Another Science Book...

As a chemist, I enjoy reading books about the science of everyday things as well as more bizarre items. Spook by Mary Roach, a follow-up to her first novel Stiff, delves into the science of the afterlife. It covers topics such as ectoplasm, reincarnation, and near-death experiences. I never had thought about whether people studied such phenomena, but there are numerous universities which have programs in these paranormal area. My favorite portion of the book discusses how people attempted to determine whether the soul existed by weighing people as they were dying. A loss in their mass was suspected to be the soul leaving the body. The author also attended a school on how to become a medium! While I enjoyed Stiff much more than Spook, I am definitely going to be reading Ms. Roach's newest book, Bonk.

Certain Girls

I finished listening to Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner a few days ago. I just recently discovered Jennifer Weiner's books at a used bookstore. In my usual manner, I bought one of her novels, read it, and went back to buy many more. Thus far I was thoroughly enjoyed reading about unique female characters in the modern world. Certain Girls, the sequel to Good in Bed, brings the reading into the life of Cannie as her daughter is coming of age. This book never engaged me as her earlier books did. I was unable to connect with any of the characters as I had in the past. If you are looking for a quick read for your summer vacation, this is a good book to bring along. I will definitely continue to read Ms. Weiner's novels in the future.