Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind
26. My Brothers' Eyes: How My Blind Brothers Taught Me to See by Daniel R. Brooks
In October 2006, I met Dr. Dan Brooks, a colleague of one of my fellow Ph.D. students and best friends Sarah, who had come to New Orleans to make a presentation in our department's seminar series. I don't remember much about his talk (sorry, Dr. Brooks), but I have great memories of going out to dinner with him one evening at Deanie's. Over drinks and scads of seafood, I got a glimpse into the psyche of a giant in biology. I noted mostly that he didn't act strangely around me like some people do. When Sarah told me a few months ago about his new book, I understood why my disability didn't phase him.
This book isn't your typical memoir or biography. There's no precise chronology. It is a collection of reminiscences of a man's childhood and adolescence told through modern images. But it even goes beyond that. It is a collection of photographs taken from interesting perspectives -- perspectives which tell the stories of Dr. Brooks's relationship to his two blind brothers. Through being his brothers' eyes, he learns that the world around us is more than just visual. When he talks about a place, Dr. Brooks uses terms for ALL the senses. For example, while hiking a towpath in Seneca, Maryland, he writes of the smell of decay, the sliminess of the birches, of being able to feel that he is shaded by leaves from above while warmed by sunshine from the side.
One picture captioned "Morning Light, Cacapon State Park, West Virginia" shows early sun rays filtering through an autumn forest canopy. As I looked at it, I noticed that where the sun hit the ground, it transformed those spots into little campfires. Whether it was the quality of light, the color of the leaves being spotlighted, or some combination of the two, I don't know. What I DO know is that as I studied the photo with my eyes, I could feel a fire's warmth, hear its crackling, and smell that pungent smell of burning leaves. Then I read the text above the photo:
People hearing about Dr. Brooks and his three other brothers being Lucien and Duncan's eyes growing up might just stop there and think they were great kids for taking care of their poor, crippled brothers. Reading this book, though, changes your perspective because it is about change in perspective. Because Lucien and Duncan wanted detailed descriptions of everything around them, Dr. Brooks tells us that he learned to look at things and situations more carefully than he might have otherwise.
The love Dr. Brooks has for his brothers, and even his guilt at not being present in the most difficult parts of their lives, is evident with every turn of the page. Thus, his life's work has evolved as a sort of homage to them:
The most interesting lines of the book for me came at the very end in the short epilogue. Dr. Brooks clearly and succinctly states about his brothers what I've been trying to tell people about myself for years:
Get this book, but take your time with it. The words and pictures are visual, certainly, but if you go slowly, I think you'll find a treat for your other senses, too.
In October 2006, I met Dr. Dan Brooks, a colleague of one of my fellow Ph.D. students and best friends Sarah, who had come to New Orleans to make a presentation in our department's seminar series. I don't remember much about his talk (sorry, Dr. Brooks), but I have great memories of going out to dinner with him one evening at Deanie's. Over drinks and scads of seafood, I got a glimpse into the psyche of a giant in biology. I noted mostly that he didn't act strangely around me like some people do. When Sarah told me a few months ago about his new book, I understood why my disability didn't phase him.
This book isn't your typical memoir or biography. There's no precise chronology. It is a collection of reminiscences of a man's childhood and adolescence told through modern images. But it even goes beyond that. It is a collection of photographs taken from interesting perspectives -- perspectives which tell the stories of Dr. Brooks's relationship to his two blind brothers. Through being his brothers' eyes, he learns that the world around us is more than just visual. When he talks about a place, Dr. Brooks uses terms for ALL the senses. For example, while hiking a towpath in Seneca, Maryland, he writes of the smell of decay, the sliminess of the birches, of being able to feel that he is shaded by leaves from above while warmed by sunshine from the side.
One picture captioned "Morning Light, Cacapon State Park, West Virginia" shows early sun rays filtering through an autumn forest canopy. As I looked at it, I noticed that where the sun hit the ground, it transformed those spots into little campfires. Whether it was the quality of light, the color of the leaves being spotlighted, or some combination of the two, I don't know. What I DO know is that as I studied the photo with my eyes, I could feel a fire's warmth, hear its crackling, and smell that pungent smell of burning leaves. Then I read the text above the photo:
The light seems to ignite little fires where it touches rocks or old fallen trees. I'd have taken Lucien and Duncan to the spots where the sunbeams struck so they could feel the warm spots. In some places, they could have felt the sun on their hands or their faces, and turned towards it, using their bodies as compasses.
