Linda C. Wright's Blog, page 14
December 16, 2015
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
I'm always excited to choose a new book to read once the last one is finished. I'm a hoarder of books and thank goodness, I can keep a hefty stash on my Kindle. This time the choosing was easy once I saw the name Paris in the title. The terrorist attack there had recently occurred and I had visited Paris in April. Paris was on my mind and in my prayers. Spending time in a bookshop in Paris was exactly what I wanted.
Monsieur Perdu is a bookseller. He sells them from his barge moored on the Seine. He calls the barge 'The Literary Apothecary' since he has a knack for matching the perfect book to the person, choosing the right medicine so to speak. It's been 21 years since the love of his life, Manon, left him. He never opened the goodbye letter she wrote, too afraid of its contents. When he comes across the letter inside a book, his new love convinces him to read it.
The contents of the letter sets Jean Perdu off on a journey to search for Manon and mend his broken heart after all these years of pining for her. A rag tag set of characters joins him along the way as he sails his barge down the rivers and canals of France. Charming is used to describe this lovely tale over and over again. And charming it most certainly is, from the first sentence to the delicious recipes included at the end. The Little Paris Bookshop is delightful, winsome, seductive, and captivating. I couldn't wait to read what would happen next. Just as I fell in love with Paris, I loved The Little Paris Bookshop.
I'm always excited to choose a new book to read once the last one is finished. I'm a hoarder of books and thank goodness, I can keep a hefty stash on my Kindle. This time the choosing was easy once I saw the name Paris in the title. The terrorist attack there had recently occurred and I had visited Paris in April. Paris was on my mind and in my prayers. Spending time in a bookshop in Paris was exactly what I wanted.
Monsieur Perdu is a bookseller. He sells them from his barge moored on the Seine. He calls the barge 'The Literary Apothecary' since he has a knack for matching the perfect book to the person, choosing the right medicine so to speak. It's been 21 years since the love of his life, Manon, left him. He never opened the goodbye letter she wrote, too afraid of its contents. When he comes across the letter inside a book, his new love convinces him to read it.
The contents of the letter sets Jean Perdu off on a journey to search for Manon and mend his broken heart after all these years of pining for her. A rag tag set of characters joins him along the way as he sails his barge down the rivers and canals of France. Charming is used to describe this lovely tale over and over again. And charming it most certainly is, from the first sentence to the delicious recipes included at the end. The Little Paris Bookshop is delightful, winsome, seductive, and captivating. I couldn't wait to read what would happen next. Just as I fell in love with Paris, I loved The Little Paris Bookshop.
December 13, 2015
Stitches by Anne Lamott
Stitches by Anne Lamott
I recently had my hip replaced and took this book with me to the hospital. I thought that by the title alone, it would be just the spiritual medicine I would need to get me back on track. Little did I know however, that I had no physical stitches in my incision. The surgeon glued me back together. Modern medicine is quite amazing.
What I learned from this book is that even though I didn't get stitched back together, many stitches have been made in the quilt that is me from this experience. We are made up of stitches, each one carefully sewn for every step we take in life.
There are many passages here that I wanted to highlight and remember forever. The one however, that stuck with me is, "The American way is to not need help, but to help." Right now I need help to do a lot of things and I hate asking for it. I'm using a walker just to get around. Managing it and me is a full time effort. I can't even get a drink from the refrigerator with out asking for it. It is a humbling experience and a lesson I needed to learn. And a stitch my quilt needed in order to grow.
I love Anne Lamott. She's funny and has a unique way of writing about the journey of life. I have to admit I liked Help, Thanks, Wow a bit better than Stitches. This book was exactly what I needed during my road to recovery. It's amazing to me how books have a way of working their way to the top of the reading pile at just the right time.
I recently had my hip replaced and took this book with me to the hospital. I thought that by the title alone, it would be just the spiritual medicine I would need to get me back on track. Little did I know however, that I had no physical stitches in my incision. The surgeon glued me back together. Modern medicine is quite amazing.
What I learned from this book is that even though I didn't get stitched back together, many stitches have been made in the quilt that is me from this experience. We are made up of stitches, each one carefully sewn for every step we take in life.
