Book Four "My Lobotomy" by Howard Dully

Having an interest in the subject of psychology is probably what drew me to this book. After reading previous reviews from other readers about the graphic nature of this book, I was a bit concerned. Although I did find it to be a graphic book, it was a quick read for me because I couldn't seem to put it down.

My Lobotomy is a memoir of Howard Dully's life. We was born in the late 4o's to a mother with a wealthy family and a father from the wrong side of the tracks. His mother was a very nurturing and loving parent up until she died when Howard was 5. His father, who was never the affectionate kind, was left to raise Howard and his younger brother, Brian.

Shortly after his mother died, his father remarried to a woman named Lou who also had two boys, Cleon and George. They all moved into one home, and eventually Lou gave birth to another little boy Kirk.

This household however, was far from perfect. Although none of the other children seemed to be a burden, Howard was always seeming to get into trouble. Although he was a bit of a energetic child, Lou had it out for him. She would punish him for wrong doings of the other children, as well of things that she had made up in her head.

Eventually she begins to see Dr. Freeman, telling him that her step-son is probably schizophrenic. After two months of evaluations and interviews with other people who know Howard, it is decided that he will need an ortbital lobotomy.

Fortunately the surgery doesn't do any permanent damage to Howard. He is still labeled as a trouble making child who Lou wants nothing to do with. He is passed on from family member to family member. Eventually he is put in foster car. When that doesn't work, he is place in juvenile hall for a few weeks, until they decide to put him in a mental institution. Although psychiatrists have proven time and again that Howard is of sane mind, he continues to stay there because the state has nowhere to put him.

When he is finally of adult age, he has no idea how to live on his own. No one has taught him how to survive in the real world. He starts getting into drinking and drugs. He lives of a monthly check the state gives him, and whatever women he is with at the time that will pay his way. When he needs more money he writes bad checks. He is arrested countless times. In his mind he understands the difference between right and wrong, but he doesn't comprehend the severity of his actions.

Finally, in his early 40s he meets a women named Barbra and begins to change his life around. Eventually he begins to study lobotomys and even gets his old files from Dr. Freeman. They are filled with lies and deception from his now deceased step-mother. He even makes a radio documentary over his life and the issues that is surgery has created for him.

This book delves into problem with absurd procedures such as lobotomies and electroshock therapy. But it also is a prime example of the cycle of bad parenting. Both his father and step-mother and very rough childhoods, and they handled parenting the same way. Instead of giving there children the nurturing that is fundamental in a child that probably only had ADHD, they decided that something was so wrong with him, that a doctor needed to start ice picking at his brain.

I found this to be a fascinating book. I do however, want to warn everyone that this book could be a hard read for anyone with a sensitive stomach. It does cover some pretty gruesome details during his childhood.

Book Three "Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult

This past week, I had some trouble picking a book to read. Nothing seemed to jump out and speak to me the way that I felt they should. I was telling a co-worker about my dilemma, and she suggested that I read anything by Jodi Picoult. I had heard good things about this particular author, but had never read anything by her.

Although I have always been told to never judge a book by it's cover, I always seemed to be swayed by it. I chose Plain Truth because of the serene landscape on the front of the book. However, the plot of the book couldn't be farther from serene and peaceful.

The book starts with a dead newborn found in a barn in the Amish community in Paradise, Pennsylvania. Medical Examiners are lead to believe that they infant was murdered, and all signs point to Katie, the 18 year old daughter of the farm owner. Katie, however, has no recollection of giving birth or ever being pregnant.

Eventually she is arrested and charged with first degree murder. It is at her preliminary hearing, when she meets lawyer Ellie Hathaway. The only way to get Katie out on bail is for Ellie to have complete custodial car for her. Thus, Ellie ends up living in the Amish community for the next 4 months while trying to get Katie acquitted of this heinous crime.

