Notable Books Of 2019

For various reasons I did not read as much in 2019, still I managed well over 100 books. Lots of very good books in the lot, enjoyable reading, but not as many that qualified for my "notable" list.

1. Dreaming Spies – Laurie R. King. Having read and enjoyed several of Ms. King’s books about Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes, this book stands out for me because of the detailed look at both peasant and royal life in 1920s Japan, the customs, the sensibilities, and the arts. It also presents a detailed picture of what travel by Steamship in the tropics was like – not what I had imagined even for first class!
2. The Black Ascot – Charles Todd. (Charles Todd is a pen name used by the American authors Caroline and Charles Todd.) This is just one of the books in a series about Ian Rutledge, a Scotland Yard inspector in post WW1 years in England. The books are rich in detail of the English countryside and customs of the era, as well as the after effects of the war. Ian Rutledge hides his “shell shock” (we know it as PTSD) as do others in these compelling mysteries.
3. A Better Man – Louise Penny – any book by Louise Penny falls under my classification of “notable”. They are so much more than just another “murder mystery”.
4. The New Girl – Daniel Silva – This story is a brilliantly fictionalized account of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the probable/possible political situation that was cause, and the resulting impact – and as always a real page turner.
5. Who Slays The Wicked – C.S. Harris – I believe this is the 15th book in a series taking place in Regency England. The author has a PHD in European history. Beside being very interesting murder mystery books, this and the others paint a picture of this period in English history that is fascinating and informative.
6. The Drifter – Burning Bright – Light It Up – Tear it Down – Nick Petrie. This series is action fiction at it’s most intense. Memorable characters that have staying power.
7. The Body – Bill Bryson – sub titled “A guide for occupants”. Non Fiction. Vintage Bryson at his best. Need I say more?

Notable Books of 2018

Once again a rich year in reading with many enjoyable, entertaining, and informative books. The following names a few that had some significant impact for me.

1. An Irish Country Practice – Patrick Taylor. This book is just the latest in a series of books (I think there are 14) with the title “An Irish Country ____”. Think “All creatures great and small” but taking place in Ireland and doctoring humans, not animals. A calm soothing read but quite satisfying – lots of medical information re symptoms and treatments that most lay people would easily understand.
2. The Stranger In The Woods - Michael Finkel. (sub title “The Last True Hermit”). a remarkable tale of survival and solitude--the true story of a man who lived alone in a tent in the Maine woods, never talking to another person and surviving by stealing supplies from nearby cabins for twenty-seven years. It also delves into the history of  isolationists (hermits, anchorites, people who just like to be alone) throughout history and continuing today. A fascinating subject I had never given any thought to.
3. The Day The World Came To Town - Jim DeFede. The non fiction account of the thousands of arrivals in Newfoundland on 911. Fascinating, funny, and moving account of people at their finest at the worst of times.
4. The Midnight Line – Lee Child. The latest of the Jack Reacher novels, and as always a well told and intriguing story. But that is not why I put it on this list – it is for the sensitive portrayal of addiction, specifically opiods – and a glimpse into the life of an addict.
5. Painted Horses –Malcolm Brooks. This one qualifies as my “find of the year”. I picked it up to fill the gap between my last book and the arrival of my next reserved book. A simple western. Not! A beautifully written book that defies genre, and is most definitely worth the read.
6.  Sebastian St. Cyr Regency Mysteries – C.S.Harris. 13 books in this series of murder mysteries taking place in Regency England. A most interesting look at the politics, mores, class system, and general life of this period. Read one and likely get hooked.
7. The Death and Life of Strother Purcell – Ian Weir. I don’t know what to say about this book except that I liked it very much. You need to read the many reviews and book descriptions available on the internet to see if it attracts your interest. Definitely quirky!
8. Whiskey When We’re Dry – John Larison. I will let this review stand as the way I feel about this book - "A thunderclap of originality, here is a fresh voice and fresh take on one of the oldest stories we tell about ourselves as Americans and Westerners. It's riveting in all the right ways -- a damn good read that stayed with me long after closing the covers." - Timothy Egan, New York Times bestselling
9. The Reckoning – John Grisham. I found the book difficult to read in places because of the terrible circumstances – The Bataan Death March for example. Still, the story, the places, the times left an impact on me that will last for a long time.