Ford County by John Grisham

Ford County by John Grisham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I seldom read short stories. However, John Grisham is one of my favorite authors, so I picked up his collection "Ford County." I was not disappointed.  Grisham is a master storyteller both short and long.
 
Among the seven stories in this collection, "Casino" was my favorite.  It had all of the Mississippi nuances that give strength to the realism of all of these stories. Writers do write best about what they know best.  Sidney dearly loves, or is very used to life with, Stella.  Who would have guessed that he had the skills to get her back?  After enjoying each episode that added up to the climax, I had to smile when the story ended.  It was a satisfying ending.


There is a lot in these stories to keep a book group talking.  Because they are stories rather than a novel, members could read as much as they could in a busy month like December and still take part in the discussion without guilt.  The discussion would certainly be lively.



View all my reviews

Thank you Bob Braun...

...for your column on the front page of The Star-Ledger this morning (Monday, 9/27/2010).  I recommend it to all of the wonderful educators I have known. And, I encourage them to keep their chins up, stand up and do not give up.

First September that I am not going to work, feels weird.

"Now and Then" by Robert B. Parker

My rating:  5 stars

Spenser and Susan are back together after a separation. Their conversations are as witty and cryptic as ever.  Of course Hawk, Vinnie and Cholo are on hand as well to give Spenser the backup he needs to protect Susan while he entices the killer of an FBI agent and his philandering wife into a trap.  What begins as a straight-forward job of snooping on the wife at the request of the husband turns into a complicated case of false identity and terrorism. 

I loved this one.  It is probably my favorite.  Spenser is smooth, Hawk is cool, Vinnie is psycho and Cholo is, well, expert.  Highly recommended.

Van Riper House Benefit Street Fair

Yesterday the street fair to benefit the Van Riper House was held on Franklin Avenue between Harrison and Centre Streets. Jeanne Van Steen and I set up the League of Women Voters table and the tent (a tricky project) with help from the Spencer Savings Bank crew ( a neighboring table). It was breezy, cool and clear, a beautiful day for the event.

Rob, Kyle and Grace met me on the Avenue.  After pizza and soda at Belle Paese's sidewalk concession, the kids had a great time playing on the inflatable attractions.

Later, I met Rob, Kathryn and Jackie at the Salt Creek Grill in Rumson for Rob's birthday dinner.  Seated next to the Navasink River, we chatted and enjoyed the restaurant.  It was a good day.