So sorry the computer “ate” your previous message, David. I LOVED “Just Kids”, which I read last year. Will add Sweet Judy Blue Eyes to my list, too. I really enjoy a good memoir! Thanks for the recommendations.

I have one Currently-reading title remaining on Goodreads. I have read 31 of 35 books of my 2012 Challenge goal. Seventeen fiction, five memoirs or memoir stories, including Tony Blair’s which I will take my time finishing. Three non-fiction titles dealing with time, time travel, and multidimensional theories are pretty close to my favorite science-fiction, paranormal, fantasy titles.

Topping my list of favorites “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes”, by Judy Collins. Not only does she cover my own period of memoir stories, but I literally followed in her footsteps, following a completely different set of life choices. She writes a Who’s Who of folk/rock celebrities, radicals, and revolutionaries, and she knew them personally. I also enjoyed “Just Kids”, a memoir by Patti Smith, whose life was also dark and near suicidal, but a more difficult read.

I just finished an older title written in that same time period. “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek”, by Annie Dillard, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1975. Her observations of nature and environment offer the best of creative writing. I can’t tell you why the genre is listed as general non-fiction rather than memoir stories. She follows a practice that several of my local friends have in publishing memoirs stories based on blogs and news columns they authored.

Of all the science-fiction series I read, I recommend the “All Souls Trilogy”, by Deborah Harkness. She combines the best of Harry Potter type witches, the vampires of Anne Rice, and historical fiction, as her main characters travel through time to fifteenth and sixteenth century Europe, and all the way back to the resurrection of Lazarus. Her characters break the rules and change the the future, simply by changing one line in a Shakespeare poem.

I enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy, but the quality of writing is not that great, and the end of the final book is disappointing.

Most disappointing was J.K. Rowlings new adult fiction, “A Casual Vacancy”. Good coverage of social, political, and community dysfunction in rural England, but like her Harry Potter death-eaters she sucks all hope out of my spirit.

So glad you enjoy the newsletter, Tom. Thanks for your book suggestions!

If you set a goal, I know you can reach it too, KSW!

If you set a goal I know you can achieve it, too, KSW!

That’s fascinating about the Snetsinger connection! I’ll have to tell my friend (a birder) who gave me the book. She’ll be thrilled to hear of the connection. I think you’ll really enjoy the book!

Oh yes, I really enjoyed Where’d you Go Bernadette too. Loved it!

I was interested to read about Life List. Seeing the name Phoebe Snetsinger I was prompted to email my client in Seattle with the same last name – they just had to be related I figured. Turns out Phoebe is/was my client’s mother! I’m going to be even more interested to read this now. I had no idea.

Thanks again – I love getting reading recommendations from people who inspire me…..that’s you!