Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

 I'm not sure how I heard about this book, but somehow I have it and I enjoyed it! It was nice to read something more contemporary after my days and days of early 1900's and Green Gables. This was a well-written story that came about almost like a mystery. Different threads of a story soon came together in a beautiful way, and a family came together through the help of a super smart octopus.

I enjoyed the writing. Great images and descriptions without calling attention to themselves. Tova, the main character in the story, was interesting and relatable. Cameron, the shiftless 30 year old, develops and grows in the course of the story, and it was rewarding to watch that happen. The language was brutal but appropriate. 

I got a little tired of all the melodrama, though. The constant care about where she (Tova) was going to live, etc., and her friend Ethan's kindness, and how was that going to go? Are there really people that selfless around? Anyway, the rehashing of her son's death was tiring...still, the story was intriguing enough to hold my interest, and so were the characters. 

I read this in a couple of days. I enjoyed inhabiting their world because my own has become redundant and somehow stale. Or worrisome? I'm veging out way too often, and this book helped me do that for hours on end. I'm ready to take a break and get active again, but I don't seem to have the motivation or the energy! Still, here I am, sitting up and writing, and I'm not deep into my next one YET, so maybe today will be the day I break this lethargy. I hope so. 

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

 This was riveting. I liked the variety of having an additional narrator besides Kinsey. Hearing Solana's point of view added to the tension in the story. In fact, the tension in this story and the way it unfolded really held my interest. Solana's devious plans and actions as she stole someone's identity and then proceeded to take advantage of Kinsey's elderly neighbor were instructive. It was interesting because it seemed so easy to do, and she had a lot of know how and a lawyer to help her. I also kept thinking about how this was the 80s and would not unfold this way with today's technology.

I was disappointed that near the beginning Kinsey explained why she broke up with Cheney. Oh, no! He added so much spice to the story! He does make a brief appearance near the end of the story, but the romance is not re-ignited. Bummer! I liked that aspect of the series because it showed a new and vulnerable side of Kinsey. I was also hoping for some more family connections, but there wasn't time in this one, I guess. The side story of the accident where the missing witness was an ex-con provided a break from the main story. Now that I think about it, the woman who was trying to take advantage of the system by claiming injuries was similar in deviousness to Solana. Two very dishonest women. And the ex-con, an earnest ventiloquist, seemed to be doing what he could to get himself healthier. Not sure about that, but he was definitely an interesting character.

This was a fun winter read which I enjoyed immensely as I snuggled under blankets in our living room, waiting for work men to arrive or depart as our basement repair nears its completion. While this story had horrible villains, it was not a depressing read. In fact, Kinsey challenges us at the end to do our part to protect children and the elderly. I liked that!