Enigma of China

Qiu Xiaolong - Shanghai Chief Inspector Chen Cao series. Story of high official found hanged. Question whether was suicide or murder. Then the investigating police inspector is run over in a set up car accident. Neither is fully resolved. The real story is the present situation in Shanghai and China. Touches on high party corruption, control of media, internet usage to highlight and bring down corruption and how Internet is tried to be controlled by state. Interesting series as early books presented life of the pre-development era and through various stages of that process esp. the building and property boom which has led to explosive growth of riches for a very few but poverty for the masses.

Nature Wars: The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds

Jim Sterba - details the conflict between animals and birds of nature and people of sprawl in suburbs and also rural areas and urban. Traces the great forest of the East coasts from early colonial times through its almost complete elimination by 1900 and then the gradual revival to present as New England now is over 75% forested. Along the way tells the story of the animals extirpation and renewal leading to the present conflicts. Traces the stories of beaver, deer, turkeys, geese and bear specifically and the problems associated with feeding birds, feral cats. Well done even handed reporting with no sides taken, just laying out the story.

Caravan of Thieves

Loser! Thin plot, thin story. Gave up quickly.

Inventing Wines

Tedious history of wine from the beginning of time. Really drags. Overly pedantic.

The Golden Egg

Donna Leon - we were at the library the other day, escaping the humidity and perhaps to find something to read. As closing time approached, I grabbed a couple books from the shelves and Lyn offered "the Golden Egg" from a cart, knowing that I have read a few of her books in the past. I hesitated but just grabbed it anyway. Charlie had offered the book back a while, but I had declined the offer as the recent Leon books had become more and more, how should this be explained, languid. The last was particularly so, but then that was about summer in Venice and perhaps an appropriate tone. At the time of the offer I wasn't ready for that. While the Egg is once again a slowly proceeding and developing story, the exploration of Venetian life, Italian nature and life in general is rather interesting. Turned out to be a good read. Thanks, Charlie, for the offer though it possibly would not have been a good time for it then. Rather nice now.

The Short Reign Of Pippin IV

John Steinbeck - written in 1950s and a political satire of goings on in France but touches on government shenanagins everywhere. Light satire.

Keeping Bees in Towns and Cities

Luke Dixon - Nice overview of beekeeping in urban settings. Not a comprehensive guide but top level and fun read.