Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Perfume is one strange book and the ending was very very disconcerting. It was a quick read and quite original. The idea of someone with a perfectly discerning nose for scents who doesn't have any individual scent of his own was unique. Set in the past, when odors were much more pronounced, it was an interesting tale. I just wish I had stopped reading before the last chapter.

I will pass this on and see if anyone else feels the same.

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

This book reminds me of Who Moved my Cheese? Simple easy reading with a hammer of a moral to the story. There were parts that made me think a little. I liked the idea that enthusiasm is as much a universal language as love is. I like the idea that everyone has a personal goal and that the universe is trying to get you to it - although not always in ways that you would understand. However, I liked the book more as I was reading it than I do in the days after finishing it. It was easy to get sucked into the philosophy of the book (much like when I read Ayn Rand). However, the lingering taste is not necessarily one that I treasure.

I think I will keep it and pass it to others and try to read it again in a while. Maybe it will improve with another reading?

Happiest Toddler on the Block - Harvey Karp, MD

Interesting ideas. I haven't put all of them to work yet, but I am going to suggest my husband read it. Hopefully, that will make me less embarrassed to try Toddler-ese and Fast Food Talk.

Another review of this book took issue with the use of evolution of man to convey the developments going on in a toddler. While I don't have any issues with using evolution to convey the ideas behind the strategies and tactics, I did get sick of that portion of the book. I was ready to move on to the techniques. I should have just skipped ahead.

It will go on the bookshelf until we make it out of the toddler years - what only 4 more years of this???

100 Best Novels

After looking at MLA's 100 Best Novels, I am feel like I'll need to get out of the brain candy mode and pick up something worth reading.

For the Board's List, I have only read 15 of them!

• The Great Gatsby - does it count that I have read it more than once?
• Brave New World
• Catch-22
• The Grapes of Wrath - again, do multiple readings count for something?
• 1984 - multiple readings again...
• Slaughterhouse-Five
• Animal Farm
• Howards End
• Lord of the Flies
• The Age of Innocence
• Death Comes for the Archbishop
• The Catcher in the Rye - multiple readings
• The House of Mirth
• A Bend in the River
• The Call of the Wild

I do slightly better for the Reader's list, 28!

• Atlas Shrugged
• The Fountainhead
• The Lord of the Rings
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• 1984
• Catch-22
• The Great Gatsby
• Stranger in a Strange Land
• Brave New World
• The Catcher in the Rye
• Animal Farm
• The Grapes of Wrath
• Slaughterhouse-Five
• Gone with the Wind
  
• Lord of the Flies
• A Prayer for Owen Meany
• The Stand
  
• Beloved
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• The Handmaid's Tale
• Something Wicked This Way Comes
• The Call of the Wild
• Fahrenheit 451
• Watership Down
• The Hunt for Red October
  
• Naked Lunch
• It
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Does it count that I tried to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? I think it should, I won't pick it up again.

How did you do?

The Darkest Evening of the Year - Dean Koontz

Everyone knows I enjoy Koontz, but between this one and the last one, I don't know if I can say that as strongly. When Koontz is good, I love it. But two less than stellar books in a row and I am starting to question my decision to go out of my way to buy them the day they come out.

"he delivers a heart-gripping tour de force he’s been waiting years to write, at once a love story, a thrilling adventure, and a masterwork of suspense that redefines the boundaries of primal fear—and of enduring devotion." HA HA HA! That's some good promotional writing. The love story is underwhelming and the adventure and suspense were hardly worth mentioning. I was never in doubt about the outcome and the villains were very one dimensional. The return of a dog as a main character was contrived and unbelievable. I am having a terrible time coming up with a redeeming feature... There was one paragraph I thought was worth reading again, and when I did, I am not sure what I was thinking. Normally, I have several quotable sections - ideas that just seem to make more sense when phrased that way.

Yes, I read the book in one night like usual, but I was never at the edge of my seat and I didn't have to stay up past my bedtime. Without any other thing to do, yes, I finished it. But it wouldn't have been hard to put down. What a disappointment.

