3. Cherokee America , I forget the author.  

This is for one of my book clubs, and it is set close to one of my family history places I've been studying.  She is really a fine writer in many ways, particularly sensitive to the subject of grief, and paints a good picture of the place and time.  One thing I feel is a weakness is the author's seeming obsession with young men's longings, for lack of a better word. On historical fiction, I prefer a totally fictitious main character over one like this that is based on a real person. Overall, I thought it was pretty good.  Four out of five stars from me. I read a library copy. If it hadn't been for all the private expressions, I would have bought it and passed it on to some younger readers with family history in the area.

4.  Big Bone Lick: The Cradle of American Paleontology, by Stanley Hedeen 

Again, this touches on my family history research, and I wonder what my Kentucky ancestors knew of this spot. One family settled west of it and another east. I visited several years ago near here, and if I'd known more about it then, would have tried to visit. It's kind of like the La Brea Tar Pits, in that there is evidence of ancient life on this continent. In this case, animals came to salt licks here. Some time back, I read a book about salt that was pretty good and was nice for background. This book goes into who was interested in the place early on. Jefferson stands out. It is easy to forget that the notion of extinct creatures was controversial, and maybe still is among some groups.  I enjoyed reading this and would like to go to Big Bone Lick some day. 

5.  Acqua Alta, by Donna Leon

I read these three books for entirely different reasons, and it would not be fair to compare them.  The Donna Leon series is a nice little escape. I have a stack of them, and am not committed to reading the series of more than two dozen, but likely will read the next one sometime.  They are a lot like the Louise Penney books. The main character is a family man with virtuous intent.  The rest of the world is questionable.  Both series paint quite a picture of place. Leon's series is set in Venice.  After reading this one, I think I will remember never to go in January, not that I would have anyway. 

So far in 2021, that's a book a week.  As spring comes, though, we will see.