Sometimes a small town or neighborhood sounds like it'd be a nice place to be.

Gail Fraser is a favorite author and I eagerly await each of the books set in the small town of Lumby. Mark and Pam Walker have moved to this small NW town to refurbish the old Montis Abbey and start up an inn. There are ups and downs to coming into the small community and getting to know the residents. The Lumby Lines, the title of the first book, is also the name of the local newspaper and articles and ads from that are found throughout the book. (Be sure to read the police Sheriff's Complaints column!) Keep an eye out for the moose, and Hank, the pink flamingo.

Having as much fun with Lumby as I did, I went on to read other books about small towns: It started with a non-fiction book: If You Lived Here I'd Know Your Name, by Heather Lende. Life in the small town of Haines, Alaska is very different from what most of us know ... you can get there by boat or by plane, but only when the weather is good. Ms. Lende writes the obits and social column for the local newspaper, if something is happening, she knows about it (and basically, so does every body else). A nice read.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, by Gabrielle Zevin. A tiny book store on a small island, a widower, an abandoned baby, a book seller, the police chief, a stolen copy of a valuable book and few twists in the plot all made for a most enjoyable read. A nice blend of mystery, family, love, and books.

Ove is a grumpy guy, no doubt about it. There are many things in his life to which I can relate (and yes, I can be grumpy, too). While I can't say I loved this book, I did keep reading to the end and enjoyed it enough to include here. A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman should appeal to those of us 'of a certain age'. ;-) Thanks to Constant Reader for the recommendation.

Do you know your neighbors?

Reading Hermit With Dog