Hurricane!

This book review is, in part, about a book called "What They Don't Tell You about Hurricanes."

The different styles of writing certainly make a difference in depicting the personalities in "Portrait of My Body" and "What They Don't Tell You about Hurricanes." The tone used in each is perhaps what sets the mood, intrigues the reader, and makes them worth-while reads. To compare, both Lopate and Gerard use tones that vent their frustration over things-that-be of which they have no control; Lopate's body is his, yet he can do little to change it while Gerard can do nothing to prevent the hurricane or the devastation that is certain to follow. Gerard and Lopate write to some degree to voice their protests, but more so to complain. They write out their frustrations.

The styles in which Lopate and Gerard write are very different however. Lopate writes about himself entirely. He describes his physical image and at the same time gives the reader a thorough description of his thoughts as well. Gerard's writings describes the oncoming hurricane and is not as straight-forward about himself. One can sense his dread about the hurricane, but he does not stress his concerns in the same way as Lopate. Lopate's "Portrait if My Body" was entertaining at first, but ended in a way that seemed tiresome and whiney. Gerard's description seemed depressed and sad, understandable regarding his situation.