Might as Well Be Dead-Nero Wolfe

Might as Well Be Dead, by Rex Stout, is a Nero Wolfe novel. What you need to know: Nero is an obese, genius detective who only leaves his comfortable home under the direst circumstances and sends his right hand man, Archie, out to do all the dirty work. Archie is quick witted and great with the ladies, also with the punching people.

This is not the cover of my edition, but I couldn't find it online and uploading it myself is not high on my list of priorities. Let's just say this one is equally compelling and those little criss crossy lines are not merely the artistic expression of the cover designer. No no, ladies and gents. They are the wire mesh between Archie Goodwin (swoon) and the man he's questioning. A man already convicted of murder. But did he do it?! And is the man even who he claims to be?! So many questions?!

I enjoyed every page and the writing is highly entertaining. This book, originally published in 1956, is #27 in the series and I had no trouble following who everyone was and what was going on. It's a quick read and the characters are fantastic, so if you're looking for something enjoyable and satisfying it might be just what you need. I absolutely plan to read more of these myself.

Well isn't that The Story of My Life

Helen Keller's autobiography, The Story of My Life is a selection later this year for one of my book clubs, so I'm digging in now. I haven't gotten very far, in fact her teacher and friend Anne Sullivan has just arrived on the scene.

Her tone is surprisingly casual about everything. Like, "Yeah, so I went blind and deaf, but anyway..."

The image I always have of her is the epic food fight she and Anne Sullivan have in the movie The Miracle Worker. Keller, in my mind, was a child who was the absolute picture of brattiness. Understandably so, considering she could not properly communicate with those around her. But her own account makes it sound as if her tantrums were not much worse than those of normal children, or at least normal children with really bad tempers. I should know, I was one.

Having only encountered Keller through the parts I've seen of the movie and the basic knowledge that most people have of her story, I was pleasantly surprised by her autobiography. She has an engaging voice and the book has made her more real to me than anything else I've ever heard or seen about her.