“The Gravity of Birds” by Tracy Guzeman

This was a readable book, but I did not like the way Guzeman developed her characters. There was something unpleasantly shallow about them. It occurred to me that she pecked at character development, evoking a bird like feeling. This was in keeping with birds being a prominent theme throughout. The book is filled with cowardly decisions and actions. I do not know why so many people seemed to enjoy it. The word that came most often to my mind was “repulsive”. Artistic geniuses, bitter sister, rheamatoid arthritis.

“Day Shift” by Charlaine Harris

I enjoyed this book. Charlaine Harris’ writing is friendly, inventive and kind and fun to read. Unfortunately, I read the last 2 books in the Midnight Texas series out of order, and so was missing some of the context when I was reading “Night Shift”. I think I’ll likely skim it for the stuff I missed.

“Dickens of London” by Wolf Mankowitz

This was an easy-to-read biography of Dickens. It was written in support of a tv show so it did not go into ponderous detail, but did succeed in giving me a better understanding of the man. He sounds amazing, especially in his concerns with social justice. Nevertheless, I would not have wanted to be either his child or his lover. He was definitely hard to live with. I liked the illustrations in the book as well. I have always had a great fondness for the black and white illustrations of that era.

“The Real Thing” by Doris Lessing

There were a number of good stories in this book of short stories and sketches. The one that I remember best dealt with a social worker’s visit to an immigrant mother in London. It’s always a pleasure to read Doris Lessing because she is so aware of what drives us as human beings.

"The Idiot" by John Kendrick Bangs

I quite enjoyed this humorous collection of stories about an “idiot” and his “tormented” breakfast companions in a boarding house. The idiot likes to tease with wordplay and with exposition on novel concepts such as floating houses. The last chapter is a heartwarming ending. In addition to the humour, I enjoyed picking up some minor tidbits on early 20th century life. Question... why have boarding houses fallen by the wayside?