Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon

(read aloud)

Enigmatic mystery in Venice, delightful as always, slow moving, psychological and introspective. Quite a few loose ends giving a meandering feel but such is life in Venice, where beauty and past glory run into neglect and bureaucracy.

Energy: A Human History by Richard Rhodes

(did not read every page)

Rhodes is perhaps the best technical writer, the chapter on nuclear is clear and to me convincing.

A Case of Need by Michael Crichton

A good medical mystery, written under a pseudonym while he was in med school.

The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer by Charles Graeber

About cancer immunotherapy and its development and promise, told in a series of personal stories. Good explanations and hopeful tone.

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

(read aloud)

Involved plot about drug smuggling across Canadian border and the bizarre history of the Cobrador. Inspector Gamache is the hero who solves the crime by perjuring himself, risking his career because he can trust no one.

The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley

(read aloud)

Flavia and Dogger are investigating a rather bizarre crime. Feely is married. Undine is emerging as a Flavia understudy. Somehow, Buckshaw is continuing.

The Reckoning by John Grisham

(read aloud)

Another good read, with a main character who is stoic and honest but a murderer and who murdered the pastor of his church. The whole plot changes at the end, but what is done is done.

Don Quixote by Cervantes

This classic novel struck me as repetitive and disorganized and I was in a quandary about Quixote and Panza. After finishing it, I read about it and its construction and its critical acclaim. It is repetitive, with a second section retelling parts of the story in rejection of a plagiaristic printing after the writing of the first part.

In any case, here are my uninformed thoughts. Quixote is a fool who is wiser than he and his villagers know. Panza is down to earth, loyal, and gullible. Dulcinea is an essence, a non-existent beauty who represents an unattainable idea worth of a quest that gives meaning to an otherwise ordinary life. It seems that the author both mocks and loves Quixote and Panza, as we laugh at and with them we love them. Like Dulcinea, because of our love, the object of our love becomes beautiful.

Pandemic by Robin Cook

Poor writing, about China, Crisper

The Temptation of Forgiveness by Donna Leon

(read aloud)

An assault, pharmacy malfeasance, the usual Venetian corruption. Truth, lies, justice; like everywhere, the lines are foggy, the temptation to decide what is just oneself can be difficult.

Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

Idiosyncratic writing style but intriguing. A glimpse into Russian life and an ethnic consciousness far different than expected. Not western and not eastern, to my thinking. A feudal social structure with serfs bought and sold in a kind of protection slavery. I finished this with a feeling that the book was more profound than I understood it to be. Perhaps I need to read more Gogol.

Nano by Robin Cook

Very poorly edited; good plot.

Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon

(read aloud)

A nun comes to Brunetti concerned that patients are dying in the rest home. With the author's usual lovely writing, the plot progresses in ways both unexpected and anticipated. As usual, the beauty of Venice and the corruption of the bureaucracy of government, and here, the Church, are in evidence. As to Leon, I am a fan.

Paul Among the People: the Apostle reinterpreted and reimagined in his own time by Sarah Ruden

This is actually a defense of Paul by a scholar of Greek and a classical translator of some repute. She counters the usual critiques of Paul as being against women and for slavery. She accepts his words against homosexuality by giving a rather shocking look at the sexual mores of the time, completely rejecting the idea that the homosexual practice of Plato and his contemporaries was benign. She writes movingly of her faith and of Christ and Paul's exposition of love. The chapter on slavery is important. The sexual ethic of Paul and his views of women and marriage are well-crafted and I think persuasive.

Someday the Rabbi will Leave by Harry Kemelman

(read aloud)

As always, an interesting mystery with lots of information about Jewish life and customs and diversity in America. Much to think about as a deeply-thought-out ethical system. The author weaves ambition, integrity, and the truth into a story that interests and surprises. The book is unpretentious like the rabbi, but like him, thoughtful and wise.

The Tyranny of Metrics by Jerry Z. Muller

This book clearly presents the unintended consequences of metrics. Crossing many fields, it destroys the idea that everything important can be measured and that if something can be measured it is important and can be improved. The section on charities was eye-opening and the comments on transparency were very thought-provoking.

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

(read aloud)

A very engaging, clever, Holmes and Watson story. Full of pathos and suspense. The writing is rich and fun. The plot is so gripping and rings so true to the times. Watson really comes alive, but in a way entirely in keeping with the Watson of Doyle. Very well done.

Aeneid by Virgil

Aeneas escapes the fall of Troy and sails to Italy and overcomes the Latins and founds Rome. The gods and goddesses participate and pick the winners and losers. Mortality, death, honor are the themes. The descriptions of violent battle are horrifying. More mythology knowledge than I have is needed to really follow the narrative.

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

A brave attempt to look at the future of slave robots, but failed to capture my interest.

Polio - An American Story by David M. Oshinski

Not read entirely. Very good history, particularly interesting about the vaccine trials and the difficult decisions. The vaccine initially was inactivated but there were lots with live virus and cases of polio. Massive large-scale trials were done in amazingly short periods of time. Doubt similar size and quick trials could even be done now.

Ignition! by John D. Clark

Rocket science in the recent past by an author who had his hands in every sort of rocket fuel and lived to tell about it. Applied chemistry in its most dangerous form. Aptly titled, the book is full of euphemisms for uncontrolled explosions. It is hard to overstate how dangerous these experiments were. This book apparently is in the public domain. The chemistry was beyond me but I enjoyed the audacity and courage of these pioneers. Rocket science really is rocket science.

Dynamite Road by Andrew Klavan

A pulp novel, fun but a bit shallow. Good writing, well-drawn characters. Plot violent and profane.

Inferno by Dante

Read with copious notes. Obscure references, he names names, popes, hometown folks, a monument of western literature but I am sadly weak in Roman and Greek lore.

Willful Behavior by Donna Leon (Inspector Brunetti)

(read aloud)

Good mystery, set in Venice. I love her writing and her characters. The flavor of Italy, the uniqueness of Venice.