Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation by Camonghne Felix Review

I do not know how to comment on someone else's trauma - reading memoirs or nonfiction books is not my typical choice, but I had heard some interesting thoughts regarding this book, so I figured I would expand my reading genre and give it a try. I certainly did not expect the extensiveness that this book dives into the author's past traumas - I knew it would be discussed, but it seemed to override the comparison or relationship to mathematics and calculations. As someone who has studied dyscalculia, I was excited to see how it would be incorporated beyond neuropsychology, but instead, I was left unsatisfied.

Based on the summary, I anticipated this memoir would rely more heavily on dyscalculia and her interest in mathematics - it was more so present in the beginning, but soon felt abandoned in favor of recollections of various therapist appointments and polarizing encounters with her past partner. She is plagued with a number of mental health obstacles, ranging from figuring out the right medication as a child to continues diagnoses well into adulthood - all while tackling relationships outside of the one she has with herself.

The pacing of this memoir felt as though I was being jerked around in a number of directions - it honestly was a bit disorienting at times, and often left me trying to understand where her timeline was by the time she was done with an inserted tangent. That being said, the author does have great prose and I was definitely able to lock into her story - she clearly has the ability to story tell, but this book in particular did not showcase her full potential in my opinion. It often felt as though she was going on an extended tangent recounting so many random instances. Just as her stories were coming together, the book was over and I felt left with more confusion and questions than a sense of completion.

Maybe memoirs are not the genre for me, but I am always open to read anything - this book really did draw my attention and I was excited to see what was in store regarding how the author would be able to convey personal experiences to the directness of mathematics. I may return to her work in the future, but for now, this experience was enough for me to table that idea for now.

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Vanishing Twins: A Marriage by Leah Dieterich Review

This review contains mild spoilers and details for Vanishing Twins: A Marriage. Please read with caution.

I admit, I did not know a lot about this book when I first opened it - it had been sitting on my bookshelf for some time, and I have finally been able to start tackling my never-ending growing TBR pile. But right off the bat, the description on the back cover caught my eye. A list of things that we, the readers, will learn from this book: Alternate reading of the myth of Narcissus? How to smoke a novella? The mysterious equations of distance, difference, desire, and love? Consider me intrigued!

The use of ballet comparisons and writing style is captivating - you can feel her pain, her resentment, and her utter confusion and longing for understanding through the page. She explores her triumphs that turn into defeats, her attachment to Eric as though they are one and the same, and the struggles of their relationship through both separation and exploration of both of their sexualities.

Her relationship with Elena showed a side of Leah's struggles of having Eric understand her need for flourishment and her own personal growth, while at the same time not telling Eric about their relationship for some time and then still only letting him in on a little information. However, Eric is also going about the country on business and various retreats where he tells Leah of his sexual encounters and revelations, so I cannot blame her for wanting to keep Elena to herself, especially when Eric wasn't up much for the throuple idea that was initially on the table.

Her twin left her behind. Then ballet was gone. And now, Eric was in New York for a year, away from Leah, leaving her left behind once again.

We see Eric start to explore a life outside of Leah once he goes to New York - he sleeps with a woman with a serious resemblance to Leah, and then tells her that he has been seeing a psychoanalyst for some months. It is interesting to see how Leah becomes upset at this confession - while they are in an open relationship, she has been "hiding" the extent of her (then) relationship with Elena with telling Eric only some of the details, but gets upset when he is seeing another man or just having casual sex with people he encounters.

She does not want to "murder their relationship," but does not understand how it could continue as is while they live together again after a year of what was a significant shift in their relationship and their own self discoveries.

Overall, I have some mixed feelings about Vanishing Twins: A Marriage. I feel myself content with the ending of Leah and Eric's story, yet wanting to see them beyond their final cohesion back together at the end. They were separated for so long and are finally back together under the same roof, yet to me, they feel oceans apart. I do recommend this book for readers looking for an interesting approach to self-reflection and discovery through a nontraditional writing style for nonfiction.

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Paris Undressed: The Secrets of French Lingerie by Kathryn Kemp-Griffin Review

This book provides readers with the ins and outs of French lingerie and sensuality, sexuality, and seduction. Kathryn and her husband decide to make a spur of the moment move from Canada to Paris after a coin toss, and that is where Kathryn begins her journey through the lingerie scene in Paris.

