Madeleine Albright's memoir of her wartime childhood in Czechoslovakia records the period between 1937 to 1948, with all the intricacies of Hitler's rise to power and defeat, the ensuing changes in Europe following the war and the resulting effects for the world and a small child who ultimately became U.S. Secretary of State.

Just finished The Call by Yannick Murphy. I recommend this book to adults as a refreshingly different family oriented mystery. A vet records each "call" and the action taken, followed by what his children say to him on his return home and what his wife cooks for dinner. Gradually the whole cloth is made of the threads. An affecting piece of literature, deceptively simple.

The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey.  Twice the winner of the Booker Prize, the author may be in line for another accolade. Set in contemporary London, a conservationist of automatonic robots, is drawn into the past by her work on mysterious containers and the written accounts that come with the project. Grieving for her dead lover, Catherine's heightened emotional state allows her to discover the past and the present for herself.

The Quality of Mercy by Barry Unsworth. Set in 18th century England the tale brings to light the serious nature of the slave trade and the coal mining practice of using young children. The characters, both men and women, are well drawn with human psychology and the possibility of change for the better.

Wild : from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail  by Cheryl Strayed. A memoir by a talented writer reveals her inner strength. Undertaking a solo hike from Mojave to the Canadian border, facing challenges both physical and within herself, Cheryl Strayed reforms her life and recovers from the grief of her mother's death.   

Death comes to Pemberley by P.D. James.  


Using the characters from the classic Pride and Prejudice, a classic mystery is borne.

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus.  A thriller to the end. Three protagonists are brought into a violent spiral.

Blue Nights by Joan Didion.   The writer's sad story of her daughter's death considered with love and frankness. Her fears of impending old age reflect her grief as well as her love for Quintana Roo and her deceased husband, John Gregory Dunne. Beautifully written.

  The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville.  The Australian writer brings to life the period of discovery and settlement in New South Wales in 1788. The aborigines become friendly with the young lieutenant who is the settlement's astronomer. The underlying story is about friendship and betrayal.

Red Herring without mustard  by Alan Bradley   The wonderful eleven year old sleuth Flavia de Luce consults a gypsy fortune teller and gradually becomes embroiled in the many fishy events surrounding this mystery.

The Boy in the Moon :  a Father's Journey to Understand His Extraordinary Son by Ian Brown.
A beautiful and affecting book about a disabled boy told with deep feelings of loving care. 

Inprint events

Here is the link to Inprint for the remaining programs which will feature poets Rae Armantrout and Christian Wiman, writers Tea Obreht, Gary Shteyngart and W.S. Merwin. Books by these writers are in the Underwood Library collection.

www.inprinthouston.org

I thoroughly recommend attending these marvelous events; quite inspiring, always interesting and worth every penny of the $5 ticket (in fact, the parking is more expensive than the ticket price! but don't let that deter you.

The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje

In the early 50s unaccompanied young boys voyage from Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to England by ship. The fully fleshed out characters' actions are gradually interwoven with later years and experiences in their lives.

A marvelous read - I'm half way and want to savor every word. I'll probably go back and read The English Patient to enjoy more of the writer's work.