You May Lie

Hello, again!

I am still continuing my goal of reading 20 books so far this year, and I'm well on my way. I finished this book a while ago, but forgot to add it to my review, so here we are. Today's review is on The Giver by Louis Lowry.

I grew up reading this book, and I've always enjoyed it. I think it is well-written, but it is also written in simple enough language that young readers can also enjoy it, and that makes it easy to finish the book in just a few days. For those who are unfamiliar with the book, here is a quick synopsis:

This book follows the story of a young boy named Jonas, who lives in a utopian society that is governed by a group called The Elders. There are strict rules and regulations, but all in the name of keeping everyone happy, healthy, and safe. When children turn twelve, they are assigned their jobs in the community. Jonas is given the job of Receiver of Memories. The Receiver works with the current Receiver, who is now called The Giver.

The Giver is the one and only person in the community that contains memories of what the world was like before the utopian society was created. You see, the Elders removed memories of certain things (including pain, war, famine, etc.) in an effort to avoid conflict or hardship. The Elders have also created controlled weather to avoid bad crops, and have removed color to avoid differences between others. But, The Elders need someone to keep the memories in case they find themselves in a situation and need some guidance. The Receiver of Memory can use his/her knowledge of how things worked before to help The Elders avoid a repeat of past resolutions that ended up poorly.

As Jonas receives memories, he learns about color; sunshine and snow; feelings of love, anger, heartache, and joy; and more. He also learns that the society in which he lives is not as perfect as everyone is led to believe. In the end, The Giver and Jonas work together to create a plan where they can share the memories with everyone in the society...but will they be able to accomplish their plan before getting caught?

An Appreciation of the Little Things

One thing I love about The Giver is reading about how Jonas discovers simple things for the first time. Things like color, the feeling of wind on your face, and experiencing love. He finds such joy and marvel in these that we, who have them in our daily life, take for granted. Jonas wonders how he could've lived a life without these things. I just love Jonas' reaction to these things, and it's a reminder to me to not take these 'normal' things for granted, because they really are beautiful and magnificent.

The Release Ceremony

In Jonas' society, there are many ceremonies that take place, all of which are projected as positive things that help their society stay unified and controlled. All memories are recorded for The Elders, but none of their community members can see them, so just about everyone doesn't know what actually happens in the Ceremony of Loss for the elderly or the Ceremony of Release for some newborns.

As the new Receiver of Memories, Jonas has the authority to watch any recorded ceremony. In one instance, he watches a Ceremony of Release, as performed by his father, with a set of identical twins. Whichever is smaller and not growing as much is released. Jonas thinks it makes sense, as they can't have two identical people walking around town. But when he learns what a Ceremony of Release actually is, he can't believe it. If you haven't read the book, I must warn you: this is a spoiler!! So, if you don't want to know, don't read the rest of this section.

The Ceremony of Release is, in no mixed words, the killing of whatever newborn or elderly member is involved. So, this means that the smaller of the two twins is killed with an injection, and the bigger one is granted life.

This part of the book always gets to me. Not only in this 'ceremony' completely inhumane (for a lack of better word), but it strikes home. You see, I am a twin. I'm not sure which one of us was smaller when we were born and and in the first few months, but what if we lived in a society like Jonas'? I cannot imagine the thought of one of us not being here simply because we weren't growing quite as fast as we 'should'. I just think about that twin that lived in The Giver. I am confident that they would go about their life feeling that a part of them was missing, that something was different about them...and there would be! But, they would be told that it's just normal developing emotions and to take something for it something. They would never know the truth of what happened to their other half. I doesn't mean for this to be a downer, but this part just always gets to me and evokes a powerful reaction in my heart.

What Happens At The End of the Book? 

Note: if you haven't ready this book, this is also a spoiler!!
Okay, to be honest, I always thought of the end of the book as follows: Jonas and Gabe make it through the snow to a cabin, where they are rescued and enjoy a life of song, love, color, and more. Perhaps this is my inner innocent child thinking that everything ends happily, and I've always just accepted that ending.

