The Good Husband of Zebra Drive and The Miracle at Speedy Motors

By Alexander McCall Smith


Still good. If you have been convinced to read any of the other ones you won't read these either. But you really should.

Into the Wild

By Jon Krakauer
A couple of weekends ago, when we found ourselves driving from Seattle to Bellingham without an Ipod or any cds, Andrew and I stopped and picked up the soundtrack to the movie, Into the Wild. A family member had played it the previous weekend and Andrew remembered that he liked it. I don't remember hearing it all. We both loved the cd, I listened to it repeatedly on the drive home. Good music and by the lyrics of the songs, it sounded like we would enjoy the movie and the person that it was about. The cd reminded us of my brother Josh, probably because that is what we are thinking about a lot right now. But I think he would have liked it. About a week later, Andrew picked up the book. I read it first and I loved it. I didn't especially like the flow of the writing at first, but it gets a little more organized after the first few chapters. I also don't like that most of the story is based on picture journals, but that the pictures aren't included. But the story is interesting. And it is an easy quick read.

Here is the Wikipedia summary:
The book begins with the discovery of McCandless's body inside an abandoned bus in Alaska and retraces his travels during the two years he was missing. McCandless shed his real name early in his journey, adopting the moniker "Alexander Supertramp". He spent time in Carthage, South Dakota with a man named Wayne Westerberg. Krakauer interprets McCandless's intensely ascetic personality as possibly influenced by the writings of Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, and perhaps McCandless's favorite writer, Jack London. He explores the similarities between McCandless's experiences and motivations and his own as a young man, recounting in detail his own attempt to climb Devil's Thumb in Alaska. He also relates the stories of some other young men who vanished into the wilderness, such as Everett Ruess, an artist and wanderer who went missing in the Utah Desert during 1934 at age 20. In addition, he describes at some length the grief and puzzlement of McCandless's family and friends.

Blue Shoes and Happiness

Alexander McCall SmithI read this one and liked it too. I really like these books because I feel like I can read little bits here and there and enjoy them. Or I can sit down and read the whole thing cover to cover. If you don't think that you have time for reading, but want to, pick one of these books up. You will enjoy it and it will make you feel good reading it. She is a very well-rounded, logical person. I like her.

Here is the Wikipedia summary:
Mma Ramotswe is asked to investigate a cook who is being blackmailed, and a doctor whose nurse believes he is doing something illegal. She discovers the identity of the blackmailer, who is a newspaper agony aunt abusing the confidences of her correspondents, and forces her to stop. The doctor is selling generic drugs at the full cost to his patients, and she causes him to be reported. During the investigation she becomes more aware of her excess weight and its health risks and even tries to diet, but decides the most important thing is to be herself and happy.

Mr Polopetsi, the new employee, is happy in his work but still struggles with poverty and hostility from relatives due to his spell in prison. He wants to help Mma Ramotswe, his mentor, with detective work, and when superstitious fears disturb staff at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, it is he who discovers the cause: an injured ground-hornbill, believed to bring ill luck. He removes it, but it dies, and he fears he has lost Mma Ramotswe's trust, but is relieved and grateful when she shows faith in him after all.

Mma Makutsi fears her engagement to Phuti Radiphuti is over after a misunderstanding about feminism, but all is explained and, in the process, Mr J.L.B.Matekoni gains a comfortable new chair which will make him happy too. She begins to appreciate how her fortunes will change with her marriage, and indulges her passion for impractical shoes with a new blue pair, even though they do not fit very well.