Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days by Judith Viorst

A short little book about the three months that Viorst's son and family came to live with her and her husband. (She's the author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.) Mildly funny and amusing with thoughts and observations on parenting and grandparenting and learning to be flexible. But, it also made me think that if the worst problem in the world is that your grandchildren make a mess of the house, then life might be pretty good. Some people would love to have that be their only worry and concern.

Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside by Katrina Firlik

When I'm on vacation, I don't read anything about psychology. So I picked up this book about brain surgery.

Firlik describes her path of becoming a neurosurgeon, including her seven-year residency. It's informative and she describes stuff so that us non-neurosurgeons and non-MDs can understand a bit more about the brain. It was pretty interesting and well-written. However, there's a reason why I'm not in the medical field: I'm not a fan of blood. Even just reading some of the descriptions of things she's seen made me squirm a bit and wiggle my toes.

One more week of spring break, and then it's back to reading about psychology.

A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler

This book is about Barnaby Gaitlin, the classic loser type guy: black sheep in his wealthy family, living in a basement, working a job for hourly pay at Rent-a-Back (a manual labor service for older adults), and turning 30 with a divorce already under his belt. This is the story of his struggle to find love again and also respect from his family. Sometimes it's very funny and his thoughts and observations also ring very true for any ordinary person.

Anne Tyler's characters are peculiar, yet heartwarming. Her books make for relaxing reading, but also make me thoughtful about life and this everyday existence.

A Reader's Contribution: A Quote Sent in by my Sister

Here is a quote that my sister sent in for this blog:

"The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions." Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

This from my big sister, who once chastised me for not reading enough fiction. (By the way, this is a picture of Virginia Woolf, not my sister. My sister looks younger.)

Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates

A couple of Saturdays ago, Boomer and I went to the local library's book sale. We got there just in time for the Brown Bag Sale meaning that we bought a brown bag for $4 and could pack as many books into it as we wanted. We walked out with 26 books! This book was one that made it into the bag.

This is the story of teenage Franky Pierson. "Freaky Green Eyes" refers to the up-and-coming mature and confident adult inside of her that makes an appearance every once in awhile. Franky's dad is emotionally and physically abusive and this book delves into how this is all covered up and even justified. The "Freaky Green Eyes" part of Franky begins to see what's really going on and how she can play a part in stopping it all.

Overall, it was an okay book. It was riveting enough for me to keep reading it constantly until I finished it, but it's not one I will keep for my personal library.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

If you're looking for a tearjerker, this is one for you!

I've been a fan of the movie for several years now (it's one of the six DVDs that I own). My friend, who told me he was disappointed in the movie, recommended I read the book. And yes, the storylines are very different, but they are both sweet.

The story is about the unlikely friendship and courtship of Landon Carter, a guy who's just getting by, and Jamie Sullivan, the minister's daughter. It's a formulaic story, but ah well, sometimes a quick, sweet, afternoon read is exactly what I need and this fit the bill.

Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

One day, during her family's beach vacation, Delia gets up and walks away from it all. She starts a new life in another town, figuring out who she is and reclaiming herself.

Some would not sympathize with a woman who abandons her three teenage children and her husband. Somehow, Tyler makes it so I could understand why Delia does this. It's for herself. Still controversial though.

I was absorbed by this book, the writing and description of ordinary days and events and the stirrings of the heart. This book seemed especially relevant to what I've been thinking about and studying in my Psychology of Aging class about the Middle Passage (or Crisis) when one is "radically stunned into consciousness" (from James Hollis' The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife, 1993) and we evaluate what we've been doing with our lives.