However, I was talking about this book with some of my coworkers a few months ago, and discovered that there is a second possible interpretation of the end of the book, and it blew my mind. So, Jonas and Gabe have escaped their society, but as they continue their journey, winter comes, and Jonas quickly finds himself trudging through cold snow, trying to keep himself and Gabe alive. He uses memories of warm and sunny beaches to keep the infant from freezing, and to give himself hope of finding a way out.

At one point, they reach the top of a hill. There's a sled at the top. Jonas gets on with Gabe, and they slide down the hill, the icy air biting at their exposed skin. At the bottom of the hill, there's a cabin with lights on, and Jonas can hear singing.

That's how the book ends. Now, if you're like me, you take this as Jonas and Gabe reaching their destination, finally finding a place in the real world where they can be free. But, if you take my coworkers perspective, this is just a memory. You see, The Giver gives Jonas a memory exactly like that to teach him about snow, cold, and more. With this same scenario repeating at the end of the book, it's possible that Jonas is recalling this memory and maybe sharing it with Gabe as a sort of comfort for both of them as they die in the frozen wilderness.

I had never considered this alternate interpretation before, and it blew my mind: what if Jonas and Gabe hadn't made it after all? It's pretty unclear as to whether or not the ending is a memory, so I believe it's up to the reader's interpretation. But I had seriously never thought this alternate ending until recently. But, it makes sense as a possibility.

What ending do you choose?

Maybe There Is A Beast...Maybe It's Only Us

Welcome back, readers!

Now that I've finished the books my sister lent me and Rachel's newly published book, I'm back to making my way through the books on my bookshelf. Up next was a familiar story, although I've only read this book once before. But, it's a story that's hard to forget, especially because of the poignant shift from humanity that it depicts. I'm talking about none other than Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

Even though I'd only read this book once before (and it was many, many years ago), I remembered that it was a haunting story of survival. If you haven't read this book, here's a quick summary: a group of young English boys get stranded on an island after their plane crashes. They build a fire to use for a signal, and they establish a sort of community. Everyone has responsibilities to carry out daily, such as tending to the fire, catching or gathering food, and building shelters. But, as most young boys, their interest in these things doesn't last long. Plus, some of the boys are very young and can't contribute much. The fire and shelters become neglected by most, although some still try to maintain order. Eventually, two boys fight for authority and end up creating two separate groups. One still focuses on getting a signal out to be found, and the other, led by the main hunter, becomes obsessed with hunting the pigs on the island and living a life of no responsibility. But it doesn't take long for the hunting instinct to take over to the point where two boys are killed and another hunted up to the point when they all get rescued.

While reading Lord of the Flies, it's hard not to think about the animal instinct within all of us - especially since that's the focus of the story. Not only does it depict that humans do have an animal instinct of hunting and killing, but it focuses on how quickly one can turn from being a civilized, rational human to more of an animal.

Given the right circumstances, our suppressed animal instincts can take over. In the case of this story (and I'd guess in most real-life cases), the animal instinct kicks in as a mod of survival, when one is placed in a life-or-death situation. In Lord of the Flies, the boys (I'm not going to use names and give away who does what) are constantly in survival mode. While many of them don't seem to care that they're stranded, I imagine all of them are feeling some sort of survival instinct as they search for food in the forest, sleep on leaves, and wear the same ragged clothes for weeks.

For most of the kids, they can stay rational throughout the entire ordeal. However, for one kid in particular, the inner animal instinct comes out fast and takes over. This kid is the designated leader of the hunters. I believe that his animal instinct starts to take over the moment he goes out to hunt a pig. The adrenaline of sneaking through the forest, stalking his prey, and ambushing it becomes insatiable. And soon enough, anything becomes prey -- including the other boys, and particularly the boys he doesn't like.

At first, it's clear that the kid gets a thrill out of hunting, but he still remains a human. But as time goes on, you can start to see the animal come out a little more and more as he begins thinking of ways to improve his hunting, such as camouflaging himself with mud and paint. Then all at once, it seems, he snaps. He gives in completely to the animal inside. He now enjoys being in control and the idea of the hunt, of stalking something - or someone - that is unaware of where he is or what he is about to do. And suddenly, that boy is now a monster.

