Inventology

It has been some time since I've done a book review on Certainly Candid (but not because I haven't been reading!). With that being said, I'm currently in a nonfiction phase. I go through these phases every so often, reading books that capture my attention on a given topic. For the majority of 2015 it was astronomy: star charts, manuals on various telescopes, astronomical events, etc. This year the tread is engineering, probably because I considered electrical engineering as a career path once upon a time. As such, I've been pouring through books on electrical engineering for the most part, but very recently Inventology: How We Dream Up Things That Change the World caught my eye at Barnes & Noble.

A nonfiction book categorized in the sciences (and surprise, surprise, engineering), the book focuses on innovation and how inventions come to be. I cannot begin to describe how much I learned from just this one book alone. It discusses how inventors have, in the author's terms, a different mindset from the rest of the population. This mindset allows them to see problems in a different way and how to tackle these problems creatively.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the wide range of topics it covers. I learned about 3D printing and its origins, advances in oncology and hematology, how the transistor changed the way we approach building mechanical devices, InnoCentive (a program that allows the general public to tackle invention problems), bioengineering, and so much more. As someone who loved to make things growing up, the creations of the inventions presented in this book challenged me to consider even more out-of-the-box approaches to innovative ideas.

Me Before You

Hello world! I am still here! I've had a chaotic few months full of work and life, but I am back! And because I relax by reading books, I have several new book reviews ahead for you. I also have some new GenTwenty articles coming out soon, but that is a post for another day.

Today's book review is on Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. This book was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the author came highly recommended to me. The novel focuses on Louisa Clark, a young woman unsure of her future, and Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who was paralyzed after an unfortunate accident. Louisa becomes caregiver for Will, who is upset and depressed with the turn his life has taken. A man in his 30s, once used to extreme sports, endless wealth, and worldwide travel, Will is confined to a wheelchair and has no interest in life anymore.

Louisa learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, and she sets out to show him that life means more than the things you have and the things you do. Along the way, she discovers she loves Will. The novel asks the question: what do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Just One Day

I am long overdue for a book review. Because of all the hype about the critically acclaimed book (and movie adaptation) of If I Stay, I have decided to review another of Gayle Forman's books: Just One Day.

There is a reason I picked up this book. The page before the story begins, there is a Shakespearean quotation from As You Like It, one of my favorite plays. It is famous: "All the world's a stage / And all the men and women merely players: / They have their exits and their entrances; / And one man in his time plays many parts." I don't know if you're like me, fellow literature enthusiasts, but an author who quotes the greats from the beginning has my attention immediately.

I suspected right away that I would enjoy this book. I was right. It is written with poise and grace. The story focuses on the life of Allyson Healey and her post-graduation trip to Europe. While there with her tour group, she meets Willem, a traveling actor who performs Shakespeare in the park. She is entranced by his performance of Sebastian, a character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. In a whirlwind of activity, Allyson and Willem take a "just one day" trip to Paris.

Don't make me choose!

"I was born with a reading list I will never finish."

When I tell people I am an English educator, they always comment on how much I "must love to read" (kind of a given in my profession, but thank you for stating the obvious). Then they proceed to ask, What is your favorite book?

OH, THE HORROR.

Asking an individual with an English degree what his/her favorite book is is just downright maddening. Don't make me choose! I love to read, and as such, I have categories of favorites (not just "one," as many seem to think). This post is for all those who have found themselves in a similar position, and for those of you who may be looking for something new to read. As such, I present my categories of favorites (and these aren't all of them, as that would be a long post):

Can Music Save Your Mortal Soul?

Now do you believe in rock and roll, can music save your mortal soul, and can you teach me how to dance real slow? - Don McLean

I was recently at Barnes & Noble (yes, I know, big shocker there) and thanks to my current nonfiction reading interest, I picked up a new title: This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of A Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin. I am just starting it (book review to come in a few weeks), but it is making me reflect on my own musical upbringing. I figured, what a unique and different topic for Certainly Candid! So here I am writing to you today. As I know I have many musically inclined readers out there as well, I present my own background:

A Case Study, or, Can Music Save Your Mortal Soul?

Music has always been a big part of my life. While I played many instruments, piano has always been my first love since I started private lessons at the age of seven. It is a versatile instrument that can shine as a solo or accompany others. In high school, I would spend my study hall time down in the music department. I knew which practice rooms held the pianos that were out of tune, or had sticky keys, or the coveted new replacements for ones that had finally broken down. Nine times out of ten, I could be found in front of the black and white keys with my sheet music.

It did not matter what I played. It often depended on my mood. Sometimes it would be the rigorous classical pieces my piano instructor had assigned. Sometimes it would be jazzy Broadway tunes. If I was in a contemplative mood, it would often be Lorie Line arrangements.

If I Stay

I try not to jump on the bandwagon of books turned movies, but today I am going to make an exception for Gayle Forman's If I Stay. I recently reread the novel in preparation for the movie, but I first read this book long before movie rights were negotiated. It was published in 2009 and the movie has come out now, five years later (I included the movie edition cover of the book, just so that more people would recognize it - the original cover is just as beautiful).

