Pharmakon

I just finished PHARMAKON BY DICK WITTENBORN and this book was a total waste of time. The story could have been great but ended up completely pointless. I don't think Dick knew which book he wanted to write. This story started out like three different books. A psychologist does research for a drug and one of his patients goes crazy and tries to murder him. Then he escapes and meets his son. Then he goes away and completely disappears from the story except as some inescapable fear. I don't know where this story was going but it just ends with the psychologist in his mid seventies, his wife in the hospital and his children unresolved. What a waste of hours of my time. Please don't waste yours.

Nonfiction

I recently finished THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY by A.J.Jacobs. Jacobs decides to spend a year following all the rules and commandments in the bibles(Jewish and christian or old testament and new) no matter how strange or inexplicable. He is an agnostics and he explores whether this will bring him closer to a spiritual side. Firstly I will say that he is an excellent writer. I really enjoyed the flow of his writing. The Year is recorded in a diary type style which serves nicely to break up the stories by Biblical text as well as subject. I don't think I could undertake a task like this myself. He clearly has some OCD issues which he admits to in the text. But it does provide a understanding of some of the more obscure rules and maybe just gives you a different perspective with which to view religion.

Testimony

I have just finished the book TESTIMONY by Anita Shreve. This is truly an excellent read. I find the writing style a little different because it is written like the title claim almost like the characters in the book are relating their testimony to you. The surprise like ending to the story didn't come as to much of a surprise to me but seeing it coming didn't take anything away from the story. I like the fact that the story unfolds from all angles and it's not about blame. In the end who was right and who was wrong doesn't matter because what happened happened. I think that is often how reality unfolds so it just makes the story easier to understand. I have read several of Anita Shreve's books but I think this is one of her best yet. I will recommend it to my friends.

Three Cups of Tea

Last night I finished the book THREE CUPS OF TEA by greg mortenson and david oliver relin. It is a very inspirational book to read. I was so inspired by the work Greg Mortenson is doing that I resold the book on line and made a small donation to the Central Asia Institute.

I have a certain fascination with the middle east and its cultures. Some of my favorite books are written about other cultures and countries. Books like A Fine Balance, The Kite Runner, Life of Pi, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Unlike those books this is not a work of fiction and I for one am grateful. The work done by Greg's organization should be a wake up call to governments everywhere. I think that education is the key to opening doors in many ways but providing education for people who need and desire it, without expecting some quid pro quo is the way things should be done. The chance for anyone to escape poverty and better their lives as well as the lives of those around them is something that everyone should aspire to. Besides as everyone has heard "you catch more flies with honey than with garbage". If you want people to like and respect you, you first have to like and respect them. But Greg Mortenson doesn't spend his time building schools and education children because he wants them to like him he does it because he wants them to have the opportunity to have a good life. Everyone should read this book. The institute claims it can hire a teacher for one dollar. I don't think that is to much to ask even in these economic times.

for more information www.ikat.org

Updates

I have fallen behind in posts. A flurry of spring activities have slowed me down. Finding lost friends on Facebook, Laboratory Week potlucks, spring cleaning....
I have read 5 books since I last posted and am about to finish a sixth.
They are:

THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS BY JASPER FFORDE
TWILIGHT BY STEPHENIE MEYER
THE PARTLY CLOUDY PATRIOT BY SARAH VOWELL
WORLD MADE BY HAND BY JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER
THE PLUTO FILES BY NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

and I am just finishing THREE CUPS OF TEA BY GREG MORTENSON AND DAVID OLIVER RELIN
Twilight I have read before and enjoyed. I was in the mood to blow through a fast read.
The Partly Cloudy Patriot is a collection of articles and stories. It is a very interesting book with a great perspective. Sarah Vowell is a history buff and fascinated by our nations history. (I sold the book online to a man stationed oversees. He asked if I would mind filling out a customs form what kind of patriot could be bothered to fill out a form). I hope he enjoyed her writing as much as I did.
World made by Hand was a great novel. It is one of those books that really gives you something to think about. The premise of the book is a town coping after world war 3. How they get food, supplies, stay warm, communicate. No electricity, no new clothes or music or anything else. No gas for cars or road repair. Aside from the interesting fictional story it makes you consider your life circumstances, for instance I have solar power but I live ten miles from town. So I would have electricity but no way to get to town for supplies and in winter no plowed road to travel on.

The Pluto Files was interesting. I really wanted to read this book because I saw Neil Degrasse Tyson on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and he was hilarious. The book is about how the Pluto lost planet status. It is a nicely done book and tells you alot about the universe.

Three Cups of Tea is a fascinating book. I am very interested in the middle east regions and the actual populous feeling (not extremist views) so books like this are great. Greg Mortenson is a former mountain climber who spend his time now building schools for children in Pakistan. I am a firm believer that help and education is the way to reach others and this book just proves that.
I have to read something light next. I will scour my crowded shelf and see what novel jumps out at me.