The other side of the spectrum:
Lord of the Flies is a clear depiction of the hunting truth that it's easier than we think to submit to the animal within us. However, I think there's another lesson here, too. When reading this book, most people focus on how we can turn animal, but I think it's important to recognize that we can also stay human in the same situations. The Lord of the Flies depicts a handful of kids who lose all sense of reality and humanity, but there are still those who don't. Not everyone becomes a barbarian. Not everyone loses sight of reality.

People can be in the same circumstance and react differently. Some will succumb to animal instincts while others don't. With that said, I think it's clear that it's not the situation that causes us to change; it's our response to it. Are we willing to let go of reality, humanity, civilization, and rationality? Are we willing to give in to our animal instincts? I think some will be more willing than others, just like in Lord of the Flies, but I think there are those who will fight to stay sane and fight to stay human.

But hopefully we never have to face a situation where we have to find out which we are more willing to succumb to.

Once Upon A Time

Greetings, fair readers!

On today's book review adventure, we'll be stepping through the glass and getting a new perspective on a classic story. We will be stepping back into sixteenth-century Germany, forward into futuristic Scotland, and a few places in between as we travel through time in Shattered Snow by Rachel Huffmire.

Sounds pretty interesting, right? Well, you are correct! While fantasy isn't my usual go-to, I was excited to give this book a try. You see, I've had the pleasure of meeting Rachel Huffmire in person, and I just had to read her book when she finished. Rachel is a friend of my mother-in-law, and I met her a couple of years ago when we were in California for Christmas. We chatted for a few minutes there, but right away, I was impressed. Rachel is the mother of two little boys, and she still finds time to write - and publish - a novel on top of everything else that she does! Not only that, but Rachel is very kind and friendly right from the moment you meet here. She is very positive and keeps encouraging me to achieve my own writing goals. She's just an all-around wonderful person, and when she published her book, I had to read it.

To begin, when I first heard what Rachel's book was called, I was immediately intrigued. Shattered Snow? Snow can't shatter. What's that all about? It was an instant hook for me.

Shattered Snow is a time-traveling twist on the classic story of Snow White. Keltson is a rebellious and wanted time traveler (since time travel has now been banned in 2069), but his purpose of time travel is completely selfless. He works with clients who find people in history that die or experience unnecessarily hard lives, and he helps rescues them from their fate. But, these people that Kelston and his clients save are minor and insignificant in the grand scheme of history, so they won't disrupt how the future plays out.

One of Kelston's clients, Lilia, finds a young girl named Margaretha who succumbs to the sad fate of being poisoned to death. Lilia's goal is to save Margaretha, but as she gets further into her mission, Lilia's goals change. Eventually, Margaretha, a young and unsuspecting sixteenth-century German girl, is thrown into time travel, a terrifying and seemingly evil thing to her. The story becomes one of survival as Margaretha fights to stay hidden and stay alive. Meanwhile, Kelston is trying to avoid arrest and prevent history from changing as Lilia decides to take matters into her own hands. It's a chaotic mess of unraveling history that you hope will be fixed in the end.

While there are several different stories going on at the same time, Rachel does an excellent job at keeping each story straight and easy to follow. The book is for a young adult audience, but it still very engaging for adults and readers of any age.

Even though time travel and fantasy book usually aren't my first pick, I ended up enjoying Shattered Snow very much, reading it every chance I had. The idea behind Shattered Snow is so clever! Personally, this story isn't what I would normally think of as fantasy simply because there is no magic, extraterrestrial travel and creatures, or anything like that. Instead, the story is all about science, and the way that Rachel makes time travel possible is so unique and clever. Plus, Rachel creates excellent characters that really help bring the story to life.

So, if you're looking for a good read that will shatter your expectations, go out and get Shattered Snow by Rachel Huffmire!

Double Duty

Hello, again!

