"Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See" by Robert Kurson ***

• Non-Fiction
• Originally published 2006
• Story of blind man's journey towards sight
• US author
• Review:  A very interesting story of a very interesting man.  The blending of narrative, biography and medical information was done very well.  Satisfied the desire to know as much as possible about the man and the medicine. Sometimes it was difficult to believe all the "crashing through" stories, but I guess there really are some folks who live life in the extreme from childhood on.  Good read!

"Notes From The Underground, White Nights, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man and selections from The House of the Dead", by Fyodor Dostoevsky ***

• Russian author
• Originally published in 1860s....this collection in 1961
• Review:   Generally I like Dostoevsky very much.  However, "Notes From Underground....." is darkly discouraging.  The best way I can describe this collection is as a series of philosophical snapshots taken at distinct periods in the author's life.  Clearly he was eternally struggling to make meaning of life and it was an anguish filled process.  Apparently I prefer the author's storytelling to his autobiographical philosophizing.

"The Informationist" by Taylor Stevens **

• Audiobook
• Originally published 2011
• US author
• Mystery/Suspense
• Review:  The protagonist in this novel was overdone.  In my opinion she was too hard, too tough, too over the top in every area.  The reader from the audiobook was awful.

"Garment of Shadows" by Laurie R. King ***

• Audiobook
• Originally published 2012
• US author
• #12 in the Mary Russell series
• Review:  Not one of my favorites

"The Bone Bed" by Patricia Cornwell ***

• Audiobook
• Originally published 2012
• US author
• Review:  A good Kay Scarpetta installment, although I like them better when Marino and Lucy are more actively involved in the events of the story.