Books

the beautiful miscellaneous by Dominic Smith
This was a "just take it home, it's free" find at the library. It is not a long book and is what I call a nice read. Well written, good characters, a satisfying feeling when you turn the last page. From Booklist*Starred Review*

At 17, Nathan Nelson has no idea what he wants to be. His particle-physicist father, however, has already made up his mind: Nathan will be a genius! The boy, who considers himself only slightly above average, has his doubts. "Being less than brilliant with a genius parent," he notes, "is like being the bum who stares, midwinter, through the restaurant window." But things change dramatically when--as the result of an accident--Nathan develops synesthesia; he begins seeing, tasting, and feeling words. He also develops an encyclopedic memory. Filled with new hope, Nathan's father enrolls his son in the Brook-Mills Institute for Talent Development, a research facility that Nathan's blind pianist roommate calls the "Taj Mahal of weird." When his father develops a brain tumor, Nathan's struggles to satisfy the man's great expectations before it's too late become increasingly poignant. This unusual, gorgeously written novel is filled with pleasures: among them are richly imagined supporting characters, including Whit, the astronaut and improbable best friend of Nathan's father, and Teresa, the medical psychic with whom the boy falls in love. Best of all, though, is the book's invitation to wonder--about the imponderables of life and death, the nature of intelligence, and the ultimately inexplicable relationships of fathers and sons. Michael Cart

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Fleshmarket Close, now I am current with the Rebus novels and will watch for the next to be published. I read his latest, The Naming of the Dead first and have brought myself up to date. Again a decent read, this time exploring immigration, racism, rape and of course, murder.
(photo shows the renamed American release cover)

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Rebus's Scotland. Lots of black and white photos. A good chance to understand the author of the Rebus series. How he views himself, his character, his use of music in the books and his home country of Scotland.

.......... PS, we went to see Transformers yesterday. Not terribly impressed with the story but I'm glad I saw it on the big screen for the military and the transformer scenes.