Fiber Fool

I’m behind by almost five books when you consider those pictured above are books 7, 8, and 9 read in 2008 and we’re closing in on the second half of week 12 (the last three or four years I’ve ended the year having read 60-65 books). There has actually been a lot more music listening going on lately than reading. (Check the sidebar on the right to see what I’ve been listening to most lately. I just updated the list this week!) In fact, I’m reading slowly enough that I’m going the used bookstore route for much of my reading material rather than the library. I just don’t need any more deadlines hanging over my head. For the most part the only reading I’ve been doing is in bed before going to sleep as a means to shut my brain down. That means some nights I only get three pages read before I start to doze off and others nights my mind is more revved up.

Gods in Alabama by Joshlyn Jackson was a book recommended to me by my mom. After not being able to get my hands on a copy at my local library without jumping through hoops of interlibrary loans I got it for Christmas from her. I’d classify it as literary Southern fiction, even though much of the book revolves around a murder. Unlike a normal murder mystery though the murderer is known so there is no mystery element. However, if you enjoy mysteries I think you would still enjoy this book. While we know the murderer the book is interesting and full of twists and turns and little sprinkling of romance as well. I don’t think I’m quite as enthusiastic about this book as my mom was, I am glad I read it.

Another book I think my mom had recommended to me quite a while ago was The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen. I picked it up at Matter Bookstore in June while Chris was visiting, but only just now got around to reading it. My first exposure to Johnasen was as a co-author of The Delaney Christmas Carol. She does a lot of historical writing, however this book is contemporary. The book somehow manages to be suspenseful and sexy at the same time. Centered around one woman and one man’s need of revenge, suspense is definitely the main point of the book. However, there is plenty of sexual tension present amongst the pages as well. If you haven’t read Johansen or any contemporary set Johansen I urge you to give this one a try.

The next book which I just finished is Raveling by Peter Moore Smith. It was Smith’s debut novel and was a Edgar Award nominee for such. I’ll come clean. This totally jumped off the shelves at Anthology due entirely to its title. What knitter and spinner could pass over a book with such a name? When I read the description I was definitely sold, even though psychological thrillers are not usually my thing. Now that I’ve finished the book I’m very glad I didn’t pass this one over. There is not a chapter in the book, but that isn’t the only oddity of the book. The story is told in such a way that you are aching for the answers as much as Pilot’s therapist, Katherine. Despite all my commitments I did find myself making pretty quick progress of this book, often reading until midnight or later with my booklight. I have no questions as to why this novel was nominated for an Edgar Award, but I’m wondering what the book the beat it out was!