My Famous Brain

Category: Fiction - Literary
Author: Diane Wald
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Number of Pages: 310
ISBN-10: 1647422059
ISBN-13: 978-1647422059

Jack MacLeod was a brilliantly gifted child who became a prodigy owing to his ability to memorize books. He has a keen proclivity towards psychic connections. This inclination draws him to observe his current state of life and introduces to him the bizarre recollections of his previous life. From his life as an intellectually gifted child who takes part in a research study to his prominent career in clinical psychology, this story follows Jack’s life with an understanding and observing eye. He pulls the curtain back from a distinguished colleague’s crooked ways, has a deep friendship with Don and a meaningful relationship with Eliza, and learns to accept his way of life as it is. In the last days of his life, when Jack is suffering from an inoperable brain tumor and his marriage is in tatters, he thinks about his regrets in life.

It is poignant and utterly engrossing, a story that is cunningly plotted and told in a fascinating, irresistible voice. My Famous Brain by Diane Wald is a personal insight into the life of the brilliant psychology professor, Jack MacLeod. The book is written in a first-person narrative that introduces readers to the voices and moods of the academic world. Jack is a sensitive protagonist who explores the events in his life with vividness and clarity, capturing the pain of being different in a way that pulls the reader in powerfully. The moody narrative has pauses of dark humor sprinkled across the story to appeal to a range of audiences. Jack expected the world's mysteries to unravel for him like water lilies due to his prodigious intelligence, but that fails to happen in his lifetime.

This story is a highly enthralling and complex tale about relationships, self-identity, and heartache. It will help readers develop an empathetic connection with the protagonist and feel the importance of close relationships in their own lives. My Famous Brain by Diane Wald comes highly recommended for sensitive souls looking for introspective books about personal connections. It is deft and balanced and a story that is a masterpiece, nuanced and filled with wisdom.

Reviewed By: Bertin Drizller

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Date: December 4, 2021

Young Adult