Friday, August 03, 2012

July Reading 2012

21 July 2012
My American UnhappinessMy American Unhappiness by Dean Bakopoulos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Living in Madison and heading the Greater Midwestern Humanities Initiative, Zeke fails to see the downward trajectory of his own life as he studies the unhappiness of others. Madison seems a lot like Portland and Eugene, so the author's evocation of over-educated humanists dependent on government grants and fleece-clad, dog-walking couples made me feel right at home. It was very funny in spite of the title.

6 July 2012
The Shirt On His Back (Benjamin January, Book 10)The Shirt On His Back by Barbara Hambly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

January and company stray from the more familiar surroundings of New Orleans to pursue the man who murdered Abishag Shaw's brother. The search takes them first to a frontier fort and then onto a rendezvous in the Rockies. I particularly enjoyed the setting as a sometime student of the history of the fur trade in the West. It was fun to run see what happens when the men run into trappers like Kit Carson.

I've liked Barbara Hambly's for years and I especially appreciate her keen eye for historical detail.

4 July 2012
Faithful Place (Dublin Murder Squad, #3)Faithful Place by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

French weaves a dark mystery of a working class Dublin neighborhood and the long and complex history of two families who lived there. Young love leads to what Frank thought was an escape from his overbearing mother and alcoholic father, but he's drawn back many years later and has to face his whole family.

View all my reviews

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