Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

There are a ton of books and videos on improving your memory. A lot of people would like a photographic memory. It would be awesome, they think. Be like Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) and never forget anything. I'm not sure if I'd want that. There are sad and bad moments in time that people would want to forget. Unfortunately, most of those times never leave, they live on in the scars. 

“Photographic memory is a detestable myth,” he said. “Doesn’t exist. In fact, my memory is quite average. All of us here have average memories.” Ed Cooke young grand master from England. Memory Champion.

This book, however, is NOT a book on memory techniques, but rather a book on techniques that memory champions use to remember. There is a lot of history and some (filler?) info on Roman and Greek memory techniques and Chicken  Sexers. Interesting facts, but I think they are not needed. 

This book reads like a long article in a magazine. For me, this book was quite dull most of the time. And I was using the audiobook version. 

If you are interested in memory championships, then this book might be good for you. 

The Master! 3 vol set

The Master! 3 vol set

Audio version

Big Finish Productions

Eric Roberts has the best ever Master voice. I remember him in the crappy 1996 movie (that I have watched a thousand times) that tried to reboot the series in the US with US funding. Didn't happen. Which is good. They changed the regeneration into a Frankenstein rip-off. Apparently, that didn't go down well with anybody.

In an interview on the audiobook, Eric Roberts said, Dr. Who at the time was very campy (it was, and we still loved it), and he asked if he could play it straight. The producers said, OK. And he gave us one of the best Masters until Sacha Dhawan came along. Yes, Roger Delgado and Anthony Ainley were great in their time. 

The audio script (I should say book as everything is acted out) was written by Robert Valentine, Robert Whitelock, and Matt Fitton (One book each for the three book series)

Starring Eric Roberts and Chase Masterson.

Earth is rebuilding after an invasion by the Daleks. Drake enterprises is one of the top research companies in the world. Their top scientist is Lila and while researching teleportation, she stumbles into the Vortex and starts to hear a voice, whispering to her all the answers to the universe. All she has to do is find a way to free this person, calling himself, The Master.

This three book series is totally badass. The Master is devious but I feel he could have been written a little darker. I loved Simms at his second run as The Master. He was dark and crazy as fuck. Brilliant. Missy was also brilliant. 

In the audio script, you will enjoy The Master taking control, facing as assassin, taken prisoner in the streets, chased through the underground system, Daleks return. And someone who died but she not dead. Not really. 

The books are short. Or they seemed short as I listened at every opportunity. 

Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay

Audiobook version. 

Tremblay's first book, A head full of ghosts, was not my cup of tea. I wasn't scared, I was bored and I sold that paperback to a second hand bookstore and bought: The kind worth Killing by Peter Swanson (review later). 

However, Survivor Song interested me enough to buy a copy and listen/read it. 

The book starts off with a bang and barely lets up. We are plunged into the world of Natalie worried about her husband who has gone shopping, three hours prior. She is eight months pregnant and a virus has broken out. A rabies virus. 

After an incident at her home, Natalie rushes off to her friend, Ramola (previously a pediatric). The main basis of this story is to get Natalie to a hospital for a C-Section to remove the baby a few week earlier. Stuff happens that forces them to an abandoned farm house. 

The best characters in this story are the two BMX riding hoodlums. They were awesome. Especially their final scene in the book. I like how Tremblay stayed with them for a time after they left Natalie and Ramola. Apparently, they appeared in another of Tremblay's books. 

All up, this is an excellent read/listen and recommended BUT (there's usually a but) this book doesn't seem to hold the tension of what's going to happen next. It was easy to not continue but I did and I'm kind of glad I did.