Stopping to Think

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a book I had picked up for dirt cheap when a book store I shopped was going out of business and the owner was begging me to fill bags with books. It then say on my shelf neglected and always perilously close to becoming the victim of one of my occasional book purges, until I ran across a few reviews that led me to think I ought to give it a read. Very glad I did. The story had me gripped, and Enger's prose moves between good and very good. My heart was often tugged, and I felt every jarring blow to the back that Reuben Land takes. We'll worth your time. View all my reviews

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain My rating: 4 of 5 stars The obvious issues that a 21st century reader will have with Twain: racism, sexist stereotypes, etc. But, man, that dude was funny. With an uncanny knack for capturing human nature, especially the nature of boyhood. It moves a little slow at points, but if you like to laugh this is worth your while. View all my reviews

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain My rating: 3 of 5 stars It's Twain, so there is plenty of humor, some of it side splitting. The satiric treatment of slavery deftly brings forth the folly not only of the institution, but of the underlying racism. It is also a somewhat tedious book. The lists (which Twain can use to great humor, as in Roughing It) got a little out of hand at times. A good audiobook option to laugh away a commute or job where listening to books is an option. View all my reviews