Sweet Lamb of Heaven

Sweet lamb of heaven / Lydia Millet, 250 pgs.

Anna married Ned, the hot guy who turns out to be a sociopath.  She leaves after the birth of their daughter, a baby unwanted and basically unacknowledged by Ned.  Now Ned is running for his first political office and needs a family by his side to help the campaign.  The ultimate manipulator, he makes it impossible for Anna to refuse to comply.  In almost a second story, Anna and her daughter have been living in a small motel in Maine.  There she meets up with other people who have been afflicted with something that she experienced after the birth of her baby until said baby started talking.  These people hear voices.  Nobody knows where the talking comes from or what it means.  Everyone seems to have their own version.  What brought Anna to the motel?  How has she met up with others with her condition?  What does it all mean?  I'm not sure the book answers the questions but it sure does raise them.

Sleeping Giants

Sleeping Giants, by Sylvan Neuval, 304 pages.

The story of the discovery and examination of a large metal hand, and the subsequent search for the rest of the related metal body parts is told through documented conversations and reports between and to assorted scientists, helicopter pilots, lingusts, Presidential aides, and one super-secret, unamed agent. As the characters discover more about this massive piece of alien technology, the reader tries to figure out which of the very interesting characters is really pulling the strings. Intricate, engaging, and a joy to read or to listen to.