I've read other books by Erik Larson so was most interested in The Splendid and the Vile: Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Bombing of London. I waited until the paperback was out to read it ... made it less heavy, but also harder to keep open with hands that are sometimes stiff. ;-) I know, there is the ereader format, but I love actually holding a real book, it's still magical to me. As with his other books, the research is mind-boggling. Be sure to at least scan the notes at the back, there are lots of tidbits that didn't make it into the final edit. This was a most interesting look at what it was like during those early days. What was it like living in a city under attack? How did Churchill encourage the citizens to just 'keep on' with life? Serious events, like the bombings, were interspersed with family events (naming a baby) and accounts of what was going on in Berlin. My favorite chapter, though, was the one on whether or not to ration tea!

Since I enjoyed Free Country, by George Mahood so much, I thought I'd try Not Tonight, Josephine: a Road Trip Through Small Town America. Turned out, this was actually written first. Instead of taking a gap year before college, George and his friend Mark, take one after they graduate. The first thing they need is transportation: enter Josephine ... a battered and used van, that was 'the right price.' Their goal is to drive across country, and back, on the smaller roads, and visit the small towns as well as some of the most familiar landmarks. They are less than impressed with signs (in the middle of nowhere) that say '(name of river, waterfall, building) used to be here', and more than impressed with the Grand Canyon. Mark's visa is only good for 90 days so when he heads home, George convinces his girl friend (now wife) to come for the rest of the journey. A fun arm chair journey of bad weather (wipers don't work), flat tires (turns out, they weren't all the same size), sleeping in the van (it's cold!!) but also of wonderful people and good food.

Reading Hermit With Dog