Review: Genesis

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The post apocalyptic society seemed artificial and strange at times, but this book was a total success in that:

- it was engaging and absorbing (and a fairly quick read),

- I didn't even begin to predict the first big plot twist, which I really should have seen coming,

- and I certainly didn't see the last big plot twist, which was a success not only at surprising me but at thoroughly unsettling me.




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Review: Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism

Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism by David Nickle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



What an odd book. Reading it felt like listening to someone try to tell you about a dream they had: full of powerful images and gripping stories, all of which fail, by just a very little bit, to quite get across or make complete sense.

I'm just the sort of terrible human being who can say, from experience, that there are MUCH better books about eugenics out there.



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Review: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Earlier this week, a friend at work sent me a link to a blog post whose author was writing about using the ideas from this book when talking to adults as well as to kids. The post included a couple of the book's cartoons, which I liked, so I got it from the library.

This book is JUST what I was looking for to get better at interacting with my friends' kids. I'm quite good with little babies, but I feel like I'm constantly losing arguments with kids as they get older and more verbal. Faber and Mazlish reminded me of some things I already knew, and gave concrete examples of skills I wasn't using. I feel infinitely better prepared now for hanging out with toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids.



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