And Another Thing by Susan Rushton

Wow! In my previous column, I asked you to let me know what you're reading and loving lately, and I got inundated. Probably be-cause it's been so long since we talked about books.From Janice Fera: "Last month I enjoyed an armchair adventure to the beautiful islands that comprise Scotland, via 'National Geographic Traveler: Scotland" by McKelvie. … (At first I thought) England was the destination I craved. But little by little, the history and character of Scotland began to fascinate me the most, so I dug deeper with this particular book. The photos and descriptions were vivid and enticing, and I enjoyed learning many new things about the geography and Paleolithic history of Scotland – a true adventure!"Gail Maxwell recommends "Winter Sea" by Susanna Kearsley. "I loved it! I haven't read anything by her before, but will certainly look for more of her books. … For February, (my book club is) reading 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' by Rebecca Skloot. It is the true story of a black woman in the '50s who died from cervical cancer but whose cancer cells continue to help cancer research to this day. It reads pretty much like a novel."She read Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" last year and loved it, and adds, "I have read 'Room' and was totally blown away by the story of that little boy and his mother. Happy reading!"Linda Frederick Yaffe asks, "Who are we? Is the story of our life, the story we've created, really true?" Apparently, she found the answers to her questions – in winner of the 2011 Man Booker prize 'The Sense of an Ending: a Novel' by Julian Barnes, which she said remains surprising to the last page.Also recommended by the same author: his memoir "Nothing to Be Frightened Of," and the excellent short stories in "The Lemon Table."In response to my anticipating weeks of horror stories over dinner because my husband is reading "The Big Short," Dot Shiro agrees. "It told me we are all victims of other people's greed. Pretty scary."I received an email from LindaLou Haines that was more than 600 words long, all focusing on the works of her current favorite authors. She recognizes that I can't use everything she wrote, but "once I started…!"I know the feeling."I LOVE historical mysteries," she writes, "because I love mysteries and I enjoy local history that focuses on the people in the context of the current events at that time."For example, my current favorites are Anne Perry (Victorian England, 1850s on) and Victoria Thompson (Victorian New York City, 1890s)."With both Thompson and Perry we learn the history of the period through stories of individual families and their servants and the vendors at the back door, and the lower class as well. And, the problem-solving part of my brain is challenged by the well-crafted whodunnits. For me it is a perfect combination."Busy Margot Fulmer found time to write me her suggestion. She just finished "The Brothers K" by David James Duncan. "It's an 'old' book – published in 1992 – but remains available and well-read by many. I think it's movie material. The story is about a family of seven: parents, three sons and twin daughters. Each has a distinct personality. I was drawn in immediately. There's baseball, religion, Vietnam War, Canada, psychiatrists, family relationships that fall apart and come back together. The 645 pages seem fewer. What a story!"And because I consider it my job to let you know the books NOT to read, I suggest that fans of the late Robert B. Parker avoid a new wrinkle – something called "Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues: a Jesse Stone Novel by Michael Brandman." Putnam, now lacking its cash cow – Parker was prolific, and popular with good reason – is paying other people to write in Parker's name. St. Martins did the same thing after Robert Ludlum died. Now you see stuff like "Robert Ludlum's I Want My Own Piece of the Pie, by Eric Lustbader."I thank all who wrote.Reach Susan Rushton at rushton@suddenlink.net.