Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

This very dense book was the perfect traveling companion for our holiday trip to Napa and Kailua. Before leaving South Dakota, I asked Sierra for some recommendations. She had this particular book, so I took it! I have always enjoyed Richard Russo, and was first introduced to him by my mother, who was a real fan. This story was intriguing, interesting, had the usual complex characters, and an interesting plot. I enjoyed it because it always held my interest, but wasn't such a page-turner that I resisted sleep to keep going. And a vacation book should be just that for me!

I'm not sure I would want to read it again...but there were parts that were almost lyrical. I was entranced by how accurately Russo described aspects of the aging process. And how we look back over time to see how and where we might have erred or seen things through a narrow view. Most enjoyable. Unfortunately, though, it's been a long time since I read it now (I'm way behind on this blog!) and I wish I remembered more about how I related to it.

Still Life by Louise Penny

At our Laramie girls' reunion in November, my friend Susan recommended this author. Louise Penny has written a whole series and this is her first. One reviewer calls it a "cozy murder mystery" and it is. That's a good description! The characters are cozy and you want to move to Three Pines and live amongst them! I especially liked Inspector Gamache... And I also enjoyed the Canadian setting.

The perfect read for pleasure...light, fun, funny, good dialogue, and colorful, local characters.