Garment of Shadows

Surprises. Morocco is the setting for Garment of Shadows, the latest Laurie King novel featuring Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. King takes a familiar character, Holmes, and pairs him with Russell, his intellectual equal, and places them in settings outside England. Fans of intelligent mysteries, packed with surprises, fleshed out by well-developed characters and just the right amount of descriptive language, are those most likely to enjoy this novel and the others in this series. I read this novel quickly and enjoyed every page. Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended) Click here to purchase Garment of Shadows from amazon.com.

The Testament of Mary

Viewpoint. Of the many thousands of pages ever written about the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, none are quite like those in a novella from Colm Toibin titled, The Testament of Mary. After I finished the book, I thought about the way a friend once asked and answered as follows: “Did you ever wonder why the Madonna has a wistful look on her face in all the depictions of mother and child in art? It’s because she was thinking as she looked at the baby Jesus, ‘I was hoping for a girl.’” If you don’t find that statement offensive, this book is right up your alley. Toibin offers a viewpoint of what Mary may have thought late in her life. As a witness to the death of her son, Toibin has her feeling that his death was not worth it. From page 80: “ ‘I was there,’ I said. ‘I fled before it was over but if you want witnesses then I am one and I can tell you now, when you say that he redeemed the world, I will say that it was not worth it. It was not worth it.’” The humanity of a mother whom we would all recognize comes through on the pages of this novella. Toibin’s writing is superb, whether you agree with his viewpoint or not. Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended) Click here to purchase The Testament of Mary from amazon.com.

Bull by the Horns: Fighting to Save Main Street from Wall Street and Wall Street from Itself

Selective. In a remarkable show of restraint in her account of her service as chair of the FDIC, Sheila Bair waited until page two before she slammed Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Bull by the Horns: Fighting to Save Main Street from Wall Street and Wall Street from Itself presents one piece of the puzzle surrounding the recent financial crisis. I was captivated by Bair’s account from beginning to end, and when I finished I felt like I can’t wait for Geithner’s version of events. One jab from page 170: “Tim seemed to view his job as protecting Citigroup from me, when he should have been worried about protecting the taxpayers from Citi.” Ouch. This book isn’t all about Bair vs. Geithner. Bair explains her focused role: protecting the FDIC from losses. Combined with the books released and forthcoming from other key participants, readers interested in finance and public policy will be able to assemble a comprehensive view only if one reads every perspective. Rating: Three-star (Recommended) Click here to purchase Bull by the Horns from amazon.com.

The Marseille Caper

Deceptions. I zipped through Peter Mayle’s The Marseille Caper in a single evening. The plot is fast-paced, the characters are developed well enough, and the descriptions of place are just right. Because Mayle reprised characters from another novel I read, The Vintage Caper, I felt like I picked up the new novel where the old one left off. The latest novel can stand well on its own if a reader prefers to start here. I don’t know if Mayle will continue with these characters in future novels, but if he does, I’m likely to read them. Any reader who likes crime fiction that comes packed with a range of deceptions will enjoy this one. I also found that the glass of wine I sipped during the second half of the novel helped cheer me to a satisfying end. Rating: Three-star (Recommended) Click here to purchase The Marseille Caper from amazon.com.

She Loves Me Not

Variety. The nineteen stories in Ron Hansen’s new collection, She Loves Me Not, provide readers who love short fiction with a tasty smorgasbord. Through efficiency and precision, Hansen drew me into the lives and settings of people whose behavior displays a wide range of human nature. I found myself reading two stories in the morning and two in the evening as a way to pace myself and reflect on each one individually. Readers who savor fine writing and enjoy diverse characters and geography are those most likely to enjoy this collection. Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended) Click here to purchase She Loves Me Not from amazon.com.

Who I Am: A Memoir

Creativity. When I opened Pete Townshend’s memoir, Who I Am, I expected to read a revealing story about a talented and troubled artist. I found that and more on the pages of this finely written book. I was surprised at the high quality of Townshend’s writing. He tells his story with precision and care, and any reader who enjoys this genre will come away from this book very satisfied. Whether you like music, creativity or human nature, there’s something beneficial for you on these pages. Unlike the tell-all sensationalism in some celebrity memoirs, I felt that Townshend was trying to reveal with candor and insight how he has become who he is. That’s exactly the value that can be derived from reading a finely written memoir like this one. Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended) Click here to purchase Who I Am from amazon.com.

Sorry Please Thank You

Zany. Readers looking for some laughs should consider Charles Yu’s story collection titled, Sorry Please Thank You. Yu’s blend of science fiction and reality can provide settings that are ripe for laughter. Yu’s voice is unusual and might be an acquired taste for some readers. Sample a selection to see if this will be entertaining for you. I found these stories to be funny and creative. I enjoyed each one. Rating: Three-star (Recommended) Click here to purchase Sorry Please Thank You from amazon.com.