“Shadow Castle” by Marian Cockrell

I read this book when I was a child and loved it. It has always stayed with me and I don’t know how I could have parted with my original copy. I didn’t remember the exact title, but managed to find it on the internet as a reprint and Ray bought it for me for Christmas. Reading the comments about this book was fun because a lot of people had had the same reaction to it that I did.

I enjoyed rereading this book. It was fun recalling pictures and stories from when I read it the first time. I could even tell which section was “never before published.” It really is amazing what sticks with us. I even considered naming my son Robin because of this book.

“Gallows View” by Peter Robinson

This Detective Banks murder mystery was a pleasant enough read. I guess I’ll continue with the series because the author is Canadian, though born in Britain. It’s nice to read about a detective who is well adjusted and has a healthy family life.

“Wild Dogs” by Helen Humphreys

At first I thought this book was quite dreary because of the passive misery of all the characters. And the plot of people congregating in a field to summon their dogs, which had gone wild, seemed bizarre to say the least. But I ended up liking this book very much, due to the subtlety with which the author handles emotions. The characters evolved naturally, rather than through actions contrived by the author.

“Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harare

Though at times slow, this was an excellent book which exposed me to many new ideas and concepts. Surprisingly, it even changed my approach towards life. I am going to work on using Buddhist philosophy to reduce my worries. I will not make myself stressed by wanting things, especially with regard to my children. I will let life flow through me instead. I will accept what is.

“French Exit” by Patrick deWitt

I enjoyed this book. It was amusingly ironic, and the gradual revelation of Frances Price’s true nature was well done. She was far from the heartless, haughty grande dame who appears at the beginning of the story.

“Washington Black” by Esi Edugyan

Overall, I did not like this book, and would not have expected it to be an award winner. It is written from the first person point of view of a former slave, and I could never quite believe that it was a realistic voice. I thought the language was too modern and too sophisticated for a person from that era and background, regardless of how intelligent he was. And though there were some interesting sections in the book, it became too much of Washington’s musings and not enough of plot.