History Lessons

 History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook (2025), 373 pages.

After reading Annie's review, I thought I would check this out. Overall, I really enjoyed the cozy mystery and insight into higher academia. My only (very slight) gripe is that Daphne is almost too worldly with too much of an interesting family background to be relatable. Although - it does serve her well in detecting. 

Stoner

Stoner / John Williams, 278 p.

William Stoner was raised by hardworking farmers in rural Missouri at the turn of the nineteenth century.  He makes his way to the University at Columbia (not, apparently, called Mizzou at the time) and has an epiphany of sorts about literature and learning.  Effectively, he falls in love, and it's that love that keeps him in Columbia, studying and then teaching, for the rest of his life.  Other relationships, to his wife, daughter, lover, and friends could almost be called unconsummated.  The novel questions where the fault for this lies, and whether it matters.  A beautiful, simple text that asks the deepest possible questions.