There are many passages here that I wanted to highlight and remember forever. The one however, that stuck with me is, "The American way is to not need help, but to help." Right now I need help to do a lot of things and I hate asking for it. I'm using a walker just to get around. Managing it and me is a full time effort. I can't even get a drink from the refrigerator with out asking for it. It is a humbling experience and a lesson I needed to learn. And a stitch my quilt needed in order to grow.
I love Anne Lamott. She's funny and has a unique way of writing about the journey of life. I have to admit I liked Help, Thanks, Wow a bit better than Stitches. This book was exactly what I needed during my road to recovery. It's amazing to me how books have a way of working their way to the top of the reading pile at just the right time.
November 21, 2015
Blended edited by Samantha Waltz
Blended edited by Samantha
Blended is a collection of stories written by writers about that crazy combination of people that makes up a family. Families come in all shapes and sizes and always have. Society used to sweep the untraditional ones under the carpet and still does, even though we are working on becoming more accepting. As a member of my own personal version of a blended family, I share the joys as well as the struggles that are the fabric of a step family.
Families are assembled and disassembled in a variety of ways. Each set of circumstances is unique. This collection of heartfelt stories shines a bright light on what it really means to be a part of a step family. No one asks to be part of one, the ebbs and flows of life lead some of us there.
I happen to know a little something about step families. I recently supported my step mother of 50 years through her end of life challenges. I have a host of nieces and nephews who came into my life through my sister's second marriage. Even though I have never given birth to a child, my granddaughter called me today. She's 16 and I'm helping her navigate the world of college admissions. The combinations that make up a step family are endless.
One thing is for certain, no two families are alike. The stories in Blended teach us that. Whether you are part of a step family or would just like some insight into the strength of the human spirit, Blended will take you there. It will make you laugh and cry and face head on every emotion in between. Life no matter how it is handed to us, is the life we are meant to live.
Blended is a collection of stories written by writers about that crazy combination of people that makes up a family. Families come in all shapes and sizes and always have. Society used to sweep the untraditional ones under the carpet and still does, even though we are working on becoming more accepting. As a member of my own personal version of a blended family, I share the joys as well as the struggles that are the fabric of a step family.
Families are assembled and disassembled in a variety of ways. Each set of circumstances is unique. This collection of heartfelt stories shines a bright light on what it really means to be a part of a step family. No one asks to be part of one, the ebbs and flows of life lead some of us there.
I happen to know a little something about step families. I recently supported my step mother of 50 years through her end of life challenges. I have a host of nieces and nephews who came into my life through my sister's second marriage. Even though I have never given birth to a child, my granddaughter called me today. She's 16 and I'm helping her navigate the world of college admissions. The combinations that make up a step family are endless.
One thing is for certain, no two families are alike. The stories in Blended teach us that. Whether you are part of a step family or would just like some insight into the strength of the human spirit, Blended will take you there. It will make you laugh and cry and face head on every emotion in between. Life no matter how it is handed to us, is the life we are meant to live.
November 15, 2015
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck is my favorite author. I never remember reading his work in high school having discovered him only after listening to a park ranger speak at the bottom of the Grand Canyon about The Grapes of Wrath. I found a copy of The Winter of Our Discontent at the local library book sale. There was no passing it up.
Ethan Hawley is a proud New Englander who is struggling to make sense of his life. He works as a clerk in a grocery store after having lost the store he owned to his poor business skills. Providing support to his lovely wife, Mary and two growing children, eats at his core. In Ethan's mind he must be poor since he is a "clerk". It's his mind that holds him back. When Ethan is faced with the choice between right and wrong, it's his mind that propels into a place he's not sure he wants to go.
The Winter of Our Discontent is Steinbeck's view of life in America in the late 1950's. The story focuses on thought more than plot which is what I love about reading a book. It's also what I love about Steinbeck. He writes a novel that plucks my heart strings and makes me think. This is the last book Steinbeck published. He didn't save the best for last, but he gave us a timeless story on what it takes to be human.
Steinbeck is my favorite author. I never remember reading his work in high school having discovered him only after listening to a park ranger speak at the bottom of the Grand Canyon about The Grapes of Wrath. I found a copy of The Winter of Our Discontent at the local library book sale. There was no passing it up.