It’s been a while, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading. In fact, I’ve read several books, and now it’s time to play catch-up on my reviews.

So, when I started my reading goal, I just started going through my bookshelf, reading the books in order as they were there, whether or not I actually wanted to start reading them in the first place (some books just sound more appealing than others, ya know?). Well, I was doing that, and then my sister let me borrow 2 books, so I put my bookshelf on hold and read those.

First was The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It’s a good read, and she has some great stories and tips in there, but to be honest - a book about tidying just wasn’t doing it for me. So, I ended up reading only about half of it. But it’s by no means a bad book! In fact, it’s really good, and I picked up a few tidying tips that I’ve implemented into my home.

It might have been difficult for me to stay engaged with a book about tidying because I knew what book was next, and I just wanted to get to it. You see, the second book my sister let me borrow was Harry Potter and The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. And the Harry Potter nerd in me just wanted to get to it right away!!

So, today’s book review is on The Cursed Child because I actually read all of that book :)

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is the story of Harry Potter’s son, Albus, some 17 years after Harry finishes school at Hogwarts. The book itself isn’t very long, and the fact that it’s a play script makes it easy to read even faster-- I ended up reading it in like 2 days, haha. I just couldn’t put it down!

But, the story focuses on Albus and his friend, Scorpius Malfoy (whom I love, by the way), as Albus strives to prove himself. It’s a story of complicated father-son relationships, loyalty, friendship, deception, self-discovery, and triumph.

And it’s wonderful.

While the book’s main characters are new to us, the authors work the story in a way that they bring in a lot of old and familiar faces, which brings a sense of nostalgia to those who have read the original Harry Potter books. I’m not going to get into details because I don’t want to give anything away, but even though this book is a play script, it does a fantastic job of keeping the reader engaged in every way.

I will say that this book kind of made me not like Harry even more than I did before (Harry was never my favorite character in the series). In The Cursed Child, Harry feels more like a whiner to me. But, the authors do a good job of also helping me realize that he’s also just trying his best. And, he didn’t have parents to set an example for him. All he had was the unloving Dursleys for his example of being a parent. So, I can see more of where he’s coming from in this book...but he’s still not my favorite. But, The Cursed Child does make me like Draco a lot more, and his son, Scorpious, who really is awesome.

So, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, definitely go read The Cursed Child. It won’t take you long, but it will definitely be a memorable read!

P.S. IMBD says that there will be a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child movie in 2020, which, if true, I am so excited for! Seriously, as I was reading this book, I could picture it all in my head, and I think a movie could be awesome (granted, if they have a good director, etc.). I was also |this| close to seeing the Broadway play, which would’ve been awesome, but that didn’t work out. So, next time. For now, I will just enjoy the book :)

I Did Not Even Exist!

Before I get into the review, I just wanted to share one of my New Year's resolutions with you guys: to read 20 books by the end of the year. That may not seem like much, but I've only just gotten back into reading regularly, and even though I don't have kids yet, my life is pretty busy! So, I think that's a good goal.  :)

For my first book of the year, I read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Now, I know I just did a review on The Sociopath Next Door, which can be sort of a lot to take in, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde isn't exactly the warm and fuzzy book most of us would want to read after reading about sociopaths. But, I literally just grabbed whatever book was next on my bookshelf, and this was it. So, here we go!

The very first time I read this story was at my grandparent's house in Florence, Oregon. At that time, I didn't really understand much of the deeper meaning behind this story. Back then, it was the book that brought about the classic scary story: a scientists who creates some sort of medicine or potion that turns him into a monster. Since Stevenson penned this story, it's become an iconic mystery plot that we all know, even if we haven't ever read the book!

The gist of the story is just as I described: Dr. Jekyll is a respected, honorable doctor in London who creates a concoction of drugs that, when ingested, changes his form and even his very being into an evil man, Mr. Hyde. In essence, Dr. Jekyll created a way for his rather bored self to become submissive to a stronger, younger, and more evil desire within him (Mr. Hyde). Dr. Jekyll is a man with morals and honor. Mr. Hyde has neither, and is full of rage, hatred, and manipulation. 

