'Inheritance' by Dani Shapiro

Inheritance, Dani Shapiro (3.0)

While this book was compelling and thought provoking, the first third was rather annoying. Ms. Shapiro comes across as whiny and overly dramatic. The whole book is her story of taking a DNA test and finding out her lineage is not what she thought it was. When she finds this out, she really has a breakdown. She can’t contemplate how her beloved father, who had died in her youth, was not her biological father. While none of us knows how we would deal with this information, I felt it did him a disservice as he was obviously her father and always would be. As the book goes on, she does seem to value the ‘nurture’ of her childhood as much as the ‘nature’, so I enjoyed the last two thirds more. I felt fortunate that my identity is not dependent on DNA, and I value my parents for their contributions to my upbringing more than my hair color.

'Underland' by Peter Macfarland

Underland, Peter Macfarland (3.5)

Few books go as far underground as this one. Through a series of essay-like chapters, Mr. Macfarland travels to the far reaches of our earth– all below ground. Some of his descriptions can be quite claustrophobic, but most are eye opening. I particularly enjoyed travelling (virtually) with him down the catacombs below Paris and to the caves of northern Norway. I did find the lyrical writing before each section a little confusing and I was hoping for more synergy from chapter to chapter. Otherwise, I enjoyed reading and learning from this book.

'Fall' by Neal Stephenson

Fall, Neal Stephenson (4.0)

Always a creative author, once again Mr. Stephenson has come up with a profound look at life just steps ahead of today’s social and philosophical issues. Unfortunately he also tends to do it with so many words that one can get bogged down in the details. The tempo can change from a fast paced plot to a detailed slog. I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but the issues he addresses range from wealth disparity to how advancing technology will affect our lives and after lives. He battles two strong viewpoints in a very unique way. I applaud his creativity, and this one is worth getting through the slow parts, though I wish someone would serve as a strict editor of his books.

'A Year in Provence' by Peter Mayle

A Year in Provence, Peter Mayle (4.0)

I recommend reading this book prior to visiting Provence, France, as we did. Mr. Mayle’s thoughtful characters and descriptions put you in the mood to experience this relatively rural part of France. Apparently many people even tried to move to the area after reading about his experiences. This airy tale is a memoir concerning the first year of life for the author and his wife as they attempt to renovate an old house in a very small town in the Luberon area of Provence. It’s quite similar to Frances Mayes’ ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’, though with less pasta and more pastis (anise tasting liquor). While some will argue that better travel inspiring books have been written since, this is the one of the first. One regret I have is that I should have paid more attention to the seasons of the famous wind, the mistral, as it was definitely blowing in September when we visited!