“A goodbye is an opportunity for forgiveness, kindness, intimacy, and ultimately for love and a deepening acceptance of life as it is instead of what it was or what we may have wanted it to be.”
Saying goodbye can be one of the most trying experiences, whether it be to a dying family member, a lover, or your own past. In Ten Poems to Say Goodbye, Roger Housden has compiled a series of selected poems by several different authors, including cummings, Neruda, and Rilke. Each poem conveys one or more of the many pungent and unique emotions that accompany a goodbye – from sadness and longing, to acceptance and triumph.
After each poem, Housden explores and dissects the piece, stanza by stanza, with a keen and insightful eye. His analyses are compelling, sincere, inspiring, and bring to light the solace that can be found in times of transition. Amongst all suffering exist flicks of awareness, instances of beauty, and countless opportunities for growth.
We look up at the stars and they are
not there. We see the memory
of when they were, once upon a time.
And that is more than enough.
- Jack Gilbert, The Lost Hotels of Paris
Through poetry, inexplicable experiences and emotions are eloquently put into words, words which are powerful, moving, and emotionally potent. Subsequently, through the breaking down of these poems, one can come to a better understanding of the underlying themes and subtleties, and take away from the work all that the author had intended.
This is a wonderfully written book, which anyone who’s ever experienced any form of loss will be able to relate to. I thoroughly enjoyed the poem selection, as well as Housden’s analysis and personal thoughts on the poetry.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I can’t begin to tell you how many times friends have playfully jested, insinuating that the silently observant individuals, like myself, innocently skirting the periphery are the ones secretly plotting some mischievous crime.
In her debut release, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain takes a different stand. Yes, you should be watching the quiet ones, but not because they’re creating a scene or causing trouble. Rather, Cain proposes that introverts – the conscientious, deep-thinking, thoughtful, individualistic, empathetic, shy, and often socially awkward individuals of society – hold a unique power in today’s world.
What they lack in charisma and quick-wit, they make up for in problem-solving abilities, determination, and their ability to focus. The time that an extrovert spends socializing is time that the introvert spends reading, delving passionately into their favorite hobby, having a deep conversation with another, and reflecting on life. The high school loner, when transplanted into a hospitable environment as an adult, has the ability to thrive and excel. Those who are happy living in their heads are the inventors, the artists, and the engineers, those innovators who are then able to release and project their internal paradise into their external world.
“The glory of the disposition that stops to consider stimuli rather than rushing to engage with them is its long association with intellectual and artistic achievement.”
If these ungainly closet-geniuses have so much to offer the world, then why are they so often overlooked, and even shunned? Extroverts make up between one-half and two-thirds of the population, and we live in a society that has been built around, and increasingly caters to, and promotes that “extrovert ideal.” Assignments within both work and school environments often obit around collective collaboration, situations in which the intelligent but slow-to-speak introvert can’t get a word in edgewise. Employees may be accused of being uncooperative; spouses may be guilt-tripped for not responding properly to criticism; and students may be written up for not participating, in the traditional sense of the word. Is it possible that introversion and its associated traits are not necessarily negative and restrictive? Is it possible that these individuals are not, in fact, antisocial, but rather have a different perception of the world, and thus different means of interacting with others?
Cain explores the story of Rosa Park and her quiet strength during the Civil Rights Movement, as opposed to the charismatic and rallying power of Martin Luther King Jr. Both were important figures, in their own right. Placing the framework of this contrast into modern contexts, we imagine “connectors” – people who have a “special gift for bringing the world together” and “an instinctive and natural gift for making social connections” – to be charming and bubbly; yet, with the emergence of online communities and social media, introverted “connectors” have discovered a safe and comfortable environment in which they can interact with foreign friends, exchange ideas, empathize and offer advice, and ultimately serve to model a new form of leadership. As stated so aptly by Pete Cashmore, founder of Mashable, “perhaps social media affords us the control we lack in real life socializing: the screen as a barrier between us and the world.”
In a fast-talking, risk-taking society, why would evolution preserve a gene that discourages thoughtlessly jumping in and doing what needs to be done? Extroverts and introverts lie on polar opposites of the same spectrum – where one acts, the other thinks. Although it’s necessary to have members of a society who can fearlessly venture into the world and “hunt for dinner,” a community also depends on those who can notice a predator in the distance, or recall that a certain berry is poisonous. Ultimately, both personalities are important in the perpetuation of the human species.