Dr. Jekyll is aware of what Mr. Hyde does when he's 'alive', and the transformation becomes sort of an outlet where Dr. Jekyll can do whatever he wants as Mr. Hyde and get away with it because no one would suspect caring Mr. Jekyll. Eventually, however, Mr. Hyde starts taking over, transforming at will almost, and he is a completely separate person from Dr. Jekyll, only using the doctor's physical frame to keep him alive. At such a point, the doctor exclaims, "I did not even exist!" 

As I read this story, I thought of probably one of the most common interpretations of the plot: the Christian view of letting the inner evil within you take over. You see, Dr. Jekyll's experiment was more out of curiosity: could he physically separate the good and evil inside into two different forms? Once Mr. Hyde was born, it became easier for Dr. Jekyll to transform, to give way to Mr. Hyde. However, at one point, Dr. Jekyll had had enough of Mr. Hyde, and he shut the monster away inside for months. During that time, Mr. Hyde grew impatient and antsy, and when the doctor gave way once again, Mr. Hyde sprang forth with greater rage than before. And so he did every time since until the doctor lost all strength to fight against the monster he created. 

Such can we be if we give way to the evil and temptations we face within ourselves. Giving way to evil out of curiosity or in a seemingly small and harmless way puts that taste in our mouth, gives a hint of what we can do as a 'different person'. Of course, we're not changing forms like Dr. Jekyll did, but we can in essence become a different person, driven by instincts and desires of the evil instead of the good. 

While this is a common and fairly straightforward comparison, I really enjoyed what Dan Chaon discussed in his afterword -- probably because they coincide with what I just read in The Sociopath Next Door. In his afterword, Chaon talks of serial killers, like Jack the Ripper, and how they are a real-life example of a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde situation. You see, most serial killers don't appear as serial killers. They are usually the friendly, nice guys at work or around the neighborhood (I use guys here just in the example, but I'm not saying that serial killers are only males). That's their Dr. Jekyll mask. Then we find out that they have killed people, and it's almost as if their former identity "did not even exist." 

I'm sorry to use a somewhat graphic example; that's the one Chaon gives in his thoughts. But the same could be for just about anyone, not just serial killers. It could happen on even the slightest of ways when we find out someone did or said something that doesn't seem like them- it's as if, in that moment, their Mr. Hyde took over, that they are not the person we thought because they simply acted as someone else. 

It's an interesting thought, and I hope this Jekyll/Hyde parallel isn't something we run into on a regular basis with ourselves or those around us. We should certainly be who we are, be the same person no matter what, always living by the same morals, ethics, values, standards, etc. If we live a life of double identity, we are bound to come to the same end that Dr. Jekyll did: where one identity takes over the other, and usually it's the more wicked one that wins. A simple solution to avoid all that: just be you, and be good.  :) 

Bookworm Book Review: The Sociopath Next Door

Hello, again! 

Today's book of topic is called The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout, Ph.D. A few months back, my sister mentioned that she was reading this book, which she borrowed from my dad. As she told me about it, I got so interested in the topic that I just had to read it when she was done. 

First off, Martha Stout is a psychologist, but don't let that scare you away from reading her book. She writes in a very friendly and easy-to-understand way that helps anyone grasps psychological concepts. While this book is a little more technical in the fact that it's non-fiction and discusses theories, etc., it is still a fairly easy read. The only reason it took me so long to read is because I've been reading two other books at the same time (and I really wanted to take my time with this one to make sure I fully soaked in all the information).

The Sociopath Next Door is a book about, well, sociopaths. Its main topic refers to the chilling fact that one in every 25 Americans is a sociopath. That statistic doesn't mean much, however, if you don't understand what a sociopath is and how to avoid or deal with them, which is what Dr. Stout talks about.

I think most of us understand the general concept of a sociopath. To be honest, I can't quite define what I thought a sociopath was before I read this book because now the only definition I can think of is how Dr. Stout describes a sociopath: someone who has no conscious.

