The Book List

Now that I have spent my little all on books for my Kindle, at least let me recommend some reading that can be found in the usual paper book form also.

For a magnificent and harrowing history of the Sicilician Mafia, right up to the present time, there is "Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicicilian Mafia" by John Dickie.  Well researched and leaving out myths and silliness, it's enough to make the blood run cold--and abundantly.

Also, one of my discoveries is yet another Swedish police-novel writer, very different from Stieg Larsson (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and the creator of detective Kurt Wallander.  There is even a Swedish t.v. series about Wallander.  The author is Henning Mankell, and he has written several books about the Wallander character.

"Death in the City of Light" is a fascinating factual account of a serial killer (a doctor) in Nazi-occuppied Paris who spent his time convincing French Jews that he could arrange their escape across the border into free France and onward; after murdering them he took all their possessions.

And don't miss (on a lighter note!) the magnificent biography of Julia Child called "An Appetite for Life" by Noel Riley Fitch.  That was one marvelous lady!

We are off to the quinta today, and my back will be put to the test once more.  It should be a lot stronger now.  Enjoy your weekend, folks.