I’ve read the following books in the past few months, but I didn’t review them because I really didn’t have that much to say about them. Here you have my brief opinions:
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks. Mr. Sacks is a neurologist who writes in this book about patients with “conditions ranging from Tourette’s Syndrome to autism, parkinsonism, musical hallucination, phantom limb syndrome, schizophrenia, retardation and Alzheimer’s disease.” We’ve been watching a lot of House lately, and the book reminded me of the often strange diagnoses on that program. However, Dr. Sacks sounds a lot more compassionate than Greg House.
Christian Science Monitor: What Is Oliver Sacks Reading, Listening To, and Watching?
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith. Great if you liked the other books in this No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. I did.
Austenland by Shannon Hale I first read about this book at Camille’s Book Moot. She refers to a review at Bookshelves of Doom. It was enjoyable chick-lit, nothing serious, for Jane Austen fans only. I can’t imagine anyone else finding the book of interest, but I can imagine especially young single fans of Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth finding the book to be a good way to spend an afternoon.
The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin. Recommended by Cindy at Dominion family. I enjoyed this golden era mystery, reminiscent of Agatha, Dorothy, and Josephine. But not as absorbing.
I’ve picked Austenland up at the bookstore and put it down a couple of times. Thanks for the review. I’m neither young nor single, but I think I might like it anyway. *grin*
I too read The Case of the Gilded Fly a couple of weeks ago. I discovered Crispin while searching out mid-century (20th) mystery authors. I read some reviews that say his books that follow Gilded Fly are better. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the quirky detective (I haven’t decided whether or not I like the character) and we both liked the description of the train ride into Oxford!