Ethan Hawley is a proud New Englander who is struggling to make sense of his life. He works as a clerk in a grocery store after having lost the store he owned to his poor business skills. Providing support to his lovely wife, Mary and two growing children, eats at his core. In Ethan's mind he must be poor since he is a "clerk". It's his mind that holds him back. When Ethan is faced with the choice between right and wrong, it's his mind that propels into a place he's not sure he wants to go.
The Winter of Our Discontent is Steinbeck's view of life in America in the late 1950's. The story focuses on thought more than plot which is what I love about reading a book. It's also what I love about Steinbeck. He writes a novel that plucks my heart strings and makes me think. This is the last book Steinbeck published. He didn't save the best for last, but he gave us a timeless story on what it takes to be human.
November 8, 2015
Worthy by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Worthy by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Virginia ia a working girl, a waitress at a diner. Aaron is a widower who comes to the diner with his shy, young son, Buddy. He has his heart set on Virginia and she on him. Just when their first date is about to become reality, tragedy strikes. Their budding romance is not to be.
We fast forward 19 years and Virginia owns the diner along with her friend, Fern. She's also now engaged to Lloyd. Lloyd, however is not the man she thinks he is,when her beloved dog, T-Rex goes missing. Through a series of events, T-Rex leads Virginia and Buddy back into each other's lives and teaches them both what they are worthy of in life.
Put a dog in a story and I'm hooked, the dog lover that I am. Worthy stole my heart from the very beginning. The characters in this novel have flaws, big ones. Don't we all? As the story unfolds, we watch them come to grips with how to live a good and happy life, flaws included.
Catherine Ryan Hyde gives us a feel good story about how it takes a village. We are not alone in this world and weren't meant to be. We need the love and help of others no matter where we are on our path. Life is meant to be shared and is fulfilled only when we include others. Strangers are never strange for long if we let them into our hearts.
I became a fan of Ms. Hyde's work when I read Take Me With You. She's best known for Pay It Forward which became a movie. I think that"ll be the next one I'll read. Movie or no movie, that doesn't mean you should pass over any of her other works. Worthy will lift your spirits and restore your faith whether you're a dog lover or even a cat lover! If you are looking for a book to make you feel good, Worthy is it.
Virginia ia a working girl, a waitress at a diner. Aaron is a widower who comes to the diner with his shy, young son, Buddy. He has his heart set on Virginia and she on him. Just when their first date is about to become reality, tragedy strikes. Their budding romance is not to be.
We fast forward 19 years and Virginia owns the diner along with her friend, Fern. She's also now engaged to Lloyd. Lloyd, however is not the man she thinks he is,when her beloved dog, T-Rex goes missing. Through a series of events, T-Rex leads Virginia and Buddy back into each other's lives and teaches them both what they are worthy of in life.
Put a dog in a story and I'm hooked, the dog lover that I am. Worthy stole my heart from the very beginning. The characters in this novel have flaws, big ones. Don't we all? As the story unfolds, we watch them come to grips with how to live a good and happy life, flaws included.
Catherine Ryan Hyde gives us a feel good story about how it takes a village. We are not alone in this world and weren't meant to be. We need the love and help of others no matter where we are on our path. Life is meant to be shared and is fulfilled only when we include others. Strangers are never strange for long if we let them into our hearts.
I became a fan of Ms. Hyde's work when I read Take Me With You. She's best known for Pay It Forward which became a movie. I think that"ll be the next one I'll read. Movie or no movie, that doesn't mean you should pass over any of her other works. Worthy will lift your spirits and restore your faith whether you're a dog lover or even a cat lover! If you are looking for a book to make you feel good, Worthy is it.
November 2, 2015
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
I'm always attracted to books that have won the Pulitzer Prize, and when I saw Jane Smiley on the cover of my Writer's Digest magazine, I figured I should give her writing a try. Farmers in Iowa are not really my thing, but I like to keep an open mind when it comes to the books I read.
Larry Cook is a successful farmer who over time and the misfortune of others has accumulated a thousand acres of farmland. He's very proud of that fact, and thrives in the attention it gives to him. His three daughters however, have a very different view of their father. When he decides to turn the farm over to them and their husbands, the cracks in the facade begin to grow.
