"Napoleon: A Life" by Andrew Roberts

While traveling in Italy last summer I kept coming across signs and placards making reference to Napoleon. It was then that I realized my high school history left a major gap in my education. Other than knowing he was exiled to Elba and ran into major issues in Russia, I knew so very little about Napoleon Buonaparte. I did some research on best biographies about Napoleon and this one by Andrew Roberts was highly regarded. I understand why. It is comprehensive. Within it's 800 plus pages, all aspects of Napoleon's life are discussed in depth. This is truly one of the most intriguing and impressive figures of all time. He raised himself up from more or less simple beginnings to the greatest of heights and, all accomplished, at a very young age. I am mostly taken aback by the breadth of his accomplishments. It would have been quite an experience to hold a conversation with this learned and charismatic man.

"If It Bleeds" by Stephen King

Meh. Not that it wasn't an enjoyable read but it didn't grab me like so many of his books do. I am not in love with the concept of Succubi and the main story deals in this realm. I did enjoy one of the four novellas regarding the end of the world as imagined in the last moments of a person's life. That was a fun read. I'm already in the midst of another King novel so this hasn't turned me off to him in any way.