The Third Twin by Ken Follett

The Third Twin by Ken Follett. Fawcett Crest, 467 pages.

This book has some science in it, so I suppose it could be called science fiction, but it is all current science. It was published in 1996, so I should say it is current science now, and was cutting edge then.

I enjoyed the book - but I wouldn't call it great literature. It's a beach book, or an airplane book. It moves along well and keeps you entertained. I liked the central theme of "nature vs. nurture". In many ways a satisfying book.

I have read at least one other Ken Follett book, "The Pillars of the Earth" but I don't believe I've reviewed it here.

I think "Pillars" has more heft to it, and not just because it is long.

I recommend "Pillars" for a vacation book - where you have a bit more time to invest, and "Twin" for an airplane ride.

PostSecret by Frank Warren

This is the first of (four at this time) Post Secret books. There is a corresponding web site. If you haven't seen this site, I think it is worth a look. The contents are updated every Sunday morning, so it varies from week to week.

www.postsecret.com

Frank Warren has asked people to share a secret, anonymously, usually via postcards sent to an address in Germantown, Maryland. The instructions are simple - tell a true secret about yourself, that you have not shared with anyone.

The results go far beyond what you might imagine. Initially, you might just be curious what is going on in other people's lives. Instead you find that other people often have the same secrets you have. For me, that takes away a lot of the power such secrets hold. If other people struggle with the same things, then in a sense, we're all in this together, right?

Some of the secrets are disturbing, others seem somehow petty - but at the same time you realize that the thoughts being expressed may be all too common. For me, that gives me some empathy for other human beings, and perhaps some admiration for the way people seem to keep on trying.

It's worth a look.