Meyer's writing has matured leaps and bounds since Twilight. Her characters and dialogue more realistic and engaging. The story gallops along as a scientist for a black op govt agency relies on every ounce of her intelligence and education to elude the hit her former employers have put on her head. When she's offered the chance to wipe the slate clean, she cautiously accepts the job -an emotional attachment is the last thing she expects.

Seems appropriate as I wait at the garage for my car to be done.

"Beside him stood pitchers and piled-up dishes, silent flagons, precious swords eaten through with rust, ranged as they had been while they waited their thousand winters under ground. That huge cache, gold inherited from an ancient race, was under a spell..." Beowulf _is_ a 1,000 year old enchanted treasure.

"Did he think the avenging angels of irony were never going to swoop down and carry him away?"

This has been on the shelf a long time, one my husband wanted, but I'd never read. I'm reminded why I love fiction- because then the deaths aren't real, and I can dismiss my tears as silly. This book documenting the deaths of three brave sailors, and the ultimate survival-at a terrible cost - of one, is heart-rending. God bless our sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines.

Oh, Scout, I feel you on the educational process. I'm 46 and only just read To Kill A Mockingbird for the very first time.