I finally finished Dark Sleeper by Jeffrey E. Barlough. I must admit it was not one of those books that so enthralled me that I could not put it down. Actually it was a struggle to finish it. Reviews indicate that later books in the series are better and that is the only reason that I actually finished it. It got 3.5 stars on Amazon. The House in the High Wood and Strange Cargo which are in the same Western Lights series both received 4.5 stars on Amazon. Admittedly simply looking at the stars on Amazon is not totally revealing but we will hope in this case it is true since I already have both of those books in the piles to be read. Bertram of Butter Cross and Anchorwick both have 5 stars and the newspaper review I read was actually quite favorably inclined toward Anchorwick. Those last two seem to be the fourth and fifth books in the series. I will not immediately find out if the later books are truly better since I feel compelled to next read something much lighter and quicker, something that I do not have to slog through, yes, some young adult or children's fantasy book. I must go forth to the piles and see what pops into my hands.

Speaking of hands I had a rose thorn removed from my right hand today at the doctor's office. Usually I can pull the silly things out but this time I couldn't do it. P tried too, to no avail. After 3 or 4 days she suggested I might want to check with the doctor and they did indeed pull it out for me, after a little lidocaine and actually even three or four grabs with the tweezers on their part. Of course they had the special magnifying glass spectacles. Maybe I should get a pair. They look pretty cool.