Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar Paul Theroux

For Paul Theroux fans, his latest train odyssey does not disappoint as he retraces an earlier journey ( The Great Ghost Train to the Eastern Star is filled with rich portrayals of people and their homelands; as usual he shares his political and historical insights with the reader. Even if you do not agree with him, Theroux is always entertaining and enlightening. The difference between Ghost Train and his earlier works is the author's compassion, even gentleness, compared to the cynicism of his earlier days. He seems a bit more forgiving of human foibles, but lest you think the old Theroux has completely disappeared, take heart, the old skepticism and sense of humor are still apparent!

MC

Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life Kathleen Norris

If you are in the mood for a book that makes you think about your life and where it is going or has taken you, then try Norris's (The Cloister Walk and Amazing Grace) latest memoir in which she explores the ancient term "acedia," a condition long recognized by early monastics as a profound weariness of soul, the "noonday demon." Her personal stories, including her own battle withacedia and the long, painful illness of her husband, are especially moving and expressed in beautiful prose. Replete with quotations from earlier Christian thinkers and interesting etymological narratives, this captivating, thoughtful work offers spiritual hope for the "social acedia" experienced by many in today's world.

MC

A Little History of the World E. H. Gombrich

This was, I think, written for the author's children, so it is just the right level for me. I tried to read a chapter a day (some of them are really short!), but I didn't end up getting all the way through. Very readable and would appeal to someone who wanted an easily accessible history lesson.

JS

Lopsided: How Having Breast Cancer Can Really Be Distracting. A Memoir Meredith Norton

The memoir from a 30-something new mom about her battle with breast cancer. Irreverent, sassy, funny, alarming, distressing,hopeful. The author sounds like someone you'd love to hang out with, though don't be surprised when things go awry. Her story isn't exactly inspirational in terms of the cancer struggle, but you do sense the author's courage in the face of odds and going on with her life.
JS