I loved the first few chapters, filled with beautiful prose and lovely descriptions. I could see in my mind the rows upon rows of corn growing in the Midwestern summer heat. As the pages turned however, I became more and more confused. There was so much backstory that popped in, smack dab in the middle of a scene, drawing me away it. Then again without notice, I got yanked back into the present. Ginny, who is the narrator of the story, seemed at first to me like a woman I could relate to. I understand she found herself in an unexpected and stressful situation, but many of her actions were out of character.
I've read the reviews and people love this novel. This is simply my opinion, but I wanted something more from A Thousand Acres. The story had all the components of a rich and wonderful story. For me, they weren't strung together in an smooth or enjoyable way. By the end I couldn't feel sorry of any of the farmers from Iowa.
I'm always attracted to books that have won the Pulitzer Prize, and when I saw Jane Smiley on the cover of my Writer's Digest magazine, I figured I should give her writing a try. Farmers in Iowa are not really my thing, but I like to keep an open mind when it comes to the books I read.
Larry Cook is a successful farmer who over time and the misfortune of others has accumulated a thousand acres of farmland. He's very proud of that fact, and thrives in the attention it gives to him. His three daughters however, have a very different view of their father. When he decides to turn the farm over to them and their husbands, the cracks in the facade begin to grow.
I loved the first few chapters, filled with beautiful prose and lovely descriptions. I could see in my mind the rows upon rows of corn growing in the Midwestern summer heat. As the pages turned however, I became more and more confused. There was so much backstory that popped in, smack dab in the middle of a scene, drawing me away it. Then again without notice, I got yanked back into the present. Ginny, who is the narrator of the story, seemed at first to me like a woman I could relate to. I understand she found herself in an unexpected and stressful situation, but many of her actions were out of character.
I've read the reviews and people love this novel. This is simply my opinion, but I wanted something more from A Thousand Acres. The story had all the components of a rich and wonderful story. For me, they weren't strung together in an smooth or enjoyable way. By the end I couldn't feel sorry of any of the farmers from Iowa.
October 25, 2015
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a huge baseball fan. The Tampa Bay Rays are my boys! During the regular season, Fox Sports ran a story about one of my favorite Rays, pitcher Chris Archer. It's well known that he loves to read and he told how his friend recommended The Alchemist to him. He asked the friend more than once if it was a good book. When he got reassurance that it was, he read it and found the story changed his life. I wanted to get on that bandwagon!
I've read Paulo Coehlo before and love his simple stories about life. The Alchemist is a fable about a shepherd, Santiago, who is looking for his treasure. The search takes him from Spain, to Africa and across the desert to the Pyramids. Along the way he meets all kinds of people, some good, some bad but who all teach him what he is capable of in life.
I'm inspired by this book. I love the spiritual wisdom found on these pages. Maintaining a positive outlook can be difficult in a world full of negativity. The Alchemist is thought provoking and uplifting. We can all use a little reminding of how fortunate we are in life. We can overcome any obstacle if we simply try. I'm going to read this one again and will probably make some notes in the margins the second time around. It's that good.
There are many lessons in The Alchemist, and the most important one in my view is to keep an open mind. Look at me, I watched a baseball game which led me to an intelligent book that touched my soul. When one door closes, another opens. Follow your dreams, they will lead you to your treasure. Be patient. And watch baseball. You might learn the difference between a fastball and a change up, but you might also find something far more satisfying. The path to your own Personal Legend.
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a huge baseball fan. The Tampa Bay Rays are my boys! During the regular season, Fox Sports ran a story about one of my favorite Rays, pitcher Chris Archer. It's well known that he loves to read and he told how his friend recommended The Alchemist to him. He asked the friend more than once if it was a good book. When he got reassurance that it was, he read it and found the story changed his life. I wanted to get on that bandwagon!
I've read Paulo Coehlo before and love his simple stories about life. The Alchemist is a fable about a shepherd, Santiago, who is looking for his treasure. The search takes him from Spain, to Africa and across the desert to the Pyramids. Along the way he meets all kinds of people, some good, some bad but who all teach him what he is capable of in life.
