The Five

Sight

I've got some catching up to do with my book reviews. Here are just a few.

Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser

Wouldn't you sometimes like to just dump your current life and take off on a new adventure with your spouse? That's exactly what the main characters of this book do. Pam and Mark stumble upon an old monastery that is for sale while on their annual vacation to Oregon. On a whim, they decide to buy it and restore it, transforming it into an inn. The small town of Lumby is filled with characters and it's newspaper is filled with hilarious articles. The Sheriff's report is reminiscent of the one in my hometown paper. This is the first book in the series and I'm sure I'll read every one. Just a happy story. We need those!

Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

This one really got me. In fact, I couldn't tell what end was up by the end! Love Bohjalian's work. This story centers on Laurel, a social worker who works with homeless clients. As a young woman, she was brutally attacked and survived a near-rape. Bohjalian intertwines characters from The Great Gatsby, so well that you almost believe that they were real people. Laurel is saddened to hear of the death of one of her clients and becomes obsessed with the photographs that he left behind and how they tie in with her life. I couldn't put this one down.

Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison

Robison explains Aspergers Syndrome, part of the Autism spectrum, from the inside and it's fascinating. It reads as the story of his life, but intermingled with tales of his life, there are glimpses of just what it's like to have Aspergers Syndrome. Aspergers and Autism affect so many people, I wanted to learn more. While this isn't a textbook to be followed, it does give you a better idea of just what Aspergers is. I loved this book because it focused on how people with Aspergers can lead a "normal" and valuable life just like anyone else, something I think gets forgotten anytime we label someone.

Perrennials for Minnesota and Wisconsin by Don Egebretson and Don Williamson

Spring has sprung and I've got a lot of planting to do this year. This book is an invaluable tool to help with the planning.