Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

**** 4 stars
 (Spoiler alert)





Wow!  I inadvertently spoiled myself with this book by googling about the main character. I had no clue!  I think I'm glad I did, in a sense, because I would have been SHOCKED to encounter this in the book with no foreknowledge.  Yikes!  I'm aghast and a little ashamed as I did not know about this part of Frank Lloyd Wright's life.  You'd think something this dramatic would have followed his legacy around; maybe it has and I just completely missed it. I can't say I've ever been anything but the most casual admirer of his works and only generally aware of him.

But, about the book.  I listened to about half of it on a car trip and read the rest.  The book has a quiet, gentle nature which is a little odd considering it is about an adulterous affair.  I did not really sense the passion; we are told about the great love and passion but the two characters are both so intellectual, the book is a little bloodless in that regard.  But something kept me listening and I'm glad I did. It was an interesting depiction of a time and place (several places, actually) as well as the personal struggles the main character has regarding her decisions.

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

**** 4 stars

Great read! It was awesome to revisit little Danny from The Shining all grown-up.  His trajectory, not surprisingly, is not a smooth one.  I always enjoy the human elements of King's books over the horror and as much as I love him, sometimes the books indulge too heavily in the horror direction.  This one almost felt restrained in that regard.  It felt like a quick read even though it was fairly hefty. Glad he is still writing; since I've been reading him since I was a teenager, he is the equivalent of a literary "best friend".