My Reading Journal 2017

Monday, August 14, 2017

French author
Originally published in 2015
Prix Goncourt Winner
Review: This was a difficult read, yet I was compelled to push through it. The unique structure, 12 hours of insomnia driven musings, and the stream of consciousness narration, made for a dense read. The primary theme, as noted by other readers, is the rich outcome when people are exposed to "other". In this the focus was on the Oriental influence in the arts of Europe. From Mozart to Balzac and more, the book enriches the understanding of how important it is to be open to and try to develop understanding of differences. Quite timely!

Audiobook
Chilean author
Originally published in 2015
Review: A good story. Well written, if a bit choppy. Set in a private nursing home, the reader is audience to the life stories of two women. A love story, a story about relationships and their varied forms, and a story about end of life.

Summer Read with Beth
US author
Originally published in 2005
Review: A fantastic novel! An imagined transactional relationship between Josef Breuer and Friedrich Nietzsche takes the reader on a journey of existential angst. As a psychotherapist myself, I found this story utterly believable. The author creates a story which is historically accurate in terms of the status of the field of psychology in 1882, and addresses the central existential kernel which is present for each of us. At times I had to stop and reflect on my own life choices, and I deeply appreciated the ability of the author to evoke that desire to reflect. Marvelous!

Reading in French
French author
Originally published in 2004
Review: This is a somewhat daring story about two people who meet while filming an X-rated movie. I think the primary theme is that it is extremely difficult to be genuine when the eyes of others are upon us. Good book.

Audiobook
US author
Originally published in 2016
Review: I absolutely loved this novel. Historically informative and consisting of a marvelous plot, I enjoyed every minute of it! A member of Russian aristocracy is sentenced to permanent house arrest in a magnificent hotel in Moscow. The reader is then audience to escapades, deep relationships, and unexpected twists and turns of events. Count To stir is witty, intelligent, loving, creative, and above all is able to become "master of his circumstances before they become master of him." Memorable read!

Autobiography
Non-Fiction
Originally published in 1987
Review: I am interested in medical stories, so I found this to be quite interesting. The author shares the trajectory of her career in nursing, from nursing school to being a dually placed Cardiac Care Nurse and ER Nurse. The patient stories were very interesting and gave much insight into the author's emotional response to various situations. Not bad.

Ukranian author
Originally published in 1904
Review: I did not finish this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed Conrad's other novels, but after 100+ pages and no sign of a plot, I gave up.