Since my last Timothy Findley book, Famous Last Words, I have taken respite in a few  ‘quick reads’.  One was a disappointment.  Generally, I enjoy Elizabeth Berg’s writing, especially following challenging books.  The plots are somewhat predictable, but these sorts of stories have their place in my process.  Among my favourite Berg novels, was The Art of Mending.  While the letters shared between wartime sisters and soldiers was initially compelling, in Dream When You’re Feeling Blue, I thought that the ending was a flop.  As is typical with book reviews, not everyone agrees with me here.  I read an Elisabeth Berg interview where she defends the ending, but certainly, it did not strike me in the same way.

The second recent  ‘quick read’ that I DO recommend was Anita Shreve’s The Weight of Water.  I enjoyed it so much that I added Shreve to my I READ THIS list.

Today, I read the third, Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend, while my daughter went through an epic dental experience.  I poured over the book, written by Bridges of Madison County-author, Robert James Waller and felt exhausted, but grateful, for such poignant words and such true-to-life characters.