I'm inspired by this book. I love the spiritual wisdom found on these pages. Maintaining a positive outlook can be difficult in a world full of negativity. The Alchemist is thought provoking and uplifting. We can all use a little reminding of how fortunate we are in life. We can overcome any obstacle if we simply try. I'm going to read this one again and will probably make some notes in the margins the second time around. It's that good.
There are many lessons in The Alchemist, and the most important one in my view is to keep an open mind. Look at me, I watched a baseball game which led me to an intelligent book that touched my soul. When one door closes, another opens. Follow your dreams, they will lead you to your treasure. Be patient. And watch baseball. You might learn the difference between a fastball and a change up, but you might also find something far more satisfying. The path to your own Personal Legend.
October 24, 2015
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Dr. Alice Howland celebrates her 50th birthday and realizes she's not herself. She's built her life on the study of language and words and suddenly her words are lost in everyday conversations. Names and places escape her. While out for a run one day, she can't find her way home, a route she's taken a thousand times before. Alice tries to write these changes off to menopause but that is not the cause. Alice is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.
Having recently turned 60, the topic of Still Alice scares me. Every little ache and pain is cause for alarm. My memory is certainly not what it used to be and that just sucks. I know too many people around my age who have suffered through physical or mental illness themselves or of a loved one. The clock is ticking. I usually have a positive outlook on life, but that 60th birthday threw me for a loop and I haven't recovered. Still Alice made me think about what may lie ahead for me and my family. I know that age is strictly a number and soon I'll be back to my youthful mindset. But Alice didn't have that option and that made me sad.
Still Alice is a beautifully written and crafted novel. The reader follows Alice step by step as the disease changes her. We see her triumphs and her failures. We watch her husband and children try to come to grips with the changes in their lives too. Still Alice is difficult to read, her disease is a painful and heartbreaking one. It's one that once we reach a certain age, we all fear will happen to us. And that's probably the one thing about Alzheimer's that's normal, the angst that we all see in it.
I learned a lot from this book and the most important is that every human being that suffers from any form of dementia is still a person who lives. Alice was Still Alice living a life full of hope, and for that I'm glad.
Dr. Alice Howland celebrates her 50th birthday and realizes she's not herself. She's built her life on the study of language and words and suddenly her words are lost in everyday conversations. Names and places escape her. While out for a run one day, she can't find her way home, a route she's taken a thousand times before. Alice tries to write these changes off to menopause but that is not the cause. Alice is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.
Having recently turned 60, the topic of Still Alice scares me. Every little ache and pain is cause for alarm. My memory is certainly not what it used to be and that just sucks. I know too many people around my age who have suffered through physical or mental illness themselves or of a loved one. The clock is ticking. I usually have a positive outlook on life, but that 60th birthday threw me for a loop and I haven't recovered. Still Alice made me think about what may lie ahead for me and my family. I know that age is strictly a number and soon I'll be back to my youthful mindset. But Alice didn't have that option and that made me sad.
Still Alice is a beautifully written and crafted novel. The reader follows Alice step by step as the disease changes her. We see her triumphs and her failures. We watch her husband and children try to come to grips with the changes in their lives too. Still Alice is difficult to read, her disease is a painful and heartbreaking one. It's one that once we reach a certain age, we all fear will happen to us. And that's probably the one thing about Alzheimer's that's normal, the angst that we all see in it.
I learned a lot from this book and the most important is that every human being that suffers from any form of dementia is still a person who lives. Alice was Still Alice living a life full of hope, and for that I'm glad.
October 18, 2015
The Art of the Handwritten Note by Margaret Shepherd
The Art of the Handwritten Note by Margaret Shepherd
I picked up this book on a recent trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. While there, I fully immersed myself in the social etiquette of the early 20th century. I found myself dreaming of a simpler place and time. Browsing through the bookstore, I was drawn to The Art of The Handwritten Note.
Writing notes as a child to my grandparents is what built the foundation for my writing life. I still love to write notes, but as a society we've opted to replace personal interactions with short snippets of conversation posted publicly on Facebook and Twitter for the whole world to read and scrutinize.
