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kerinl's review against another edition
5.0
Another great Becky recommendation! A beautiful written, engaging, and inspiring read about a mans struggle with his faith and Tourette's Syndrome. Its refreshing to read about someone who has overcome the odds. Josh Hanagarne, I wish you worked at my local library!
mrsdryoder's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this - quick and easy read on an interesting combination of topics. Reignited my daydreams about being a librarian. :)
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Book on CD performed by Stephan R Thorne.
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family (hardcover subtitle) or : A Book Lover's Adventures with Tourette's, Faith, Family, and Barbells (paperback subtitle)
I really enjoyed this memoir of one man’s struggles to come to grips with his Tourette’s, and to find balance in his life, his work, his family and his faith. Hanagarne has a wonderful sense of humor, but is still quite honest about the difficulties and challenges of living with his condition. And, of course, I loved all the literary references!
Stephan R Thorne does a fine job performing the audio version. He has good pacing and I thought the way he portrayed the various people in the book was very believable.
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family (hardcover subtitle) or : A Book Lover's Adventures with Tourette's, Faith, Family, and Barbells (paperback subtitle)
I really enjoyed this memoir of one man’s struggles to come to grips with his Tourette’s, and to find balance in his life, his work, his family and his faith. Hanagarne has a wonderful sense of humor, but is still quite honest about the difficulties and challenges of living with his condition. And, of course, I loved all the literary references!
Stephan R Thorne does a fine job performing the audio version. He has good pacing and I thought the way he portrayed the various people in the book was very believable.
alidottie's review against another edition
5.0
I was drawn to this book by it's title. A memoir about a librarian--the world's strongest no less, this could be interesting to someone like me who works in a library. Through the subtitle and I also realized I'd learn about Tourette's which I don't know enough about and I thought this was worth a purchase request at our library. Soon I saw many of my friends add it to their to-read shelves and I felt even more justified in my request.
Well, the book came in and my life was swamped with major family events and a couple of must read books for book events involved with my job. I noticed there were no other reserves yet, so I thought I'd take it home and glance through it and bring it back to read another month. Instead I noticed something I didn't know previously, my strong librarian was also a Mormon--or at least had been one growing up. My trepidation began. Would this book slam my faith (I am very much LDS a.k.a. Mormon)? I cracked it open (ah! How fun is it to be the first one to read a library book?!) and was sucked in in the first pages! By page 20 I was announcing to all the library staff that they were going to die from enjoyment reading this book. It seems I 'd forgotten completely that he was going to address Mormonism!
The stories in the library in SLC are a wonderful insight into the real life of librarians and especially interested me since the main branch of the SLC library (which granted is in a new bldg now) was my library 24 yrs ago when I was newly wed and commuting to finish my last year at BYU. I would stop in on my way home from Provo. Like the author I have been a library person my entire life and have many libraries "on my timeline" all with their own fond memories.
It took the entire book to find out if Hanagarne was still a Mormon. He told that part of his life story so honestly and so respectfully I was deeply grateful. Yes, he is not converted, but he is also not a nonbeliever. He is honest about his struggles not getting the confirmations of truths that so many in the Church come by much more easily--or at least go through the motions of having had. I respect him so much for this lack of knowledge not leading him to bitterness or turning away from the Church. It is so common for people to become haters or at least pitiers (I don't think that's a word!) of those poor Mormon believers who are so blind and deceived. He does not do that ever. Instead of saying it's not real, or they're wrong, he understands that they have come to their knowledge in a way that he mostly can't seem to experience himself. Thank you, Mr Hanagarne. I can't tell you how much I like you! I have a feeling that a huge part of that piece of his personality is there because of the awesome home in which he was raised. I hope I am half as successful a mother as his was. Also, he chose well in his marriage partner. His wife is every bit as much to be respected as his mother. They both stand as tall witnesses of the potential of a righteous woman to touch the lives of others for good.
A huge part of this book deals with Hanagarne's constant struggle with Tourette Syndrome. He has it real bad. To read about how it (which he has named Misty---for Miss T---which again makes me like him more) affects his life is to raise him to the level of a giant in the respect department. How fitting that he physically is a giant among us at 6'11"! Even though he is never cured of this constant companion and we are left knowing he is probably going to be dealing with it with someone he loves too, he gives so much hope, by never giving up on shutting Misty down. He gets knocked to the ground, but he always stands boldly up again--not without tears, struggles and frustration, but always back up again. He has already strengthened many who have or have loved ones with this syndrome and with this book that will only multiple. As much as I loved the library stories in this book and was pleased with how he handled the religion and family and faith aspects, I think this battle and fierce resolution to conquer--if only for a minute--this physical malady of an opponent is the great message and gift of this book.
Next time I'm in SLC I swear I want to drop by the Main Library just to shake Josh Hanagarne's hand.
vegprincess's review against another edition
3.0
This was almost a 3.5 star book for me. It wasn't as good as I hoping it would be. I really enjoyed the parts where Josh talked about reading and what his days are like working as a librarian, but I had a difficult time connecting with him when he discussed growing up as a Morman and his hobby of weight lifting. I do think Josh is an interesting person, and he's a good writer, but I would have enjoyed the book much more than I did if it was more about books, reading and his career.
ir_sharp2's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad story, and I made it through an entire non-fic, but..... I found it quite scatter-brained. I'm also susceptible to suggestion so I found myself feeling hectic when things weren't going well in his life and sluggish when he was depressed. This book was a bit of a roller coaster for me, and the last couple chapters left me unhappy. Being a fiction reader I like my stories to have an ending that ties things up in a bow or at least end happily or dramatically.
aquint's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps my expectations were too high but this book fell short.
emerygirl's review against another edition
5.0
One of my dear friends told me about this book. Her brother in law is Josh Hanagarne. Josh’s brother (who has a few brief mentions in the book) is my LDS bishop. With all of the connections, I had to read this book. I was expecting a few fun moments when people I have met showed up in the book, but I was not expecting how quickly I would devour Josh’s story.
I don’t know a lot about Tourette’s. I do know a lot about faith and the power of family. I loved how Josh started each chapter with a funny or touching story from the library and then transitioned to his growing up years. I picked up this book because I knew the Hanagarne family, but I really enjoyed it because it was so well written. And when I grow up I want to be Linda Hanagarne!
I don’t know a lot about Tourette’s. I do know a lot about faith and the power of family. I loved how Josh started each chapter with a funny or touching story from the library and then transitioned to his growing up years. I picked up this book because I knew the Hanagarne family, but I really enjoyed it because it was so well written. And when I grow up I want to be Linda Hanagarne!