BIG RUSS & ME Father and Son:Lessons of Life—Tim Russert—A truly engaging 'combo' book; part autobiography, part child raising manual, part history lesson, part lessons learned, and the mentors from whom he learned them and ALL, a tribute to his father. Russert captures the basic values taught by word and example that helped him on the successful pathway of his life; those same values he works on passing to his frequently, and lovingly, mentioned son, Luke. From the back cover, “A valentine...” “...engaging warmth and humor”... “...loving portrait..” “...profoundly satisfying..” “nostalgic look”, with all of which I'm in agreement.

DRAGON FIRE—William S. Cohen—The former Secretary of Defense (1997-2001) has written quite a thriller of international as well as inter and intra governmental intrigue. Germany, Russia, North Korea, China, the U.S., all characters thier leadership all with friends and enemies. All fiction, however, it's a rapid reading portrayal of what can happen in a world so continuously bent on destruction. “Jealousy and infighting were like oxygen to bureaucracies....Turf protection remained the order of the day. "(302). Rogue military officers, Russian Oligarchs, are characters in the puzzle Secretary of Defense Santini must solve....often working at odds with other agencies of the U.S. Government. (I did not find this book in the SPL catalog.)

Woodsong by Gary Paulsen

This is a fantastic book!! In the first part of the book, Paulsen writes about how he came to have a dog team. He tells wonderful stories about how the dogs teach him to be a better musher and how to have a greater respect for them and for all of nature. The last part is about his first experience competing in the Iditarod. Good reading for anyone interested in dog sledding or the Iditarod, although very frank about some of his experiences, including some graphic nature scenes.

A PERFECT EVIL—Alex Kava—Young boys are being killed in a small Nebraska town between Omaha and Lincoln. Recently elected Sheriff Nick Morelli (following in his father's footsteps as Sheriff) investigates with the assistance of FBI profiler, the lovely (though married, but unhappily so) Maggie O'Dell. Lots of possible suspects are paraded through the rapid-to-turn pages with an ending that leaves the reader; well, the next readers can fill in the rest of the sentence.

NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND: An Affectionate Look at Great Britian—Bill Bryson—His love for Great Britain, and the inhabitants, as portrayed herein helps solidify his stature as a “beloved” “British institution”. Bryson calls them as he sees them as he travels around the island…telling what he likes, and what he doesn’t within the landscape; mostly the negatives are architectural, buildings placed (or looking) terribly inappropriately for his vision of Britain or, how they look in general. Following completion of this book he and family moved to the U.S.; to return a few years later to his beloved islands. Wonderful, delightful, humorous. And typically Bryson.

THE WRONG MAN--John Katzenbach--An amazing story showing the power of words to convey evil. A young man becomes obsessed by a young lady after a 'one night stand', and obsessed doesn't begin to convey the idea. Her divorced parents (and the mother's significant other) attempt to take steps to protect Ashley and as they do so are individually attacked obliquely by the obsessed and 'possessed' Michael. What could have been a cliche story of stalking turns into one of the most haunting books I've read in some time as well as thoughts regarding the ongoing questions of when the ends justify the means. In addition, THE WRONG MAN gave me new insight into the psychology of the stalker and the effects of his/her victim. A good book to read in the daylight.