FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen

Well, this was Oprah's Book Club selection.  And I enjoyed the book the author became famous for, The Corrections. 

To purchase or download this book, click below:

http://sh.st/Q4PZL

It's a family saga.  Rather than following the family member linearily, the author chose to focus on each character in a chapter, much like he did in The Corrections.  It's very well-written, I really felt for the characters, and even the most debasing, disgusting and reprehensible behaviours seem acceptable within the context of this world.

The one issue I had with this book is that there is so much information on each character.  I got bored for about a hundred pages that delved into American politics, and then another fifty or so pages that dealt with saving a bird species.  I think that the author felt too passionately about these subjects to leave them out, and while they were a part of the characters, I didn't really see how they added any real value to the story.


This is a long book - over 700 pages - and definitely not a beach-read.  If you enjoy dissections of humanity and family, and have long commutes to work, then this would be a good addition to your electronic reading device.

THE SKIN TYPE SOLUTION by Leslie Baumann

We've always heard of the four types of skin: dry, oily, combination, and normal.  But I was fascinated by the author's idea of actually breaking our skins down into SIXTEEN different types.

To purchase or download this book, click below:

http://sh.st/QNzwQ

The author, a practicing dermatologist in Florida, sets out detailed questionnaires that help you determine your specific type.  Not only that, she then explains the difference between the varieties in a way no dertmatologist has ever touched on (in my experience), and even gives lists of examples of ingrédients to look for, and more importantly, to look OUT for.


The information in this book has saved me a pretty penny, and many an avoidable skin-irritation due to a cosmetic that was sold to me simply because the seller needed to reach her weekly target.
HIGHLY recommended!

NO TWO ALIKE by Judith Rich Harris

I've always been interested in why two (or more) siblings who grow up with the same parents in the same home can become so completely different.  I was hoping this book would provide some insight.

To purchase or download this book, click below:

http://sh.st/QNke1

I can't really say that I got much out of this book.  While the author quotes many studies, I never felt like she really got deeply enough into the subject, and I kept waiting for some kind of revelation but sadly, it never came.  I would say, skip this one.

SAVE THE CAT! (series) by Blake Snyder

This is when I discovered how FUN organizing thoughts can be!


SAVE THE CAT!
The first book in the series breaks the entire process down in a clearly understandable way without talking down to you.  It gives you tools and tips you can use, but more importantly it lays everything out visually so that 110 script that you've been dreading to write suddenly appears to you in vivid pictures.
The first book I would recommend to anyone - whether you've never written anything in your life, or if you've produced some of your manuscripts already but are looking for a different way (and more approachable) of doing things.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, this book shows you, step by step, how it's constructed, so that you can recreate it all by yourself.

To purchase or download this book, click below:

http://sh.st/QhNSN

SAVE THE CAT! GOES TO THE MOVIES
The second book in the series takes the theories described in the first book and applies them to a wide range of films across all genres.

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http://sh.st/QhMnJ

Unlike the first book,  this second one doesn't delve into too much detail on the aspects of writing.  This is purely a dissection of fifty films, using the author's method that is shown in detail in the first book.  This book is rather an interesting study of how the author's writing method can be applied to any genre.


SAVE THE CAT! STRIKES BACK
This is my least favorite book of the series, and although I still got some interesting information from some chapters (how do you interpret 'notes' from producers?), I felt like towards the end it was a struggle for the author to complete it.  There is a chapter on 'getting an agent' etc but I didn't find the information any more useful or hopeful than I've gotten from all the other books I've read. 

To purchase or download the book, click below:

http://sh.st/Qh2IM

There was some information I found to be just a rehashing of the first book:  in a nutshell, save yourself the time and money, and concentrate more on the first two books of the series which I truly feel are extremely helpful.