No Pianos, Pets or Foreigners! My Life in Japan in the 80's by Joe Palermo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having lived in Japan myself and participated in the same Japanese government teaching program, I found Palermo's anecdotes of life in Japan, endearing and nostalgic--and spot on for cultural quirkiness and awakenings. The author captures what it's like to be a "gaijin" (foreigner), in between worlds, as it were, sometimes a celebrity, sometimes overlooked/forgotten. A few times I felt the author indulged too much in cliches but quickly recovered with the substance of the stories carrying the necessary weight.

This is light, relaxed read of a complex cultural experience. Definitely recommend it for anyone with a "yen" for Japanese culture.

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The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I knew I would find this book enchanting, even before I read it, as I've been fascinated by marine life consciousness these last few years. From the first pages, I found the author's writing familiar and inviting, taking us up close and personal, enchanting us--like she had been--with the stroke of an octopus.

I also felt the author's disappointment with each loss, and the wonder at each new love. The quirky aquarium staff and characters further humanized the story and though their entrances were brief, I experienced them each as three-dimensional and worth getting to know.

At times I felt like the story would never end (and it wasn't necessarily a story I didn't want to end...) but given the individual relationships with each octopus, I can see why the author strung out the story as she did.

I am left fully aware that the octopus is one of the earth's most misunderstood creatures, having gotten a really bad rap, while in fact it is, as the author suggests, possibly one of the most wise and wondrous, as would be an intelligent being from outer space.

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