The Sisters Brothers   Patrick deWitt
Entertaining western about the infamous brothers, Charlie and Eli Sisters, hired killers who travel from Oregon to San Francisco to kill Herman Warm. Nicely written in Eli’s voice, odd characters, and dusty tangents. Kind of good.

Train Dreams   Denis Johnson
The early 20^th-century life of Robert Grainier told in a beautiful novella. While he constructs railroads and clears their paths, he is unable to construct a life connected to others. Poignant, sad, and evocative. Crystal clear prose. Really enjoyed it.

The Last Man in Berlin    Gaylord Dold
Poorly written, phallus-centered “historical” novel about a police detective in 1930s Berlin trying to solve murders of transvestites and resist the rise of the Nazis. Had to struggle through the ragged prose, didn’t like the characters, and the eroticism seemed plastic. Didn’t like it.

Death Will Have Your Eyes    James Sallis
Disappointing “novel about spies” that isn’t really a spy novel. Nicely written meditation on lives and choices and learning to live, but the spy stuff was just an overlay. Glad it didn’t take very long to read.

A Centenary of Relief Society, 1842-1942    Relief Society General Board
Excellent history of the Relief Society’s first 100 years when it had much more autonomy and power. Very helpful resource for my MABF research. Learned a lot.

The Killer Is Dying   James Sallis
Beautifully written novel about three characters living with their losses, one dying of cancer, one whose wife leaves him to die alone, and a boy living alone after his parents leave him. Great understanding of the human condition. Great prose. Absolutely loved it.

The School of Night   Louis Bayard
Pretty interesting thriller about scholars and collectors hunting for treasure based on a Thomas Harriot letter. Liked the relationship between Harriot and Margaret and some of the overall mystery. Nicely written. Really enjoyed the history and intelligence. Weak ending, but a very enjoyable read.