The Reading Room

I will try to keep up with what I am reading here.

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

#18, When the English Fall, by David Williams

This is not your average post-apocalyptic novel. We read a Pennsylvania Amish farmer's diary covering the events just after a solar storm disables everything electric, and the world of "the English" (non-Amish) is plunged into darkness. His diary records not just the events following the solar flare, but his and his community's grappling with the question of what they are called to do as followers of Jesus in response to the crisis. This book is as much a spiritual reflection as anything else, giving a peek into the faith of the Amish in a deep and sympathetic manner. Highly recommended.

#17, Behind Closed Doors, B. A. Paris

This book started off promisingly enough. The author does a good job hinting that something is amiss in paradise. However, after it became clear what was going on, the middle dragged so much that I jumped ahead to the last few chapters to see how the inevitable played out. I don't want to give anything away, but some of the elements of Grace's helplessness strained credulity. There are better books out there, so don't waste your time.

#16, Bone Box, by Faye Kellerman

This is a light entertainment wirh an appealing cast of good guys. Nothing great, but if you need something to pass the time, this will do nicely.