So, as an introvert, what can you do to fit more comfortably into the world around you? What can you do to improve your relationships and help those around you understand that introversion is not a pathology? The underlying theme of Quiet is that introversion is not only okay, but a gift that, if properly harnessed and nurtured, can take you to places you never dreamt possible. The key is to find balance between your natural tendency towards introspection, and the social necessity to interact with others and act on ideas. Although horrified of small talk, most introverts revel in deep discussion – find other deep thinkers to exchange thoughts with. If you’re socially awkward, connect with like-minded people in online communities. Force yourself out of your comfort zone, but allow yourself to take baby steps to arrive there. When you feel over-stimulated, create “restorative niches,” in which you can unwind and find your center. Identify your core personal project – figure out what you loved as a child, the type of work you gravitate towards, and the lifestyles and people you envy – and pursue those passions relentlessly.
The book is built on meticulously researched data in the fields of personality, evolutionary, and neuropsychology, with additional support from case studies and one-on-one conversations. The author examines every facet of the life of an introvert, from school and work to interpersonal relationships. The book encapsulates every angle of the personality trait, as only a thoughtful and detail-oriented introvert could, taking into account and preemptively responding to any questions or challenges that may arise. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who considers themselves introvert or is the parent, spouse, or teacher of an introvert, as well as anyone with an interest in social or personality psychology. The book is informative, engaging, and highly relatable.
Now, savor your solitude, and go change the world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“Everything you’ll ever need to know is within you; the secrets of the universe are imprinted on the cells of your body. But you haven’t learned how to read the wisdom of the body. So you an can only read books and listen to experts and hope they are right.”
Way of the Peaceful Warrior is an autobiographical fiction novel, based on the early life of the author, Dan Millman; a book which encapsulates his encounters with a mysterious mentor, whom he names “Socrotes,” and follows his unfolding toward true self-awareness. Coupled with the engaging plot-line, the book is also weighted with metaphysical and self-help themes.
The story is written in a simple manner and the use of language is mediocre, yet the book is powerful. The story is presented in a widely-accessible style, and where the writing may lack, the ideas behind the story and the ingrained inspiration more than carry the book, making it an easy and worthwhile read.
The backbone of Socrates’ teachings is essentially a Westernized Buddhism, paired with other miscellaneous spiritual and philosophical teachings, which promotes a continual awareness, a life in which one is always present in the “here” and the “now,” because that’s ultimately all there is. By removing your attachment to your thoughts and your mind, you can release yourself from all pain and suffering. Along with eliminating negative thought processes, it’s also important to recognize and appreciate the simplest of pleasures in life, and to be content exactly where you are, will the things that you already have.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the details and lost in the crowds. As you take the time to observe yourself and the world that surrounds you, you begin to realize that, as insignificant as you may be in the “big picture,” each moment is an opportunity to have an impact on your own life, and the lives of others. Too often, we forget how important it is to take a step back and examine are true selves – free of masks, facades, and expectations – to be honest and realize our own potential. This book has the power to simultaneously tap into the realm of humanity and the powerfully universal divine, to create a bridge between what we are and what we can achieve.
What I enjoyed most about this book was that, rather than laying out the dry theory for readers to listlessly pick away at, Millman has built up a emotionally-charged and affective story, an inspirational and effective way of sharing his personal beliefs and wisdom in an entertaining manner. It’s a feel good read that has the power to changes lives, without an overwhelming pressure to do so.
How has the conception of “God” changed over the years, and how have social and political climates triggered these changes?
In The Evolution of God, Robert Wright addresses these questions, both in great breadth and depth. The scope of the book is impressive, exploring man’s cultural evolution over time, through the lens of religious beliefs and adherence.
The author examines different historical religions, ranging from the ancient chiefdoms, shamans, and pagan gods, to the modern-day monotheistic Abrahamic belief systems – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Wright also delves into the existence of God through social and scientific lenses, and suggests that religion, independent of whether a “God” truly exists, is simply an exercise in social engineering. He also investigates the relationship between science and religion, the conquering of civilizations and simultaneous melding of religious beliefs, the causes of and solutions to radical acts of terrorism, and the modern relations between the major monotheistic religions.
The author is well-researched, articulate, and engaging, adding just the right amount of humor. He maintains a neutral, skeptical, unbiased position, relying on science, anthropology, and theological documents for his facts, inserting his own personal creative synthesis, as well as an analysis of his findings. Over the course of this exceedingly large book, Wright basically proposes that mankind is genetically predisposed to evolve towards moral order and the development of nonzero-sum, mutually interdependent trust-based relationships. In conclusion, God and organized religion are presented as a biologically instilled means of connecting with others on a grandeur scale, of building a sense of community, and of reducing conflict.
