Reading

I read mysteries, usually murder mysteries, no not usually, always, no not always, but to often sometimes.  Somewhere after I retired I got into searching for foreign mysteries and have been so surprised to find so far two authors who write great books, and are packed with new thoughts on life, on cultures, on right and wrong, on living life.  I have to say we all are tied to our locations, city, state, country, hemisphere, world.  What influences us is our surrounding, not only people, but past, country, history, family, and probably most important family history.  I say most important, because to know your past will help you understand your future.

Louise Penny is a Canadian writer who has written a series of books that not only introduces you to life in Canada, but problems that are similar to ours and how they are the same and different.  I started at the beginning of her series and am now waiting for the next one.

Hanning Mankell is a Swedish writer who I found not to long ago, but his detective is so realistic you have to agonize and sympathize with him.  Again start with the beginning and go through the series.  Kurt Wallender is the character and I appreciate a realistic person who is scared to death sometimes, unable to live with killing a criminal-taking a life any life.  He is slowing realizing how the world is intruding  on Sweden and how crime, horrific crimes, are starting to occur in their country.

I guess I've learned much from both of these writers.  From Penny, that the Gregorian Monks were the first to write down music--go figure.  Before them is was played by memory.  From Mankell, how life is changing all over the world.  I've been to South Africa with him, to Russia, and now back to Sweden.  If I visited Sweden it would have to be in the winter and in Ystad.  

Both writer touch on religion, Penny more than Mankell, but both bring new thoughts and ideas.  Sometimes funny, sometimes not.  Well I've got to get back to my book.