Finished BECOMING Michelle Obama

Most celebrity autobiographies are pretty fast reads...  Of course, this is not a celebrity autobiography per se.  At least, her celebrity came through politics.  And this book is needed.  She represents some big "firsts."  It is complete through the last day as first lady and is much longer and more detailed than I had expected, but it is easily read and understood (as compared to AUDACITY OF HOPE by her husband.)  So many things in this book made me long for the "good old days," although I'm fairly certain Michelle does not feel the same.  I do hope she continues her initiatives and her optimism.

I have now started Ken Follett's Lie Down with Lions.  Set in post 9/11 Paris which is dealing with terrorism, we are introduced to two spies--one in the CIA and another being groomed by the KGB; both seem reasonably likeable.  And the danger of their lives looms momentarily...





I have also completed Fairies and Elves.  The scope of this book includes pixies, elves, witches, and all manner of magical creatures. It is full of stories mostly from Europe beautifully illustrated, some with friendly helpful fairies and others with vengeful spirits.  Some even include mixed love affairs and marriages, all of which seem, invariably, to end in heartbreak, often for both members of the couple.

My new bathroom book is Wizards and Witches, which I am about to start.  There seems to be some overlap with Fairies since that book did include some of the witches of Avelon..  But, in these nebulous worlds of legend, I suppose that is bound to happen.

Finished ORIGIN by Dan Brown

Whew!  Another roller coaster ride that ended (at least the thriller part) entirely differently than I expected. It also, as usual, provided food for thought.  As with all of this author's books, it is a thriller that stimulates the mind as well as the adrenalin.  I loved it.

I am now about to start Becoming by Michelle Obama  (or perhaps it is Becoming Michelle Obama.  It is a clever title for that reason.  In my experience, every human being encounters adversity.  Every female human being encounters more adversity.  And if you are a member of a minority in this country and female, well, you have a STORY TO TELL.  I want to read hers.

Finished JO'S BOYS

But before Jo"s Boys, I read another 100 pages of Alexander Hamilton.  In this section, the government becomes a divided camp between Hamiltonians (advocating a strong central government) and Jeffersonians (advocating states rights).  The president has consistently agreed with Hamilton and no major problem has come up because everyone loves and respects Washington.  However, what will happen when Washington is no longer President?



In modern times and at my ages, this reads slow and goody-goody, but I still was glad to learn what happened to the family as the children grew into adulthood.  And that part I enjoyed.

I have now begun reading Origin by Dan Brown.  At the point I am, Robert Langdon is heading into a meeting in which the speaker is sure what he will say will shake up and change the world's religions, but a religious leader is also walking in to create what is hinted to be a violent surprise.

Finished RAGTIME

Although this is a novel, it reads like non-fiction.  At first I had trouble with the mention of historical figures as a part of the story and the non-fiction feel, but I found myself getting into it.  If I were teaching it, I'd use much of it as examples of irony.

I have now gone back to Alexander Hamilton.  As I picked it up, he was having an affair the circumstances of which make one wonder just how smart he was...  This affair's consequences would come back to haunt him.

Finished FREE U'TANSE

Having read this book after Secrets of the U'tanse, which came chronologically first, this felt a lot like de'j'vue.  But I did learn where some of the characters I met before came from and why some of the subjects were being discussed.  In this, one of the owners of a slave home has decided to get rid of all his slaves, one way or the other...Can they be rescued before they are obliterated?  As usual, I enjoyed this book along with all of Henry Melton's books.

I have now started Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow.  This has started differently from any novel I can remember.  It reads like non-fiction.  It is interesting, but I haven't picked up a lot of story yet.

Finished PEOPLE OF THE SONG TRAIL

However, if anyone reading this is a person I normally lend or give books to, this one fell apart in my hands within the first 100 pages.  I finished anyway (tenacious reader) but it is now going in the trash.
This was occupied with early Vikings looking for places in Greenland and Northeast Canada to settle.  Of course there were clashes with the people already here as well as between Vikings.  The adventure is filled with spirit power and is fascinating as usual.

When I read Secrets of the U'tanse, I speculated that I might have missed a book in sequence.  Now suspect that I may have.  The protagonist in this book is the same as in that one and when I started this book it felt like I had already read it.  Perhaps this is the book that introduces Joshua.  I shall see.

Finished GODS AND GODDESSES

Again, this is a beautifully illustrated series.  I especially loved the sections on Hindu deities (which I knew nothing about) and on the Norse gods (which I only knew a little about.)   I was completely surprised at the legend of the demise of the Norse gods.

I am now about to start Fairies and Elves from the same Enchanted World series.