This book was absolutely fascinating and nearly impossibly to put down. If you are at all interested in the concept of God, either as a social construction which evolved to suit human survival, or as architect of the universe and the master of our lives, this book is worth checking out. If the questioning of God rubs you the wrong way, I would suggest checking out The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology, which is one of my favorite works of non-fiction, or Nonzero: the Logic of Human Destiny.
For the past few days, I’ve been floundering about trying to recall what on earth I did before November, when every minute of free time was dedicated to fiction-writing. Blogging, that rings a bell, but writing about what? And books, I faintly recall the voracious consumption of literature. Music, food, friends…it’s slowly coming back to me. But not quite. As my mind continues to recover from creative inundation, I’ll stick to the simple and familiar.
What makes for a good book? Everyone has different tastes and preferences, everyone has different reasons. I like personally enjoy elevated vocabulary, honesty, and raw emotion. But I believe the biggest draw to a story are its characters and their relatability.
Over the past month or so, I completed the Hunger Games trilogy, which I loved. I haven’t been a fan of young adult fiction since the highly anticipated release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. I’m not going to touch Harry Potter because I haven’t read any of them in nearly twelve years.
Instead, I wish to talk about the Hunger Games and the characters in my own novel. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonists in dystopian society of Panem, is fiercely and stubbornly independent and everything she does is either a reflection of that or an example of her giving in a bit. Peeta Mellark, a fellow Hunger Games contestant and potential love interest is compassionate and yielding, to the point where you come to expect this type of behavior from him. The persona of the fictional players is established early on and continually developed, the story revolves around and acts in accordance with the drive of the lead characters. The characters are developed into real and predictable, as well as relatable, people. I think an author’s ultimate triumph is reaching a point where the reader understands the characters - their fears, motivation, responses, and hope for the future. Without that, the story holds very little value for the audience.
Although the characters in my NaNoWriMo novel are nowhere near as full and developed as Katniss and Peeta, my idea all along was to build the characters and then toss them into situations to see how they react. Although the plot was scattered and inconsistent, I like to believe that what the characters say and do generally makes sense. The one aspect I was most concerned with in my story was conveying emotion, whether pity for Ainsley or disgust towards Hannah. Although the novel could use a lot of work, I feel like the characters are the biggest redeeming quality and really carried the story.
Several people have suggested I publish my novel, but I’m honestly not too impressed with it. My effort, yes. The product, not so much. I have not reread any of it, but I would estimate about a third is salvageable, content that seem relevant and publishable. But that’s still 15,000-20,000 words, far more than most people have written. And I have decently developed characters, which is a huge accomplishment.
Honestly, take a few minutes to think about it. Are you content where you are and happy with what you’ve accomplished? Have you made a difference, left the world a better place?
At age 52, Lee Lipsenthal, a successful and widely recognized and respected physician, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The odds were not in his favor. Despite the optimism of his medical colleagues, Lee knew that he likely had less than a year left to live. Enjoy Every Sandwich: Living Each Day As If It Were Your Last documents the moment Lee chokes up his BLT sandwich and realizes that something is wrong, up through the final fourteen months of his life, as he reflects back on his experience and his legacy, reminding readers to live each day to the fullest and to practice gratitude.
A proponent of homeopathic medicine, Lee relied on meditation and other alternative means of healing in addition to medication and chemotherapy. Already at peace with his life and mortality, Lee had no fear of death. Instead, he believed that every day is a good day to die, that life is a cyclical roller coaster and that there’s more to the universe and existence than we realize.
It’s inexplicably inspiring so see someone face death with such courage, to accept the inevitable without wasting time resisting. It’s amazing to see someone so grateful for their life, as their physical body slowly withers away. The book is reminiscent of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Last Lecture, although an entirely different approach to the discussion on life and death. The author mentions several forms of alternative medicine, as well as his intuitive ”knowings” and ability to connect to some greater or supernatural power; this may appeal to some, or be a turn-off to others, bur either way I feel it really contributes to the impact of Lee’s narrative.
