This was such a great book - a skillful combination of the development of the science of plant communication and the memoir elements of Suzanne's scieThis was such a great book - a skillful combination of the development of the science of plant communication and the memoir elements of Suzanne's scientific career and personal life. (Her personal life is so intertwined with the work she does, and the decisions she makes about her career, that you really can't tell the story of one without the other). It's both a scientific story and an almost spiritual story - a wonderful read. ...more
A memoir about a young lawyer, her experience as a judge's associate on a criminal circuit, and her decision to make an official complaint about childA memoir about a young lawyer, her experience as a judge's associate on a criminal circuit, and her decision to make an official complaint about childhood sexual abuse - the impact that has on her life, and the eventual outcome. It's an intense, disturbing read - particularly interesting to me as a Qld lawyer, albeit not one within the criminal system. ...more
I had avoided this as I had got the impression from reviews that it described a fair bit of familial abuse, which I didn't want to read. After severalI had avoided this as I had got the impression from reviews that it described a fair bit of familial abuse, which I didn't want to read. After several strong recommendations, I gave it a try, and yes, it's a pretty mind-blowing memoir about an astoundingly neglected childhood, but there are also numerous descriptions of abuse and violence which are pretty hard to read. I was churning through it at one point just trying to get to the end. 3 stars nonetheless....more
Fascinating memoir about the realities of modern day teaching in Australia - it really gave me an insight into the breadth of the work that teachers dFascinating memoir about the realities of modern day teaching in Australia - it really gave me an insight into the breadth of the work that teachers do, particularly the extensive out-of-classroom work....more
A collection of brief essays, and moments and scenes in a life, about mothering (and especially mothering while tired). Both of my children have been A collection of brief essays, and moments and scenes in a life, about mothering (and especially mothering while tired). Both of my children have been dreadful at sleeping, so this book is very much for me - it's like a loving missive from one mother to another about getting through hard days. I really love the author's overarching approach of lifting up other women, celebrating our parenting work, being kind and compassionate - a great read....more
This short memoir about the stillbirth of the author's first child, and the birth of her second, is heartbreaking and beautiful - definitely not a booThis short memoir about the stillbirth of the author's first child, and the birth of her second, is heartbreaking and beautiful - definitely not a book to read while pregnant, but heartily recommended otherwise. ...more
I think Tina Fey is very funny, but I can't say I'm a particular fan - I don't watch "30 Rock" for example. But I really enjoyed Bossypants, which as I think Tina Fey is very funny, but I can't say I'm a particular fan - I don't watch "30 Rock" for example. But I really enjoyed Bossypants, which as far as I can tell from listening to the audio is a series of essays, varying from amusing childhood stories to stories about Fey's developing career, and the challenges of working as a woman in comedy. Fey's narration makes for a very enjoyable and amusing listen....more
This is a sort of memoir, sort of how-to, sort of reflection on modern society's approach to food and eating - and is also very well written and amusiThis is a sort of memoir, sort of how-to, sort of reflection on modern society's approach to food and eating - and is also very well written and amusing. The basic structure is the author, a chef, starts a cooking school with women who feel at a loss in the kitchen, and educates them about basic skills and how they can be expanded and experimented with. It essentially follows the lessons - such as knife skills, bread baking etc - includes a few recipes at the end of every chapter, and considers very thoughtfully the reasons behind many lazy cooking habits that people tend to gravitate towards. It was very inspiring, and since I've been making a concerted effort to not use bottled sauces (full of salt and flavourings) in my cooking. Oh, and to always use a chef's knife and to chop things properly!...more
I wish that when I was 19 I was writing about my life with as much wit and energy as Joan Wyndham wrote about hers in 1939. "Love Lessons" is peripherI wish that when I was 19 I was writing about my life with as much wit and energy as Joan Wyndham wrote about hers in 1939. "Love Lessons" is peripherally about the experience of living in London during the war - the rationing and air raids - and mostly about her experiences growing up, meeting men, concerns about birth control... and it's all written so marvellously.
I picked up this book after reading a , and she excerpted a passage that I will steal and put here:
"The fact is, I prefer men to be slightly caddish and knock me around, and not to love me too much. I like men who think they are God.
