Small Book, Big Message

This multi-layered book makes every page count. Using the Christmas season as a backdrop, the author shines a light on what drives the characters' little town--the Church and its supposed good works. Protagonist Bill Furlong, an admirable husband, dad, employee and all-around good guy, has a past of his own which is intertwined with the questionable assumptions of the general citizenry. When he makes an unexpected discovery, he has a decision to make. This book, delivering a very different Christmas message than the usual "holly jolly" was a quick read but will stay in my mind for a long time.

I Was Cursing While Reading It . . .

The title of this book was, I'll admit, more than a little titillating. I'd always wondered about that guy. Well, I'll wonder no more, because this book held absolutely no interest for me, and I read all 216 pages, hoping against hope. It slogged along, outlining every book dealer known to man (okay, a slight exaggeration, but it felt that way) and all the ways that they have cheated to one-up the next guy over. In the end, it felt like it was really a very detailed, extremely dry book about unscrupulousness in the literary world. I didn't detect any "curse", unless I was somehow able to continue reading after I'd dozed off (which wouldn't surprise me.) What I learned about the marquis himself was that he was a giant brat, pretty much all his life. There you go. I'll save you the time and money.

Far-Fetched? Or Quite Possible?

I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first, but it shaped up and coalesced as it went along. Under the current circumstances (culture? regime?) it may behoove many of us to read and consider. For others living a little closer to the protagonist's demographic, it might be a little too difficult to read before bedtime. A university professor is stalked and ultimately taken by, shall we say, a dissenter to her views (or color). I'll let you read it to figure out the rest, but it's a bit chilling.