Homegrown Democrat
Memoir by Garrison Keillor

While there is much in here that I might grumble or mutter about - but there is a lot that is very, very good. It certainly is a love song to the University of Minnesota, about which he sings many praises. As someone who went to - and works at - the University, I can appreciate that.

And the glimpses of his life growing up in Minnesota, in a time a decade or so before my own is charming. He's more than scathing about "Republicans," though he separates Repbublicans-that-were from Repbublicans-that-are. In the end he raises a standard that is something more than partisan - a call to live and support a civil society that opens the world of opportunity to all.

Prayer for Beginners
Peter Kreeft


This was a very good, winsome, guide to prayer. Written in a CS Lewis-like conversational style, with good knowledge of the Bible and giants of the faith - Kreeft engages, and drives the reader to prayer. Says how, shows how, and makes you want to put the book *down* to go ahead with prayer.

Reminds me that I need to read Brother Lawrence's "Practicing the Presence of God".

Interstellar Patrol
Christopher Anvil


This is a fun, whimsical, collection - true space opera, though little "space"; most stories are 'on the ground' of various planets.

This is an omnibus of Anvil's loosely connected Interstellar Patrol stories, stories that revolve around a independant trouble-shooting patrol organization that fixes the messed up actions of the Planetary Development Authority (something of an overly politically correct UN) and the military Space Forces. The original stories actually barely note the existence of the patrol, but the series develops the patrol (probably as Anvil worked it out) and follows the recruitment and training of the heroes into the Patrol.

I'm taking a break to read some Honor Harrington (and other things). I've read two first "books" and have the "related to Patrol" stories section unread (so far) - but I'll be back.