Books 14, 15 and 15-1/2
Postcards from Europe - Rick Steves. Rick takes us on a trip to Europe (really three different trips combined into one narrative account), visits his favorite people and places and memories of previous trips. He ponders a bit about having a hand in ruining the Euriope he loves (small, secret places are so secret, and eventually, not so small after being touted in Rick Steves' guidebooks) but concludes that visiting Europe is REALLY about meeting and connecting with European people. I think there is something to be said about catching some art and history while you are there, as well as some scenery, but he is upfront about his preferences.
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe -Katrina Firlik. Checked this one out from work. Covers the seven years she spent learning to be a neuro-surgeon, with interesting musings about neuro-science in its many facets and the process by which one becomes a neuro-surgeon.
The Soloist - Steve Lopez. It was a slow night tonight at the store and this book was sitting at the front counter and I skim-read it enough to know the gist of the story. It is really well written and seems to be a sympathetic but not sugar-coated story of the relationship between the two men (one homeless, schizophrenic, Julliard drop-out, African-American; one white, upper middle-class reporter for the LA Times), the uneven progress of dealing with anyone with a severe mental illness and the redemptive benefits of both friendship and music. But I can't add any. books. to. my. shelves.
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe -Katrina Firlik. Checked this one out from work. Covers the seven years she spent learning to be a neuro-surgeon, with interesting musings about neuro-science in its many facets and the process by which one becomes a neuro-surgeon.
The Soloist - Steve Lopez. It was a slow night tonight at the store and this book was sitting at the front counter and I skim-read it enough to know the gist of the story. It is really well written and seems to be a sympathetic but not sugar-coated story of the relationship between the two men (one homeless, schizophrenic, Julliard drop-out, African-American; one white, upper middle-class reporter for the LA Times), the uneven progress of dealing with anyone with a severe mental illness and the redemptive benefits of both friendship and music. But I can't add any. books. to. my. shelves.