The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes

Alfred A. Knopf 2011

An electronic book, from the Pierce County Library.

An unusual story, narrated by a character named Tony Webster. It begins when he is an adolescent, becomes friends with a young man named Adrian, and falls in love with a young woman named Veronica. The story is told from Tony's old age. He is retired, perhaps seventy years old. He tells how he fell out with Veronica, who went on to form a partnership with Adrian, which he very much resented.

This is a story about consequences, remorse, and regret, but it is not a depressing novel.

Life does not reward merit, Tony Webster tells us.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. King

Picador Books, 1994. 346 pages. ISBN 978-0-312-42736-8

A wonderful novel in which we are introduced to young Mary Russell, a British orphan of some means, who meets Sherlock Holmes. Holmes has become a retired gentleman living in the country and keeping bees. Russell becomes, as one would guess, his apprentice.

This sort of thing could be done very badly. The Apprentice is done extremely well, and is an absolutely delightful read. There are more books in this series, this is the first, one wonders if they will be as good.

Holmes and Russell have several adventures together in this book, culminating in one enormously complicated effort to identify and capture a master criminal who attempts to kill Russell, Holmes, and Watson (yes, Dr. Watson lives, too) during the course of events.