This book starts out with the definition of alexithymia (the inability to identify and express one's feelings--heard of it? I sure hadn't) and takes off from there. Despite his glaring differences from the norm, he is able to draw in another of the school's misfits, and this connection is a pivotal point in his life. Since this problem was only identified in the 1970s, I found myself wondering how many people I'd met who had it, and how I might have thought of them had I known. Kinda makes one cringe, right?

This little book does a good job of chronicling Mozart's development as a composer and man. It also tells of some of the heartache he experienced as a result of his constant efforts to please his father, and still be his own person. Serviceable, but didn't really bring him to life for me. Kudos for research, but the delivery was a bit dry. I'll just keep listening and let his music tell me the story instead.

This is a story of a tight-knit Chicago suburb, and their proud Black history. When one resident's son, Stew Pot, is released from prison and comes home to the neighborhood he tormented all those years ago, we know things won't be smooth. And they aren't. This layered tale of sin, redemption, forgiveness, and betrayal is sometimes sad, shocking, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud funny. I really enjoyed it and wanted to move right on in.

This book starts out with a rambling narrative of some mystery book sent to random people, and the search for its origin. Then you find out, and the answer is a big nothing. Jon ultimately takes a class on how to interpret the PCL-R Checklist (THE Psychopath Test), and after this three-day event, seems to fancy himself as an expert in the field. The book took us down yet more digressive paths into the lives of psychopaths (or are they?), and all the while, Jon was akwardly comparing himself to these people, sometimes saying things like, "Well, at least I haven't done anything as bad as the things Charlotte has done." Odd that he would put that in the book, in quotes, unless he was going to slam us later on with a real twister that would make one think twice about giving oneself too much credit for being awesome. This wasn't the only statement like this, so I was really looking forward to the inevitable kicker, lesson, overarching wisdom. Nope. Just awkward. Although I learned some about the unfortunate history of the mental health industry, I honestly could have skipped the whole thing.

The older I get, the more I realize that "we" most certainly weren't always the good guys, despite our history lessons. This portrayal of a poor family fleeing persecution in old-timey Phillipines is pretty jarring. Their first rulers were the Spaniards, and although some were moral and kind, most were not. You hope that with the introduction of the U.S. troops, things will change. Alas. Our history classes didn't quite tell the whole story, it seems. Educational, rich and shameful.

Gogol paints a vivid picture of a bleak time and an unforgiving place. The characters feel quite real, and the plots are effortless. It seems that he had some inside knowledge of such problems, as his own death followed problems of mental instability. Not a fun book, but readable anyway. Poor dude.

This little book (published in 1993) was captivating. Efficiently informational, it's written in interview format, so all are first-person accounts. We've all read what the Jim Crow south was like, and heard about school segregation. In this book, instead, you're submerged into the experience, feeling the frustration of the children and fears of the parents. You get swept up in the wave of passion which drove these brave people to risk it all (no exaggeration here, I mean ALL) and commit, because something had to change. MLK Jr. is "Uncle Martin" to some of these kids, and you see that side of him, the unassuming man with unwavering faith, and how he used that foundation to become a leader for all time. A must-read.

First of all, the premise of this book is quite serious. Sexual abuse of anyone, by anyone, is horrific and life-changing. So it was a brave effort for our author, Amber, to take on the task of writing about a female serial rapist of men. I applaud her desire to expose this issue for what it is, a violation of untold proportion, one underappreciated by the general public because of our discomfort over the age-old question about how an aroused man could actually be raped. (Spoiler alert: drugs help.) That being said, I wasn't surprised to learn that some of Amber's earlier works are books of poetry. Turns out this is, too. Don't get me wrong--she has talent in that area, but it's just that it felt much more like a platform for that purpose than a fully fleshed-out story. Generally weird, bleak and tragic, this book has good intentions but fell a bit short for me.

In this little book, ornithologist Philippe Dubois and philosopher Elise Rousseau help us navigate the difficulties of human life by learning from birds. You don't have to be a hobbyist bird-watcher or student of Nietzsche to grasp the messages packed into these concise chapters. A quick and enjoyable read that will leave you pondering in a good way.

Did you like the miniseries, Roots? If so, you'll also love this book by Bettye Kearse about her own family tree. This woman who leaves no challenge unmet (got a PhD and then, meh, why not--became a pediatrician) guides us through the task of becoming her family's griotte (keeper of stories). This is a responsibility handed down from generation to generation, and it is serious business. Well, her mom chose well. I enjoyed every page of this family history, although I'm sure pulling back the curtain into the past was painful for the author. She does a great job of making you feel that you were there in some small way, and sheds light on an accepted, but deplorable part of our nation's story. Dive in and learn how James Madison's family partook in this practice, and meet the scions that resulted. Proud to be Madisons? Maybe. But proud to have come from such strong African roots, for sure.

This captivating narrative by John Elder Robison ("John Elder", to his family) surprised me. I was expecting a somewhat dry but informative recounting of the author's experiences with "the system", and frustration with society's collective ignorance regarding the autism spectrum. While he did detail his life, some systemic assumptions, etc., it was a rollicking good read, filled with his quirky take on life and the adventures he's had along the way. I loved every page, and laughed a lot. Enjoyable, entertaining, and really educational. Makes one feel a bit of a clod to realize the trade-off our brains make when we're not on the spectrum.

During our brief sojourn in Denmark about 30 years ago, we learned these things: Danes love a party Danes drink a LOT, and can really hold their liquor Danes smoke a lot too Danes leave their babies outside in the stroller when they shop Visit Denmark and you'll be hungry--Danes love herring and red cabbage-- oh yeah, and eels "Best thing since sliced bread" has real meaning Denmark is cold Danes are very eco-conscious Danes don't love tourists Danes love a drinking slogan (or two) According to Helen, Denmark hasn't changed a whole lot in the last few decades. Charming, quirky, somewhat rigid, the Danes are proud of their country and their traditions. This book is charming, too, and lightly outlines the peculiarities that make this a great country, and the home of the happiest people. She gives lots of reasons this may be so, and plausible though they are, she leaves out the one that she glosses over pretty quickly--Danes take more antidepressants. Interesting. But her writing style is light, the anecdotes entertaining, and you may find yourself wanting to visit this country way up north. Just maybe pack a box of cookies for emergencies.