Memory: Foundations and Applications, by Bennett L. Schwartz. Sage Publishing, 2018

This is a text book, not a ‘popular’ science book like those written by Oliver Sacks or V.S. Ramachandran, and so is laid out and written very differently. The book is divided into subjects- the various aspects of memory: working memory, episodic memory, visual memory, semantic memory, false memory, memory disorders, memory in children and older adults, and, finally, memory improvement (there are actually tips on memory improvement in other chapters, too). Each chapter does start with a case history that illustrates the aspect of memory for that chapter, but the rest is solidly researched facts. The text is sprinkled with graphs, illustrations, memory tips, quizzes (with the key at the end of them), review questions, and related on line resources. I wish text books had been written like this when I was in college! It’s readable by anyone, but it’s while it’s not slow going, it’s not fast, either. There are a lot of facts to get through and understand. Four stars, looking at it from the point of view of a casual reader rather than someone reading it for a college class. 

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Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, by E.J. Stevens. Sacred Oaks Publishing, 2012

Harborsmouth might as well be named Hellmouth. It’s a hub of supernatural activity, and Ivy Granger, half fae princess, psychic, and private eye, has the ability to see all the non-human beings that inhabit it. Her housekeeper is a brownie (not the kind that sell cookies), her boyfriend is the king of the kelpies, her main client is a demon, and she’s friends with a bridge troll and the most powerful witch in town.

Now someone is killing fae, of both Seelie and Unseelie courts, and leaving sprigs of mistletoe in the pools of blood. True, it’s close to Christmas, but there just isn’t anything festive about it.

This is a novella rather than a full book, so it doesn’t take Ivy long to solve the crime. It’s both bloody and fluffy urban fiction and a fun, quick read. I might have to check out some of the full length books. Four stars.

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This did not influence my review. 

The Handbook for Companioning the Mourner: Eleven Essential Principles, by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Companion Press, 2009

 This tiny book contains few words but lots of ideas- well, eleven of them to be exact. It’s an outline of how best to be with a person who is morning, as a companion who lets the person grieve rather than trying to cheer them up or distract them. Listen. Respect their pain. Allow that grief is not linear, and that it is messy and disorderly. Be curious about the mourner and what they are going through-you can learn from them. Simple ideas, but powerful ones, laid out neatly so (if you’re lucky) you can remember them when the time comes. (This is not to say that distraction or cheering up is wrong; those have an important place, too. But that’s for others-the mourner’s friends and family, or, if you are friend or family rather than volunteer companion, for a different time) It’s short, but it took me an oddly long time to read, because I had to stop after each chapter and think about what the author was saying. 

The above is an affiliate link. IF you click through and buy something- anything- from Amazon, they will give me a few cents. 

This did not influence my review.