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  1. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - author of 'Gentleman from Moscow", which is on my list of greatest books I've ever read, has done another excellent novel.  This one from the perspective of a young woman making her way in New York of the 30's.  Excellent development of her character over span of years and a surprisingly beautiful book on civility (as in Gentleman) from the perspective of a woman.. Really well done and I love the actual 'Rules" as per George Washington.

  2. Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bancock and

  3. Sabine's Notebook - the first two of a series of eight very interesting tales told through a correspondence between tow artists linked by some impossible connection where Sabing can see the drawings of Griffin as they are created.  The story is good but the episolary through beautifically artistic postcards and letters is very engaging..

  4. Lamb by Christopher Moore - another outrageous and fun book by this author... this might be my 5ht or 6th by him,  This one the story of the missing 30 years of Jesus's life (her referred to a Joshua because Jesus wasn't proper language) and his best friend Biff (given name of Levi).  Biff and Joshua travel to locate and learn from the 3 wise men that witnessed his birth... they must have been pretty smart to have gone to the trouble.  As Biff and Joshua seek and spend time and learn from the three, adventure ensues.  A great imagining of what might have happened.

  5. The Shadow of Death by James Runcie - stories about one of my favorited tv characters, Sidney Chambers, Canon in Cambridge in post-war England.  A nice mix of characters that seem to represent all levels of society.  Nothing wild and crazy and no 'super' guys that can do everything and look stunning while doing it.

  6. Hornblower and the Atropos by CS Forester - book 5 in the Hornblower world.  Given command of his first vessel he sails into all sorts of trouble and adventure and comes out on top.  I do enjoy the technical aspects of the Hornblower books and can well imagine being aboard.

  7. Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille - I have an advance  copy of the book and I expect the editors got to it after the copy I read.  It's a good, nee very good story of a Viet Nam vet forced to confront jis actions 20 years after his putting it in his past.  Well told, interesting, and a gripping conclusion... I just wish it was shorter.

  8. Truth by Peter Temple - a fun police story placed in Australia... which added to my enjoyment... just enough vocabulary and idiom differences.

  9. The Wheels of Darkness by Preston and Child - another Agent Pendergast adventure and, as unbelievable as they get, still very enjoyable.

  10. The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Patterson Joseph - very interesting story of a free black relegated by some nasty old ladies to the streets where he dodges slave hunters and tries to make a success of himself.  A warm and caring individual that I enjoyed reading about.

  11. Hungry Blade by Lawrence Dudley - the plot involves pre-war espionage and the Nazis attempts to raise operating funds by sales of confiscated art treasures.  Primarily in Mexico and including artist Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Trotsky and enough intrigue to make it interesting.

  12. The Last Heroes by WEB Griffin - a fictional look at the birth of the CIA as created by Roosevelt in the wake of Pearl Harbor.  Beginnings of search for components of nuclear resources.  Good protrayal of characters, many of them actual participants .Griffin's development of characters and plot is excellent, as always.

  13. Cyrano's Curse by Christopher Moore - one of my very favorite authors publishes a book of poetry.  Not his best work.

  14. Budapest, a travel guide - yes, I read the whole thing before i figured out we were going to Bucharest, not Budapest!  Maybe someday but for now, a lost cause.

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