Dammit (Look me in the eye)

Look me in the Eye is a memoir by the brother of the Author who published his (first) Memior a number of years ago now (Running with Scissors – 2003).

I have read Running with Scissors a while ago and I saw the author (Augusten Burroughs) when he was visiting Melbourne (Australia) for the Book Festival in 2007. Running with scissors is a disturbing, but very entertaining read. Barroughs was one of the best talkers at the festival, so when someone at the book club recommended Look me in the Eye, I was looking forward to it. I guess there are not too many brothers who have both published a memoir. I was looking forward to getting a different perspective of a very dysfunctional family. I was not disappointed.

It was a very different perspective. The brothers are totally different. For one John Elder Robinson (the older brother) has Aspergers. He does not know he has Aspergers until he is much older, but sadly, that does not stop it from affecting his life. The first thing you might notice when comparing the two works is the writing style. Robinson writes factually and without many stylistic devices. Maybe if I did not know that he had Aspergers I would not have understood why the book was reading like an instruction manual and I would not have got through it, but I think not. It was really interesting and funny. I think he might lose a few people in the middle of the book when he starts going into some technical stuff, but I was really impressed by that so it was ok for me.

Apparently this book has been great for people living with Asperges. It was only recently discovered and so many went undiagnosed for some time (an I would guess still do). The author (and his brother) claims to get lots of communication from people who are very grateful for what has been published.

Great read, even if you usually don’t like Memoirs (I don’t) – 3.5 stars

[***^_]

p.s.

I had previously read a Novel from the point of view of a young boy with Asperges, titled The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I was interested how authentic this work of fiction was. I can be confident in recommending the Curious Incident now, as the Robinson recommends it himself.

p.p.s.

Next book is ‘The Time traveler’s Wife’. I only got this book two days ago, but I am already half way through (I am a slow reader ok). This is my type of book.

p.p.p.s.

Do you realize if it weren’t for Edison we’d be watching TV by candlelight?
- Al Boliska

Thick Love in the Time of Cholera

Wow, that was not the easiest book to finish.

Was a good book, but I won’t read it again and can’t recommend it too highly. The main characters are not very endearing. To say the least.

The good part of the book is that it was provocative on the subject of love. Old love and new love. What is essential for a marriage to work? Some interesting thoughts, but could have been delivered in half the time. I will watch the movie, but I won’t expect much from it.

[**^--] (2.5*)

Next up is ‘Look me in the Eyes’ and/or ‘Running with Scissors’. I have already read the latter, so I will skip it. The reason there are two books is because they are written by brothers and are both memoirs. I went to a talk by the author of Running (Augusten Burroughs) at the Melbourne writers festival last year. The event was called Father Figures. Anyway, you should read it.

His brother wrote his memoir later (a few years ago). Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison (My Life with Asperger’s). Looking forward to it.

Deep River

ok, so i have remembered to write something. Which is not good, because I am only doing this in an effort to procrastinate. Oh well.

last: Deep River by Shusaku Endo.

I can recommend this one. Grappling with the conventions of religion. Are all the Onions (Gods) all the same, just with different faces? One of the main character thinks so at least. A Japanese perspective of Christianity, Hinduism and Buddism set in Japan and India.

I will only wish that the ending was a little more conclusive. It is left wide open. Which might be a bit of a cop-out or just a technique. But i was pretty let down when I found out I would never know how the plot would be tied up.

(****_)

Now: Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Picked this up new for $10 : ) (penguin classic). This is for book club in two weeks. Hope i finish. I will try to watch the movie too if I finish on time.

looks promising.

Deep River

[note I wrote this a while ago]
last: the pinstripe prison by lisa pryor
this one was so so.
now: deep river by Shusaku Endo
only up to pg26 but it looks like a good one (I don’t like to make judgments too early about a book because i think it changes the way i read it – though if i keep telling everyone that the book i am reading is really good it will make an average book a really good book. But then no one will listen to me. I would not want that).
later; love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. SPanish i think. I will be reading the english translation. This one is for book club.

“Boys, be ambitious”

Listening to	Water by P.J. Harvey
Reading	The Time Traveler’s Wife
Watching	Planet Earth
Eating	Ravioli
Drinking	Pani

p.s. I think I should write a track list for ‘Walkin Songs’. I have a few on my mind…