Right brain left brain thing

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (16%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (88%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

ANNE TYLER – Digging to America

Bought 16 Aug 2006 – QPD

Tyler’s latest, and a return to form after the slightly disappointing An Amateur Marriage.

Two Korean babies arrive at Baltimore airport on the same flight, adopted by two very different familes. The families become close and intermingle, highlighting their similarities and differences.

The Donaldsons are classic Tyler, raw-boned and misguidedly PC and liberal; the Iranian Yazdans are a new departure, I believe, and work really well – Tyler has obviously researched them very deeply and I couldn’t really see a difference between her portrayals and those of writers of the same ethnic background as their protagonists.

I galloped through this as I couldn’t stop reading it but simultaneously didn’t want it to end. Wonderful. And NOT going on BookCrossing (but yes, Ali, you can borrow it!)

PETER SHERIDAN – Forty-Seven Roses

Acquired via BookCrossing 19 Aug 2006 – from Ali

A haunting and moving little book about the author’s father’s death, and the discoveries he makes about the woman who loved him for 47 years. The tension between his mother and Doris is rediscovered as he revisits occasions from years past and talks to both of them now. Unusual and affecting.

MARK WALLINGTON – Travels With Boogie (500 Mile Walkies/Boogie up the River)

Bought 10 Aug 2006 – Amazon

Two books I was really looking forward to reading about the author’s walk round the South West coast and rowing trip up the Thames, with dog Boogie. While these were enjoyable, I found they were a bit silly, especialy the second book, which thrived on a rather annoying repetition of patterns which really could not have happened. He’s a good writer and describes things well, and of course there’s a place for humour in travel books – but this was a bit disappointing.

I’m going to register this on BookCrossing as I don’t think I’ll be re-reading it. It’s a shame when I buy books then have to BookCross them, but then thank goodness I have a route for passing them on rather than them just clogging up my bookshelves!

RAHUL SING – Khushwant Singh: In the Name of the Father

Acquired via BookCrossing 06 Aug 2006 – box of Asian books for release

A rather sweet biography of the Indian writer and social and political commentator, written by his son. The aim of this series is to tell peoples’ stories through documents official and unofficial, so there are lots of newspaper clippings, cartoons and envelopes reproduced through the book.

Word analysis (thanks to LindyB and Dubnordie!)

lyzzybee’s Word Usage

1. the (112) 26. bookcrossing (11) 51. when (7) 76. get (5) 2. and (95) 27. you (11) 52. their (7) 77. know (5) 3. a (82) 28. at (11) 53. up (7) 78. amazon (5) 4. of (69) 29. too (11) 54. acquired (7) 79. england (5) 5. to (65) 30. books (11) 55. had (7) 80. 25 (5) 6. i (55) 31. not (11) 56. what (6) 81. other (5) 7. it (43) 32. one (11) 57. he (6) 82. she (5) 8. in (42) 33. about (10) 58. make (6) 83. how (5) 9. was (29) 34. which (10) 59. excellent (6) 84. we (5) 10. this (28) 35. characters (10) 60. walk (6) 85. back (5) 11. but (22) 36. who (9) 61. aug (6) 86. has (5) 12. as (20) 37. his (9) 62. through (6) 87. out (5) 13. with (19) 38. an (9) 63. living (6) 88. your (5) 14. from (18) 39. my (9) 64. rrp (6) 89. 30 (5) 15. book (17) 40. bought (9) 65. via (6) 90. mins (4) 16. is (17) 41. will (8) 66. her (6) 91. much (4) 17. 2006 (16) 42. all (8) 67. more (6) 92. fact (4) 18. for (16) 43. do (8) 68. jul (6) 93. seen (4) 19. on (16) 44. were (8) 69. going (5) 94. interesting (4) 20. are (14) 45. very (7) 70. bit (5) 95. i’d (4) 21. me (13) 46. into (7) 71. there (5) 96. reader (4) 22. that (13) 47. good (7) 72. then (5) 97. even (4) 23. read (13) 48. well (7) 73. i’m (5) 98. off (4) 24. by (12) 49. so (7) 74. some (5) 99. wonderful (4) 25. have (12) 50. life (7) 75. or (5) 100. music (4)

Username: Word Count by Hutta.

JESSICA MANN – Out of Harm’s Way: The Wartime Evacuation of Children from Britain

Bought 10 Aug 2006 – Amazon

An excellent book charting the story of the WW2 overseas evacuations (as novelised in “The Guests of War” by Kit Pearson). A lot of research has obviously gone into the book, which details, chapter by chapter, the beginning and carrying out of various schemes and private arrangements, and it is brought to life by the many quotations from children, parents, escorts and host families. Brings it all alive – wonderful.

(Not a BC book but will lend privately)

XINRAN – What The Chinese Don’t Eat

Bought 10 Aug 2006 – Amazon

A book of essays from the Guardian by a Chinese national living in England, I was a bit disappointed by this. I’m not sure why, as it included essays on living in England, on going back to China, etc, which are usually my thing – I think I maybe had too high hopes of this.

I know Babs/Colanne from BookCrossing, who I have a horrible feeling bought this because I’d said how good it looked, felt the same too.

I don’t feel that attached to it, so am going to register it on BookCrossing and let it go.

ALISON LAPPER – My Life In My Hands

Bought 10 Aug 2006 – Amazon

A frank and honest autobiography. Alison is born with no arms and truncated legs and works her way through a difficult childhood to marriage, motherhood and a career as an artist. Unsparing about herself and other people; not too over-written and an inspiring read.

AMAL CHATTERJEE – Across the Lakes

Acquired via BookCrossing 06 Aug 2006 – from Katisha50s box of Asian books

This was OK but not wonderful. Taking a mix of young people living in Calcutta, the author tries to show different aspects of the city. However some of them were too similar, and I thought the plotting was a bit disappointing, with some characters promised and then left. The political shuffling interfered too much for me, too – I’m sure it was supposed to interfere, to make a point, but I didn’t personally find much interest in that aspect.