Week 8

Assignment 1 & 2:

I read the two articles assigned and watched the video.

Assignment 3:

Memoirs                                         Dewey Area Bio
Psychology                                     155.2
History                                            973.3
Medical                                           636.7

1.  Do You Dream In Color? by Laurie Rubin -  Memoir
2.  Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks When American Became Independent May 1 - July 4,   1776  by William Hogeland - History
3.  Quiet: The Power of Introverts In A World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain - Psycholgy
4.  Dog Walks Into A Nursing Home by Sue Halpern - Medical



Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks...
We all learned about the the American Revolution. What was it like to be there during the critical time before July 4, 1776? This book will give you a front row seat. The pacing was quick as we relive this arduous period. The detail is finely drawn and one can almost feel the plight of the militias. The characterization of George Washington and his generals give us some idea of what he was up against and insight to the decisions he made. General Howe is also discussed in some detail as we watch the British snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. There have been many books written about the American Revolution. This one is suitable for someone who likes a narrative style with quick pacing and not an overwhelming amount of historical detail. It is also suitable for someone who wants to learn more about this subject. It is very accessible.


Dog Walks Into A Nursing Home
This is the story of a woman, her therapy dog and the people she visits in a nursing home.
The characterization is strong as the author talks about her dog, taking us through the process of becoming a therapy dog and the work that this qualification allowed her to do. The author reveals a great deal about her thoughts on death/dying and life in general. The pace of the book slows down considerably when the author goes off on her theological tangents and I feel it detracts from the story of the residents and her dog. The setting is well drawn as we meet the varous residents of the nursing home learn how the dog responds to them and them to her. Although this could be a depressing topic it doesn't feel that way in this book. We are left with an appreciation of the power of dogs to provide comfort and small miracles to those who are in institutional settings. I would recommend this to an animal lover, anyone interested in aging and institutional care and even though I didn't care for this part of the book, anyone who is interested in the authors theological/philisophical take on the work of the therapy dogs and death and dying.