ON READING

     Just finished a series of books that I have been reading and they were all great reads and thought provoking. One book is Greg Iles's new book Natchez Burning, another is John Sanford's new book Field of Prey, and the last is actually a trilogy from Tessa Harris about an anatomist in England during the time of the American Revolution. Seem to be very different, but there are themes in common and they make for great reading.
     Natchez Burning is the start of a trilogy and is huge, about 800 pages and well worth it. It has a recurring character from three other Iles books but it is not necessary to read them first, though why deny yourself the pleasure of it? The Sanford's book is about the hunt for a mysterious and eerie serial killer. So how are they similar?
     The question of good and evil and its relativity and interpretation are prominent. Is the law the LAW or should one have broken it if it was immoral, just plain wrong. but what about the influence and knowledge, thoughts of the time? Doesn't that play a part? Are we allowed to make use of evil for the purpose of good? Where does the blame lie now,  in the present,if it lies anywhere? How do we deal with people who are stone cold, thinking people without any morals or brakes? Do we look into the abyss and hope for the best or do we try to find another way?
     In reading the books, one set in late 18th century England, one set in the 90's South, deep South with roots in events in the 60's, and one set in modern Minnesota and Wisconsin small towns, one can wonder where are the similarities and why must we think? Why can we not simply enjoy the book? The answer is you may, why not? But the thought extends the impact of the books and deepens our understanding of the world yesterday and today and we realize that there are eternal questions that must always be answered, but first must be asked.
     I do not want to go any more deeply into the stories for why ruin your reading, but think about some of these questions, the choices of the characters, the events that take place, the similarities of the novels and wonder at the skills of the authors. These novels make us realize that truly the echoes of the past are always there to be heard if only we were to truly listen and understand, as the famous statement goes, "The past is never dead; it is not even the past."
     Enjoy the books. Happy reading and happy thinking.