April books

Hidden Figures

by Margot Lee Shetterley
Narrated by Robin Miles

Started 29 March 2018
Finished 13 April 2018

This was, at times, at slightly plodding account, but all thoroughly fascinating. I have seen the film of the same name and really enjoyed it, so I figured that the book would contain more information, which it did.
Hidden Figures tells the story of the black workers at NACA, later NASA, and how they were instrumental in getting mankind into space and later on to the moon.
In the days before the computers we know today, there was an army of people, human "computers", whose job it was to perform calculations and find the solutions to engineers' equations. Most of these computers were female, and most of them black. This was at a time when the US had widespread segregation still. The book charts the journey of several women; their struggle to get a decent education and to carve out careers in the white male dominated space industry.

I enjoyed this book and, more importantly, learned a lot. Like most people, I suspect, I had no idea what the set-up had been at NACA/NASA - I've read about the achievements and seen films, of course, but I didn't know anything about what went on behind the scenes. I now have a few more women to look up to!

The Bat

by Jo Nesbo
Narrated by Sean Barrett

Started 14 April
Finished 20 April

I enjoyed this, the first in the series of novels about Harry Hole. I tried reading one, but I couldn't get into it, so thought I'd see if the audiobook captured my attention more. It was certainly an improvement and I enjoyed the book. A bit surprised to find it was set in Australia, but I believe a number of them are set outside Norway.
Will I read or listen to more? I don't know, I'm still undecided. They aren't completely to my taste, not in the way some of the other "Scandi" detective series have been.

The Disappeared (Joe Pickett 18).

by C J Box.

Started 21 April
Finished 29 April.

The latest in C J Box's Joe Pickett series, about a Wyoming game warden, this book sees a new governor send Joe away to investigate the disappearance of a British tourist This, of course becomes somewhat incidental to the story, which ends up involving all sorts of conspiracies. Joe's master falconer friend, Nate, turns up and things get complicated. A good read, as are all the other books in the series. For me, Box manages to depict the Wyoming scenery perfectly, so I get a real sense of the size and wildness of the country. Joe is always a likeable hero - now I'm waiting for the next book in the series…