Books I Have Read - 2013

   Some of the greatest readers I know are people who live in rural areas. Maybe it's because reading is a great way to spend winter evenings or hot summer afternoons. Or maybe it's because those readers have a great appreciation for the beauty -- whether it's nature or the written word. Or maybe it's a way to escape the never-ending chore list.

So, I"m going to try and record what I read in 2013.

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz -- A fascinating, if not lengthy biography. Her story is told against the backdrop of many social and technological changes in the 20th century.

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan. A highly recommended, though sometimes tough read.

The Best American Short Stories 2012, Tom Perrotta editor. I read this series every year. While always an interesting read, some years are better than others. This year's was one of the better collections.

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors, and this novel delivers -- great story, beautiful language, and leaves me thinking long after I finished reading it.

Ride, Cowboy, Ride: 8 Seconds Ain't That Long by Baxter Black. I thought two things when reading this: I kept wishing that I was listening to the author read it, and Black must have had a great time writing it.

The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat: The Story of the Penicillin Miracle by Eric Lax. For me it's hard to imagine a world without antibiotics. A slow read but worth it.

The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron. Having a cold is no fun. Having a good book to read while curled up near the fire makes it bearable. Maron is one of my favorite mystery writers.