Reading Log: March 2022

 The books that I read in March 2022

March 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me," Ace Atkins

"Who Built That? Modern House," Didier Cornille

"Cliff Hutson: The Story of Your DNA," 23andMe

"Candida Höfer: Architecture of Absence," Constance Glenn  (Author), Virginia Heckert (Author), Mary Kay Lombino (Author), Candida Höfer (Photographer)

Cliff's Notes

"Someone"

This is another great Spenser story by Atkins. Ripped from the headlines, as they say, our intrepid detective goes after some people who have a very bad predilection. 

The funny thing is that he does not seem to age while others about  him do, save Susan and Hawk.  The protagonist of this tale is Mattie. We first met her, at the age of fourteen, in "Lullaby" which was published nine years ago and she is about 22-years old in this telling. 

The book also introduces a German short-haired pointer puppy named Pearl. There have been two previous Pearls, as this story opens the second one has recently died. Based on the average life expectancy of the breed, that would indicate that 24 to 28 years have elapsed over the course of Spenser's adventures. 

Yet, he, nor his two his faithful companions seem to have grown older. Not, so that the reader can tell anyway. Even though he and Hawk must be well past sixty, neither has a lost a step. They certainly rival Jack LaLanne in their ability to hold it together.

"Modern House"

Some might call this a children's book, but I feel that readers of all ages can avail themselves of this introduction to to ten of modern architecture's most important homes and their creators. 

"Cliff Hutson"

Genealogical DNA testing has become very popular.  As a multiracial/multiethnic person I have long been curious about my makeup and decided to join the fray. I used three different companies: 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and National Geographic Geno 2.0.  The results varied, but are more or less in line with each other. 

I find the results from 23andMe most interesting as they indicate that I have a great-grand parent who was 100% "French & German", and that person was likely born between 1860 and 1920.  Assuming that the earlier years of this time frame are true would bear out family lore that my mother's grandfather was French. 

In any event, having a book in which I am the subject is kind of fun.

"Architecture of Absence"

This a photography book. Höfer photographs empty spaces, i.e., libraries, concert halls, and museums without people visible in them. Three authors strive mightily to put this in context.