Author: Umberto Eco

I read another book by this author and really like it but I sure didn’t like this one. In fact, I think I liked it less than Moby Dick.

Here’s what Goodreads had to say about the book:

“Three clever editors (who have spent altogether too much time reviewing crackpot manuscripts on the occult by fanatics and dilettantes) decide to have a little fun. They are inspired by an extraordinary fable they heard years before from a suspiciously natty colonel, who claimed to know of a mystic source of power greater than atomic energy.

On a lark, the editors begin randomly feeding esoteric bits of knowledge into an incredible computer capable of inventing connections between all their entries. What they believe they are creating is a long, lazy game – until the game starts taking over… “

Can you see how I might have been fooled?

Goodreads Rating: *

Author: Robert James Waller

This had been on my Kindle for a long time and I was in the mood for a quick read and something light.

Carlisle McMillan arrives in the small town of Salamander near Wolf Butte. His arrival is not celebrated, with the exception of a Native American and two women. Carlisle, a master carpenter, buys a rundown farmhouse and begins to rebuild it. Just as it is finished the state plans to run a road directly through his house. Can the few people opposed to the new highway stop it before it destroys his home and the endangered birds living near his property?

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: José Saramago

I have always enjoyed books by this author but this one certainly isn’t one of my favourites. His unique way of writing was obvious – long sentences and thoughts going off in all directions – but there wasn’t much of a story.

I would certainly recommend books by the author, but it would probably be best if you didn’t start off with this one!

Goodreads Rating: * *

Author: Henning Mankell

I decided to read the entire Kurt Wallander series but I was unable to find a printed copy of this 2nd book in the series. I downloaded the audio book from the library so that’s what I “read”. I’m not a fan of audio books. Most of my reading is done at night and, even with the radio, I’m asleep after about five minutes of listening. However, I managed to make it through and was thankful for the rewind button on my iPad and computer.

Kurt is investigating the murder of two unknown men who have washed ashore in a life raft. After making very little headway into the case it becomes known that the dead men are from a Baltic country and soon after an officer from Latvia comes to Sweden to assist with the case. When the case is abruptly taken back to Latvia for its conclusion the Latvian officer is murdered and Kurt then travels to Latvia to help solve that murder.

It is a complicated story. I’m not sure if it was because it was audio and not print but I found it very long. I must say though that I enjoyed the narrator.

Good Reads Rating: * * *