II. Post 7A

Vocabulary:
1) (169) gamboge- yellow orange color

2) (170) luminosity- intellectual brilliance

Fig. Language:
1) "the piece in D major... D major is blue" (Sacks, 168). One of Sacks subjects uses a simile to compare a certain key with a color.

2) "G-sharp minor, for example, has a different 'flavor' from G minor" (Sacks, 168). Sacks uses a loaded word to express more than just actual taste, but also the affect these keys have on the musicians mind.

Quote:
"He is frequently asked whether synesthesia has made much of a difference to his life, especially as a professional musician. He says, 'For me, at least, it's no big deal.' for him, it is normal and completely unremarkable" (Sacks, 171). This quotation expresses how many people who have the ability to compare a certain key to a color completely take their ability for granted.

Emerging Theme:
The theme has emerged that many people affected by not only synesthesia, but any ability, take it for granted and forget that they have it until it has left them.

II. Post 7B

I would now like to give my overall opinion about Oliver Sacks' Musicophilia. The book is packed with a ton of information relating the brain to many different aspects of music. While it may seem interesting to a professional musician or neurologist, the onslaught of terms and information can become overwhelming at times to a layman such as myself. The book also is structured nothing like a normal book. A better description of the text would be and "extended study." Just picture something you would find in a medical magazine, only ten fold in length. Dr. Sacks included many different stories about various patients he treated, so the text follows no storyline or theme. In fact, the theme of music's affect on the brain completely changes when he compares some of his subjects. Although I personally enjoyed the book, someone who's looking for an attention getting story would never find one in this book. Don't read Musicophilia unless you plan on being confused sometimes.