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Star Trek: Countdown - J. J. Abrams et al 
The prequel to the terrific Star Trek movie, originally published as a four issue comic series and now collected as a trade paperback. Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will be delighted as Data, Picard, LaForge, and Worf all appear in this introduction to Nero and his desire for vengeance against Spock and the Federation. If you enjoyed the movie, this book is a must.

Sepulchre - Kate Mosse
For those who have not read Labyrinth, also by Kate Mosse, Sepulchre is a good, at times riveting, occasionally meandering, book that weaves two related storylines, present and past, toward a single climax. Both stories begin in Paris and end in southwest France, around Carcassonne, and are linked by family ties and a pack of tarot cards. Kate lives near Carcassonne, and the strength of the book lies in her knowledge of the area and the detail of the late 1800's historical setting.

For those who have read Labyrinth, you have seen this before, the same weaving of past and present stories, linked by family ties and a mystical connection, toward a single climax. The geographic settings of Labyrinth and Sepulchre are the same, and the books share the same strength of area knowledge and historical detail. However, the historical setting of Labyrinth, the 13th century crusade against the Cathars of the area, is far more interesting. If you read both, read Labyrinth first, as there is an interesting, but not essential, link between the stories.
 

The Soloist - Steve Lopez
The Soloist is Nathaniel Ayers, a mentally ill, homeless violinist who becomes the subject of a series of columns by Steve Lopez of the LA Times. The story starts with Steve needing an idea for a column and finding Nathaniel, continues with the developing relationship between them, and leads to Steve becoming involved with the homeless issue in LA and even to changes in his own life. It reads like a story a good journalist would write...tight, straight forward prose that is at times uplifting, tragic, and even funny.
  

Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France - Kristin Espinasse
 
Any book about an expat living in France will be compared to Peter Mayle's books. The difference is that Espinasse is writing about herself and family, with Provence as the setting, and Mayle writes about Provence itself. Based on Espinasse's blog, the book is a diary of everyday life: hanging laundry, having the relatives over for dinner, some "joie de vivre" moments, etc., serving as the vehicle for introducing French words and expressions. I did learn some new words and expressions, and her encounters with April 1st and Easter were timely, but this extended word of the day calendar probably works better as a blog than a book. Consider this a lukewarm recommendation.

Provence A - Z - Peter Mayle 
Eclectic, alphabetically organized essays about the wonders of life in Provence. The individual essays are entertaining and informative (I even used a couple as references for a presentation in a French class), but read too many at a time and they blur together. Like rich bonbons, better digested in small portions.

Links

Oman

Alydan
Consulting

France 2005

American Music Abroad 2003

The Pennsylvania Flute Choir

Chester County Concert Band

Barr Art Works

Matt Brown (old time fiddle music)

5-String Productions