A FATAL WINTER (G.M. Malliet)

November was a long month and one in which I wasn't able to get to reading as much as I would have liked!  That being said, I have FINALLY finished A Fatal Winter.  Populated with eccentric, entitled heirs, well-meaning townspeople, and handsome Father Max Tudor, MI5 agent turned Anglican priest, Nether Monkslip is again faced with murder, this time at Chedrow Castle in nearby Monkslip Super Mare.  A brief  Internet investigation has informed me that "Super Mare" comes from the Latin meaning "upon the sea" and is used to distinguish a village located at the water's edge, much like "by-the-sea."  I wish I had looked that up before!

As Max travels home from a conference in London on December 13 he shares a train compartment with Lady Leticia Baynard, widowed twin sister of Lord Oscar Footrustle of Chedrow Castle.  Later that day, after enjoying an intimate dinner with the lovely Awena Owen, proprietor of Nether Monkslip's new age store, Max learns that both Lord Footrustle and Lady Baynard have died.  Oscar has been unceremoniously stabbed, possibly by one of his family, who are gathered at the castle for the holidays at his invitation.  Lady Baynard's death appears to be natural.  Max is asked by local authorities to visit the castle in his pastoral capacity to comfort the family while surreptitiously using his investigative skills to sort through the various suspects.  Who stands to inherit?  Who is insane enough and enraged enough to stab an old man multiple times even after he is dead?  Could it be his daughter, Jocasta, the flamboyant has-been actress with the much-younger husband?   Or could Lester, Leticia's younger son from Australia be desperate for money?  What about Lamorna, the ugly adopted granddaughter suffering from religious delusions?

Malliet has produced another excellent murder mystery.  I confess that would have enjoyed it more if I had read it a little faster, but the combination of village sensibilities, crazy relatives, a drafty old castle, and, most of all, Max Tudor, make this a highly recommended read.  Max is nice guy with all of the characteristics of a good priest.  He is caring, compassionate, and intelligent, yet emotionally vulnerable and still feeling guilty over the death of his former MI5 partner.  He is also falling in love with Awena, which adds even more dimension and interest to his character.  I'm looking forward to the next installment!

BE DIFFERENT (John Elder Robison)

Robison, also the author of "Look Me In the Eye," writes simply and honestly about his struggles growing up with undiagnosed Asperger's, offering advice and encouragement to fellow Aspie's and neuro-typicals alike.  I think that the title says it all.  Simply put, Asperger's is a neurological condition that typically causes an inability to recognize and process social cues, often resulting in odd behavior and a lack of emotional connection with others.  Robison, diagnosed at age 40, has chosen to put a positive spin on his differences, celebrating being different.  His book covers 4 major areas of concern for Aspies and their families: Rituals, Manners, & Quirks; Emotions; Getting Along With Others; and Sensitivity to the Nonhuman World.  If you know or love anyone with Asperger's, you will recognize many of the feeling and situations experienced by Robison during his childhood and adult years.

 The final chapter, Finding Your Gifts, is, I believe the highlight of the book, encouraging those on the autism spectrum to use their atypical characteristics to their advantage, finding a way to turn their "disability" into a strength.  It is no secret that some of our greatest scientists and business people, including Albert Einstein and Bill Gates, are believed to have Asperger's.  These men (and most are men) have used their neurological differences to accomplish great things, finding ways to turn their "special skills" into successful careers.  Robison makes no bones about the need for hard work and focus, but believes that the Aspergian who is able to focus on their interests and apply them to the real world can achieve success.

Robison includes a handy appendix that includes the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's.  This is a wonderful resource for anyone dealing with Asperger's in any respect.  Robison is personal and insightful.

WALLFLOWER IN BLOOM (Claire Cook)

If you are a Dancing with the Stars fan you will enjoy the "insider" insight into the process of preparing to appear on the show, but Cook's real story is that of a late-bloomer who finally finds her own path to happiness.  Overshadowed since childhood by her brother Tag's charisma and the public adulation heaped upon him at every turn, Deirdre has for years been the woman behind the image.  She works as her brother's personal assistant, juggling reservations and venues and managing his Facebook and Twitter accounts.  While Tag wallows in the adoration of the public, Deirdre's life has been on hold for years.  She is exhausted and discouraged and tired of Tag getting credit for her hard work.  One day she decides to start a campaign, writing as Tag, to get herself voted in as a last-minute replacement on DWTS, taking the place of an actress who has just entered rehab.  Learning to dance, dealing with her disgruntled family, and examining her own role in her unhappiness result in some personal revelations for Deirdre.  This is a light read, for sure, but the reader becomes invested in Deirdre and her success, not as a dancer, but as a person.  Great book for a rainy weekend!

WIFE 22 (Melanie Gideon)

I loved this book, much more than I expected to!  Alice Buckle, who is soon to turn 45 (the age at which her mother died), decides to participate in an online marriage survey, "Marriage in the 21st Century," after receiving an email solicitation.  As wife of 20 years to William and mother to 15-year-old Zoe and 12-year-old Peter, Alice is finding it increasing difficult to keep lines of communication open within her family.  As "Wife 22," however, she is free to communicate her thoughts and feelings about her marriage and family life anonymously to "Researcher 101."  When William loses his advertising job (after apparently revealing personal information about his marital relationship to a focus group) and finances tighten, Alice worries about her part-time job as an elementary school drama teacher.  An aspiring playwright  in her younger years, she was humiliated by the failure of her first professional production and has been haunted by that setback ever since.  Do more failures loom on the horizon?  Why is Researcher 101 becoming more and more appealing to her as their correspondence develops?  Is son Peter gay?  Will Alice serve as matron of honor at her best freind's same-sex marriage ceremony?

This is definitely a novel for the 21st century.  The Internet is the true main character of this clever story, with email, Facebook, and You Tube featured prominently.  Gideon does a wonderful job of allowing Alice to evolve emotionally.  I loved the anonymous survey premise, because aren't all of us more honest and forthright in our opinions when we are safely hidden behind a keboard and monitor?