Eventually, memories start to come flooding back to Katie. She slowing starts to remember details minor details of the pregnancy that she tried to force out of her mind. Eventually she even remembers giving birth to the child at 2 am in her fathers barn. However, she has no recollection of killing her child. All she remembers is giving birth, cutting the umbilical cord, and holding her baby right before she passed out of exhaustion. When she work up 30 minutes later, the blood was cleaned up and the baby was no where to be seen. Thinking that her prayers from god were answered, she ran back to the house, hid her bloody nightgown and went back to bed.

The storyline has more twists and turns and eventually leads to a startling conclusion that I will not be writing about as to not spoil it for others. I will say that it was a good, easy read. It is probably a perfect book for a weekend read.

Book Two "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

I decided for my second book, that I wanted to read a book with a little more depth to it. A co-worker of mine had recommended Eat Pray Love. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed with life, and this uplifting and inspirational book sounded like a perfect read.

Elizabeth, who is recently divorced and heartbroken over another broken relationship, is looking for a different lifestyle. Being a very type A personality, she is desperately searching for way to rid her conscience of all of the guilt, anger, and shame that came with her past relationships. She decides to travel the world for a year, visiting Italy, India, and Indonesia to work on her spiritual health.

Her first destination is Italy, where she mainly works on happiness. She learns the Italian language and travels throughout the country, although she spends the bulk of her time in Rome. She finds pure pleasure in living a life void of schedules, appointments, and time restraints. She spends time with new and fascinating friends, and finds true joy in the Italian cuisine.

After her visit in Italy, she travels directly to India where she plans on spending 6 weeks in an Ashram that is ran by her guru, then the rest of the time traveling throughout India. After finishing most of her allotted time at the Ashram, she decides that is where she needs to spend the remainder of her stay in India. Through yoga and meditation, she learns to fight her inner demons. She also learns how to control all of the guilt, anger, and shame that she had been fighting with for the past few years.

The last four months of her trip is spent in Bali, Indonesia. It is there that she spends time with a medicine man named Ketut. He teaches her more meditation techniques, that help her to find balance in her life. She makes friends with another healer by the name of Wayan, a poor single mother who has fought against the patriachy in Bali in an ugly divorce. While in Bali, she also meets a Brazillian man who ends up being the man of her dreams.

Although I felt the ending was slightly predictable (woman finds man to take care of her and lives happily ever after), I did enjoy this book. I felt that her time in India was most benificial to me. It seemed as though she was fighting the same thoughts and emotions that get to me on a daily basis. It was overall a good read.

Book One-"My Horizontal Life" by Chelsea Handler

Life has been a little rough for me over the past couple of months. This probably influenced my decision to make my first book of the year My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler. Her show has gotten me through many a sleepless night, and a few good laughs seemed like a perfect way to ring in the new year.

Handler is known for her raunchy, sarcastic sense of humor, and this book is no exception. The book is basically a memoir of her sex life, and all of the craziness it entails. It begins with her older sister daring her to take a picture of their parents in the throws of passion, a bet where punishment is inevitable. This theme continues through her own sex life. She is constantly ending up in one absurd situation after another, then scrambling to find her way out of it. She eventually comes to the conclusion that it would be best to refrain from sex in order to prioritize her life.

This book should probably not be read by anyone who is easily offended. I, however, find myself laughing out loud while reading it. I find comfort in reading the stories of someone who has been in crazy, and even sometimes upsetting situations, yet she can still laugh at herself.

In Desperate Need of a Challange....

So last year the majority of my time was filled with school and wedding planning. Now that both are finished, I have found myself with a lot of spare time on my hands. Since I am a Type A Personality, I feel as if I'm going to rip my hair out if I don't find something to occupy my time.

So I've decided to try the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge. I have always loved to read, but it usually gets pushed to the side for some other project. I'm sure I will find myself just as busy in 2010, but I would really like to make reading a priority again.

My first book of this challenge is My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler:)