People hearing about Dr. Brooks and his three other brothers being Lucien and Duncan's eyes growing up might just stop there and think they were great kids for taking care of their poor, crippled brothers. Reading this book, though, changes your perspective because it is about change in perspective. Because Lucien and Duncan wanted detailed descriptions of everything around them, Dr. Brooks tells us that he learned to look at things and situations more carefully than he might have otherwise.
The love Dr. Brooks has for his brothers, and even his guilt at not being present in the most difficult parts of their lives, is evident with every turn of the page. Thus, his life's work has evolved as a sort of homage to them:
In 1977, I named new species of parasites I'd discovered after Lucien and Duncan. This might seem macabre, even disrespectful. But for a taxonomist, finding a new species is a big deal; putting my brothers' names on species that no one could see with the naked eye, made me feel like I was still my brothers' eyes.
The most interesting lines of the book for me came at the very end in the short epilogue. Dr. Brooks clearly and succinctly states about his brothers what I've been trying to tell people about myself for years:
When you know the right thing to do, you have no options. People looking at you might think you have options, but you don't feel it. It's a psychological constraint. It might seem like Lucien and Duncan had no option but to deal with their lives. But that's not true -- they had the option of being miserable and bitter. They just didn't take that path.
Get this book, but take your time with it. The words and pictures are visual, certainly, but if you go slowly, I think you'll find a treat for your other senses, too.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
ADAPT Blogswarm
Check out my contribution to ADAPT's blogswarm about budget cuts and PWDs living in their own homes over at Road Hog. Then follow the blogswarm link at the end of the piece to read other 'swarmers.
Writer's Block: Book based
On another journaling site, they have a daily "Writer's Block" question, and today's was interesting, so I present the questions and my answers.
Is there a book you really loved that was subsequently turned into a movie? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
For the most part, movie adaptations of my favorite books have been EXTREMELY disappointing, e.g., Misery or Pet Sematary by Stephen King, The Lost World or Congo by Michael Crichton. There are, however, a couple of notable exceptions.
The Stand by Stephen King. First, they didn't try to cram a 1000+ page book into a two hour movie. Second, the actors they picked were amazing as their characters, with the exception of Molly Ringwald as Frannie Goldsmith. ::shiver:: I've never liked MR, and she did not fail to disappoint. However, Gary Sinise (Stu Redman), Rob Lowe (Nick Andros), Corin Nemec (Harold Lauder), Laura San Giacomo (Nadine Cross), Jamey Sheridan (Randall Flagg), Miguel Ferrer (Lloyd Henreid), Ruby Dee (Mother Abigail Freemantle), and of course Bill Fagerbakke as Tom Cullen ("M-O-O-N. That spells Tom Cullen.") were fantastic. I could watch this mini-series over and over.
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I've heard a lot of people complain about stuff being left out, but I would disagree. I think the screenwriters did a great job of putting all the important bits in. With that said, I do wish the film makers would have gone with their original plan to make Half-Blood Prince in two parts so as to focus a bit more on the topic of the HBP.
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. I don't care what anyone says -- these three movies were BRILLIANT. Enough said.
Some books I have read/plan to read whose movies I also want to check out -- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
Is there a book you really loved that was subsequently turned into a movie? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
For the most part, movie adaptations of my favorite books have been EXTREMELY disappointing, e.g., Misery or Pet Sematary by Stephen King, The Lost World or Congo by Michael Crichton. There are, however, a couple of notable exceptions.
The Stand by Stephen King. First, they didn't try to cram a 1000+ page book into a two hour movie. Second, the actors they picked were amazing as their characters, with the exception of Molly Ringwald as Frannie Goldsmith. ::shiver:: I've never liked MR, and she did not fail to disappoint. However, Gary Sinise (Stu Redman), Rob Lowe (Nick Andros), Corin Nemec (Harold Lauder), Laura San Giacomo (Nadine Cross), Jamey Sheridan (Randall Flagg), Miguel Ferrer (Lloyd Henreid), Ruby Dee (Mother Abigail Freemantle), and of course Bill Fagerbakke as Tom Cullen ("M-O-O-N. That spells Tom Cullen.") were fantastic. I could watch this mini-series over and over.
