What We Are Reading

Ventus, by physicist and writer Karl Schroeder, kept me up past my bedtime several nights in a row. It is way too involved and complicated to say much more than it is a Science Fiction adventure novel that takes place in the far future, involving an epic journey across a fascinating planet, with at least two big mysteries ongoing. The characterization is great, with a deeper and more involved plot than most run of the mill SciFi. An extremely detailed and enjoyable read that was really hard to put down.

A long drive last weekend allowed me to enjoy listening to two cozy British mysteries in the car. Jigsaw by Anthea Fraser features character Rona Parish, a writer by trade who ends up solving murders as she researches her books or articles. This story is set in the village of Buckford and it seems a delightful place, except of course, that a murderer is on the loose. I followed that up with a death on stage, Murder Unprompted, by Simon Brett. Charles Paris, the unsuccessful actor whose real talent lies in solving murders is finally on stage in London’s west end but only because the lead was shot during a performance and his understudy is being sought by the police for the crime. Jigsaw is read by Jacqueline Tong very smoothly on cd and Murder Unprompted is ably read by Geoffrey Howard on cassette.

Traditionally, history is written by the victors; the stories of the conquered are forgotten. In this historical novel Morgan Llywellyn tells the story of Julius Caeser's conquest of Gaul from the point of view of the native Celts. She portrays their daily lives, their beliefs and values, and their struggle to defend themselves against the invaders who neither understand nor value their culture. The "good guys" don't win in the end and the novel leaves us with a taste of what has been lost.