“Phantom” by Jo Nesbo

This was a good read. The stories are becoming more and more complex and intricately structured.

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl

This book was not revolutionary for me. It did give some useful hints for finding meaning in life. Every person's meaning is different, and the meaning can vary from moment to moment. Take charge. Find the positive, even in suffering.

“The Zookeeper’s Wife” by Diane Ackerman

I enjoyed many parts of this nonfiction book. It gave me a good appreciation of World War ll Warsaw, and of the psychology of survival. I bought it for my mother, but I’m glad I read it as well.

Diane Ackerman is extremely well educated and her intellectualism and careful research shine through. She is rigorously honest, I think, and I’m sure all Poles appreciate the fact that she called the area outside of the Jewish Ghetto ‘Aryan’ rather than ‘Polish’. Ackerman even describes the mindset of the Germans, and you do recognize that all sides consisted of good and bad individuals. That said, I now have an even clearer idea of why so many people loathed the Germans after the war.

The author obviously loves nature. The book does contain too many descriptions of animals, but those can be skipped over. And thanks to Ackerman, I have become aware of Poland’s amazing Bialowierza forest.