The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

The first third of this book was brilliant. Then it dragged. Then the ending partially redeemed the middle, but only partially.

Mrs. Woolf and the Servants by Alison Light

I liked this. I've always been fascinated by the history of service in Britain. Why, I do not know.

The Forger by Cioma Schonhaus

meh

One Second After William R. Forstchen

Fascinating concept, mediocre writing, insipid political commentary.

The Kindle

I've only had it for a few hours, but I'm already not clear how I survived without it. (And I'm pretty pleased that I got it brand new for $125--gotta love Craigslist!) Right now, Truman is sitting on the couch, having Aesop's fables read out loud to him.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This will, I'm sure, make for a very interesting book group discussion this week since Ali does a fabulous job situating the personal within the political. My own feelings about the book are quite mixed as, on the one hand, she presents a devastating critique of the usual western view of Islam but, on the other hand, the book sounds a little too much like the "disgruntled former member books" that we all know not to take too seriously. In any case, it was definitely interesting reading.

The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner

This is one of the very best books I have read in my entire life; it was utterly fascinating. I will save it and have my 9th graders read it as part of their biology curriculum.