Patti Smith & Robert Mapplethorpe
These are the books I did manage to read over December / January. Some of them were not on my list and some on the list dropped off or I haven't finished yet.
Phantoms in the Brain - 4 stars, a fascinating look into neuro-plasticity, told in an accessible but not dumbed down way. Ramachandran's enthusiasm is contagious.
Nox - 5 stars, Nox is an epitaph in the form of a book, a facsimile of a handmade book Anne Carson wrote and created after the death of her brother. This is more than a book of poetry, I keep picking it up and dipping into it. Sad and beautiful.
Writing Down the Bones - 4 stars, A really good read for anyone wants to be a writer. Short philosophical chapters talking about the nature of writing, tricks and traps. Very sound and thoughtful advice. NOT writing exercises. Something you'll probably re-read over and over if you are passionate about the writing life.
Tomorrow’s People - 1 star, a couple of hours lost that I'll never get back. What a load of misunderstood rubbish. Nothing new or challenging and very little actual neuroscience. Greenfield should stick to what she knows (not technology). Also very outdated to try and align feminism with "nature" and technology as the masculine enemy. Don't waste your time!
Just Kids - 3 stars, What an amazing power-house of a woman Patti Smith is. Interesting stories about interesting people. I don't think much of it could happen these days. Some of it I found a bit self-indulgent but hey - it's her biography.
Light Boxes - 4 stars, A clever piece of writing, not a dense think-piece but a quick humorous read exploring SAAD in a fantastical way.
Black Juice - 4 stars, the blurb correctly says "In this extraordinary short story collection, human frailty is put to the test by the relentless forces of dark and light, man and beast. Each tale offers glimpses into familiar, shadowy worlds that push the boundaries of the spirit and leave the mind haunted with the knowledge that black juice runs through us all."
Legend of A Suicide - 3 stars, although this is excellent reading I just couldn't finish it. The work is so harrowing and I'm too tender. It was my first foray into library ebook lending, which was partly why I read it and probably why I didn't feel committed to finishing it. If you are made of tougher stuff I would recommend it.
The Penelopiad - 1 star, I wanted to like this, I really did. I love Margret Atwood, I love the concept, I love the subject matter, I love myths, I love feminist readings of texts... However, I was really disappointed. The first person narration had a very didactic effect and I didn't think Atwood ever took the story anywhere unpredictable ( of course the script is already set to a certain extent). It was worth reading once as a curiosity but I wouldn't bother with a re-read.
Books I’m still reading and enjoying:
6 Impossible Things before breakfast