The Obsidian Trilogy - Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

I like Mercedes Lackey - she writes brain candy for the fantasy crowd. Some of her books have more to them, but most of them are just a nice adventure story with a fun cast of characters. After all the mystery / suspense / detective brain candy reading of recent months, I needed a new flavor. I picked a book in a series that came out after the last book I read by Lackey - about 2 years ago. It turns out that I should REALLY look at my book case more often. After starting The Outstretched Shadow I realized I had already read it! But, I re-read it and then moved on to the rest of the trilogy: To Light a Candle and When Darkness Falls.

This is the standard fantasy set up; magic, disenfranchised youth, evil forces, etc. With the usual caste of characters - centaurs, mages, unicorns, elves, demons, trolls, etc., it felt more like a Salvatore story than a Lackey one. I enjoyed the main characters, they didn't feel one dimensional. And they went by quickly. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Salvatore or those who want brain candy in the fantasy flavor.

I'm not sure if it will stay on my shelf, but I will try to get Higgy to read it before it leaves the house and maybe Joe once Higgy is done.

Love Frustration - RM Johnson

Hmm, I don't know how to characterize this book. It was a cross between straight fiction and romance. It went by quickly enough, but I doubt I'll remember it. I think the detailed (and in my opinion, entirely unnecessary) rape segment has me firmly putting it in the to the used book store stack. Until that, it was harmless enough that I probably would have passed it on as something fun.

Cause for Alarm - Erica Spindler

Brain candy - nothing more, nothing less. It's going back to the used book store. I read it last week and I can't even remember what it was about. Not a good sign...

Ship of Destiny - Robin Hobb

The end of the Liveship Traders trilogy was not as thought provoking as the previous books in the series. Ship of Destiny was more of an action packed soap opera - each character being put through increasingly interesting turns of events. It was a page turner - and at 800+ pages, that is almost on the verge of annoying. Actually, the end wasn't so much a page turner. It was the happily ever after part - the part where all the endings are taken to a complete close. That was the only disappointment in the series. I would have preferred a couple of loose endings - things that you could speculate as to the outcome.

This series is my favorite Hobb trilogy, it will be staying on the shelf.

Mad Ship - Robin Hobb

Second book in the Liveship Traders Trilogy. This one focus more on the life of a pirate raiding the slaveships, while also focusing on families in Bingtown. Same themes, same great storytelling.

It will be on the shelf.

Ship of Magic - Robin Hobb

Oh, I do enjoy Robin Hobb. I tried to read this series years ago and just couldn't get into it. I returned it. I picked it up again used. I was missing out.

The story follows the lives of people in Bingtown - an outpost of a distant ruler and founded on the Cursed Shores. There were ancient bargains made that shape the culture and politics of the area, but now newcomers are invading and changing the way of life. They bring slavery and a lack of respect for women with them. The theme of many fantasy novels is around political ideas and being self supporting, but with this series it is about free will. The story revolves around destiny, fate, and the characters ability to determine their own way. At the same time, there are discussions about slavery - what attitudes are needed on the part of the owners and society to let it occur in the first place. It is also about standing up for what you believe even when you know it is futile - should you or shouldn't you, when is the right time?

I find myself thinking about the series frequently throughout the day.

It will go on the shelf with the other 2 series from Hobb.

All Fall Down - Erica Spindler

Another in the long line of brain candy. But this one has some interesting side things to think about. Spousal abuse - why do people stay and if someone kills the abuser, is it worth looking for the killer? There are also interesting dynamics of family - guilt, loyalty, and blind faith. I found this book moved quickly - satisfying my need for something easy to read, but I also thought about some of the aspects of the book once I was done.

I'll be loaning this one out and then it will probably go back to the used bookstore.

Eva Luna - Isabel Allende

After giving up on Secret Love, I picked up a book I knew I would enjoy. I have enjoyed every book I've ready by Allende's and Eva Luna was no exception.

It covers the story of Eva Luna from her being found at the mission to her finding her partner. Like many of Allende's books, the character moves around as circumstances change. The one constant in Luna's life is the stories she makes up for herself and those around her. The cast of characters was amusing and brought additional comedy to the happenings.

This one is on the shelf and available for borrowing.

Secret Love - Bart Schneider

This book isn't bad exactly, it just isn't good. I started it well over a week ago and I still haven't made it to page 100; which in light of my recent reading pace tells you something. I just don't have any desire to pick it up and find out what happens next. Yes, I'm tired with the demands of our new baby, but both Ghost Map and Natural Ordermage had me reading in the middle of the night - happily reading instead of watching bad TV or decent TiVO.