Rupert, of course, has all the self-assurance in the world � never looks foolish or put out, is completely at ease with the universe and thinks himself a lord of it. He belongs to that class of person that is adored by shopkeepers and servants � “Dear master Rupert, such a fine lad he’s grown into!� � and Rupert smiles his gentle smile that means nothing, and strides on in glorious self-absorption, six feet of indolent golden manhood in a spotlessly white unbuttoned shirt, his trousers just a little too big for him. There is a kind of aura about him that suggests green cricket fields and white flannels, though God knows he detests all sports and exercise. He has that irresistible lazy charm that often goes with decadence and overbreeding � just like my father." ...more
This memoir was hilarious - I really like Janzen's sense of humour. But apart from having to violently suppress my laughter while on public transport,This memoir was hilarious - I really like Janzen's sense of humour. But apart from having to violently suppress my laughter while on public transport, there's also some really moving reflections (after the break up of Janzen's marriage) on love and family and the choices people make with their lives. The thread of this book is a little scattered, but it probably would have been hard to make it more coherent (given that it's a bit of a hodge podge of recollections and anecdotes)....more
I don't think this kind of raw, "check out my slightly dysfunctional family, aren't we hilarious" memoir is really my sort of thing, and so perhaps thI don't think this kind of raw, "check out my slightly dysfunctional family, aren't we hilarious" memoir is really my sort of thing, and so perhaps this review is unfair. While I found parts of it mildly amusing, I'm not really a fan of cringe-humour, and The Family Law has a lot of that. If you like cringe-humour, you'll love this - it's a little scattered, but well written with a casual tone. ...more
This was a sweet, scattered little collection of essays by Murakami - almost a diary, musing on his devotion to running, and how it connects to his prThis was a sweet, scattered little collection of essays by Murakami - almost a diary, musing on his devotion to running, and how it connects to his profession of writing. I really enjoyed it, and it was particularly interesting to read about the crazier endurance stuff....more
Well, not really a memoir, but an account of Will Storr's investigations into (essentially) do ghosts exist? The concept could have been good and StorWell, not really a memoir, but an account of Will Storr's investigations into (essentially) do ghosts exist? The concept could have been good and Storr is a funny writer, but he's so ridiculously gullible that the "investigation" is more irritating than engaging (despite the fact that he comes to the conclusions that most ghosts are probably figments of our imagination. Probably. Except the one he thinks are plausible)....more
A memoir about Mormonism, childhood abuse & organised religion. There's lots of heavily divided reviews about this book on Amazon, and it is a divisivA memoir about Mormonism, childhood abuse & organised religion. There's lots of heavily divided reviews about this book on Amazon, and it is a divisive book - it's a very angry memoir, with good reason (no-one in the author's family believes that her father molested her). It's an interesting story about a spiritual awakening and is well written, but it didn't really hold my interest - I'm kind of over spiritual awakenings, I think....more
I couldn't get through this book before it was due back at the library - it's a strange little collection of stories and memories from Richard FeynmanI couldn't get through this book before it was due back at the library - it's a strange little collection of stories and memories from Richard Feynman, a physicist and possessed of an eternally curious mind. Interesting, but better to dip into than read all the way through....more
I enjoyed this memoir, which I read for book club - it's funny and well-written and engaging, and I really liked Alice, and her family. It was nice toI enjoyed this memoir, which I read for book club - it's funny and well-written and engaging, and I really liked Alice, and her family. It was nice to read a memoir written with a sense of humour - so many are so earnest about all their trials and tribulations. Alice even manages to write about her period of depression with a light touch of humour.
I think where my interest began to wane was with the last section of the book, about her first relationship. There are long sections of panicky internal dialogue, and eh, I don't know - it felt like it went off track a little for me. Other than that, I really enjoyed it - a great portrait of a family....more
This was an interesting memoir - on one hand, it was an story of the author coming to terms with her autism through her work with gorillas, and feelinThis was an interesting memoir - on one hand, it was an story of the author coming to terms with her autism through her work with gorillas, and feeling more comfortable in the way she interacts with people. She makes a good argument for people with autism seeing the world differently, and not in a way that needs to be "fixed".
The second half of the book seems to concentrate much more on Dawn's work with the gorilla "nation", as she terms it (she refers to the "gorilla man", the "chimpanzee woman"), the intelligence of these creatures, and her dream that one day one of these may walk up to the Supreme Court and say, "I want to be free." She compares our thinking about other primate's intelligence, and the way we use them in experiments, to the way our culture once thought about slavery and slaves. It's a comparison I was uncomfortable with - comparing the horrors we inflicted on our own species, with the way we treat other primates.
While other primates are certainly intelligent creatures, I cannot think of them, as the author does, as men and women, and wonder to myself whether they have to right to raise children in captivity. Songs of the Gorilla Nation was an interesting insight into primate activism (if that's the right term), but being at the end of the book it stuck in my head more than the author's reflections on her autism - although really, the two subjects are so tightly intertwined in the book that it is difficult to consider them separately. Dawn experiences such a passionate awakening of self while working with gorillas that I can understand why she feels so strongly about their rights and freedoms....more
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