Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

 I have found that most authors who attempt either serious or light-handed work with Jane Austen's characters fall very far short. P.D. James, though, does better than most! I found this hard copy on the "For Sale" shelf at the Santa Clara library. I thought, "Why not?" It's worth the risk of a dollar. Before I risked, it though, I did a quick Amazon review read of James. She is quite the accomplished author, so it's no wonder she did a good job with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy!

This is a mystery with a lot of details and clues along the way. Because I love the P & P characters, especially Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, it was fun to see them so happily married and thriving. Other familiar characters also make an appearance, and James is true to their personalities. The characters lacking integrity get their comeuppance, and that is always satisfying. 

And the mystery aspect kept me turning the pages and reading much later than I should have. It's a keeper which I will enjoy again sometime in the future. And while James is true to the characters, she is less apt to expound or comment in lengthy phrases on the happenings. And the Austen wit is less in evidence. So it's an easier, lighter read all around. Perfect for the little get-aways that I enjoy when I read before bed!

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

 My sister Alice Jane recommended this book to me because she thought it was very engaging AND it reveals a lot about what it's like to be "in therapy." I agree with her assessment! It's kind of cool the way the author interweaves her own struggles and questions with her patients' stories and theories of counseling.There is a lot of wisdom here, particularly in dealing with difficult people and situations. As she shares how and why she counsels her patients, her skill shines through. 

I was disappointed but not surprised at the author's personal choices; ie, sleeping with her boyfriend and involving her young son in the relationship that eventually broke up. She is definitely in tune with the social mores of our time, but it was disappointing to see no remorse over that situation or thinking she had done anything amiss. And her story of finding a sperm donor for her pregnancy shows how completely "modern" she is, not thinking her baby needed a father. 

Still, overlooking those moral differences, there is great love and empathy and commitment with her patients. I enjoyed reading about her dying patient, her narcissistic patient, and her aging patient, all of whom developed and grew over the course of the book. Plus I have to admire how vulnerable and open this author is about her own thinking, insecurities, and life itself. Her own therapy with Wendell was one of my favorite aspects of the book, particularly how she grew to appreciate him. He is a real standout in the book, the way he seems completely authentic and supportive and nonjudgmental. Definitely the kind of therapist I would want!