'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!

'A Wizard of Earthsea' by Urula K. Le Guin

A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin (4.0)

There is something haunting about many of Ms. Le Guin’s novels. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the feeling stays with you for a long time. Many have called this the precursor to the Harry Potter novels. I would note a big difference is that while Harry is a very likable protagonist, who denies his own importance, here we have Ged, who comes across with a large dose of youthful hubris that gets him in deep trouble. We follow Ged as he travels to the wizard school to learn how to use his powers. As with Potter, we meet interesting teachers, the school is hidden from mere mortals and Ged immediately makes enemies. The surprise in this book is how quickly Ged gets his comeuppance, which leads to a very dark the second half of the book.  That being said, I enjoyed reading the first novel that has inspired so many that followed and appreciated the symbolism and darkness.

'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens (3.0)

Maybe my disappointment with this book has something to do with the anticipation of reading one of the most talked about books last year. But I’ll wager it has more to do with the uneven writing, implausible premise and really annoying ending. The story is of a very young girl growing up, basically on her own in the deep marsh of North Carolina. There is love, mystery and a lot of sadness. I give it a 3.0 as I did find it was a very compelling story – even with the implausible premise – I wanted to uncover the mystery. That just overcomes the stereotypical characters and clunky clues. The most well written parts of the book are the depictions of nature (both flora and fauna), which makes sense, as Ms. Owens is a wildlife scientist by profession.