The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro
A blackballed artists now working for Reproductions.com, a long-ago real life art heist, a charismatic gallery owner, artists with angst, and three different time periods along with lies, deceptions, and moral conundrums all sounds like a good book – and many people thought so as well – it is a best seller, award winner, and received rave reviews including from people whose opinion I respect (The Literate Housewife). Unfortunately I did not care for this book. I thought it was a little repetitive, predictable, and I did not care about the characters; usually this doesn’t stop me from liking a book – but in this case it did. Note: I listen to 60% of this book and read the remaining 40%.
The View Fromm Penthouse B by Elinor Lipman
This was my first Elinor Lipman and I am hooked. The novel centers around two sisters -one divorced with her felon ex-husband living in the same building and the other a middle-aged recent widow. The divorcee loses all her money in the Madoff (he who must not be named) Ponzi scheme and has her sister and a gay guy living with her to save on expenses. Will they be able to co-exist, will they find love, will they find employment? This book is a quick read with snappy dialogue and easy with some heft so that it has a decent amount of body to it, good characters and a decent plot. In other words a good read for the porch on a summer day with a chilled glass of wine – a perfect palate cleanser after a difficult or unsatisfactory read. I have already picked up my second Lipman from the library.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
This debut novel is hard to describe without giving away the plot but here goes: Graphic/Web designer Clay Jannon is out of a job in the great recession when he finds employment as the night clerk in a 24 bookstore. There are few customers, stranger books, and odd happenings. Clay puts his mind into figuring out what is going on and things get curiouser and curiouser. This novel is set in San Francisco (with a fun trip to New York), and features the technology that is changing our world with Google (and one of its employees) playing a major role in figuring out what is going on. I found it a charming read, delightful, and hard to put down. It will be a Christmas gift to more than one person I know.
Reflections from the Hinterland 
I just picked up The View From Penthouse B from the library today, and have it earmarked for the time I spend with a family member undergoing medical tests later this week. So glad to know you enjoyed it!
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is on my list and Elinor Lipman is one author I have always seemed to enjoy reading. One of her books: The Inn at Lake Divine – I actually read twice.