Lee Lipsenthal’s story is incredible, his heartfelt honesty is beautiful, and his sense of humor makes the story easier to digest. I believe it’s important to think about life and death, meaning and purpose. It’s importance to realize the beauty of life, both the significance and impact of our own personal world, and our insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
Would today be a good day to die? If your answer is no, I challenge you to take the steps necessary to reach a place where you are at peace with your mortality, a mindset in which every day is a good day to die.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In a futuristic US society, a civil war is fought over the issue of abortion. After years of fighting, the pro-life and pro-choice sides finally come to an agreement, an agreement that allows parents to retroactively ‘abort’ a child between the ages of thirteen and eighteen as long as the teenager’s life doesn’t ‘technically’ end. The process of unwinding involves dissembling troubled children, wards of the state, and tithes, harvesting their parts, and then distributing over 99% of the body to medical patients in need.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman follows the story of three unwinds – Connor, Risa, and Lev – who, by a crazy twist of fate, cross paths and must then work together and fight to stay alive. If they’re able to evade authorities and ever-present juvey cops until the age of eighteen than they’ll be safe.
Unlike many science fiction novels, the premise of Unwind seems eerily plausible and realistic, right on the cusp of entirely possible. The story was filled with unpredictable twists, believable characters, and original ideas. The plot never grew boring and the book was hard to put down. Whether you enjoy young adult fiction, science fiction, social commentary, or any other thought-provoking literature, this book is definitely worth checking out.
Have you ever wondered what Christ was up to during those 33 unaccounted for years between his birth and when he began preaching? In Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore constructs a historically based fictional story of Joshua (aka Yeshua, Jesus), as told from the perspective of his trouble-making best friend, Biff.
Although slow to start, the humorous story gradually falls into alignment with the Old Testament. Biff has a crush on the Virgin Mary, the apostle Thomas has an imaginary friend, and John the Baptists eats locusts. Unbeknownst to readers of the New Testament, Jesus spent the 33 years of his life traveling the world, going on adventures, and learning how to be the Messiah.
One one hand, having been brought up Catholic and having spent fifteen years in Catholic school, I feel like I should be offended that Moore is making light of such a sacred story; yet on the other hand, it almost makes me appreciate the New Testament more. Although the story is obviously fictional, Moore states in the epilogue that he did his research and many plot elements were intend possible. However unlikely some events may have been, I feel that the book made me think more about Christ’s life and what each of us can do on our own journey to become better people and help our fellow man; although the story is fictional, the personalities of the characters are based on what we know from the Old Testament and other documents, and all of the people Joshua associated with were kind and inspirational.
The story is filled with magic and trickery, demons and healings, mediation and kung fu, sexual rendezvous and abstinent love, quotes from the Book of Matthew as well as from the “Book of Amphibians,” and so much more. Lamb is a fun and entertaining, as well as thought-provoking, take on what Christ’s life may have been like 2,000 years ago. If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus did for fun or where he gathered all of his wisdom, this book is worth looking into.
Munna: the Hindi word for “boy” and the protagonist in The White Tiger. Born into a simple family, Munna remains nameless until his teacher decides that a smart boy like him deserves a proper name, the name Balram Halwai. When the educational inspector visits the school and observes Balram’s striking intelligence, the man declares him to be a white tiger – the rarest of animals, which only appears once in a generation. The nickname “white tiger” stuck with the boy throughout his life.
Balram grow up in “the Darkness,” in one of many suffering village slums in India. Despite his smarts, he was taken out of school at a young age to work scrubbing floors at a tea shop. The sapient young boy felt trapped in the “rooster coop” and longed to move up in life, so he took on the job of a driver (and servant) for a wealthy family. Although he initially liked the job and the high pay, he grew to resent his masters and the wealthy of India for their greed and cruelty towards the underclass, towards people like him.
Aravind Adiga’s début novel is a social and political commentary on modern-day India: contrasting the rise of the country’s economy to the extreme poverty, commenting on the political corruption and globalization, and demonstrating the religious tension between Hindus and Muslims. The novel is full of interesting slang, facts about India and its culture, and an insider’s look into the lives of both the exceedingly wealthy and the wretchedly poor. However, as strong as the content is and as effective as the writing was (at times), the character development is consistently sub par.
In most books, I feel a connection to the main character (often supporting characters, as well); I feel as if I can predict their thoughts and actions. Although the character – a poor rickshaw puller’s son who becomes entrepreneur - serves as an inspiration, he comes across as flat, artificial, and lacking in any real personality. The other characters are mentioned so little that you are barely even given a taste if who they are, beyond Balram’s occasional commentary. The places he visits and things that he sees are also explained at surface value. It would have been nice if Adiga had plunged deeper and allowed the reader to experience things right beside Balram, rather view the events from a distance.
