I just finished reading The Vincent in the Barn: Great Stories of Motorcycle Archaeology by Tom Cotter. I also read one of his previous books, The Hemi in the Barn and loved it. This book is no different. The Vincent in the Barn is a collection of tales and stories about finding and restoring great old classic motorcycles. Now, I am more of a car nut myself although I do love to look at, read about, and visit motorcycles. But I am must admit right now that I have never driven one by myself. I am a wee bit scared of motorcycles. There is nothing between you and the pavement at 60 miles an hour if you have an accident.

This book takes you all over the world in search of elusive and rare motorcyles. From Russia to Saigon to Italy (where some of the finest motorcycles have been made.) This is a book about barn finds: following tips and clues to old sheds and barns around the world that contain hidden treasure in the form of motorcycles.

A book like this would not be complete without pictures. The pages are filled with pictures of motorcycles in all states of repair and dereliction. The stories include interesting details like descriptions of previous owners, prices paid originally, values of the motorcycles now, and even conversations between motorcycle enthusiasts and the people who are looking to part with the old cycles in their barns.

Motorcycle archaeology is quite an art and a science. The people who know, and I mean really know, the history and details of motorcycles are amazing. You can read about their knowledge and excitement about motorcycles between the pages of this well-written and illustrated book.

Just reading the stories in this book made me want to go right out and buy myself a cool old motorcycle. To put on display in my living room, of course. I wouldn't ever ride it!

And Tom Cotter: you can keep the stories coming.

For your own copy of The Vincent in the Barn click here.

FCC compliance: this book was provided to me by the publisher, Motorbooks.com, for the purpose of review.

I finished reading A Bad Day For Sorry on Sunday evening. This is one of the best books I have read lately. It is a totally different spin on a crime novel. The heroine, Stella, is a 50 year old woman who operates a sewing shop in rural Missouri with a vigilante business against abusive men on the side. She is fearless and unapologetically middle-aged. But she is in great shape and proceeds to take down bad guys and give out her own brand of justice.

I love it that she developed a reputation in her neck of the woods for being a bad-ass. She shows that age is not a factor when it comes to standing up for abused women. She does it with her own brand of sass which includes some unorthodox methods like using a little light bondage to teach the menfolk a lesson.

I won't give away the storyline but she comes up against some really bad guys who almost win. But you know how these books go. Usually the good guy (or girl) ends up winning.

A Bad Day For Sorry by Sophie Littlefield

I picked up a copy of Iconoclast: a neuroscientist reveals how to think differently by Gregory Berns when I was waiting around at the airport in LA last week. I have found it to be very interesting reading. It is written by a scientist for laymen to read.

Mr. Berns shows example after example of people who have overcome their natural mental roadblocks and gone on to greatness. He explains how our brains work and where ideas come from.

The most compelling thing I took away from this book is the author's explanation of the efficiencies that our brains carry out by using shortcuts of which we are not even aware. His biggest suggestion to train our brains to overcome those efficiencies and learn to think differently: expose your brain to new situations such as travel, learning new languages, and simply taking in new information every single day. It will force you to think creatively.

Iconoclast on Amazon.com

I have checked out 5 books from the library this month and none of them is quite interesting me. I want to read a really good work of fiction along the lines of Maeve Binchy or Rosamunde Pilcher. But I haven't found anything this month yet.

I usually have two or three books that I am reading. I will keep one downstairs and a couple of books upstairs in my room. Then I read whichever one I feel like reading. Sometimes I will read several chapters in one book and then pick up another book and read a chapter or so. Some people may think it would be confusing to read several books simultaneously but I don't seem to have any problems.

One book that I am reading right now is The Lost Art of Gratitiude by Alexander McCall Smith.

What I like best about this book is the sheer Scottishness of the setting and the characters. It is a little heavy on the main character's moral contemplations.But maybe that is to be expected since she is a philosopher. I have not finished the book yet but so far, it is ok.

The Lost Art of Gratitude on Amazon.com