The Ambler Warning by Robert Ludlum

Since Robert Ludlum's passing, I've been dreading the end of his half-done manuscripts, and this was the first book "of his" that I read that felt different. It was a perfectly good airport read, but something about it just wasn't as good as his past books. A cross between Lehane's Shutter Island and Grisham's Broker, the plot was interesting and kept me turning pages. Decent, but don't get your hopes up if you're looking for vintage Ludlum style.

Other People's Children by Joanna Trollope

I never picked a Trollope book off the shelf before, probably because of their Danielle Steele-esque font on the covers. However, this was a good book, and I'd liken Trollope more to Anne Tyler than Danielle Steele. This book told the story of several relationships within an extended family, and the interlocking priorities and difficulties of the characters involved. The stories focused a lot on adults' relationships with step-children, so I'd be interested in reading a Trollope book with a storyline I could relate better to, mostly because she is clearly a good writer with complete characters and interesting plots. Perhaps why I see her as similar to Tyler is just a function of the material being ahead of me in life. Either way, I'd definitely recommend Trollope and this book itself was enjoyable.

The Nature of Air and Water by Regina McBride

Another one recommended by Jenne. This book made me feel like I was sitting in a damp mansion...very good job setting the environment. I thought the plot was good and the main character well-developed although I was a little uncomfortable with some of the characters' decisions. I guess that is one way something can be a good novel: stays in your head like a pebble in your shoe.

Goodbye Columbus by Philip Roth

This was actually a collection of short stories along with the novella Goodbye Columbus. I enjoyed GC, mostly as a time-and-place story, with the typical 1960's women who don't talk, but cry. (e.g., '"I can't make it on time," she cried.' It's very Marjorie Morningstar and thus close to my heart.) The story itself is a dull love story but it's all in how Roth tells it. The other short stories were similarly charming, with "Coversion of the Jews" sticking out in my head.