Random musings of a measured overachiever

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes My rating: 5 of 5 stars A very immersive and thought-provoking story Why did I give this book 5 stars? What can I write about it? Well, I floated between 4 and 5 stars. What made me tip the scale was my immediate feeling that I was an observer in the story, not solely a reader. I found the transformation of the protagonist, Charlie Gordon - as illustrated by his writing in his progress reports - to be an especially effective narrative device. The story was so organic and straight-forward, that I felt transported to another time and place. Perhaps that result was also due to my empathy with the protagonist Charlie Gordon and my identification with the academic environment, where most of the narrative took place. Some members of my extended family are mentally challenged. I couldn't help but think of them when I read about Charlie. Also, my dad worked with mentally challenged young adults at a clinic when he was...

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein My rating: 4 of 5 stars Not as action-orientated as I thought it would be, but it's definitely a thought-provoking work about military service, structure, operations, and command. To a lesser extent it was about politics and warfare. My only negative criticism of this work is that the amount of dialogue, especially in the second half of the book, took away from potential action and suspense. I know what to expect when I approach a work by Robert A. Heinlein, just as I would for Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. If I want a sci-fi read which is military and/or action-orientated, I will go with Heinlein. If I want a sci-fi read which is more contemplative or intellectual, I will choose Asimov, Clarke, or Ted Chiang. Additionally, to approach a work by Heinlein expecting it to be attune to current cultural sensitivities is folly, plain and simple. If I read a book by Heinlein is that going to make me Heinlein? No! I did not see this work as i...

It has been brewing in my head to write down some reflections of library memories. What aspects of various libraries have stayed in my mind over the past forty years, and some aspects that perhaps led me to become what I am today, an academic librarian.🎓🖳📚 I tend to focus on libraries as place and materials, but that is not intended to be a slight of any librarians who may have helped me in the past. Mid to late 1970's Halstead Kansas Public Library - As with many children, dinosaurs were a favorite of mine. I recall this library having a good collection of children's books on dinosaurs, and my family and I going to a slide presentation on fossils by an area high school teacher (very cool!). I remember stating in first grade that I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up, and repeatedly asking my dad all kinds of questions of the winners of hypothetical dinosaur fights. My dad was patient but even he grew tired of my questions (thanks and sorry, Dad!). Newton Kan...