent and bloody sense of the word, but there's a reason for that: this period of history was violent and bloody; people called each other horrible words and they are present in this book. But to remove those aspects from this history would be to make the struggle pretty, take away the gritty reality that was a real life-and-death struggle for black Americans.

I can't wait for the next book. And while I wait, I'm going to do more reading. I feel that I owe the Freedom Riders that much.

Non-fiction Review: Fun Home

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
by Alison Bechdel

Overall Rating: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters 5/5
Writing: 4/5

Alison Bechdel is also the author and illustrator of Dykes to Watch Out For. This graphic novel follows Bechdel through her early life and details her relationship with her father, who ran a funeral home and died when she was in college. It also maps her coming-out story and how her relationship with her family affected the person she became.

Fun Home is funny, discomforting in places, and honest. While this bills itself as a "family" tragicomic, it is more about family than it is family-friendly. There is nudity and content that would probably make most parents think twice about allowing a younger teen read it, though it is a stellar offering for adults and older teens.

I really enjoyed this insightful examination of family dynamics and how they can affect us, personally and formatively. I did find the story to wander a bit aimlessly, though, which happens sometimes in memoirs. A great read, though, and one I would highly recommend.

Non-fiction Review: White Girls

White Girls
by Hilton Als

Overall Rating: 4/5
Plot: n/a
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5

White Girls is a collection of essays by Hilton Als on such subjects as gender identity, representation, intersectionality, and pop culture. As such, there really is no plot to rate, but the characterization of the people he talks about and the way in which he writes are what I'm basing my rating on. I particularly enjoyed his essay on Truman Capote.

I feel like I did this book a disservice by not reading it as deeply or as carefully as it deserved. This needs to be held up with other writers of his era, like James Baldwin and Truman Capote. This is an important book and should be given the attention it deserves. I really didn't do that and I blame the manner in which I read it: there was a hold behind me, so I rushed through the essays and didn't spent much time meditating on their meaning and place in the scheme of life. This is not a light read, but it definitely one that needs to be read to be appreciated.