We get a really rich history about corsets, lingerie, and the evolution of how women were able to express themselves through lingerie and the numerous uses it provided. As someone who speaks French, I loved Kathryn's abundant use of French terminology and common phrases - it really allows the reader to immerse themself into the journey she goes through.

The addition of illustrations in this book really allows for the reader to understand the visual evolution today's bra underwent, from corset to padded bra with straps, we are able to see its construction and constant reevaluation over the decades.

Walking us through every part of the bra and learning the importance of each piece and how it completes the bra gives readers a new appreciation for quality-made bras, as well as learning exactly which style and type of bra works best for your outfit choice. When Kathryn deconstructed a poorly-made bra and a well-made bra, she was able to understand the underlying details on what truly makes a bra a quality piece.

I find myself relating to this book once again - I have a degree in Neuroscience, and found the comparison of fabrics to sensory receptors eye-opening and truly a unique and genius choice of description. Different fabrics and fibres completely change the game when it comes to creating and wearing a garment, and with lingerie being the most intimate garment someone can own, it is so important to make sure what you're wearing feels the best for you.

I love how Kathryn goes beyond the "underwear" aspect of lingerie - we get to learn and see stockings, holsters, tassels, and more. Her experience in each of these classes that she attends to learn more about the sensuality of lingerie and how women can truly find enjoyment just by wearing it in everyday life. The better you dress, the better you feel, I always say. And if you feel great, your day will surely be just as great.

The addition of French lingerie websites towards the end of the book was a fabulous idea - it allows the reader to not only apply what they have learned through Katherine's experience and lessons from the book to purchasing lingerie, but just viewing the different styles and fabrics in itself is a great way to visualize what you want in your lingerie.

This is a fantastic read for the fashion-inclined, lingerie loving person. I absolutely recommend this to any up-and-coming fashion student or anyone who is curious to what makes lingerie so intimately for you.

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I Hate Men by Pauline Harmange Review

 

Originally published under Moi les hommes, je les déteste, Pauline Harmange's book was nearly banned in France for its feminist themes and honest, objective views on why so many men think we simply can't stand them.

With only 80 pages, Harmange is able to capture the essence of modern feminist attitudes through the looking glass of why hating men can be seen as a response to sexism. Girls grow and mature into women and are expected to be able to put up with constant harassment and lewd gestures, yet boys will be boys - leaving no room for growth and responsibility to be taken by men, even well into adulthood.

Misandry. Harmange jumps right into what is considered by men to be the ultimate crime that women commit against men. That we simply hate me so much, that we fall onto an extreme on a scale that merely counters their own disrespect towards women. Whereas misandry is used throughout these essays as a negative feeling towards men and not complete and total hatred, men weaponize it against feminists in order to justify why they won't identify as feminists themselves. When men state that they are feminists, they are met with applause and worshipped for their "progressive attitudes and understanding nature," but when we as women state that we are feminists, we are met with sneers and side-eye glances, commonly followed with the notorious "equal rights, equal fights" statement. Why is it a man's first reaction to counter being treated equally with "I should be able to hit a woman"?

"Are standards so low that men are really allowed to get off so lightly?"

I absolutely love the way Harmange explains misandry and how she is unapologetically an misandrist. She exemplifies the reasons behind why so many women are quick to say that they are merely joking when they call themselves a misandrist, to make sure that everyone knows that they don't really hate men, and why that simply does not apply to her philosophy. It's refreshing. The commentary and comparison on misandry versus misogyny is compelling and places the drastic differences right in front of your nose.

Women are so often taught and observe that they cannot be angry. That they cannot show anger or aggression or displeasure in a situation without being viewed as emotional, volatile, or unhinged. But when a man expresses anger, he is viewed as commanding, assertive, and domineering. Much like Harmange, I too relate to replacing anger with frustration and the occasional crying session - if we cannot express anger, it's the next best thing. But of course, we are then viewed as emotional and not put together, unable to properly express emotions without being put into a box by - you guessed it! - men. Men, who I would like to point out, are praised for showing anger and aggressiveness - something that women can't seem to afford.

An absolutely compelling essay, I recommend I Hate Men to anyone who has been confronted with opposing views towards their feminist outlook and justified misandry. Modern feminism is being attacked by men who are too fragile to simply "shut up and listen" to women in today's society.

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