Tagged: 5/5
Education for Absolute Pitch
Education for Absolute Pitch: A New Way to Learn Piano by Naoyuki and Ruth Taneda, translated by Christopher Aruffo, 5/5
For several years, I sang in a choir with a tenor who had perfect pitch and, while I might have mentally referred to him by the not-awe-inspiring moniker “the human pitch pipe,” there was something undeniably god-like and enviable about his ability to pull any note out of thin air. I was very surprised to learn, many years later, that children between the ages of 3 and 4.5 years old can actually be taught this magical ability! What at first sounds “too good to be true” is soon clarified by this handbook, which lays out the intense, consistent, and long-term practice required in the pursuit of absolute pitch.
The German We Hear and Play method that this book outlines combines ear training (via “games” played with stuffed animals and colored balls) and rhythmic training with a meticulous piano curriculum. As a piano teacher with more than 20 years of experience, I do not find this method’s highly structured, color coordinated and extremely slow-moving approach to be very appealing. However, I am used to starting students at 6 years old and without focusing on ear training, so it makes sense that some concessions must be made for much younger children acquiring the skill of perfect pitch in conjunction with piano skills. I am cautiously optimistic about trying this method with my own toddler!
Why I read it: I believe I encountered the We Hear and Play method on translator Christopher Aruffo’s website, while looking for software that would teach perfect pitch to adults. The We Hear and Play website does not appear to have been updated recently, but I did reach out to Aruffo, who assured me immediately that it is still very much functional, while kindly offering additional help and resources.
Shadow Divers
Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II by Robert Kurson, 5/5
When a group of shipwreck divers discover a German WWII U-boat sunken just 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey, it sparks a 6-year saga of danger, drama, research, speculation and discovery. Kurson’s prose is beautifully written and guides the reader effortlessly through the biographical backstories, technical diving information, and historical events that combine to form the context for a real-life adventure story so intriguing that I stayed up until 2am to finish it in one day. Though less mythical in topic than the author’s other diving book, Pirate Hunters, this one is equally interesting, has a more satisfying conclusion, and contains more photos.
Why I read it: I enjoyed Pirate Hunters and wanted to check out more by this author.
Pirate Hunters
Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship by Robert Kurson, 5/5
This is one of those rare real-life stories that is crazier than fiction. The author does a great job of weaving in historical and biographical information about all the main characters, without losing momentum. I read the whole book in one day and stayed up until 2am to find out how it ended. Ultimately, I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic, due in part to the photo insert (which felt inadequate, while also providing spoilers), but also due to the interventions of human nature and bureaucracy in an otherwise fantastical tale. However, I had no hesitation recommending the audio book to my husband and have ordered Kurson’s Shadow Divers, which is referenced in this book, from the library.
Why I read it: I salvaged it from my mother-in-law’s thrift store donation pile.
How Do I Do That In Lightroom Classic?
How Do I Do That In Lightroom Classic?: The Quickest Ways to Do the Things You Want to Do, Right Now! by Scott Kelby, 5/5
This slim reference book for Adobe Lightroom Classic is surprisingly readable and, though I’ve used Lightroom for many years, I did still pick up on a few interesting hints for further exploration.
Why I read it: While getting rid of a couple outdated Lightroom books I owned, it crossed my mind to check the library for some more recent offerings (not realizing this second edition was already a few years old).
Storey’s Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Pigs
Storey’s Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Pigs by Carol Ekarius, 5/5
High-quality photographs accompany informative text about 163 different livestock breeds in this excellent reference book. It provides a good jumping-off point for further research into specific breeds and I appreciated the extra information the author provides about the history of livestock domestication and the science of breed development.
Why I read it: Still on a quest to identify every cow I pass by.
The Thursday Murder Club
The Thursday Murder Club: a novel by Richard Osman, 5/5
The only mystery left unsolved at the end of this charming, witty, and absolutely delightful novel is how something so polished and sparkling could be the author’s first. I read it in one day and didn’t handle distractions too gracefully, I’m afraid. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I especially appreciated how the author took his time at the end instead of wrapping up too hastily.
Why I read it: Frustratingly, I can’t remember how I heard of this series.
Great Tales from English History
Great Tales from English History: A Treasury of True Stories About the Extraordinary People–Knights and Knaves, Rebels and Heroes, Queens and Commoners–Who Made Britain Great by Robert Lacey, 5/5
This collection of historical stories is deftly woven together, seamlessly transporting the reader through over 9000 years of British history (from the Mesolithic period to postwar times). Famous incidents are presented with a fresh perspective and there is a satisfying variety of fascinatingly obscure events and details included as well. I wish there was a book like this written about every country in the world!
Why I read it: one of the few “required reading” entries from my college days that earned a permanent home on my shelves.
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, 5/5
In these 85 essays, originally published in 1787-88 by New York newspapers, three Founding Fathers use the pseudonym “Publius” to argue passionately for the ratification of the newly-proposed Constitution of the United States. Blow by blow, the authors address and dismantle the most popular criticisms of the day, occasionally stooping to empty rhetoric and snide remarks, but more often establishing logical and convincing rebuttals, based on common sense, the events of history, the practices of other nations, and a clear-eyed appraisal of human nature (recognizing both its positive and negative tendencies). It was a strange and refreshing experience to encounter in-depth and nuanced arguments, presented with respect for the everyday reader’s intelligence and belief in their sincere desire to form an educated and fair-minded opinion. Almost two hundred and forty years later, it is easy to be cynical and pessimistic about the future of our country, but it is no exaggeration to say that reading this book, in combination with the actual Constitution, re-kindled my love, pride and admiration for the grand experiment that is the United States of America.
Why I read it: A free copy showed up in my mailbox, completely unsolicited. Unfortunately, I peeled the mailing label off to read the back cover and now can’t recall what organization sent it.
Washington State Place Names
Washington State Place Names by James W. Phillips, 5/5
One of my favorite reading experiences is to find myself, thanks to a good book, enthralled with a topic in which I had little previous interest. Washington State history is definitely one of those topics and this is one of those books. Hundreds of entries provide the fascinating and often surprising stories behind the names of Washington’s noteworthy mountains, rivers, islands, counties, cities, and towns.
Why I read it: a fun thrift store find.
Anthology of Japanese Literature
Anthology of Japanese Literature from the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century, compiled and edited by Donald Keene, 5/5
This collection is pleasingly varied and conveniently oriented towards a lay audience; the annotations are minimal and linguistic subtleties are simply acknowledged without being dissected. Most of the short poems are presented in side-by-side rōmaji (romanized Japanese) and English, allowing the reader to absorb a little more of the syllabic patterns, alliteration, and overall flavor of the original writings. Though the imagery, values, and cultural references felt refreshingly unfamiliar, there was an undeniable undercurrent of universal human appeal in the timeless themes of love, loss, death, and spiritual life.
Why I read it: an interesting-looking thrift store find.
OmniRambles 