The Art of the Handwritten Note is not a stuffy narrative about manners. The author makes it clear that the handwritten note is still alive and well in our high tech 21st century. A note that arrives in our mailbox is first, a surprise, and then a personal interaction between two people. It's not publicly posted online for strangers to see. It's special. And as human beings we will always adore being made to feel special.
Ms. Shepherd writes of how to choose stationery, a pen, ink. She gives us do's and don't's for all kinds of correspondence. She asks us to practice what we want to say and not be intimidated by handwriting that may not be perfect. By sitting down and taking the time to write a personal note, we are creating a singular experience for the recipient as well as one for ourselves.
I know that posting a review online about a book on sending handwritten notes is quite contradictory. But maybe if we all spent some time letting our friends and family know what they mean to us, this world would be a happier and more peaceful place to be. We'd all be feeling special and our mailboxes would be filled with joy.
I picked up this book on a recent trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. While there, I fully immersed myself in the social etiquette of the early 20th century. I found myself dreaming of a simpler place and time. Browsing through the bookstore, I was drawn to The Art of The Handwritten Note.
Writing notes as a child to my grandparents is what built the foundation for my writing life. I still love to write notes, but as a society we've opted to replace personal interactions with short snippets of conversation posted publicly on Facebook and Twitter for the whole world to read and scrutinize.
The Art of the Handwritten Note is not a stuffy narrative about manners. The author makes it clear that the handwritten note is still alive and well in our high tech 21st century. A note that arrives in our mailbox is first, a surprise, and then a personal interaction between two people. It's not publicly posted online for strangers to see. It's special. And as human beings we will always adore being made to feel special.
Ms. Shepherd writes of how to choose stationery, a pen, ink. She gives us do's and don't's for all kinds of correspondence. She asks us to practice what we want to say and not be intimidated by handwriting that may not be perfect. By sitting down and taking the time to write a personal note, we are creating a singular experience for the recipient as well as one for ourselves.
I know that posting a review online about a book on sending handwritten notes is quite contradictory. But maybe if we all spent some time letting our friends and family know what they mean to us, this world would be a happier and more peaceful place to be. We'd all be feeling special and our mailboxes would be filled with joy.
October 14, 2015
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
I hope you all know by now that I'm not a serial reader. I'm also not much of a mystery or thriller reader, but a friend is in love with Jack Reacher and gave me one of her beloved paperbacks to read. Since we are both people who would prefer to have our nose in a book than do anything else, I said I'd give it a try.
Reacher is an ex-military special investigator. He was part of a team of special investigators who have suddenly started showing up dead. When he received an unknown deposit to his dwindling bank account, he knows he's being summoned back to work. The rest of the group slowly respond to urgent messages to assemble to hunt for the killers. Reacher travels light, with only a toothbrush to his name. Neagley, O'Donnell and Dixon have enjoyed much more lucrative careers than Reacher since leaving the army, showing up with suitcases and credit cards to finance the search. Reacher resorts to emptying the wallets of men he kills along the way in order to keep up.
I enjoyed the the action in Bad Luck and Trouble. The pace, tension and suspense made this a real page turner. The author did a great job of keeping the reader guessing. I'm not sure I'm ready to ready the other 19 Jack Reacher novels but if another one came my way, I wouldn't turn it down.
I hope you all know by now that I'm not a serial reader. I'm also not much of a mystery or thriller reader, but a friend is in love with Jack Reacher and gave me one of her beloved paperbacks to read. Since we are both people who would prefer to have our nose in a book than do anything else, I said I'd give it a try.
Reacher is an ex-military special investigator. He was part of a team of special investigators who have suddenly started showing up dead. When he received an unknown deposit to his dwindling bank account, he knows he's being summoned back to work. The rest of the group slowly respond to urgent messages to assemble to hunt for the killers. Reacher travels light, with only a toothbrush to his name. Neagley, O'Donnell and Dixon have enjoyed much more lucrative careers than Reacher since leaving the army, showing up with suitcases and credit cards to finance the search. Reacher resorts to emptying the wallets of men he kills along the way in order to keep up.
I enjoyed the the action in Bad Luck and Trouble. The pace, tension and suspense made this a real page turner. The author did a great job of keeping the reader guessing. I'm not sure I'm ready to ready the other 19 Jack Reacher novels but if another one came my way, I wouldn't turn it down.
