I've been reading some mysteries lately, one called The Seventh Trumpet, the other called The Claws of the Cat. Both just okay. Starting my third mystery called Eva's Eye. A little bit of light reading for a change.

Those We Love Most

I have really mixed feelings about this story. In some ways, it seems so prosaic and predictable; even as it does have some memorable scenes and phrases. It is a very sad story, and I do not ultimately find it uplifting since I can't even begin to imagine the anguish expressed by the characters. The book has received many good reviews, and I can understand why even as I disagree.

I just finished reading The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, really enjoyed reading it but I actually liked the movie better. The two present quite different stories but the movie felt more credible and definitely more upbeat which I have to confess I liked.

I've been reading a lot, just not writing reviews. I think my brain has stopped working. My thoughts have dried up. Just finished a non-fiction title, Between Man and Beast. a book about an explorer of the Congo who wrote about the Lowland Gorilla, The book is set within the context of the discussion of the theory of evolution, Then I read a mystery called A Sunless Sea about the opium trade, specifically about the fortunes to be made by selling opium to an uninformed public.

The 100 YEAR Old Man Who Climbed Out The

Wonderfully humorous. Excellent.

Recent books read

I've been reading quite a bit lately without writing reviews. They were all good:
Tell the Wolves I'm home, The Garden of Evening Mists, The End of the Point, and Mary Coin, all good, although the first two listed are excellent.

Wild From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

The author of this book recounts vividly the astonishing tale of her solo hike of over eleven hundred miles on the Pacific Crest Trail.

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

An excellent story.

The World is Made of Stories by David R. Loy

A font of wisdom from many different voices integrated around the meaning of life.

Lake in the Clouds by Sara Donati

This is a historical fiction about a fascinating time and place, and very strong characters. It is full of romance but also the other complexities of life and emotions. The author says in her acknowledgements that she hopes she has told a "whopping good story" and she has!

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