Prizzi's Honor, Richard Condon

Before the Sopranos and the Corleones, there were the Prizzis.  In this world, Condon treats the Prizzis as normal and reserves his ire for the politicians and other powers that be.  In this one, the Prizzis turn "respectable."  Very funny.

A Special Relationship, Douglas Kennedy

My new surgeon recommended Kennedy and this is my second: absolutely unputdownable.  American foreign correspondent marries British FC in Egypt, gets pregnant, suffers the all-time worst post-partum depression in history and winds up, friendless, in court.  Kennedy writes in the first person as a woman.  Masterful (mistressful?) job.

It's not 25 words.  I'll practice.

I'm Back

I miss my little reviews.  Not to mention that I forget what I read so quickly.  So here we go, again -- but no numbering!

130. In Praise of Slowness, Carl Honoré

An entertaining and enlightening survey of the Slow movement: Slow Food, slow sex, slow schooling, slow work, slow music. . . a slower, better life.

My second break with the 25-Word Rule. In Praise of Slowness may not be my last book for the year, but I think it will be my last entry in this blog. It's been interesting exercise in conciseness, not to mention seeing how many books I read, but Honoré has made me look at the down side. Numbers start being important -- and they aren't. I find I reject magazines in favour of books because it will affect what I can post. Length and difficulty begin to count -- negatively. The blog frequently feels like a chore since I already am listing the books on Book Mooch and, occasionally, Book Crossing. Maybe if I feel strongly about a book, it can be logged on my regular blog.

129. Blind Eye, James B. Stewart

Investigation into how doctor managed serial killings over many years. And, incidentally, how doctors are too arrogant to listen to nurses or patients.

128. Shadows in Bronze, Lindsey Davis

No. 2 in Falco series. The pleasure in these is still sense of place, although the mysteries are O.K.

127. Paris Was Yesterday, Janet Flanner

Short dispatches to the New Yorker on the doings of the beautiful people (not necessarily rich) in Paris from 1925-1939.