Books from the Heart

I have just finished reading "Any Human Heart" by William Boyd and I thought it was very good although it left me feeling slightly melancholy. James has always pointed out that the books I read affect my mood, which is why I try to read a happy book if I have just read a sad one. Not that "Any Human Heart" is sad, but the end of it is very reflective about the nature of life and death. I have read several books by William Boyd over the years; "An Ice Cream War" was the first, then "Restless" and last year "Ordinary Thunderstorms" which I thought was excellent, a fine adventure which would make a good film. I will now start the latest Shardlake novel by C.J. Sansom; "Heartstone", about the adventures of a crime-solving hunch-backed lawyer in the reign of Henry VIII, all good fun. I have enjoyed the others. Shardlake is about as lucky in love as Inspector Morse so I am hoping for a bit of romance for him this time!