Books of January

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin is a fictionalized account of the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh from her meeting with Charles soon after his historic flight until his death.  I loved the book, but I couldn't help but wonder why such an intelligent, educated woman would stay with such a jerk.  Grade A

Essays by the esteemed poet Donald Hall, some fascinating, some meandering.  And doesn't he look scary on the cover, sort of like a grumpy Santa Claus?  Grade A-

The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins' debut thriller is touted as this year's Gone Girl and is #1 on the best seller list.  I couldn't wait to read it.  None of the viewpoint characters are very likeable but the story has many twists and turns, beginning with the girl who imagines the lives of a couple she sees from a train window.  After the wife disappears, she becomes involved in their lives.  This has already been optioned for a movie, which will probably be a blockbuster.  Grade A-.

Happy Reading!