Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell

A big book and a big disappointment. Poorly written, poorly edited. Preoccupied with wealth and lesbian relationships which she sometimes does well but in this book fails miserably. Scarpetta is now an icon instead of a person.

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

A fun read. The narrator is a bottom-feeding scum-sucking trial lawyer with a glowing ember of a conscience. Worried that he might have missed the tiny possibility that one of his clients might actually be innocent, he still marches through the court system, making deals and getting thugs off on technicalities. But the story is a surprise and quite a ride.

Banana by Dan Koeppel

A whole book about one fruit packed with things I never knew. Politics, wars, business, all effected by the lowly banana. But the origins, the genetics, the raising, shipping, and study of bananas are the most interesting. Now the spectre of new and old diseases threatens our beloved fruit.

After the Dance by Edwidge Danticat

About Jacmel and Carnival and Haiti from a very positive viewpoint. A lot of culture and language (the title comes from a Haitian proverb: After the dance, the drum is heavy). Captures the openness and resilience of Haitian people. The author tells her own story and the story of Jacmel. She likes the people she meets, they like her. She has hopes for her country and is proud of her family and their values. To write about Haiti without pessimism and despair is itself an achievement.