The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. Story of misapprehensions within the vicissitudes of life, as current now as ever.

The Midwife's Tale: An Oral History from Handywoman to Professional Midwife 
by Nicky Leap, Billie Hunter  This book is an interesting historical fiction based on a diary written by a midwife who lived in the late 1600's; and it covers the time when York, England was besieged by rebels fighting against the Royalists who supported King Charles. Historian Sam Thomas brings this time very much to life.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Really enjoyed this book about the first wife of Ernest Hemingway. It gives a wonderful flavor of the times, the Bohemian life of writers and other famous people in 1920s Europe.

Wise Men by Stuart Nadler is a well-written book - a complex tale of love and redemption.

Just finished reading "Winter of the World" written by Ken Follett, 940 pages of it. Very good, actually fast to read. It follows the life of several main characters from England, Germany and the United States during the cataclysmic events of WWII.

A neat poem

Late summer on the river the sun and wind are mild
 the little birds below the eaves are grown
 sun-drenched butterflies dance among the flowers
 newly spun spiderwebs brighten every room
threadbare curtains invite the moon's reflection
a pillow made of clay echoes with the current
my long-graying temples recall the frost and snow
let me pass this life chopping wood and fishing

                          Chang Feng

The Dream of the Celt by Mario Vargas Llosa

Fascinating historical fiction about an Irishman who advocated for oppressed people in the Congo, Peru, and Ireland. There are some very brief descriptions of his homosexual interactions which I found uncomfortable to read but otherwise, the book is well-written.

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian- This fiction about the horrific Armenian genocide during WWI follows two survivors who meet in Allepo, Syria; It alternates between their voices telling about life in a war zone, and that of their grand-daughter who is researching and writing a novel about the insane days of 1915-1916. It is a haunting tale well worth reading.

Finished reading the book called, the life of objects. A young girl leaves Ireland for opportunity, and ends up spending years in Germany during WWII. This is a well-written book that tells a poignant story. Well worth reading.