What initially captured my attention about this book is the strong emphasis on music. Music has been a part of my life since I was a little girl (I took piano lessons starting at age 7, but that's a post for another day), much like Mia's connection with her cello in If I Stay. Secondly, Gayle Forman writes with strong imagery. I have read a lot of books over the years, and she is one of few that can really paint a colorful picture of what is happening in my imagination.

Now, about the novel. Mia is born into a musical family. Her dad was in his own band, but left it to be with his family. Mia has one younger brother, Teddy, whom she adores. The story, however, pivots around her relationship with Adam, a suave rocker she meets in high school. Mia considers herself to be the misfit of the family, the only one interested in classical music and her own love of the cello. It is surprising to her when Adam captures her attention, but their relationship grows in a unique way.

Stronger

"I saw the bomber. He took my legs, but he didn't break me. He only made me stronger." -Jeff Bauman

It is time for another book review. I know it has been a while, but it hasn't been for lack of reading. I have been reading a lot lately - Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, a reread of Gayle Forman's If I Stay (in preparation for the movie, of course), On the Road by Jack Kerouac, and countless others.

I chose Stronger by Jeff Bauman as my title for review. I am currently in an autobiography and biography phase, so I'm reading a lot of nonfiction lately. Bauman's memoir is powerful. Incredibly powerful. His writing is open, honest, and raw with emotion.

For those of you unfamiliar with his story, Jeff Bauman was present at the bombing of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Bauman had attended to cheer on his girlfriend, Erin, near the finish line. He was standing right by the bomb when it went off, resulting in the horrific loss of both of his legs. He writes about facing death, about his rescue, and ultimately, the peace he worked towards during his ongoing and continual rehabilitation.

A Post For Bookworms Everywhere

At least I've read Fahrenheit 451

I am a bookworm, in case you hadn't figured it out yet. I do have a deep, dark confession to make though: I am also a book hoarder.

Okay, probably not so deep and dark, but hey, I had to get your attention, right?

I purchase books with the intent to read them cover-to-cover right away. New books are enticing and I prefer to own books rather than check them out in the library. I need to be able to make pencil marks in the margins of my favorite passages!

I think I need to spend more time at the library instead of bookstores. Now my problem is that I don't have enough bookshelves.

My books are stacked on the floor around my room. My poor books, without a proper home on a shelf. But hey! The floor is better than a box, right? Some people I know (names will not be revealed to protect individuals from bookworm wrath everywhere) tried to convince me to put some of them in a box. IN A BOX. Not happening. Ever.

Let's face it: I collect books. I basically own my own library filled with books I have and have not read. I stopped counting how many books I have after I reached the 100 mark. Many books have stayed with me throughout the years.

How often does it actually happen when I do finish books cover-to-cover immediately? Not as often as I'd like. Here are several examples of books yet to be finished:

1. A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin

I purchased this series in December of 2013. The boxed set was on sale at Barnes & Noble for members and I had a store gift card, so they practically paid for themselves. I just started reading book one, A Game of Thrones, last week. In July. Seven months after acquiring them. Since then, they have sat on the floor in my room gathering dust. In my defense, each of the 5 novels in this series is roughly 800 pages (or more). What was a girl to do? I needed long chunks of time to make any progress in reading them!

The Warrior's Heart

Hello bloggers! Today's post is also going to be a book review, as I am currently working on other posts under the "insights" and "culture" labels. Check back for this reading material shortly!

The Warrior's Heart by Eric Greitens is an adapted memoir based on the author's initial publication of The Heart and the Fist. The Warrior's Heart is a book targeted towards the young adult genre, but it is also a good read for any age. Eric Greitens is a humanitarian and scholar, and also served as an officer for the Navy SEALs. I recommend you read his bio on his website, which you can find here.

A poignant nonfiction novel, The Warrior's Heart is an eye-opening adventure into Greitens' experiences in war-torn countries. He begins the novel describing his desire to do humanitarian work, with reference to his time spend in Rwanda and Bosnia after genocide ripped their countries apart. His experiences in a Rwanda refugee camp are raw and real, showing his many interactions with families whose lives had been affected by the discord in their countries.

Greitens continues his novel with the discussion of his time training for the Navy SEALs. One of the most prestigious and coveted branches of United States military, it is a difficult program with rigorous training. As Greitens becomes a SEAL, he writes about his active duty experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Upon returning to the States, Greitens donated his combat pay to found The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization that helps rehabilitate soldiers and provide them with roles in the community. The Warrior's Heart is a reflection of Greitens' personality. It is a story of courage, of redemption, and of righting the wrongs in our world. I do not want to go into excessive detail, as I want you to discover the gem of this story on your own.

I will leave you with this quotation from the novel:

“Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and the author of Man's Search for Meaning, wrote that human beings create meaning in three ways: through their work, through their relationships, and by how they choose to meet unavoidable suffering. Every life brings hardship and trial, and every life also offers deep possibilities for meaningful work and love ... I've learned that courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin.” (Greitens)

Happy reading, my friends.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

I know I am long overdue for a book review post. It's not for lack of reading, my fellow bloggers. Life has simply been busy, as it almost always is. 

