Recently Finished Books

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

3.5 stars out of 5

The first book I read was Geraldine Brooks’ Nine Parts of Desire for Social Studies class. She is an Australian journalist and novelist who was a foreign correspondent in Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Her writing is multifaceted, and her journalist career can be seen in her carefully researched historical fiction on varying periods. People of the book are about Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest Jewish texts, and is searched by Dr. Heath, which is the base of the storyline. The book focuses on the storyline of Sarajevo Haggadah and its travel through time until the early 2000s, where the protagonist lives and searches the text. The one thing that turned me off about this book was Dr. Heath’s overdrawn personal life with her neglectful mother and love affair with the music scholar and the dramatic work of the book conservator. This may be a misconception, but I do not believe most book conservationists have lives like Indiana Jones with a surprising sense of intrigue. The drama of Dr. Heath’s life and work added to the intensity of the book, which would not be as easy to read if it focused on the book’s storyline. Overall, People of the Book was enjoyable, but some parts were unrealistic and unbelievable to the reader.

What W.H. Auden Can Do for You by Alexander McCall Smith

3 stars out of 5

This little book was fine. I am not very familiar with W.H. Auden’s work but have read quite a few of Alexander McCall Smith’s novels. I found this book interesting tidbits about key information about the poet’s personal and professional life. At times I found this book confusing as was not familiar with Auden’s work and life so it was all new to me.