THIRD WORLD AMERICA (Arianna Huffington)

In a third world country, the government works for the benefit of special interests and the rich rather than for the good of the majority.  Huffington does a brilliant job of analyzing the long downward spiral of the middle class lifestyle, a spiral precipitated not by reckless spending and irresponsibility of average Americans, but by years of legislation  riddled with loopholes that favor the monied top tier of our economic hierarchy.  Did you know that Washington lobbyists outnumber legislators by almost 26 to one?  Did you know that on average $6.5 million in contributions goes to each of our legislators from these lobbyists?  Did you know that many of the bills designed to help middle class citizens actually hurt them?  Did you know that many of the top government financial regulators used to work on Wall Street and still have strong connections there, that the teachers union has more clout in Washington than several of our largest compnaies combined, and that the top 1% of our citizens own 35% of the wealth?  The middle class is disappearing, but there is hope. 

Huffington's book is scary and depressing.  With each of the first 4 chapters I found myself feeling that our country was, indeed, heading toward destruction, that our days as the place where anyone can achieve success with hard work and a just little luck are truly behind us.  In the final chapter, however, Huffington introduces a glimmer of hope, with anectdotes about Americans who have used their bad luck to become better people, who refuse to accept that unemployment or even losing their home is the end of their dreams.  She talks about philanthropy and America's spirit of giving.  She and her colleagues take action themselves, transferring their money from the "big banks" and depositing it instead in local banks and credit unions, where it benefits communities instead of big business.  When I finshed reading, I was disgusted with politicians of both parties, but infused with new hope for our country and our economy.  This book is about politics, but it is most definitely NOT a political book.  Read it!

HOLY TERROR IN THE HEBRIDES (Jeanne Dams)

When Dorothy Martin agrees to accompany her friends on vacation to the Hebrides while her policeman beau Alan Nesbitt attends a conference in Brussels, she never imagines that she will end up stranded and incommunicado with strangers on an island immobilized by a massive storm.  She heads to the island alone when her firends are delayed due to a health scare, and finds herself staying at an inn with a group of disgruntled religious tourists after she realizes that she forgot to bring the key to her rental cottage.  After one of the religious group dies myteriously, Dorothy suspects foul play.  Is one of the less than travelers a murderer?  Are Dorothy and her fellow travelers, stranded with a murderer who might strike again?

Holy Terror in the Hebrides is a fun cozy and Dorothy, despite her age-related aches and pains, is in fine form as she dodges danger and discovers clues.  Look for a couple of unexpected surprises at the end!

BUSY BODY: AN AGATHA RAISIN MYSTERY (M.C. Beaton)

Unpopular Health and Safety Inspector John Sunday is not mourned by many when he is stabbed to death outside of a Cotswolds ladies society meeting.  Suspects abound, and Agatha Raisin is hired by millionaire incomer and prime suspect Miriam Courtny to clear her name.  When Miriam is also murdered, complications abound.  Agatha, true to form, enjoys some short-lived romantic fantasies about Miriam's handsome son, but soon finds herself grappling with the police and the uncooperative citizens of Oddley Cruesis, where Sunday had put the kibosh on many beloved Chritmas traditions.  If you are a fan of Agatha's friend Charles Fraith, you will like this one.  I miss him when he doesn't show up to mooch off of Agatha!

THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT (Robert B. Parker)

This novel, written in 1973 and the first of the popular Spenser series, was like a visit back to an era where people had to interact face-to-face and information was something you really had to dig for instead of paying an Internet service or calling a cell phone.  Spenser, as most everyone knows, is a charming Boston-based private eye with an eye for the ladies and a brash, unapologetic style.  He is also a great cook and a satisfying lover with a very 70's outlook on sex and romance.  One of the things I found most enjoyable in this novel were the descriptions, seeing the world through Spenser's eyes.  The reader is treated to Spenser's uncensored opinions on clothing, weather, neighborhoods, people, driving conditions, and food, as well as anything else that comes his way.  As for the crime-solving aspect of this mystery, Spenser works hard to investigate every clue and follow every lead, taking on dangerous opponents, beaing beaten and shot, and recuing damsels in distress.  The heroes of most of today's slick high-tech thrillers can't compare with Spenser's nitty-gritty hands-on style of crime-solving.  Spenser is a real PI, the kind we will always love to read about.

HEART OF THE MATTER (Emily Giffin)

The most interesting thing about Giffin's latest is the characters.  The premise is not new:  seemingly happliy married man meets vulnerable yet capable woman and finds himself falling in love.  In this case the married man is plastic surgeon Nick Russo.  The story is told alternately between Nick's wife, Tessa, who questions her decision to leave her professorship to become a full-time mom, and Valerie, an attorney and single mother whose son, Charlie, is burned in an accident.  I am not sure why Nick would allow himself to cross the line between friendship and love when there are no obvious problems in his marriage.  I don't think that Tessa questioning her abilities as a mother would be enough to drive her husband into the arms of another women.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Nick and Valerie and Nick and Charlie, Valerie's son.  The alternating points of view are done well.  This may not be Giffin's best, but I liked it.

PROMISES TO KEEP (Jane Green)

I seem to be on a sad track lately as far as my reading is concerned.  That being said, everyone knows someone who struggles with cancer, MS, heart disease, lupus, or another life-threatening condition.  Here we are introduced to Callie Perry, a talented photographer, loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, and four-year breast cancer survivor.  Apparently 5% of the victims of a certain type of breast cancer eventually develop a secondary cancer that is virtually untreatable.  When Callie starts experiencing excruciating headaches, weight loss, and blackouts, her sister, Steffi, and long estraged parents, Warren and Honor, come together to support Callie and her husband, Reece, while they await a diagnosis.  This is a very emotional story and Callie is a little too perfect to exist on this earth, but overall, I enjoyed it and I think you will, too.

PERFECT READER (Maggie Pouncey)

When former Darwin College President and renowned scholar Lewis Dempsey dies, he leaves behind a twenty-something daughter, Flora, a collection of personal poetry, a house, and Cynthia, his lover and muse.  Flora leaves her job as a magazine editor in the city and returns to Darwin, scene of her childhood triumphs and traumas, to settle her father's affairs.  As his literary executor, it is Flora's task to manage the fate of his prose and poetry.  One problem is that she has never actually read her father's work, not his revered publication, "Reader as Understander," or the poems that he had entrusted to her care.  Cynthia, an art historian who shared Lewis' bed and intellectual passions, wants to buld a relationship with the reluctant Flora that includes a common goal of publishing Lewis' poetry.  Flora is overwhelmed with her return to Darwin and all of the complicated relationships, new and old, associated with the college town.  Her close childhood friend, Georgia, whose long-ago fall from a fire escape was blamed on Flora (who became somewhat of a pariah as a result), is now living in a Mongolian yurt. Georgia's parents, however, remain in Darwin and embrace Flora as a prodigal daughter.  Esther, the wild child turned born-again Christian, has a young daughter and is firmly grounded in the town.  Paul, Lewis' lawyer, becomes Flora's lover and confidante, but Flora has doubts that she has evolved enough to sustain a serious relationship for long.

Pouncey's first novel is a bit slow-paced, but offers a very insider's look at the politics and inbreeding of a college town and its cult of intellect.  Flora is not a heroine; she is a confused young woman coming to terms with who she is and where she stands on the people and issues closest to her heart.  The book has many things to offer to the patient reader and is well worth the time to read it.  At the end, although some issues were resolved and there were many aspects of Flora's life that remain a work in progress.  I guess we will never know how they turned out, but isn't that what real life is all about?