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On SUNDAY, you Bitches will have your turn to tell us what you've been reading during the months of JULY & AUGUST for The 2016 Infomaniac Book Challenge.
TODAY, we look at the Mistress's list of books for July and August.
NON-FICTION
The Idiot Brain: A Neuroscientist Explains What Your Head Is Really Up To by Dean Burnett (published 2016)...
“British neuroscientist Burnett...packs an incredible amount of information into an accessible package with this breezy, charming collection of pop neuroscience musings on 'how the human brain does its own thing despite everything the modern world can throw at it.'” — Publishers Weekly
But What if We’re Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past by Chuck Klosterman (published 2016)...
"But What If We’re Wrong? visualizes the contemporary world as it will appear to those who'll perceive it as the distant past. Chuck Klosterman asks questions that are profound in their simplicity: How certain are we about our understanding of gravity? How certain are we about our understanding of time? What will be the defining memory of rock music, five hundred years from today? How seriously should we view the content of our dreams? How seriously should we view the content of television? Are all sports destined for extinction? Is it possible that the greatest artist of our era is currently unknown (or—weirder still—widely known, but entirely disrespected)? Is it possible that we “overrate” democracy? And perhaps most disturbing, is it possible that we’ve reached the end of knowledge?"
The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman (published 2016)...
A collection of Neil Gaiman's nonfiction essays on a myriad of topics.
The Voyeur’s Motel by Gay Talese (published 2016)...
The bizarre account of a Colorado motel owner who rigs up the attic into a "viewing platform" to watch his guests having sex, without their knowledge.
And from the same author...
Thy Neighbor’s Wife by Gay Talese (published 1981)...
An exploration of sexuality in America from post World War II through the 1970s.
Light My Fire: My Life with the Doors by Ray Manzarek (published 1998)...
Co-founder and keyboard player of The Doors, Ray Manzarek chronicles his friendship and collaboration with Jim Morrison and brings us an insider's perspective on life with the band.
I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny by Bob Newhart (published 2006)...
Iconic comedian Bob Newhart's observations of his life and career. The Mistress picked this up at a yard sale. Twenty-five cents well spent.
My Secret Mother by Phyllis Whitsell (published 2016)...
Nurse Phyllis Whitsell tracks down her birth mother who, despite what she's been told by her adoptive parents, is still very much alive. Phyllis spends nine years caring for her birth mother, without revealing her true identity to her.
FICTION
Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All by Jonas Jonasson, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles (published 2016)...
A madcap Swedish crime romp from the author of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley (published 2016)...
Heartbreaking and heartwarming. A dachshund named Lily has a lethal brain tumor (The Octopus) on her head. Her human companion, Ted must learn to live with it. You don't have to be a dog lover to appreciate this book but if you are, I suggest you read it. Grab a box of tissues (oh yes, you will weep) and delve in.
My, what big eyes you have!
ReplyDeleteLX: All the better to read the small print, my dear.
DeleteI will read anything from Mr. Gaiman. And the motel voyeur? Creepy, but not the best writing.(imo)
ReplyDeleteI'l leave eye examination to optometrists...
DINAHMOW: The Voyeur’s Motel is even creepier when you realize that the author once joined the pervert in the attic to watch the guests!
DeleteYou won’t be disappointed by the Gaiman book. It’s a satisfying read.
The revised edition of The Joy of Sex looks like a surprising & exciting read!
ReplyDeleteThe Idiot Brain, Hitman Anders, Secret Mother, & Lily & The Octopus sound intriguing. The Voyeur's Motel is my nightmare! Who can sleep with a creepy nutcase staring at them!?!
Love Neil Gaiman! I'm afraid my book report will be late this time around, as I have spent most of August watching the Rio Olympics. And the weekend after that, I spent reorganizing & lining the kitchen shelves. Still halfway through reading a book. Will report as soon as I'm done reading it.
EROS: No need to apologize. After all, you practically WROTE the book on the 2016 Olympics!
DeleteKLOSTERMANN's "end of knowledge" is of course nonsense, but the idea to look at things in a "sub specie aeternitatis-way" is nice.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely have to read the books of Mr TALESE (perhaps with a sheer smile ?), while Mr GAIMAN and Mr NEWHART are unknown to me.
