Week 8, Assignment 4

Next, here are book talks for two of the titles I recommended in Assignment 3.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Readers who enjoy reading about World War II will not want to miss Erik Larson's bestselling title from 2011, In the Garden of Beasts. This very readable narrative nonfiction title traces Hitler's rise to power as seen through the eyes of the family of American ambassador William Dodd, who lived in Germany as Hitler rose to power. While the book describes events in Germany as Hitler gained power, it's also a biography of Dodd and the members of his family--in particular, his grown daughter Martha, who engages in several affairs while in Germany, including one with a high-ranking Gestapo officer.

This is a true story of the Nazi era replete with a suspenseful and compelling plot, a quick pace, and fully drawn characters. I suggest this title for readers who enjoy both nonfiction history and historical fiction works set in the World War II era because of the narrative and information about that era presented from a slightly different angle. I also recommend this book those who enjoy narrative nonfiction because it's an archetype of this genre.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
Medical stories have the potential to get bogged down in gory and boring detail and to seem impersonal; however, that is not the case with Oliver Sacks' 1985 book, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. In this book, neurologist Sacks recounts the intricacies of the cases of various patients with rare disorders in a way that is compassionate, reflective, and moving. The book is well-written, and while there is a good bit of medical jargon and the descriptions of neurological function are a bit science-heavy, the stories are so compelling that the book is worth the effort.

I recommend this title for fans of Lisa Genova's Still Alice and fans of Alice LaPlante's Turn of Mind, as well as those who enjoy science writing and short stories, since it's essentially a book of case studies presented as stand-alone short stories.