Month: May 2009

Review: “Harvard Yard” by William Martin

/ drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I recently read the 2003 novel, Harvard Yard. I loved this book! It tells of the story of Peter Fallon – a character familiar to Martin’s fans- and his search for a rare, unpublished Shakespeare play which is hidden somewhere in or related to Harvard. Along the way the story interchanges between Fallon in the current day and the history of the play through time, from when Shakespeare wrote it and gave it to John Harvard through the centuries. As time progresses, we see the story of Harvard College and the closely linked Wedge family play out through the generations, while in the present day there is a race against time to find the manuscript.

I truly enjoyed this story. It was a great blend of history, mystery, and action – set in a place I know and love. Even though it was over 550 pages, it read quickly and I couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading more of Martin’s work – especially those similar stories tracing a historical artifact.

I give this book 5 Stars — loved it so much I have to own it! (and luckily found it for a buck at the library book sale!)

What Snuck onto my Nightstand….

/ drbethnolan / Leave a comment

The other day at the library I spontaneously pulled out “You’ve Been Warned” by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. I love Patterson’s thrillers as they are quick and fun. This one was no exception. I read the whole book – which goes quickly, even if it is over 350 pages – in one afternoon. The main character, Kristin Burns – a NYC nanny, has some strange, almost psychic phenomena happening to her and tying her to a murder (while all the time she’s also having a secret affair with her employer). This was a quick, fun read – great for the pool or a summer “unwind”!