BOOK REVIEWS

I have recently read 2 books that I would like to review.  The first is Phantom by Susan Kaye ( I think).  I am on our sailboat right now and don't have the book with me to double check the author.  This book is sort of a prequel to the story of Phantom of the Opera that we know from the stage production. It goes into the entire life of Erik, the Phantom, and how his life shapes the person he becomes and what leads him to the Paris Opera House.  I forced myself to finish this book, but I would not recommend it .  Although the writing itself is good, there is SO MUCH EVIL, hatred, and gratuitous violence and murder that it was disturbing to me and I am not a "prudish" reader by any means.  I was left with the same feeling I had after reading tthe first in the murder mystery series by the Scandanavian author called The Girl With the Tattoo, or something like that.  Everyone raved about the series, but it left me feeling spiritually drained and dark

The second book, which I read on the airplane flights here, was Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls , who also wrote the Glass Castle.  I very much enjoyed this novel which was pretty much the life story of the author's grandmother, Lilly Casey Smith.  Lilly was an amazing woman and rose above many challenges in life and I chuckled all the way through the book.  No sex, violence, or bad language, but a fun light read if you just want to relax and get some old-fashioned lessons on dealing with life as it comes at you. 

I have loaded about 7 books on my e-reader for this trip and will continue to share them with you as I go.  I am currently starting a British murder mystery .  Please leave comments if you have read either of these books and let me know what you thought.