Today's book review is on The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick. For my fellow readers out there, the name "Lizzie Bennet" should ring some bells. That's right, it is the name of the protagonist in Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice. A modern adaptation, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet is a spin on the original - with a very clever beginning.

Before I get into the book review itself, you may need a bit of background information. For those of you who are also interested in social media and networking in our 21st century era, you probably already know that this book is the follow-up to an overwhelmingly popular video web series. "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" was a start-up project with the initial idea pitched to Bernie Su by the one and only Hank Green (one of the Vlogbrothers on YouTube and John Green's brother). With the help of a Kickstarter project to fund DVD creation after the end of the series, it has now reached an incredible number of viewers beyond the initial postings on YouTube. An Emmy Award-Winning mini-series with a multi-modal media platform, it now is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon as well as other entertainment companies.

I recommend watching the web-series before reading the book as it enriches your understanding of the overarching plot. You can find the link to the (free!) viewing on YouTube here. There are a hundred mini-episodes of the initial series, with additional Q & A videos as well as some spin-offs (like Lydia's videos and those supplied by Pemberley Digital).

Now, regarding the book. As previously mentioned, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet is a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. For those of you who have read Austen's classic, you will appreciate the rich text of The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet. Set in modern day California, Lizzie Bennet is a graduate student studying Mass Communications. As part of her thesis project for the completion of school, she decides to create a video blog (i.e. "vlog") that captures the events of her life and those of the people she interacts with. The authors, Bernie Su and Kate Rorick, write The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet in a first-person perspective using Lizzie's point-of-view. This follows the initial project of the actual videos, as they are also told from Lizzie's perspective.

Lizzie and her best friend, Charlotte Lu, quickly realize how popular Lizzie's vlogs have become. Lizzie covers all topics in her life - her sisters, Lydia and Jane; her mother's obsession with their love lives; the arrival of Bing Lee and his increasing interest in Jane; and of course, her overwhelming frustrations with Bing's "snobby newsboy" friend: Mr. William Darcy.

What we don't see in the videos themselves is described in this companion novel. Many are familiar with the storyline of Pride and Prejudice thanks to a multitude of movie adaptations over the years, but this modern take has so many twists and turns that it still keeps the reader turning the pages. I won't go into excessive detail (as the story is definitely known!), but know that the authors did an incredible job taking something timeless and classic and making it that much more special for readers everywhere. The humor, the emotion, and the realism of the book make the reader feel as though they really are a part of Lizzie's colorful and unique life.

I hope you try this one-of-a-kind read - even if you haven't read the original by Austen. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet is definitely worth it. Finally, don't forget to seek out the actual video web series. I encourage you to start a discussion about the series and/or companion novel here in the comments below.

Happy reading, fellow bloggers!

Delirium

http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/delirium.php

It is time for another book review post! I recently finished Lauren Oliver's remarkable Delirium trilogy. The trilogy is a dystopian series that revolves around the life of Lena Holoway. Lena lives in a society in which love - or deliria - is viewed as a terrible disease and one that must be prevented. Scientists are able to cure the disease and keep it from contaminating others. The government makes certain that all citizens receive the cure at the time of their 18th birthday. Before her procedure, Lena encounters the unthinkable disaster: she falls in love.

Delirium is the first in the trilogy, followed by Pandemonium and Requiem, respectfully. Obviously, I won't go too in-depth about the plotline because I know you don't want spoilers! This trilogy is a riveting portrayal of the powerful advantages and shortcomings of love in a dangerous world. Oliver weaves a complex picture of what it means to be in love when all others are against the idea of something so uncertain. I found her writing style to be refreshing and incredibly in-depth. She has a unique way of perceiving the emotions of people. Lena is a character who grows stronger throughout the course of the trilogy and ultimately discovers her own beliefs on life. Many of Lena's thought-provoking passages stood out to me over the duration of the novel:

"It's so strange how life works: you want something and you wait and wait and feel like it's taking forever to come. Then it happens and it's over and all you want to do is curl back up in that moment before things changed" (Oliver 38).

An Abundance of Katherines

Yes, yes, I know, a good chunk of the literature world is raving about John Green - and for good reason, I tell you. John Green has a remarkable way of capturing humanity in a way that many other authors can't. An Abundance of Katherines is literature at its best: I laughed, I sympathized, and when the story ended, I was blown away by the complexity of the characters.

An Abundance of Katherines focuses on the life of Colin Singleton. Colin has been the "dumpee" for as long as he can remember. He's been dumped 19 times, to be exact - all by girls with the name Katherine. Colin embarks on a roadtrip with his friend Hassan, bent upon finding a mathematical formula to prove that relationships are predictable. He insists that this formula will always prove who will be the "dumpee" and the "dumper" in a relationship.

As Colin and Hassan develop relationships with the individuals in Gunshot, Tennessee, they quickly learn that there's more to life than finding formulas and making predictions.