A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF EAST AFRICA by Nicholas Drayson 2008, Viking/Penguin, 202 pgs, fiction, 4.5/B+ Read 07/08/09 1st Line: 'Ah yes' said Rose Mbikwa, looking up @ the large dark bird w/ elegant tail soaring high above the car park of the Nairobi Museum, 'a black kite. Which is, of course, not black but brown.' Present; Nairobi/Kenya Mr. Malik: retired widower, keeps a low profile, avid birder, harbors a deep passion for Kenya and Rose Mbikwa Rose Mbikwa: widow of former politican, guide for the East African Ornithological Society Mr. Malik has been too timid to make any advances towards Rose Mbikwa but has decided this is the year he will ask her to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball. However, he may have waited too long. Harry Khan returns to Nairobi, as flashy and over confident as he was when they both attended primary school togehter. When Harry announces he is asking Rose to the dance, Mr. Malik makes his intentions known. Their friends at the Asadi club decide a competition between the two will determine who wins the hand of Rose. Whoever sees the most different species of birds in 1 week will be the winner. There are several more charming hidden facets of Mr. Malik's humble and compassionate nature that are slowly revealed making this a read a little gem. Delightful!

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn -- 4.5/B+ -- Mystery, 2009, 305 pgs -- Read 06/02/09 (library book) 1st in the Chet & Bernie mystery series -- First Line: "I could smell him or rather the booze on his breath -- before he even opened the door, but my sense of smell is pretty good, probably better than yours." Story told via Chet -- Bernie's dog & partner in his detective agency. They are hired by Cynthia Chambers to find her teenaged daughter. Cynthia is divorced from her daughter's father -- a RE wheeler & dealer who is not very cooperative w/ Bernie & Chet. Looking forward to book #2