"Mystery" by Jonathan Kellerman

As usual for this author, it was an easy book for me to read. But I'm not sure if it's one of his best. The plot seemed quite convoluted, and I don't think things were laid out clearly enough. There were too many names to follow, and the dieing Madame with the wonderful young son seemed unnecessary to the overall plot. I am rusty about Kellerman's writing style because it's a number of years since I've read him.... I gave up on him when he dumped the girlfriend, Robin, but she's back now, hence I'm reading Kellerman again. I wonder if he's losing his touch, since I seem to remember he's also cowriting stuff with a son.

"The Ghost Light" by Frtiz Leiber

I've had this book of Fritz Leiber stories lying around for decades, and I was finally in the mood to give them a try. The stories were much grittier than I expected, which is good. But I also found his writing style to be much too obscure and abstract for my taste, with a liberal sprinkling of uber "intelligent" musings that do not make for readability. I became so sick of his writing style that I was unable to complete the last story, and never even contemplated reading his autobiographical essay, which is the last item in this collection.

"The Green Road" by Anne Enright

There were too many passages in the book that I did not quie understand because they were vague. And I found the beginning half, that explored the lives of the four children, rather slow. My interest perked up when the book reached the mother, Rosaleen, because I could relate some of her behaviour to my mother. Poor mothers, trapped in the role of "Mother" and not seen as just "people" by their children. Poor children, forever trying to reach their mothers and fighting against how they think they're seen. All in all, I am glad I read this book. Oh, and I would have to say that much of Enright's writing gives me a feeling of dreary fog, similar to the weather in Ireland. And yet, she also always manages to find bits of joy in the fog.

"Between Man and Beast" by Monte Reel

An ok biography of Paul Du Chaillu who explored parts of Africa during the Victorian era and was key to introducing gorilla specimens to England and the United States. Paul was also an adventure writer and a writer of children's stories. Aspects of the book I didn't like included ugly displays of human nature re evolution, personal jealousies etc. I did enjoying reading about Darwin and Huxley and other people of their ilk. This biography was very distant from its subject. It felt like reading hearsay, and I did not feel close to Paul, ever.

"Quicker than the Eye" by Ray Bradbury

I'm glad to be finally finished this collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury. The only story I remember loving is the one about 2 senior citizens trying to murder each othe. The black humour was great. For the most part, though, I did not like the stories. I find that Ray Bradbury's voice is often too lyrical for the subject matter, and I got tired of hearing the same mental voice over and over again.

"Homesick" by Guy Vanderhaeghe

This was a well written book, centred around an obtusely stubborn relationship between an old man and  his daughter. It dealt with the kind of people I'm not really interested in reading about; the adults had too many rough edges for my taste. Daniel, the grandson, was appealing. Hopefully the mother eventually learns to see who he really is, and stops living in fear that he won't live up to his potential. I do believe the mother does grow by the time the book ends

"The Elfstones of Shannara" by Terry Brooks

Never have I skimmed a book to the great extent that I skimmed this one. The story is such a cliche that I only had to skim every 10 pages or so to know what as going on. And the writer puts thousands of words too many of exposition into his writing. No one really talks or thinks the way Brooks has them talking and thinking. I am never reading another book by this author.