Released to a friend after another friend gave it to me.

Received with thanks - I've already started to read this and am enjoyig Sacks's reflections so far. I'm not usually into biographies, but this one intrigued me.

Book earmarked for Netstation after I finish.

I enjoys this, especially as it reminded me of my fascination with science whe I was young - a curiousity that has somewhat changed its focus, but has never really left me. As to be expected from the sub-title, the book is very chemistry-heavy, but, as with all of Sacks's books, the content reamains understandable to the previously un-initiated.

Picked up at the November London meet.

I enjoyed reading this. If was interesting how his understanding of chemistry paralleled the developmnent of the subject, so that this book is a history of chemistry as well as a biography.

Random observation: if George Bush (Jr.) has nephews and/or neices then they'll have an Uncle W as well. ;)

picked up at meet-up

Read during a long work trip. Wonderful engaging read which made chemistry seem far more exciting than I ever thought possible.

RELEASE NOTES:

at meet-up

Given to me by another bookcrosser....

Three quarters of the book is a history of the development of chemistry, which Sacks had a passion for as a boy (aided by two of his uncles especially). This is all very well, and is told in a very readable style, but what about Sacks himself? There are some very disturbing glimpses into his lonely and atypical childhood.

His mother would sometimes bring home malformed foetuses which had died at birth, or been drowned by her "like a kitten" shortly afterwards. These she encouraged the (13-year old!) Sacks to dissect, teaching him about anatomy all the while. Later she arranges for him to dissect the body of a teenage girl of his own age at the local medical school under the supervision of "Professor G".

Sacks goes on holiday to the seaside with his family. He is given a large live octopus as a gift by a fisherman, and keeps it in the family bath, where he talks of how he feeds it live crabs and it changes colour because it seems to recognise him. The maid comes into the bathroom one day and kills the octopus with a broom handle in a panic. Sacks, of course, then dissects his beloved pet and keeps parts of it preserved in jars on his shelves for many years.

While it seems pretty clear that Sacks had a very precocious intellect, and was probably streets ahead of his peers in terms of intelligence, I find these incidents very sad and disturbing.

As a description of chemistry, this book is entertaining. As a glimpse into the life of Oliver Sacks, it is troubling.

Going off on a bookray!

- krin511 (Maryland)
- sarradee (Texas)
- heartsong2 (Nebraska)<<<< book here!

Please journal the book when it arrives and when you pass it on.

RELEASE NOTES:

To krin511

Arrived today - will probably start reading it next week.

This was a very interesting book about Sacks' childhood and the history of chemistry, photography, artificial lighting, etc. Some of the passages are very long and detailed, but Sacks always adds a personal anecdote to keep the reader's interest.

Reserved for sarradee - will mail sometime this week.

Mailed to sarradee.

Arrived safely today. Thanks krin, and thank you flambard for generously allowing it to travel to the US for the ray.

This book was really fascinating, I enjoyed the narrative about Sacks' family more than I did his history of chemistry, mainly because I am much more intrigued by biology and zoology. Much of the details sailed right over my head, my fault entirely that I didn't go back and try to read those passages more carefully. I like his medical writings better from that standpoint, but really enjoyed the opportunity to find out more about Sacks' childhood.

With today's concerns about putting protective coatings all over everything, it's fun to read about a boy who was allowed, no encouraged, to play with dangerous chemicals in the name of learning. I bet his chemistry set was much, much more interesting than anything you could buy today.

I'm waiting for a reply back from heartsong2 on whether or not they are still interested in reading this book.

March 7th - I pm'ed heartsong again, I'm afraid my first effort didn't make it.

I've heard from heartsong2 via the forums, (her pm's aren't getting through) and I plan to try to mail this book tomorrow, or at the latest on Monday.

Arrived today! Actually my mailbox was overflowing with books today. When it rains it pours!

This book is on my "literature, arts and medicine" reading list. Judging by the journal entries, this sounds pretty intriguing!

Flambard, what might your preferences be for the book to go from here? I don't know that I've ever been at the end of a ray before, and gosh! This book is well-traveled!

PS: I hate it that my pm's haven't been working! It makes me wonder what I've been missing! Thank you sarradee for finding me!

Fascinating story. The concept of "growing up with chemicals" was quite mind-boggling to me, but indeed, that is what he did. What an amazing mind. I wanted to know more about what led him to neurology since tht is the context that I have enjoyed Oliver Sacks up until now, but clearly that was not the point of the story.

Thank you for sharing this book with me. It is one of the books on my "literature, arts and medicine" reading list.

Posting to Connecticut as a PaperBackSwap.com trade! Enjoy!

Received the book from paperbackswap.com and I plan on setting it free as soon as someone wants to give it a home. This book has traveled much farther than I have!

CAUGHT IN MIDDLEBURY CONNECTICUT UNITED STATES

Recieved it from Paperbackswap.com