Chandler

Read as an audiobook by Andy Serkis (highly recommend)

A fantastic start to Tolkien's vast fantasy world. It very much reads like a bedtime story filled with excitement and wonders. The only reason it isn't a 5 star book for me is because I want more depth and more explanation, but I understand that this is not where Tolkien dives into more complicated matters.
Great book and looking forward to his other works!

Summary:
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit of high regard, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole when he is introduced to the old wizard Gandalf. Gandalf approaches him with the prospect of adventure, which he refuses, and then is subsequently almost forced into the services of a troupe of dwarves that aim to reclaim their kingdom under The Lonely Mountain. They embark on a journey, which takes them through Rivendell; through the home of a shape-changer, Beorn; through the goblin infested caves, where Bilbo Mets Gollum and finds a ring of power; through the dark forest called Mirkwood and then ultimately to the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo enters the mountain as a bugler and meets the treasure guardian and current resident of the great hall, Smaug. Smaug is defeated by Bard. Bilbo is adventurous and becomes a voice of warning and wit and is trusted as a leader with the dwarves. He finds the treasured Heart of the Mountain and pockets it. When Thorin Oakenshield begins to develop a jealousy for all gold and treasure, Bilbo appeals to the king's enemies. The mountain and it's riches are desired by many, and different enemies come to war to lay claim. Goblins appear to get vengeance for their fallen king. The armies of the Elfking, the humans of Laketown, and the dwarves attack together. Many are killed including Thorin, Fili, and Kili. Thorin's cousin becomes King Under the Mountain.
Bilbo is rewarded a share of the treasure and journeys back home with Sting, his riches, his mithril shirt, and his precious ring of power.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Susannah Cahalan details her month of madness when a rare auto-immune disease ravaged her mind and took from her her speech, her personality, ability to make memories, and her trust in reality. She was able to find a treatment that helped her gain most of her health back, but the month of madness and the fear of it happening again left its mark on Cahalan.

The book is straightforward and well-written. Underlying Cahalan's plight and her recovery is the medical systems that are still in place in today's world. It is no one's direct fault, but the current system doesn't allow everyone to get tested or to have access to the healthcare that Cahalan had. Her comments about the system remind me of my psych professor's rant about capitalism and how in this current state of things, there are health concerns that frankly don't get diagnosed or treated because they aren't profitable.

The major takeaway of this book is just how fragile reality truly is. Cahalan remembers things vividly that never happened and heard her boyfriend or others say things about her. The mind is a truly powerful thing and I find it incredibly interesting. We are truly all brains in skin suits pretending that we have a grasp on reality on this tiny blue marble of an Earth.

An important story that I wish I had read in my teen years. Still an important story now as an adult, but I wish I would have had the same mentality portrayed in the book–to love yourself and the skin you're in–as a teen. Then again, maybe I wouldn't have had the same mentality and understanding as I do now. But all the same, this book is beautiful. A simple coming-of-age story, not complicated, and not overly dramatic or too unrealistic in its portrayal of teenagers.

Definitely a book I would read to kids and teenagers!


Quotes:

“Gotta realize that all you are is all you got.”

“To look in the mirror and like what you see, even when it doesn't look like your idea of beauty.”

“″You gotta love yourself, baby. If you don't, who will?″”

“You have to take a stand when things aren't right.”

“Call me by my name! I hear Akeelma say, and I scream it out, too. “Call me by my name! I am not ugly. I am not stupid. I am Maleeka Madison, and, yeah, I'm black, real black, and if you don't like me, too bad ‘cause black is the skin I'm in!”

Definitely not much of a comparison between the book and the show–I like what another Goodreads user wrote saying that the book and the tv show are more like distant cousins.

As for a review on the book, I think it does accomplish what it attempts. The author seems to focus more on the interpersonal, human element, especially focusing on the individual relationships between a few key characters. There were some sweet moments between the characters and I loved imagining the safety that one felt with their beloved. I don't think the book alone captivated me to keep reading. If I did keep reading, it would only be to see what is different between the book and the tv show. All in all, not a terrible read in and of itself, however, not necessarily for me.

Read for my 2017 Book Bingo square, “A collection of essays.”

Sedaris delivers a delightful, humorous collection of short essays that follow his years of life. The writing style, which, unfortunately, includes quite a bit of cuss words, is humorous, light and yet, meaningful and satisfying.
This was my first collection of essays and, while I enjoyed it, I wanted more. I didn't want the stories to end or I wanted to know more about a certain situation. I enjoyed the author's thoughts concerning certain life events, but I wanted more.