I don't think I need to go into what's going on right now - we're all living through it. My situation may be slightly different from yours because I do have to go out daily for radiation but I've been self-isolating since the transplant in late 2008 and I'm getting to like social distancing. The supermarkets are still a problem but I've started shopping at my local Quick Chek and Walgreen's for what I need. In the meantime, I've been spending more time then I should online, checking out Facebook and ordering stuff. I did manage to finish a couple of books though. No genre ones this month but two by authors that I really like.
Miscellaneous
Trans Atlantic - Colum McCann ($3.99/$16.00, copyright 2013, 300 pages, Trade Paperback)
I've read several of McCann's novels and really enjoyed them. One of the interesting things he does is that he changes his formats to fit the overall story. This one follows the way he laid out "Let The Great World Spin" - a series of what appears to be short stories that he ultimately ties together. Here he gives us 3 historical events and people, set at different times, that involve crossing the Atlantic between Ireland and America. The 1st is about 2 British airmen making the first crossing after WW1. The 2nd features Frederick Douglass who flies over for a speaking tour in 1845. The 3rd is centered on George Mitchell and his help in negotiating the Northern Ireland Peace Accord between '95 and '98. Each of these works on their own but McCann adds his connection. A young Irish immigrant girl gets to meet the pilots in Newfoundland and gets a picture. We find out that she's connected to a woman who interacted with Douglas and a woman who will be involved with the Mitchell visit. Although slightly out of chronological order McCann makes this work. Every one of these characters is clearly defined and the writing is crisp and entertaining. I enjoyed it.
Norse Mythology - Neil Gaiman ($5.88/$15.99, copyright 2017, 265 pages, Trade Paperback)
I mentioned one of Gaiman's books last month but this one is totally different. I grew up reading comic books and was there at the start of the Marvel Era. I read them all including "Thor". Over the years, the writers expended the cast and the background to include Asgard and all of the major gods. Gaiman has done the same here in one volume. We get them all - Odin, Thor, Loki, Balder, etc. Their stories are told in detail, chapter by chapter, and lead up to Ragnarok, the Final Days. I'm not going to go into any details because it's not a novel that I need to explain. I will say that Gaiman's writing brings all the characters to life and his descriptions of the various backgrounds are great. I enjoyed it.
It's starting to get warm now although we did have rain mixed with some flakes this morning. I'm not sure what's gonna happen in April but I'm pretty sure we'll get through it. In the meantime stay home, stay safe and ….
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