The book is arranged as seven letters to the Chinese Premier in which Balram refers to himself as a servant, a philosopher, an entrepreneur, and a murdered. Over the course of the novel, Balram reveals every detail of his life and how he has arrived where he is today by playing each of these roles. Although arranging his thoughts in the form of letters is an effective way of conveying the full story, the relationship between the two men is never explained, which voids the authentic feel of the letters (and thus the entire book).
I have been wanting the read this book since it’s release in 2008 - award winning books and those that make the bestseller list always hold a special appeal. In addition, the big cats are my favorite animals, so I wouldn’t mind adding a book entitled “The White Tiger” to my shelf. Even though it was a mildly entertaining and gave me new insight into a fascinating foreign culture, nothing in particular jumped out and bit me or challenged me to reconsider my views (the marking of a stellar book, in my view). It was good book, though not the best. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a light read, a dark story, and an entertaining overview of the inter workings of India’s society.
The Savage Detectives, written by the Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño and translated by Chris Andrews, traces the story of a Mexican avant-garde literary movement in the 1920’s - visceral realism. The book begins and ends with a diary-style narrative from the perspective of García Madero, a seventeen-year-old aspiring Mexican poet. The portion between these bookends is filled with short, detailed narratives from the perspective of dozens of different characters, each with their own unique voice, experience, and relation to any of the three main characters – Arturo Belano, Ulises Lima, and Cesárea Tinajero. These individuals (as well as the countless other whose paths cross theirs) live, travel, and experience the ups and down of life all across the globe between the years 1976 and 1996.
In his narrative, García Madero portrays himself as an intelligent, passionate, and inexperienced young man who desperately wants to have his poetry published. He recounts, via diary entries, dropping out of the university to write poety, his first sexual encounters, and making new friends, including the visceral realists Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima. The three share a passion for the movement and, in the final section of the book they venture throughout Mexico in search of the founder of visceral realism, Cesárea Tinajero.
The 52 characters that narrate the central portion of the novel form an intricate network of interaction. The convoluted intermingling of well-developed characters, complex plot lines, and international geography is initially baffling; however the disorientation gradually transitions into a strong intrigue and fascination, although it never culminates in a full understanding of the story. Bolaño is able to entwine several themes and elements into his story, often simultaneously; these range from dark and thrilling, to tender and erotic, and even humorous. The author knows how to prescribe each element in its prefect dosage, aptly balancing drama, tragedy, passion, sadness, hope, happiness, uncertainty, and longing.
Bolaño is a literary genius: he is able to take on several personas and narrative perspectives on a seemingly narrow topic, he regularly resorts to an elevated and eloquent writing style and choice of diction, and he contrives brilliant metaphors and myths which branch out from the linear plot line.
Neither this book, nor this author is for everyone. Both The Savage Detectives and 2666 are excessively dense, complicated, and overwhelming reads; yet both are highly engaging and some of the most exceedingly well-written pieces I have ever encountered. I’m no expert in literature, but I believe Roberto Bolaño one of the greatest writers of our time and I look forward to reading his other works.
“For a while, Criticism travels side by side with the Work, then Criticism vanishes and it’s the Readers who keep pace. The journey may be long or short. Then the Readers die one by one and the Work continues on alone, although a new Criticism and new Readers gradually fall into step with it along its path. Then Criticism dies again and the Readers die again and the Work passes over a trail of bones on its journey toward solitude. To come near the work, to sail in her wake, is a sign of certain death, but new Criticism and new Readers approach her tirelessly and relentlessly and are devoured by time and speed. Finally the Work journeys irremediably alone in the Great Vastness. And one day the Work dies, as all things must die and come to an end: the Sun and the Earth and the Solar System and the Galaxy and the farthest reaches of man’s memory. Everything that begins as comedy ends in tragedy.”
“A goodbye is an opportunity for forgiveness, kindness, intimacy, and ultimately for love and a deepening acceptance of life as it is instead of what it was or what we may have wanted it to be.”
Would today be a good day to die?
Have you ever wondered what Christ was up to during those 33 unaccounted for years between his birth and when he began preaching? In 
Munna: the Hindi word for “boy” and the protagonist in 
I have been wanting the read this book since it’s release in 2008 - award winning books and those that make the bestseller list always hold a special appeal. In addition, the big cats are my favorite animals, so I wouldn’t mind adding a book entitled “The White Tiger” to my shelf. Even though it was a mildly entertaining and gave me new insight into a fascinating foreign culture, nothing in particular jumped out and bit me or challenged me to reconsider my views (the marking of a stellar book, in my view). It was good book, though not the best. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a light read, a dark story, and an entertaining overview of the inter workings of India’s society.
The Savage Detectives
