Lately I've been on a work-related-reading kick. In Expecting Adam the author Martha Becks, tells of how her pregancy with her son with Down syndrome completely changed her perspective on life. Although I liked the point of the story, that it is more important to be happy and take the time savour your life instead of being obsessed with success, I did not like all the telepathy, angel appereances and general magical mumbo jumbo.
I give it a 6 out of 10.

A while back, this book was recommended reading as part of my "Introduction to Counseling" course at CSUN. So I finally got around to reading If You Meet Buddha on the Road, Kill Him by Sheldon B. Kopp. Using myths and stories from different cultures and time periods, the author gives his view of pyscotherapy. Basically it was interesting and insightful, but only if you're into all the pyscho babble and self improvement mumbo jumbo. It wasn't bad, a 6 out of 10.

Although it may have a funny sounding title,

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Ann Fadiman, is the literal translation for the word "seizure" in Hmong.

This non-fiction book details the interactions between a Hmong family, whose young daughter has a severe seizure disorder, and the medical community in Merced. It is one long example of how two very different cultures can clash with resounding dissonance. I found the story engaging; you truly come to understand both perspectives. I tried to take to heart the lessons of cultural compentency in how I do my job.

Overall I'd give it a 8 out of 10.

Now that I've finished reading
The Kitchen God's Wife, I'd say that overall it is a good story. Although the first few chapters are from the daughters perspective, and are pretty boring, the mother's story is pretty good. Her part is about growing up in China, a really bad marriage, and living through WWII in China. In the end, it was a good book.

My most recent conquest is
The Color of Water, by James Mcbride. It is subtitled " A Black man's tribute to his White mother." Basically it is a memoir told from the mother's point of view - she is an orthodox Jewish immigrant raised by an abusive father - and the author's point view -growing up is a poor black neighborhood. It was recommended to me by my Aunt and she is usually pretty reliable. But I have to say this wasn't that great. Maybe I just am less into this type of narrative. It seemed boring and predictable at times. Overall I'd give it a 4 out of 10.

Although it may have a funny sounding title, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Ann Fadiman, is the literal translation for the word "seizure" in Hmong.

This non-fiction book details the interactions between a Hmong family, whose young daughter has a severe seizure disorder, and the medical community in Merced. It is one long example of how two very different cultures can clash with resounding dissonance. I found the story engaging; you truly come to understand both perspectives. I tried to take to heart the lessons of cultural compentency in how I do my job.

Overall I'd give it a 8 out of 10.