The Isles is a fascinating look at the history of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Some may opine that the subject matter is much too vast for one volume, but Norman Davies succeeds in what he sets out to do. While some very historic personages and events receive limited exposure, The Isles, as an overview, is well worth the read. The book hits the doldrums nearly two-thirds through, but this doesn't diminish the value of reading this one from cover to cover.

Margaret George has three historical novels in print, Henry VIII, Mary - Queen of Scots, and Cleopatra. All are wonderful reads, but in Henry VIII she hits the pinnacle. This is an enthralling book which takes you back to the 16th century in all its splendor. Magnificently hefty, Henry VIII fills every page with artful words and one heck of a story. There are a handful of authors whose newest works I eagerly wait upon. Margaret George is one of them. And, The Autobiography of Henry VIII holds a very dear position among the 500+ historical and historically-based books in my library. Read it. You'll be thankful that you did.

If the lyrics to Jimmy Buffet's, He Went to Paris, ever set you to daydreaming you've found a book that matches the song in spirit. An old man in South America through his memoir, kept in an Antproof case, tells the twists and turns of an eccentric, joyous, tragic, worldly, and comical life. Helprin's in top form again and I can't imagine any lover of books not enthralled with this tale. Short enough to consume in one sitting and delightful enough to pick up again down the road, Memoir from Antproof Case is a first-class, highly recommended read.

A Suitable Boy, while not entirely engrossing, is certainly an engaging read that, despite its formidable heft, reads briskly, jaunting along at a clip that makes the pages fly by. I formed a remarkable attachment to the main characters, the formation of which is the singular achievement of this effort. A Suitable Boy contains some delightful humor, thought provoking relationships and a welcoming window into the life of an Indian family. In the end, it is, perhaps, a book that provides simply good entertainment.

Mark Helprin is a literary master and A Soldier of the Great War his finest effort. This lengthy tome requires sheer will power to set down once the first few pages are turned. Set in Italy during WWI, it tells a tale of a young man's remarkable experiences before, during, and after the war. This book is replete with Helprin's typically brilliant philosophical undercurrents and, if one can put the book down for a moment to fully digest what they've just read, it often leads the reader to ponder the bigger questions in life at an angle perhaps previously undiscovered. Read it. It is one of the best novels ever written.

Make no bones about it, I was a Payne Stewart junkie. I followed every professional step he took and tuned in where and when I could to watch him and his perfect swing. As such, I, of course, loved this book and consumed it in one sitting. It is upbeat, inspirational, and a wonderful testament to an American original. Those who were not Payne Stewart fans, however, may find the book less objective, having been written by his wife, than they may desire. Tracey Stewart is the ultimate Payne Stewart fan and she celebrates his life through every page. This sits just fine with me, but, for the uninitiated, may play as cheerleading. As well she should. Payne Stewart remains one of the most inspiring people to ever play the game of golf.

I guess it inescapable that a biography contain the contemporary attitudes of its' author. Be that as it may, once Alison Weir gets done foisting her modern day convictions on a 900 year old woman this book becomes merely readable. Eleanor gets lost, however, through much of the book as it concentrates more on her second husband, Henry II. One longs for the supplement to Kathryn Hepburn's enticing portrayal of Eleanor in Lion in Winter, but comes away with mere glimpses. Perhaps, enough material hasn't survived the ages to round out a book on this 12th century queen or, perhaps, she is overshadowed in her time by one of the most intriguing kings to ever rule England, Henry Plantagenet. Either way, Eleanor of Aquitane: A Life, is short on information, short on spark, and becomes but an average read.