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I've heard a lot of people complain about stuff being left out, but I would disagree. I think the screenwriters did a great job of putting all the important bits in. With that said, I do wish the film makers would have gone with their original plan to make Half-Blood Prince in two parts so as to focus a bit more on the topic of the HBP.
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. I don't care what anyone says -- these three movies were BRILLIANT. Enough said.
Some books I have read/plan to read whose movies I also want to check out -- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thoughts for the day, and a geek girl squee
"We all come from the same root, but the leaves are all different."
--John Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but
rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
--Scottish Proverb
See this groovy necklace?
I now have one like it, except the eyes on mine are little clear crystals, the finish is more like antiqued pewter, and the chain goes through a loop on the back. As soon as I paid for the pendant, its chain, and my other Hobby Lobby purchases, I went out to the van and put him on.
--John Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but
rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
--Scottish Proverb
See this groovy necklace?
I now have one like it, except the eyes on mine are little clear crystals, the finish is more like antiqued pewter, and the chain goes through a loop on the back. As soon as I paid for the pendant, its chain, and my other Hobby Lobby purchases, I went out to the van and put him on.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
Back in November, you may remember that I applied for a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship. This award is described on their website as follows:
Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
Hundreds of Ph.D./Sc.D. students apply every year. Only 20 are awarded. I only just learned how astronomical my chances were.
I GOT ONE!!!
*happy dance*
I was awarded support for one year ($21,000), plus I am expected to attend a Ford Foundation leadership meeting. *falls out of wheelchair* I can't believe I got it.
Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
Hundreds of Ph.D./Sc.D. students apply every year. Only 20 are awarded. I only just learned how astronomical my chances were.
I GOT ONE!!!
*happy dance*
I was awarded support for one year ($21,000), plus I am expected to attend a Ford Foundation leadership meeting. *falls out of wheelchair* I can't believe I got it.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Am I a troubled kid? Yeah. You could say that.
25. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan
This was a fun read. A bit simpler in form and plot than HP, but still good. Percy, our narrator, is engrossing because he "talks" like any kid his age -- and he's a funny kid, even if he does have about the worst luck ever for a 12-year-old. I even liked the chapter titles -- funny and descriptive. Like "I accidentally vaporize my pre-algebra teacher," or "I become supreme lord of the bathroom," or my favorite, "I battle my jerk relative" (that would be Ares). It's worth the three or so hours it takes to read it.
Aside: If I had joined that 50 books in a year club, I'd be on the downhill slide now.
This was a fun read. A bit simpler in form and plot than HP, but still good. Percy, our narrator, is engrossing because he "talks" like any kid his age -- and he's a funny kid, even if he does have about the worst luck ever for a 12-year-old. I even liked the chapter titles -- funny and descriptive. Like "I accidentally vaporize my pre-algebra teacher," or "I become supreme lord of the bathroom," or my favorite, "I battle my jerk relative" (that would be Ares). It's worth the three or so hours it takes to read it.
Aside: If I had joined that 50 books in a year club, I'd be on the downhill slide now.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Funny thing . . .
. . . how your brain takes things you've seen/heard/read and condenses them down into a wacky dream. The fuel:
1. We watched "Van Helsing" night before last
2. Yesterday evening, I saw a commercial for "NCIS"
3. Before going to bed last night, I read around 50 pages of The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians book #1)
The dream:
Gibbs and Tony walk into autopsy to get a report from Ducky. Who should be standing behind Ducky but Frankenstein in a suit and tie of Tony's style, threatening them all. Tony goes in for the fight with Gibbs right behind him when there's a noise behind Gibbs. He turns, looks right into the eyes of Medusa, and turns to stone.
I told you it was a wacky dream.
1. We watched "Van Helsing" night before last
2. Yesterday evening, I saw a commercial for "NCIS"
3. Before going to bed last night, I read around 50 pages of The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians book #1)
The dream:
Gibbs and Tony walk into autopsy to get a report from Ducky. Who should be standing behind Ducky but Frankenstein in a suit and tie of Tony's style, threatening them all. Tony goes in for the fight with Gibbs right behind him when there's a noise behind Gibbs. He turns, looks right into the eyes of Medusa, and turns to stone.
I told you it was a wacky dream.
Monday, April 05, 2010
One more time!
I just submitted my manuscript to Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. This is the THIRD journal to whom I've submitted this tome, so here's hoping that "third time's a charm."