This should bring me up to date sharing my log of reading experiences.

GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR by Paul Theroux.

Theroux retraces the great loop he traveled through Asia some thirty years ago. Now more mature, more certain of his preferences in travel, and most importantly, more introspective than the young man who launched a successful career with the first book - Theroux provides the best kind of nonfiction writing in this engrossing armchair travel saga. He was not able to revisit every location in his first trip, but adds very interesting visits to former Soviet republics in their stead. He revists an inland hotel in Burma with poignant results, and has extremely insightful observations about present day Vietnam. I recommend that you read the two books - this one along with THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR - in tandem.

DARKNESS RISING by Susan Cooper

First published nearly a generation ago, Cooper's book could be viewed as the inspiration for the current spate of fantasies for young adults. Perhaps I am too familiar with Harry Potter - I had a kind of "been there, done that" reaction to this book discussion group choice. Of course, Cooper penned her fantasy before Rowling. Perhaps it's my loss that I read Rowling first.

OLIVE KITTEREDGE by Elizabeth Strout.

This collection of short stories will be on my "best of 2009" list, I'm sure. Strout places her interconnected stories in a small coastal town in Maine. While she figures in most of the stories, the title character has a mere walk on role in many of them, yet her personality infuses them all. Strout has a unique way of writing profoundly spiritual fiction which is not religious in any sense of the word. If you haven't read any of her books, you're missing something special.

MY ANECDOTAL LIFE by Carl Reiner

Not really an autobiography, this is a collection of short vignettes from Reiner's life - incidents various friends told him he should write about some day. From his early years in show business, pinching pennies and looking for opportunities, to a summer home in France and friendships with other famous Hollywood names, Reiner has written a pleasant if not especially memorable book. I listened to audio version which Reiner narrated himself, and he makes good use of his abilities to mimic voices and accents.

THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller

Miller examines the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of the late 17th century, with inevitable comparisons to the political climate of the 1950's, and his own experience being called to testify before the infamous House Committee on Unamerican Activities. Another book discussion group choice, which was enlivened by one group member's recent experience as an usher for a local theater production and her retelling of various "talkback" sessions between the actors and the audience members. I was surprised to learn that the original Broadway production did not run for very long back in the late 1950's. However, the play has become the Miller work most performed by professional and amateur theatrical companies across the US.

THE RIGHT MISTAKE by Walter Mosley

Mosley's character Socrates Fortlow, excon and former homeless denizen of Los Angeles has found a stable place in society. His leadership founds an impromptu community organization which works to bring stability to one of the poorest areas of the city. Not everything goes smoothly, yet Fortlow perseveres. An ultimately hopeful read, in every sense.

REBECCA'S TALE by Sally Beaumann

What was it like in the Cornish neighborhood of Manderley, some twenty years after the tumultuous events portrayed by Daphne duMaurier in her famous novel? As a reader who returns to Rebecca every couple of years or so, I was more impatient than intrigued by Beaumann's scenario. I find the interlocking puzzles and perpetually unanswered and unanswerable questions in the orginal book endlessly fascinating. Trying to sort them all out isn't necessary, the way I see it.

That's it, folks! Happy reading!