Walden Two by B.F. Skinner

Walden Two is an experimental Utopian 

community located in a rural area of the United States. Everyone get’s along, everyone is happy, productive and creative. The community works smoothly with plenty to eat, the people get plenty of rest and there is no stress at all. When there is a problem in the community, they design tests and experiments until they find a possible solution.

Skinner explains that he was very dissatisfied with the way America turned out and was trying to think of a solution that would spare us a miserable and catastrophic future.

The novel is very controversial and challenges the American way of life including democracy, capitalism and the nuclear family.

I enjoyed reading the book even though it was a bit difficult making sense of the science of Behavioral Psychology.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

I really enjoyed the story because it was fun, interesting and I learned a lot about the connection between the two civilizations. This is a mixture of Roman and Greek mythology.

Aphrodite –Roman Form: Venus

Hephaestus –Roman Form: Vulcan

Zeus –Roman Form: Jupiter

Jason wakes up on a bus, sitting next to Piper and Leo, claiming to be his girlfriend and best friend. Jason is upset because he does not know who he is, or how he got on the bus. We are introduced to three new demigods; the son of Jupiter, the daughter of Aphrodite and the son of Hephaestus. The adventure is nonstop and I like the fact that he always includes strong female characters. Young audiences can enjoy the story and learn lessons of courage, friendship and perseverance.

Reading level ages 9-12

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

One of my favorite lines in the book come from Hema as she is having a near death experience:

“As she bent over the child she realized that the tragedy of death had to do entirely with what was left unfulfilled. She was ashamed that such a simple insight should have eluded her all these years. Make something beautiful of your life.”p64

Sister Mary Joseph Praise dies giving birth to twin boys Marion and Shiva in Ethiopia at Missing, a hospital for the poor. The boys are raised by Hema and Gosh because the boys father Dr. Stone leaves and never returns. Cutting for Stone is a story of love and betrayal, political turmoil and the human will to live. The story takes place in India, Ethiopia and America (the Bronx) over many decades.

There are too many medical references sometimes it feels like the book was written for medical students. I liked the story but I did not love it.