Julien Rath Rath itibaren Vicq-sur-Breuilh, Fransa itibaren Vicq-sur-Breuilh, Fransa

I really wasn't sure what to rate this book. I'd be extremely interested in hearing what the rest of you think.

We get it, you were precocious and lucky. And grew up to be earnest. Mary Antin's memoir about early childhood in a Russian Jewish community, emigrating to Boston (?) with her family, and the process by which American patriotism replaced Judaism as the definitive faith of her character and life. There's an overall tone of nerdy arrogance to the writing, reminiscent of Annie Dillard's and Agatha Christie's writings about childhood, though sadly minus most of the wry humor. But here and there are some beautiful passages evocative of landscape and the individual's smallness relative to the vastness of cultural and national identity.

Harlan Coben writes the tightest, funniest thrillers around. This one doesn't disappoint as he returns to Myron Bolitar and terrorism, genetics," justifiable" torture and more. Doesn't sound funny? Trust me.