Alex and Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence

And guess who wrote the book? Hint: Alex wants a keyboard. Seriously, this book is a joy to read for both animal lovers and the scientifically curious. It details a thirty year relationship between Irene Pepperberg and an African gray parrot who learned not only a hundred words but concepts such as size, color, and even the idea of zero which apparently humans did not really get until the 16th century. Although Alex is the hero of this book, you can't help but admire scientist Pepperberg who with little training in biology and after just completing a PhD in chemistry was swayed by a PBS show on ape language to enter a brand new field. And through years with almost no money, no jobs, and negative recognition, she persevered and did quality research that proved that even birds can communicate. For such a small creature, Alex had tons of personality. He loved dancing and NUTS, NUTS, NUTS. He would not suffer fools, and when new students joined the program, he had them run from room to room feeding him, taking him to the gym or the lobby where he'd perch near his favorite tree and wolf-whistle at passing young men. When younger parrots tackled language acquisition, Alex often rebuked their poor technique, "Talk Better,' "Pay Attention," "Bad parrot," he commanded. Alex's last words to Irene the night before he died were, "You be good. I love you. You'll be in tomorrow?" What more could one ask from man or friend?

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan

This was a very good book. O'Nan wrote one of my favorite books The Night Country, and this is his latest. It tells the story of the friends and family of Kim Larsen, a typical midwestern 18-year-old who disappears on her way to work. Since Kim is an adult the police feel she may have left of her own accord and tell her parents that if they find her and she doesn't want them to know they can't inform them. Her mother fully believes something bad happened to her, and that she didn't just run away. Her teenage friends agonize over what information to reveal, which might get them into trouble. The story is told from the different points of view of those closest to Kim giving insight into the torment of living without knowing what has happened to a loved one. There is a finite ending to the book, which I appreciated, as sometimes novels like this one have no real resolution.

The Road from Coorain by Jill Ker Conway

This memoir follows Jill Ker as she grows up on an isolated sheep farm in NSW Australia in the 30s and 40s. Her childhood is so unusual, filled with a large amount of responsibility, lonliness, hard work and despair over a lenghty drought. When Jill ends up at an elementary school in Sydney after they move to the city, she doesn’t know how to play and is totally confused about the idea of physical education. She has never had any friends her age. Jill ends up as the first female President of Smith College, and the second half of the book follows her academic, and ultimately (as they are so closely intertwined) self realization at university and through travel and her difficult relationship with her mother. Parts of this book are tragically sad (starving sheep during the drought, her father’s death, the untimely death of another family member) but an interesting snapshot of growing up as a intellectual female during a hard time in an unforgiving country. Very interesting.

Prize Stories, 2008, the O'Henry Prize

If you like your fiction in sweet dollops, rather than devoured whole, this cornucopia of short stories fills the bill. There's a lovely story about a musician who takes care of his girlfriend's parakeet, growing more and more attached to it; a bizarre tale of strange mating practices in Africa; a tale of a woman with possible breast cancer who distracts herself with graveyard research; and a young woman who tries to save her life in an Internet cafe. A great way to sample both famous authors--Alice Munro, Ha Jin, William Trevor--and emerging ones--Alexi Zentner and Tony Tulathimutte. Great bedtime reading, one story each night before shut-eye.

All the Sad Young Literary Men

Whenever you're feeling dissatisfied with your aging boomer life, just pick up this or another "slacker" novel. Wow, it's great not to have to look for the love of your life, or have to make your name in the world. Keith Gessen's first novel--ironically no slacker himself, New York Review of Books and NY Times book reviewer--is about three young men, all in their late 20s, trying hard to make brilliant successes of their lives, both emotionally and career-wise. The prose is artful, but the voices blend too much and are sometimes hard to distinguish. When you read the scene at the gym where Keith or was it Mark? or Sam? drenched in sweat, does not respond kindly to the charming young woman trying to pick him up, you feel like yelling Enough already, get out of your head and smell the roses, or beer or perfume, or whatever! Still it's hard to put this book down. You want to know if these talented young men will make it or will have to spend all of their Friday nights at "loser" grad-student potlucks. This could be just the right mood-elevator for that struggling PhD student needing a change of pace.

The Gargoyle

Andrew Davidson's debut novel. Part Gothic thriller, part historical fiction, part love story, part fairy tale, and part recovery story (recovery from a horrific car accident, addiction, and mental illness as well). The protagonist finds a sense of self, and the meaning of love and friendship after a car accident renders him physically and emotionally altered. Not a perfect novel, but most certainly inventive, wise and captivating. Most definitely written for adults.

Invisible

Doug Hansen, outsider freak has one friend, Andy Morrow. From the beginning, the reader knows that their relationship is strange, but can't quite put a finger on what makes it so different. As Doug works through his problems, through his narration and the help(?) of a shrink, you find out why the hairs on your arms and neck stand up every time you resume reading this novel. Doug is quite a memorable character. His story is both sad and engaging. I really enjoyed this book. Would recommend to older teens, especially males.

Skim

Skim is a GN by Mariko Tamaki (words) and Jillian Tamaki (drawings). The themes addressed in the work are quintessential high school: friendship, fitting in and not fitting in, romantic love, crushes on teachers, gender questions, depression, suicide, Wicca and Wiccans. OK, maybe not Wicca and Wiccans as quintessential, but definately prevelant. It rings true in its treatment of the various topics. I liked the novel, and loved the illustrations. My one beef was the ending was like high school in that it didn't really end, it just sorta stopped. Would recommend to mature teens, especially females.

Hunger Games

This YA book by Suzanne Collins is definitely for older YA's- plenty of relatively graphic violence abounds in this story. It is the science fictiony tale of a bleak future US called Panem, which has 12 districts. The people live in very poor, near-starving conditions. Each year to punish the residents for an unsuccessful uprising two teens are chosen by random lottery to participate in the Hunger Games. These are staged in an arena with outdoor conditions and the participants fight to the death, all while being broadcast on television. The winner lives a life of comfort. The main character is a girl, 16-year-old Katniss, who voluntarily takes her 12-year-old sister's place. I liked that the main character is a tough teenage girl. The book is quick read, with almost immediate action. I enjoyed this novel a lot, even though there was a somewhat cheesey romantic subplot, which probably appeals to teens. This is the first of what is to be a triology and I look forward to the next two installments

This book has received great reviews, even raves from Stephen King.