SOME GOOD READS

     After a long day of presenting oral arguments, deposing witnesses or meeting with clients, I like nothing better than coming home and settling down for the evening with a good novel.  I am particularly fond of those authors who are capable of vivid development of the fictional characters presented and the environments in which they exist.  I've recently come across two novels in this mold that I enjoyed very much.  

     Just last night I finished The Distant Echo, by Val McDermid.  Ms. McDermid has become one of my favorite writers.  She is particularly adept at creating plots that are filled with intrigue and suspense.  McDermid is from Scotland, and her novels are typically set either there or in England.  While reading her books, I enjoy becoming immersed in her terminology from the United Kingdom.  I've been heard recently speaking about pulling my vehicle into a car park (a parking lot), snacking on some crisps (potato chips),  and picking up a pack of fags (cigarettes).  The unusual terminology is never distracting to me.  To the contrary, it seems to add to the flavor of the novel.  The Distant Echo is a good read indeed.   

     I also recently read Beyond the Stars, by William David Ross.  I had not previously read anything by Ross, but I found this book to be quite worthwhile.  (My brother Jonathan turned me on to it.)  Beyond the Stars is a historically based novel about Native American Indians and their struggle to survive in the high Dakota plains after the arrival of the white folks.  It is well-written and thought provoking.  The book is described as an epic of the American West.  Reading it made me want to head out west for a hiking and camping trip.  It also made me want to learn more about Native American heritage and traditions.  Reading it was time very well spent.  

     I heartily recommend The Distant Echo or Beyond the Stars to you for the next time you are preparing to settle down into your favorite reading chair.  While you're at it, you might just want to enjoy some crisps.