Review of "Nonsense" by Jamie Holmes

I found this book to be a very illuminating account of how we deal with ambiguity in every day life. The necessity for knowing how we react to uncertain situations without really thinking about the consequences versus considering the alternatives when it really matters will enable us to make better choices. The need for closure can be a very powerful force in how we react. It can be dangerous if we are not open to other possibilities. I liked the discussion of experiments that have been done to determine how the mind works in different situations.

Review of "The Supernatural Enhancements" by Edgar Cantero

This story of a young English man who inherits a haunted house in Virginia and his teenage mute, Irish girlfriend is told is a series of diary entries and notes, transcripts of audio recordings and video recordings, letters to an Aunt Liza, emails and a dream journal. The young man supposedly is the long lost second cousin of the house's owner who killed himself. The young man thinks he sees a ghost and has very vivid dreams of a horrifying nature. His girl friend is supposed to watch over him. These two slowly find out the background of the house and it's former owners. I liked the way that the story moved forward it's various written entries. It kept me engrossed about what would happen.

Review of "A Slant of Light" by Jeffrey Lent

This most recent book from Jeffrey Lent creates the atmosphere and life during the aftermath of the Civil War in western New York around the Finger Lakes. The story opens with the killing of a hired man by Malcolm Hopeton not long after he returns to his farm after the war. He inadvertently causes his wife's death, also. The characters in the book are very well drawn and life on the farm is described in great detail. The spiritual and moral beliefs of these hard-working people are depicted, too. The language that comes out of their mouths rings true.

Review of "The Gates of Evangeline" by Hester Young

Charlie, a woman whose child died recently from a brain aneurysm, has visions / dreams  of children who are about to die. She is a New York City journalist who is sent by her employer to write a story about a rich family in Louisiana. In fact, the family commissioned Charlie's employer to write about them. The family's history includes the disappearance and presumed death of the younger brother of the present adult siblings. Charlie thinks that her recurring visions are leading her to discover who killed him. But the truth is slowly revealed in this complicated story. The author kept me long after I should have gone to sleep.

Review of "Alice' by Christina Henry

Many of the characters in this book are based on characters from Alice in Wonderland. But there the resemblance to the original book ends. Alice goes through many adventures of a horrifying and violent nature trying to remember what happened to her in the past. She slowly remembers what happened to her and realizes her own power. In the end she is able to defeat the dark forces and return to a brighter world. This book kept me reading until the end. It is well written and the pacing is good.

Review of "Last Bus to Wisdom" by Ivan Doig

Like other books that I have read by Ivan Doig, this one is set mostly in Montana where the author grew up. It is about the life and adventures of an eleven year old boy during the summer of 1951. He is being raised by his grandmother after the death of his parents. She is a cook on a cattle ranch in Montana, but needs an operation. So she sends her grandson to his grand aunt and uncle in Manitowoc, Wisconsin to stay with them for the summer while she has the operation and recuperates.

The boy, Donal, rides a Greyhound bus for more than 1600 miles. Along the way he meets all sorts of people and collects their autographs in a book. Almost half the book covers this part of the story with Donal using his imagination to conjure up stories about himself. When Donal finally arrives in Manitowoc, he comes to realize that his Aunt Kate is stingy and rules the household. She and his Uncle Herman are always arguing. Donal is bored with not much to do and spends time with his uncle in his greenhouse talking and watching him garden.

The second half of the book is about Donal and Herman's adventures as they head west on the Greyhound bus. Herman's story slowly unfolds over the course of the rest of the book. The atmosphere of the Crow Fair, Yellowstone N.P. and working on a hay ranch in Montana is evoked very well. 

Review of "Relae" by Christian F. Puglisi

This book is not just a cook book. It contains essays on many aspects of food and techniques for dishes created by the author Christian F. Puglisi.  It provides food for thought about cooking as well as serving. This is a book that I will dip into at various times for inspiration.