"Stellar"
The Polar Star is rusty factory ship working together with american trawlers in the Bering sea. A dead women is caught in the net, and the scene is set for an artic game between spys, commissars, smugglers and the political unstable Arkady Renko (the protagonist from Gorky Park).
A decaying soviet state entering perestroika makes a great setting for any crime novel – all in all an entertaining read by Martin Cruz Smith.
"1Q84 and Town of Cats"
1Q84 is a slightly surreal novel by Haruki Murakami, but in my opinion a bit tedious and far to long. Especially heavy on repetition, which made it at times tiresome to read. I guess several of the somewhat superfluous sex scenes were necessary in order to sell copies…
Anyway, what I will remember best is the well written short story “Town of Cats”.
"You think you are smart?"
Your Are Not So Smart by David McRaney is a set of brief presentations of famous psychology projects and papers covering the human nature, most of them you probably are familiar with. An easy red, but agreeable introduction to the limits of our brains.
"Laughing at the French"
An amusing account by Stephen Clarke of an Englishman moving to Paris and gaining the insights in the nuances of Paris life. Filled with cultural stereotypes, which might bother the occasional French reader, but rather entertaining for the rest of us.
"The parisians that shaped city of lights"
Parisians is a collection of anecdotes covering Paris, from the revolution to the 21st century, by Graham Robb. The author presents a human perspective on essential events, figures and places. Each story is written in a different style, reflecting the theme and characters. This is pulled of excellently, only the story about Juliette Greco, written in screenplay style, fails to engage.
It is interesting and well written – almost poetic at times. An excellent read for those inclined to history or those just fascinated by the city of lights