The Last Bookaneer, written by Matthew Pearl, and published by Penguin House in 2015, is another successful example of this intelligent and talented author's ability to draw you into a fascinating, fully realized fictional tale overflowing with both historical fact and educated fancy. Pearl has a way of weaving a story that engages you long after the last page has been turned.

Now, If this were a professional book review, I would proceed to expound in depth on the statement I put forth in the proceeding paragraph, citing examples from the novel, and offering my ever so hazy insight as to the themes that I feel Pearl's writing encompasses.

Since this is not a professional book review, and since I'm not in the mood to pretend that it is (lucky you!), I will use the author's own words to describe my reaction to his latest work.

On page 10 of The Last Bookaneer, Mr. Fergins-a central character to the plot-remarks on reading works by Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Luis Stevenson: "When you begin to read them, you feel like a boy again, and when you close the book you've turned into a better man."

Yup. What he said.