Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection. I'm glad I read it. Interesting way to tell a very small story. Well written and I would say finely crafted. Covers a span of history I find interesting. I wanted to love it and at times I did but parts were just dreary and sad. Even the parts that may have been joyous were tinged with the shadow of infidelity. I guess the point was that we don't control who we love but that may be too simple in the real world....

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The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These books are wonderful, they ruin my days. I just want to read them. The stories are beautifully crafted and the characters come alive, mature and often behave in ways you might not have expected. The span of history is wonderfully presented. I just can't wait for the next one.

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Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a marvelous book. Jeffrey Archer is a magnificent story teller and I was enthralled from page one. The setting, characters and story unfold in front of you and become more interesting as you read. It is such a wonderful glimpse at life in England before WWII. Knowing that this book is part of a series of six made it even more fun to read. I can't wait to tackle the next one. This is a great book!

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Dishonorable Intentions by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stuart Woods could not write enough books to satisfy me. This one is just like the others, great, unbelievable situations. Food, women and wine! Wonderful settings with characters that seem to get better with each iteration. I don't pretend this is great mystery or fabulous literature, it is just pain fun to read. Can't put it down.

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Black Out by John Lawton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book. I only liked it. Parts of it seemed confusing and yet, in the end I realized that John Lawton has constructed a complex, convoluted story that left a lot of future for the characters. A bit wordy at times, his style often led me astray. On the plus side, I think I could smell the characters he made them come to life so well. Will I read more. Probably after a respite from the war.

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Amazing Nylon-string Acoustic-electric!

Just to update this, I've returned it and replaced it with a little more substantial guitar. This one was pleasant to play but the sound was uneven across the full range. When plugged in some of the strings were substantially louder than others. I believe the problem is that the pickup under the saddle was designed for a narrower string spread. That's why you shop at reputable dealers with great return policies.

My new guitar for fiddling around is slightly smaller and far more slender than a typical classical guitar, Ibanez's GA35TCE is really a pop nylon-string acoustic-electric. The back and sides made from mahogany and a solid spruce top balances gives it deep and rich low end with an even balance tones at the other end.  My favorite guitars have been spruce and mahogany. 

I bought it to play on the couch while watching tv but it has a very natural feel. The body is very thin, not like a classical at all. All though it looks normal its actually smaller than most classics. Its a tiny bit bigger than a Les Paul.

It has a sweet tone and is very easy on the shoulder and fingers.

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book I read for my book club. I enjoyed it. It is the eleventh in a series and the characters are rich but somewhat glossed over. I believe that reading the early books might have made this a more rewarding experience.
The story is interesting and intriguing. At least one of the characters was a real person and the main plot is certainly based on events that did happen in one form or another. Not to spoil the plot, this is the kind of book where fact and fiction come together in an exciting and interesting story.
Louise Penny is quite an author, the story line never quits but occasionally gets bogged down in the milieu. Oops, now that I think about it she might have been a master at setting the stage and the environment for the story... Bravo!

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A Guitar Named for Billy Byrd and Hank Garland

Just like mine but a stock photo

The Byrdland is an electric guitar that gets its names from guitarists Billy Byrd and Hank Garland. The first ones were custom made for them.
The Byrdland was the first thinline guitar. It was essentially a Gibson's L-5 with a depth of 2¼-in about an inch less than the L-5. In addition Byrd and Garland wanted a short scale neck (23½") which makes the frets closer together. The Byrdland is still available from Gibson for about nine thousand dollars.

In the early 2000's Epiphone, a division of Gibson, created some hand mande guitars called the elite or elitist series. These guitars were made in Japan. One of the models was a handmade copy of the original Gibson Byrdland. I managed to find one and bought it. The guitar is an amazing replica of the original. Great wood, same dimensions and essentially the same electronics. The guitar has a venetian, rounded, cutaway. The differences are found in the peghead shape, more Epiphone than Gibson and the tailpiece. The original was engraved "Byrdland" and mine is blank.

Blank Byrdland tailpiece

This guitar also has a carved top and back. Its hardware is gold and it has a remarkably solid feel. The binding and finish are flawless. 
 
This might be my favorite guitar because its unique. There are few guitars that have a short scale and it is very easy to play. The neck is superb and all in all it plays just like an eight grand guitar. The finish is just beautiful. And it sounds just like a jazz guitar should.

The Other Side of Silence by Philip Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The names have not been changed because no one was innocent. Bernie Gunther added to history. Real people, true events and a carefully woven story of intrigue and deception that uses but does not rely on Bernie's colorful and wholly believable past. Philip Kerr has a way with history and his research has found obscure events and brought them to life in this story. Another thing I like is that Bernie almost acts his age. I look forward to his next Bernie book!

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The Lady from Zagreb by Philip Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a masterpiece, murder, deception everything a good detective story should have. As the author points out in the acknowledgments, the murders don't get solved and there is little resolution. The history is magnificent. Easy to follow, yet it is a complex story filled with real people and places. I'm so glad that Philip Kerr did not give up on Bernie. I'll start the eleventh as soon as I'm done here. Please, if you read the book read the Acknowledgement at the end too. I love finding out "who" the characters were based on. A brilliant work.

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Extreme Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucas Davenport at his best. Finds a shred of a clue, not enough to imagine and uses it to unravel a complex and fascinating mystery. All the adventure and nail biting you can imagine. The characters are sinister and revolting, yet real and understandable. You might meet the villains at the supermarket or run into them at the mall. This is a chilling story of the politics of insanity. How the insane can live perfectly normal lives among us and still be monsters capable of horrible crimes. Makes me want to stay home.

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Due Diligence by Michael A. Kahn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this for a book club but I'm so glad I did. Rachel Gold and her friends are a delight. Michael Kahn has fashioned a complex yet totally understandable and believable thriller/mystery. A simple story woven with delightful characters. I really enjoyed the dialogue and the action. I may want to go back and read some more of the Rachel Gold mysteries. There are nine of them to date with several other books to his credit.

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