From middle-class American angst to disillusioned British spies all in one day.

I picked up Graham Greene’s “The Human Factor” this summer at the blueberry farm/used book store near Dad’s house. Then I left it there, unread. I was glad of that when I ended up bookless again with several days left to go in our visit.

It wasn’t as good as “The Quiet American.” In fact, I didn’t care for it much at all. The end was particularly disappointing. It does hold the distinction, though, of being my 50th book of 2006.

I didn’t care for the message this book sets forth — that it’s OK to set your marriage aside as long as you’re trying to “find yourself.” This is another My Family is Falling Apart book, and, as usual, I wasn’t crazy about it. I enjoyed the language of the book. I just didn’t like the overall theme.

I marvel at how good I was before I met him, how I lived molded to the smallest space possible, my days the size of little beads that passed without passion through my fingers.

I felt amazing at the choosing one had to do, over and over, a million times daily — choosing love, then choosing it again, how loving and being in love could be so different.”

….. the end …..

The cover design on “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” made me want to buy the book every time I saw it. I have a hard time spending money on myself, though, so I kept not buying it and not buying it. Then I ran out of things to read while Poppy and I were at my dad’s, so I picked up two books and tossed them in the grocery cart at Meijer’s. And then Dad paid for everything.

(Hooray for Dad!)

Turns out I should’ve kept admiring the cover without reading the book. It was an interesting plot, and it was well written. I’m just not big on the My Family Is Falling Apart genre.

….. the end …..