Alex & Me by Irene M. Pepperberg
The story of Alex & Me is a bit detached and clinical, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what I’m looking for when I pick up a book with a cute parrot on the cover. If you are interested in finding out what Alex is capable of and how special he is, just watch this video instead.
Summary:
Alex’s brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add, sound out words, and understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.
Out of curiosity, when you start realizing that a book isn’t what you’re looking for, why do you keep reading? Is it cause you got really far in before realizing, or you knew you could finish it quickly anyway? Or that you’d still get something out of it?
That’s a good question. There have been times when I have wondered why I keep reading, but it is extremely rare that I give myself permission to actually give up on a book. If a book turns out to be below average, it at least helps me know what the average is. Even a book I have to slog through hopefully has some merit in the end – whether in education, literary value, entertainment, etc. – or just in making me a varying degree more well-read.
I get this, cause I’m the same way with movies. After reading all this praise for The Man Who Fell To Earth, I slogged through it but didn’t enjoy a single minute. And I don’t think I’m any better for it. Luckily I’m only losing a few hours…if it was a book, I’d have lost a couple days for sure.
It’s probably because I’ve already put so much time into a book that I am more reluctant to put it down and decide that time was wasted. If there are many reviews, you have gained some cultural knowledge at least and have peers among those who have seen the movie, even if you don’t agree about how good it was.