Woman from Shanghai: Tales of Survival from a Chinese Labor Camp   Yang Xianhui
Unbearable, fact-based tales from Jiabiangou prison camp in China from 1957-1961. What happened to these people is beyond horrifying, and there was no reason for any of it. So bad, I wish I hadn’t read this book. Hope I can get over it.

By Blood We Live   Glen Duncan
This book is well written, has fairly well-developed characters, and plenty of action. But I quit after about 100 pages because I felt stupid reading about vampires and werewolves. Couldn’t imagine that I would consider it worthwhile when I finished.

Purgatory   Ken Bruen
Latest Jack Taylor novel. This time, a serial killer is haunting Galway. Even I have gotten tired of Jack’s bitterness and ineptitude. As usual, his friends pay the price. Even though the writing is superb, I think this will be my last one. Sláinte.

Give Us a Kiss   Daniel Woodrell
Well written and entertaining hillbilly noir about a man finally finding his place. Liked the characters, violence, sex, erudition, and fatal, inevitable outcome. Intelligent, quick entertainment. Very nice.

The Glass Slipper and Other Stories   Yasuoka Shotaro
Bleak and strange stories about the self-perception and inner lives of odd characters. I felt off balance reading all of them, and didn’t like any of the people. Too bad.

The Return   Michael Gruber
Entertaining novel about a man who returns to Mexico to avenge his wife when he finds out he has an inoperable brain tumor. Nicely written, and there is enough violence and sex to keep it interesting. But the increasing religious fantasies and plot improbabilities made it seem hollow. Not really bad, though.

The Thief   Nakamura Fuminori
Slim, well-written novel about an accomplished Tokyo pick pocket who gets involved, against his will, with an evil yakuza. Much rumination about fate that keeps us from what we want. Pretty good.

The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend   Glenn Frankel
History of the Cynthia Ann Parker story that was the foundation for the John Ford film. I was far more interested in the actual history in the first 2/3rds of the book. Great American history about the Indian-White wars in the southwest. Very well written and researched. Really liked it.

Introducing Baudrillard   Chris Horrocks and Zoran Jevtic
Excellent, brief introduction to the chaotic and provocative thought of the French sociologist/philosopher. Not as quick a read as I thought. Baudrillard requires effort. Very glad I read it.