Not only do sociopaths have no conscious, but because they have no conscious, they can do literally anything and everything they want with no sense of guilt or shame or remorse.

That's a scary thought.

But can someone really be without a conscious? I mean, we're all given the ability to know right from wrong, right? If so, how does one come to be without conscious? God wouldn't knowingly create evil in the world by sending some people to Earth without a conscious. So, is having no conscious really real, and if so, how does that happen?

Those are the exact questions Dr. Stout addresses in her book, and she definitely gets the thoughts churning. Yes, it is possible and real that someone can in reality be without a conscious. I know that seems unfathomable -- trust me, I still have a hard time believing that. But that's part of what it means to have a conscious; it's hard to imagine someone without it. (I guess that means I do have a conscious, which is good).

To help us understand where sociopathy comes from, Dr. Stout reviews several theories that psychologists and scientists have tested over the years. The results: up to 50% of what causes sociopathy is genetics. The other 50% of unknown. Some say it could be from culture or lack of, specific home rearing environments, lack of physical touch as an infant... but all of these show that individuals from these situations do not function the same as a sociopath, which means that even though they may seem cold to 'normal' people, they still aren't sociopaths. So, in short, the real reason of where sociopathy comes from is basically unknown.

But that doesn't mean we can't spot a sociopath when we seen one or know how to protect ourselves against them. Throughout the book, Dr. Stout gives several examples of sociopaths, and it's really interesting to see how most of them are integrated into our society as seemingly normal people. It's because sociopaths are excellent actors. They can pretend to care to the point where people care about them, which then makes it easier for the sociopath to manipulate others. It's scary thinking that people use our emotions and sympathy towards others as a way to manipulate and get what they want.

And the scariest part: when we start to wonder if something is off, they (the sociopaths) make us feel like we sound crazy. So, we dismiss the thoughts and keep quiet. It's called getting gaslighted. And that's how sociopaths stay in control. It's all a game to them: how much power, how much dominance, how much control can they have before we figure it out (before we're not smart enough to figure it out, and they've got so much control over us that if we did, they'd just manipulate us into keeping our mouths shut ... or so they think).

This is all pretty intimidating and scary stuff -- thinking about how some could manipulate your life in such a way. But Dr. Stout is determined to show sociopaths are like so you can recognize them and cut all ties with any you find in your life. By removing yourself from them, you can avoid a lot of heartache, embarrassment, financial loss, and more.

Authority

Something I thought was really interesting is the idea of authority. If you think about an authority figure in your life, how likely are you to do what they say simply because you respect them and see them as an authority figure?

Dr. Stout gives the example of the experiment where students were brought into a room and told that the person in the other room had to repeat a list of words without messing up. Should they skip or forget a word, the student would give them a little shock, which would get a little stronger every time. The idea was to test just how far someone would go when being told what to do by an authority figure. Here's what they found:

• When the scientist who led the experiment was in the room, in a lab coat, etc. and told the person how high to make the voltage and when to give the shock, they did it the majority of the time.
• When the scientist was not in a coat and was dressed more casually, people were more likely to stop earlier when they felt it was too far.
• More educated participants stopped sooner because they felt they were on the same intellectual level as the scientist and thus didn't have to take his orders.

The results of this experiment are incredibly terrifying. It shows just how willing we are to go when someone we consider to be an authority figure tells us what to do. Why? According to Dr. Stout, it's because we each have a conscious and assume all authority figures do, too, which means they won't really lead us to do something that's wrong...right?

"When someone is in a role (principal, parent, priest, etc.), we assign to the individual the integrity of their role... [this] makes it easy for sociopaths to manipulate." Because we automatically assume that anyone in an authority role has the intended and assigned integrity, it's super easy for sociopaths to slip under the radar. As mentioned before, sociopaths are excellent actors, so they can pretend that what they do is all with good intentions and for good causes, and we believe them because of the role they have.

