Reading Material

16. Read 30 books I haven’t read before (in addition to the above) and blog about them. (23/30)

I actually read a book recently!  And I read two others that I never posted:

East Fifth Bliss
by Douglas Light

This is the novel I mentioned the other day. It was written by someone that I used to work with (well, loosely - we were both on staff for the same literary magazine but I didn't have much interaction with him).  It's currently being made into a move starring Michael C. Hall and Lucy Liu.

The novel is about a man named Morris Bliss.  He's 35, unemployed and lives with his father in the same apartment he's lived in his whole life.  Basically, he's stuck in a holding pattern - until he meets a young woman and several people in his life start making changes.

The interesting thing about this book is that the trajectory of the plot takes the same pattern as Morris' life: it takes a long time for anything to really happen.  The story plods a long a little in parts just as Morris' life has been plodding along.  It takes a bit of patience to read the novel just as it takes some patience to deal with Morris as a character.  I'm interested to see how the film turns out.

You: Having A Baby
by Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz

Who doesn't love Dr. Oz, right?  This book is meant to be a pregnancy reference, but I actually read through the book from cover to cover.  It was really interesting, and - in Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz style - really funny and lighthearted at times, but always adequately serious so that the main points are made.  If you're pregnant or planning to try to get pregnant, I highly recommend this book.  There's a lot of good information about how to take care of yourself during pregnancy (and it's waaaay better than that terrible "What to Expect" book).

What the Dog Saw (and other adventures)
by Malcolm Gladwell

I will read anything Malcolm Gladwell writes.  Not everyone loves him, but I do.  I think Blink is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.  What the Dog Saw is a collection of essays he wrote for the New Yorker.  The title essay is about Cesar Milan (the Dog Whisperer, if you've been living under a rock) and is one of my favorite pieces in the book.  Just thinking about it makes me want to read it again.

Another great essay is "John Rock's Error: What the Inventor of the Birth Control Pill Didn't Know About Women's Health."  It was really eye-opening and full of information I didn't know, even though I've read a lot about women's health.

Gladwell is always a great and interesting writer (in my opinion) and I'd recommend any of his books to anyone.  For a Gladwell fan looking for a new tome where he delves into a single topic, you'll be surprised (although hopefully pleased) by this book.  For someone who hasn't read Gladwell, this book would be a great place to start since you would be able to pick and choose which essays you want to read.

Comments

[Megan (Best of Fates)]

As I'm not pregnant I'm unlikely to read the second book, and as I'm not a patient reader, I'm also unlikely to read the first.

But I share your love of Malcolm Gladwell, so can't wait to read What the Dog Saw - I'm glad it's so good!