What I'm reading ...

I have started Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel. Time for some non-fiction. This looks like - and may be is - a self-help book, but I was not looking for any particular help. We heard the author talking on the radio and she seemed to speak a lot of common sense and express herself very eloquently, so we thought that reading her well renowned book might be interesting.  Here’s the blurb:

When you love someone, how does it feel? And when you desire someone, how is it different?
In Mating in Captivity, Esther Perel looks at the story of sex in committed couples. Modern romance promises it all - a lifetime of togetherness, intimacy and erotic desire. In reality, it's hard to want what you already have. Our quest for secure love conflicts with our pursuit of passion. And often, the very thing that got us to into our relationships - lust - is the one thing that goes missing from them.
Determined to reconcile the erotic and the domestic, Perel explains why democracy is a passion killer in the bedroom. Argues for playfulness, distance, and uncertainty. And shows what it takes to bring lust home. Smart, sexy and explosively original, Mating in Captivity is the monogamist's essential bedside read.

Looking Good Dead - by Peter James

Having enjoyed the previous book in this series, I had high hopes for this one. I was not disappointed. The book is well paced, with just the right amounts of complexity and the occasional surprise twist. The chapters are quite short, so it is great to just dip into for a few minutes, when a reading opportunity arises. I found it fairly unputdownable after the first 100 pages or so.

I observe that many people seems to enjoy these books and binge read all of them. I will read more, but I will keep them ready for when I want a relaxing, but engaging read.

What I'm reading ...

Time for some escapist fiction, so I have started Looking Good Dead by Peter James. Here's the blurb:

Tom Bryce did what any decent person would do. But within hours of picking up the CD that had been left behind on the train seat next to him, and attempting to return it to its owner, he is the sole witness to a vicious murder. Then his young family are threatened with their lives if he goes to the police. But supported by his wife, Kellie, he bravely makes a statement to the murder enquiry team headed by Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a man with demons of his own to contend with.
And from that moment the killing of the Bryce family becomes a mere formality - and a grisly attraction. Notice of Kellie and Tom's deaths has already been posted on the internet. You can log on and see them on a website. They are looking good dead.

The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us - by Alice Roberts

Overall, I found this book to be a fascinating read. It is very logical and goes into lots of detail. I really liked the idea of exploring evolution and embryology at the same time. I think that a scientific education and a lifelong interest in science help me a lot, but I did think that detailed parts could be skipped without missing anything vital.
Some of the editing was a little lax. There are places where a term is used, but not defined until later. In other cases, a concept is explained then the explanation repeated soon after. I am being picky, as the overall quality of writing is very good. The author manages to bring a lot of herself and her personality to the writing.