Another important part of this is being able to identify the difference between fear and respect. Typically, when someone is in a position of authority, we assume they deserve our respect because we also assume that they have the intended integrity of their role. However, if we find that our 'respect' for someone is more out of fear of what they do or may do, then that's not right.

So, if we notice something is off and an authority figure is doing something wrong, or if our respect for an authority figure is actually fear, what do we do? Dr. Stout says to stand up for what you know is right. Point out that what the authority figure is doing is wrong. Once one person stands up against the flow of things, more people are likely to stop and think about what's actually happening, and revolt against the sociopath and their game.

Characteristics of a sociopath

1. They love pity. Something that was really interesting to me was when Dr. Stout mentioned that she talked with a sociopath after he had been found out. She asked him what was most important to him, what he wanted most out of life. Without hesitation, he said, "Pity." Sociopaths play off of pity to get what they want. They are very charming and seductive, which gets us to like them in the first place. Then, they can use that emotional attachment we've made with them to make us feel pity towards them. As a result, we are more willing to let them, a pitiful person, get away with murder, so to speak.
2. They cannot love. Dr. Stout defines conscious as something that is "deeply and affectingly anchored in our ability to care about one another." "Conscious, and uniquely conscious, can compel us out of our own skins and into the skin of another, or even into contact with the Absolute. It is based in our emotional ties to one another. In its purest form, it is called love." If conscious is the ability to love and have emotional ties with others, the lack of conscious is also the lack of love and emotional attachments. Even if we may have an emotional attachment to a sociopath, it's important to note that the sociopath you care for does not reciprocate your feelings in the slightest. Why? Because they have no conscious.
3. They want power and control. Another key characteristic of sociopaths is that they are concerned with gaining power, control, and dominance. No matter how big or small the desired power may be, the control that sociopaths seek is that which makes someone else do something. For the dictator, they make others fight for them they make others follow and live their rules. For the powerful employee in the office, it's the control that allows them to do something as bad as breaking a secretary's arm for refusing them and still not getting fired simply because they threaten the company's downfall without them. For the stamp thief, it's the simple control of making others jump when they realize they've been robbed. On perhaps a more relatable level, the control and power that sociopaths seek can come in the form of the father or husband who wants his wife and daughter to be successful in everything, to make certain achievements, and to always look perfect so that he can say he has the best family. It comes from the spouse who always tells you that misunderstandings are your fault, making you feel more insecure about yourself and more easily manipulated into what they want. It's the co-worker who sleeps with you only to use that secret relationship later to threaten the end of your career if you don't do what they want.
4. Most sociopaths are not murderers. This fact was surprising to me, but it makes sense. When we think of sociopaths, most of us probably think of murderers simply because those are the sociopaths who get put in the news; those are the ones we hear of. But the reality is that most sociopaths are not murderers, according to Dr. Stout. In fact, most of them are a friend, co-workers, boss, spouse, or family member. That makes it all the scarier and all the more important to be able to recognize and separate yourself from sociopaths.

Covetous Sociopaths

One of the things I thought was most interesting in this book was when Dr. Stout talked about a certain kind of sociopath: the covetous sociopath. Throughout the book, Dr. Stout gives examples of sociopaths and talks about why they act certain ways. Not all sociopaths are the same. Some act out of a desire for power. Others act out because they feel they are superior and smarter than others, and by controlling others and telling them what to do, they show their dominance and superiority. Others, however, do what they do in a sociopathic way simply because they are jealous.

These sociopaths are called covetous sociopaths. Essentially, covetous sociopaths feel that they have been jipped in life. Whether it's in their looks, their job, their income, etc., covetous sociopaths feel like they haven't gotten what they deserve. As a result, they target people around them who they feel have what they don't. By "targeting", I mean that the covetous sociopath does and say things that will cause their envied friend or co-worker to fail in some way, to feel worse about themselves. By putting others down, the sociopath can feel justified. But unlike normal bullies, covetous sociopaths don't have a little voice in their head saying when they've gone too far. Instead, they do it all with absolutely no remorse for hurting someone emotionally, physically, or mentally. And that means that there is no limit to what they will do to those they target.

