Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: The Nose Knows

In her new memoir, Coming To My Senses, Alyssa Harad reveals how an improbable obsession with perfume altered the course of her life. At the age of 36, she's earned her Ph.D in English and is set in her ways until she discovers a blog about perfume that introduces her into the enchanting world of scent. Taken with the concept of perfume, she soon begins collecting samples, honing her sense of smell, and embracing life in new ways. As her passion for fragrance grows, so does her passion for life and a new sense of femininity. Filled with trivia about the history, production, and culture of perfume, this charming memoir makes for a great summer read.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

The Nose Knows

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