SeeWhy

Beautiful and devastating tales of Sri Lanka

Revisado: 06-06-24

The first chapter is a lyrical and condensed introduction to the history of this island state. I read this in preparation for my upcoming trip to the country. It is an epic and poetic personal tale of childhood memories in lush tropical gardens, unrequited teenage love, loss from war / terrorism, exile and homecoming. The rich descriptions of the verdant landscapes have me eagerly anticipating my first visit.

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Fun beach read with Octopus’s POV on human behaviour

Revisado: 05-24-24

Like: Marcellus the octopus and his descriptions of his neighbours in the aquarium
Dislike: humans being less than bright

The story is a little predictable, but I enjoyed the erudite octopus’s observations on humans.

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Must-read for Nile cruise, budding archaeologists and Egyptologists

Revisado: 04-23-24

Having worked at the Met as a young intern, I didn’t know much about the background of the fabled Egyptian Temple of Dendur. Only when I came across this biography of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt someone left behind on the Nile cruise boat did I learn more about the woman who spearheaded the relocation of the Abu Simbel temple with UNESCO and later the temple of Philae, and Jackie Kennedy’s role in the US support. CDN was responsible too for reigniting the public’s fascination with King Tut and creating the first blockbuster museum exhibitions at the Louvre and Grand Palais with his and Rameses II’s artefacts touring to Paris in the 1970s. A fascinating and inspiring read for archeologists, Egyptologists and museum professionals, an insider look at the beginnings of international diplomacy through cultural soft power.

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Beautiful writing and interpretation of artworks

Revisado: 07-31-23

As a young woman, I had the privilege to intern at the Met. This book brought back fond memories of wondering down the endless hallways and galleries at the museum, of having entire artworks to yourself on Mondays when the museum was closed. (Now no longer the case.) Patrick Bringley captured the same sense of wonder and intellectual curiosity, and managed to describe and interpret the artworks with his unique perspective. He would make an amazing museum docent! He is also a wonderful reader with his soothing voice, which is not always the case with author-read audio books. I am looking forward to see what he comes up with next.

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Great preparation and entertaining for my first safari

Revisado: 07-07-23

Peter Allison does a great job with detailed and hilarious descriptions of the precarious situations he often found himself in during his reckless youth as a fledgling guide. His tall tales of himself and the tourists he had shown are a good reminder of how NOT to act in the wild bushes of Africa! I came across this before my first safari trip - to Botswana - and now can’t wait to start a more tame version of this adventure.

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Fascinating life story but rushed towards the end

Revisado: 06-27-23

This was a quick and fun summer read! Like most people, I only knew Hedy Lamar as a silver screen siren of Old Hollywood, but did not know of her Austrian Jewish-born origins, nor of her self-taught scientific endeavours. The author’s note at the end about Lamar’s technological contribution to our mobile phones was mind-blowing, and I agree with other readers, that the last 1/3 of the book seemed rushed and less well-written. Now hoping to read more of Marie Benedict’s other works. These HERstories need to be more widely taught, so we can re-examine the contributions of female scientists, behind-the-scenes movers and shakers that influenced the course of modern history. Must-read for women working in STEM fields; we need more inspiring role models.

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It changed my impression of David Chang

Revisado: 06-07-23

I tried Momofuku ramen in the early 2000s when it first opened in East Village in NYC. Coming from Hong Kong where authentic Japanese ramen was readily available, I thought it was overrated. Little did I know what behind-the-scene battles the restaurant team was fighting. Hearing the chef’s first-hand account gave me a new found appreciation for him and his team. I also used to think DC was a frat boy chef bro, not unlike his buddy Anthony Bourdain. They are similar in the demons they were fighting in their minds, the difference being that DC managed to find the help and mentorship he needed, and we now get to hear his tale.

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Quirky and fun even if a tad macabre at times

Revisado: 06-03-23

Got this in the 2-for-1 sale and really glad I picked this up! Not just a fun read for kids, but an eye-opener for adults too. By addressing weird and wonderful all matters death-related, this is a sympathetic primer on all the different rituals around the world from antiquity to contemporary times, and a reminder for us to LIVE and do things that make a difference while we are here.

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Well-researched and told, but needs visual aid and post-2020 update

Revisado: 05-18-23

A fascinating must-read for any art insider, who may not know how the biggest commercial blue chip galleries got their start. The narration for the audiobook is well-paced. The book would have benefited from a companion PDF to illustrate all the artists / artworks mentioned in the book, so you know what the author is talking about! I am surprised that Asia / Hong Kong was not mentioned until Ch. 22-24, when Chinese contemporary art started appearing on tastemakers’ radars as early as 2000. This book can also use an update on how Covid-19 changed the art market since 2020, with virtual viewing rooms at the air fairs furthering online sales.

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Author has calm soothing voice like ASMR

Revisado: 02-01-23

On top of the highly informative medical / scientific detailing how the hormonal changes in a woman’s body in different phases of life affects her neurology, moods, emotions and perception, Dr. Brizendine has a very calming and soothing voice which makes this audio book a pleasure to listen to. Great for bedtime listening!

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