Conclusion

I hope all of this talk about conscious-less beings has not scared you, but hopefully it's made you a little more aware of sociopaths and their dangers. More importantly, I hope it's made you want to read this book yourself. Seriously, guys. After reading this book and understanding more about what a sociopath is and how common they are, I feel like everyone needs to be able to know and recognize the signs so that they can keep themselves and their loved ones away.

I unfortunately know a handful of people who have had their lives torn apart by those I believe to be a sociopath. Of course, not every tragedy involves a sociopaths, but some do. And I hope we can help each other avoid more of those tragedies. Those who have conscious experience a "strong and steadying sensation of being part of something greater than oneself." If that's you, take part in something bigger by helping to protect yourself and your fellow conscious-filled humans.

Bookworm Book Review: Austenland

Hello, friends.

I have a new book review for you. Woohoo! 😊  Today’s book of choice: Austenland, by Shannon Hale.

Now, before you go and decide to close out this post because you’re not a fan of Jane Austen, let me just start by saying: I’m the same way!! But guess what, this book is absolutely wonderful.

A few years ago, when I was on a study abroad, a lot of my fellow travel mates kept talking about the recent movie Austenland and how hilarious it was. Since then, I meant to find the movie and watch it… but I never did. Then, in late September, I was at a sleepover party with our Young Women’s group, and I mentioned the movie. One of the other leaders said that I should read the book. Not only that, but she had it and let me borrow it!

I’m all about finding new books to read, and when she said that it was really great, so I figured I’d give it a chance. And let me tell you: I'm so glad I read it!! 

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Have you ever been or known someone who is obsessed with Jane Austen novels? More specifically, have you or someone you know ever been obsessed with Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice? Let’s face it- we’ve all dreamt that a handsome, sophisticated man like Mr. Darcy would come into our lives and sweep us off our feet, making us constantly feel like we were the most beautiful and wonderful woman alive. Well, that’s Jane.

No, not Jane Austen. Jane is the main character of Austenland (although the character Jane very well could be a fair portrayal of Austen). Jane is the definition of a woman who is obsessed with Mr. Darcy. She knows it and she’s slightly ashamed by it, but she can’t seem to let it go… even when it ruins every relationship she ever has.

Then, out of nowhere, one of Jane’s relatives pays for her to go to a secluded resort called Austenland: a place where all the men dress in breeches and say things like “Have you ever considered that you might have this all backwards? That in fact you are my fantasy?” and “If I never had to speak with another human being but you, I would die a happy man.”

*Cue the wishful sigh and buckled knees*

As Jane goes through her visit at Austenland, she struggles to master the Regency manners and etiquette, all while flirting with the gentlemen around her (and the actors who play them). She knows everything in this place is fake and a game, yet the longer she’s there, she can’t help but wonder if her being here will cleanse her of her Darcy obsession once and for all… or if she might actually be able to find her own Mr. Darcy.

As a summary, I'm going to list just a few of my favorite things about this book:

• It is a very quick and easy read; I finished in a matter of days. 
• It is so funny! There were a few times where I literally laughed out loud, and many more times when I smirked to myself as I read in my work breakroom.
• I love all of the connections that Hale makes to Jane Austen novels and style. She has a natural way of using satire to create a fun story that also somewhat pokes fun at the classic Jane Austen stories, characters, problems, and romance. 
• The layout of the book is different and fun. At the start of each chapter, there is a short blurb about one of Jane’s past boyfriends…who, of course, didn’t stay around long because her obsession with Mr. Darcy got in the way. But these little blurbs are unique, and they are a fun way to learn more about the main character.
• The story is so well told and uses such fun, clever language that I really could not put this book down! I never wanted to stop reading!

If you guys are looking for something that’s just fun and easy to read, Austenland is an excellent choice.

Alrighty! Well, on to the next book. Just so you all know, I am currently reading three different books… at the same time… so, it might be a while before I can actually finish one and write about it. But, just know that I’m still reading, and there are plenty more good books to come!