WHAT I'M READING V. 36

1. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

This was an absolute stunner of a book. It's a story of friendship and also one of the effects of trauma. It's also about continuing on with life when it seems like you can't, how hard it is to believe good things about yourself if you have been told something otherwise for so long, and how powerful friendship and love can be, but only to a certain extent. I cried and cried reading this one, and gave it a standing ovation once I was through.

2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I marvel at the self-control and restraint the author must have had to walk through the nuances of such an emotional and thing as police shooting of black kids. It's a skill to start of with a small story and spiral it out to all its cultural implication, especially one that is still so rampant in the news today. Along with all of that, the author captured the story and voice of a teenage girl and her community in vivid ways that made me feel like I got true insight into this girl's life.

3. Educated by Tara Westover

It was stunning and gripping. I was totally captivated by the narrative; I couldn't stop listening to it to the point that I felt like I was its prisoner. Not only is the story incredible, but the writing is fantastic. There is also commentary on what writing a memoir is, which I love. This was probably my favorite memoir since Mary Karr's "Lit", and I highly recommend it. It has led to many ruminations on the state of education in this country and in general, and what it means for power and opportunity and self-worth. It reminded me of "Hillbilly Elegy" but darker and more intense.

4. The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sachs

I know of Oliver Sachs from Radiolab, and always regarded his stories and clips and contributions as some of my favorites because of the fascinating insights he offered into our brains.  This book shares interesting stories of people with various conditions like face blindness, apashia, and blindness, and what is happening in the brain when these occur. I think learning more about other people's medical experience in this way enlarges our world view and our understanding of what makes us all human.