MANZAREK - maybe ten years ago I still would have picked up his book without any question or hesitation, today I ask meself whether I do want to spent my time with it ? I doubt. The same goes for BURNETT's Idiot Brain - sorry, I keep mine in a jar under the bed ... trickery of the eye, camouflage, beguilement of the senses & the brain are things I mess about for some time now. Not that I "knew" all (and would have reached the silly "end of knowledge" - what a nonsense !), again more a question of time management.
Can't say nothing about the fiction books, except that you seem to have a little proclivity for "tearjerkers" - ?
BTW I hope the illustrations of Comfort's Ultimate edition (The end of sex in reach ?) found your consensual nod.
MAGO: The Mistress occasionally views things in a "sub specie aeternitatis-way" so Klosterman’s book was a pleasure to read and to contemplate. I’m changing the book title to “The Joy of sub specie aeternitatis” but I’m not sure it will become a runaway bestseller like “The Joy of Sex.” “When I have a leisure moment, you will generally find me curled up with Spinoza's latest,” Bertie Wooster announces in P. G. Wodehouse’s novel, “Joy in the Morning.” Teehee.
DeleteI recommend Talese’s “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” as an interesting study of American sexuality.
I hadn’t noticed my tendency to turn to tearjerkers but you have a point. I’ve had a lot to cry about lately (as do we all) and these books are a good outlet. Not that I need any help letting the tears flow.
Like the Bob Newhart book, the Manzarek book about The Doors was purchased at a yard sale for 25 cents. And it’s worth all that and more.
Bob Newhart encapsulates the idea of “everyman” or Mr. Average, struggling to make sense of the world with dry humour. He’s one of the few comedians whose jokes don’t offend. I like his perspective on life when he says, “The only way to survive is to have a sense of humour.”
I've made a correction to the post.
ReplyDelete"My Secret Mother" is non-fiction, a true story. I mistakenly listed it as fiction. Perhaps I can no longer tell which is which. My head is all over the place.
Remarkable story. Sorry for the tearjerker-remark, but I only glanced at the Fiction and thought this would be a a kind of "Romantic", "sweet" novel - turns out to be a gritty piece of social reportage out of Birmingham's slums ...
DeleteJudging a book by its cover! [rimshot]
DeleteMAGO: My mistake. “My Secret Mother” is a true story and a moving and unusual one, at that. Thank you for the link to the article about the author.
Deletefuck gay talese.
ReplyDeletesometime back in the 90s, he wrote something (in time magazine) about how ridiculous a corgi looked. went on and on about their heads not matching their bodies. if only someone would write about how hideous he looks!
also back in the 90s, when we could still meet travelers at their gates at the airport, i watched bob newhart walk around looking for someone. he ignored my look of surprise.
my dear mistress, have
you ever considered rhinoplasty?
A nose job ?
DeleteAch ... maybe a handkerchief ... ?
NORMA: Talese, as a human being, has been reduced in my eyes for his disparaging remarks about Corgis.
DeleteYet his prose, especially the Esquire article, "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" is still worth reading.
NORMA & MAGO: Rhinoplasty? Keep your nose out of my business.
yes, i've read that piece and you're right....it is good.
DeleteI'm very fond of Neil Gaiman and had not heard of this book. Thanks for the lead.
ReplyDeletePEENEE: Seems like there’s something for everyone in Gaiman’s book so I hope there’s something for Peenee, too.
DeleteI'm intrigued with "The Idiot Brain" and "But What If We're Wrong?", but don't think I'd be able to make it through "Lily and the Octopus" without drowning in my own tears.
ReplyDeleteMR. DeVICE: I don’t remember the last time I wept so much when reading a book.
Delete(have you missed me?)
ReplyDeletei have a stack of books that i've been meaning to read, but stuff keeps happening around here that keeps me from them! they have, of course, been routinely dusted and kept orderly! xoxoxox
SAVANNAH: We all missed you!
DeleteWhile you’re here, could you dust MY books too?
I remember My Secret Mother being recommended on a television show.... something I meant to read.
ReplyDeleteMy chair has collapsed under the weight of books I meant to read.
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MISS SCARLET: Then what will you use as a photo prop?
DeleteI could go out and take pictures of libraries :-)
DeleteSx