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Goo Amirlan amirlangoo — Put simply: I really liked this book. I've heard it described as "Harry Potter for adults", but it's so much more than that. It's funny and witty and smart, with writing that alternately makes you laugh or chills you to the core, and sometimes even makes you cry. If I had to liken it to any other work, I would describe it as "J. K. Rowling meets Neil Gaiman"; but describing it within the parameters of fantasy doesn't really do it justice, either. Probably the most fascinating aspect of the book is the world in which it's set. The world of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is a blend of early 19th century England, and a magical land entirely of Clarke's creation. Taken singularly, 19th century England is a pretty boring setting for a fantasy novel, and a fictive land of fairies is fairly irrelevant in an English novel. But it's where these two settings meet that we get a truly fascinating world. Clarke's England is not just the England that you find in history texts and other such sources, but the England you find in contemporary novels and poetry (Austen, Byron, Shelley, the Brontes, Dickens, and so on), and in more modern historical fiction (esp. O'Brian and Cornwell, which naturally amuses me to no end). And neither is the land of Faerie, created by Clarke, solely hers: there are echoes of traditional fairy tales, but also of C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, John Mandeville, Shakespeare, and other such writers of "traditional" fantasy. I would suggest that the world of Strange is in fact a fully realised pseudo-literary reality-- one that combines history and folklore with the literature that has been created based on both. It is, in a word, brilliant. But the appeal of the book is not just its setting. Strange is largely plot-driven-- there are too many characters for it to work otherwise. But it's a good plot, full of mystery and magic and unexpected turns, plus some moments that made me wish that damn tree outside my room would leave my window alone. It's also ridiculously funny: the pages are littered with footnotes, sometimes referring to nonexistent books, but mostly providing surprisingly thoughtful histories to the events described. (My favourite of these is on p. 584-5: "She even learnt the language of a strange country which, Signor Tosetti had been told, some people believed still existed, although no one in the world could say where it was. (The name of the country was Wales.)") But neither does Clarke neglect her characters. They are all complex, well drawn people, and for all that Strange and Norrell fill the title, I couldn't really say that there's any one protagonist to the book. Strange and Norrell themselves are utterly dislikeable as people but sympathetic as characters; I found Stephen to be likeable as a person but disagreeable as a character; Childermass is fascinating, but frustrating as a character, because he does not learn. Nor is there any one antagonist: Norrell and Strange both antagonize each other; the fairy antagonizes everyone; John Uskglass ultimately "wins", so can he really be an antagonist? None of these characters can be pigeon-holed into a tradition role, which is what makes them so interesting. They are not just flawed people, but flawed characters, which serves to make them dramatically interesting. In all, a really interesting, delightful book. I don't think it's for everyone (and I might later elaborate on why, but dude, it's almost 2am), but it's very much worth a read.

Carlos Alberto ca2w — I began this book with a great deal of interest. The beginning of the preface proved compelling, arguing that a large part of the modern healthcare crisis is caused by doctors relying too much on expensive diagnostic tests and not enough on a thorough history and physical examination. From there, however, the book went downhill fast. Lown goes on to laud his many wonderful achievements in the course of his career, sounding quite proud of himself. His tone throughout the book is self-congratulatory, and he writes from a pedestal, looking down on all patients and seemingly most people who are not himself or one of his beloved mentors. In fact, Lown even uses the word “childish” to describe modern patients’ fascination with technology! Following a number of chapters filled with stories of his miraculous diagnoses and life saves, we reach a chapter called “Words that Maim.” This chapter is filled with stories of doctors scaring patients to death, literally, with words, or saying horrible and manipulative things. All are stories of other doctors, of course; not one story about himself. (There is actually one small anecdote about Lown himself, but no harm comes to the patient he mentions.) In many of the stories, Lown is in fact the one who has to repair the damage done by callous doctors. This chapter is followed immediately by “Words that Heal,” in which we are again treated to samples of Lown’s perfect clinical skills. He’s so perfect that patients “walk out of [his] office looking stoned, high, floating on air. When they’re from out of town, they ask for the best restaurant in Boston, because they want to celebrate.”Later he dishes out personal advice and reports with pride that a patient “anointed” him “a great guru;” he also lashes out with fury at a patient, yelling at him uncontrollably, but miraculously curing the patient of all of his family problems in the process. Because almost all medical problems are in fact emotional, caused by family tension, according to Lown. He suggests that medicines don’t work well because they are over-prescribed; all most patients need is a smack on the head (metaphorically speaking) to convince them to get their family life in shape, and then they’ll be all better! Magic! Thanks to him, an Indian man is un-dispossessed by his mother; an Orthodox Jewish man learns to love and accept his gay son and his lover, and even march in gay pride parades! Lown truly is a miracle worker! This book is a complaint about modern doctors for not being more like Lown himself (that is, perfect in every regard). He doesn’t even give consideration to the stresses put on doctors by insurance, malpractice, etc. Modern medical education is soulless and modern doctors are no better. He seems to indicate that he understands the push to do procedures because taking histories doesn’t pay, but he doesn’t consider that doctors (particularly primary care doctors) might actually WANT to do more thorough histories if they weren’t trying to struggle for enough money just to pay their malpractice insurance and make ends meet. There are interesting portions of this book, and it has some good advice for interacting with patients. Some of the claims about the origin of the healthcare crisis may even be partially correct, though I feel strongly that he ignores the many factors working against physicians in his question to blame it all on the failings of the modern doctor. (review edited to fit length requirement!)

Agustina Fariña agustinafari — I remember reading this book at school when I was in 5th or 6th grade. I remember it being a thrilling book detailing one family's struggle to escape from the horrors of the Holocaust. I read it again recently to see if it would measure up to my childhood memory. I have to say that the book was not as developed in plot and character development as I would have liked as an adult, but I could see why I liked it as a child. I believe it is simplistic because it is written for a younger audience. I believe it seems like it's lacking because we live in a different age now and as an adult I know so much more about what went on during the Holocaust than I did then. I still found it to be an interesting read and I would recommend to a middle school audience.