Odds and Ends

Well, it has been a summer for reading and listening to books. The weather is hot and therefore I am lazy but I really enjoy this weather for reading. Movies are geared toward remakes of comic books or just light romances so I find that when I ignore them, I don't feel bad. I am reading a book about film making, more on that in a  later post, which is giving me a whole new appreciation for the movies. I've discovered the Bernie Gunther mystery series by Phillip Kerr as a result of the my local Marvelous Sleuths Book Club, which I happen to lead and really enjoy it. I fell in love with A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. This is the first in a series and I cannot wait for the next one ! 

In the audio world I have been enjoying  Steve Berry's The Jefferson Key. He did a great deal of research for the book and it makes for a good read. A book that I found myself arguing with was titled  I Though You Were Dead  by Pete Nelson. The main character here is a guy who has no sense of self. The other main character, his dog Stella, is the one who trully makes the book worth reading or listening to.


Well the porch and a book are calling, so more later. Happy reading !

Maria Juana's Gift

I finished a book several weeks ago titled Maria Juana's Gift by  T. Lloyd Winetsky. The book is published by www.booklocker.com. The story is simplicity in itself, a story as old as time. It is the story of a young couple who are the victims of  both prejudice and medical malpractice. Winetsky's writing is clean and the way the story is told broke my heart. I was in healthcare for a very long time and saw first hand many of the stereotypes that are portrayed in this book. I know that in many ways, the healthcare industry has come a long from the simple times portrayed in this book. I also know that in many ways, the industry has not. Poor people, people with disabilities , people who are overweight, and people who don't fit the norm  whatever that may be, still suffer from labeling and prejudice. I wonder how many mistakes are made just from these practices alone. In this story, the result is tragic. Winetsky simply tells a wonderful story and the story will guide you to the obvious conclusion. I will be looking for more from this author. But no more spoilers, read the book, I guarantee that it will make you think for a long time after you put it down