An interracial couple in 1960s San Francisco - one a lawyer leading protests the other a hanger-on in those protests was just not enough for me to keep going. If I was in a different mood, I probably would have finished it because it isn't terrible - but it is definitely not engaging.

It'll be heading off to the used book store on my next run.

The Ghost Map - Steven Johnson

A book club book that for some reason I was convinced was the book for November - since I skipped October. But it is actually for December! I'll probably read it again closer to the meeting. Yes, it was that good. I would be willing to read it again in the next 2 months. Ok, I might not read the final 2 chapters again...

The Ghost Map is about the investigation into the spread of cholera in London during the 2nd to last outbreak. It describes London in the mid 19th century and then moves on to the epidemic and resulting investigation I was fascinated by the description of London overcrowding and how many more people per square acre lived in London then than live in NYC today. The sections dealing with the outbreak and investigation were well written and engaging.

However, the final 2 chapters were difficult for me to get through. One chapter talks about the spread of disease today and the other tends to focus on urbanization and terrorism. While the author made interesting points, I wish he had done so in a more concise manner.

I enjoyed this book and will read it again. I will either add it to the library or include it in the package when I return "A Perfect Red" to the east coast.

Natural Ordermage - L.E. Modesitt, Jr

For the first time in reading the Saga of Recluce series I find myself wanting to read the series in the chronological order of the books rather than in the order they are published. Natural Ordermage includes excerpts of history books detailing what happened in earlier books in the series - each colored with the politics of the land producing the history. While I remember the books vaguely, my memory does not correspond to the accounts in the histories, so I find myself wanting to go back to those sections of the series and read them in historical order. Of course, whether those sections of the series were written from the point of view of Order or Chaos will color the account.

I particularly like this series because it constantly moves back and forth between the Order or Chaos side of the story - showing that neither side is completely evil, they just look at the world in different ways - and try to control it differently based on those points of view. This is something more people need to try - seeing the world from both sides.

This book will reside in the library - since I have read the rest of the books in the series at least twice through if not more.

Running from the Law - Lisa Scottoline

Nothing special, although a nice change from the usual heroine attorney. Fun family dynamics mixed in with the crime - enough to make me smile at some of the situations. Quick and easy read, I'll pass it on to others.

Books with baby (3 books or was it 4)

Echo Park by Micheal Connelly - next in the Harry Bosch series I enjoy. I nice read - quick and fun. Finished it at the doctor appointment before going to the hospital.

Forbidden Fruit by Erica Spindler - started this one in the hospital and after 156 pages I still didn't care. It reminded me of a Danielle Steele novel. At 156 pages in, I was just getting the overview of main character number 3 and so I put it down to return to the used book store.

Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline - Related to the characters in Killer Smile which I wrote about last month - although this one came first. This was a nice, quick read - as is everything I have tried to tackle lately. I look forward to more of these, although I doubt I would re-read them.

See Jane Die by Erica Spindler - leery after the last one, I picked this one up and got sucked in. I even read it in the car - which I haven't been doing because it makes me sick. Of course, it was the part about who the killer was and I only had 3 pages to go. Fun, it kept me guessing as to who the killer was until the end (although I had narrowed it down to 2).

The Killing Game - Iris Johansen

I haven't read Johansen in ages (at least 10 years) - she's one of the author's Grandma reads. I think reading a book by her every once in a while is ok, but I tend to find them repetitive and easy to figure out. This one was an exception - more than likely she has increased her skill or decreased her output over the years. It was fun and while I had an inkling that one of two options was the killer, it was interesting to see how they got there.

A fun book, but nothing spectacular, and I'll probably offer it to anyone who wants it and then send it back to the used book store it came from.

Vanishing Point - Marcia Muller

Another book in the Sharon McCone series that I enjoy. Muller has always provided a fun read - a character that actually grows over the life of the series and yet a nice detective mystery mixed with the personal problems. This was just as expected, quick and fun. I do enjoy this series - although I did start waiting for the paperback.

This will be on the shelf with the rest of the series.

Brenda Novak series (3 books)

I bought this series to support both a local bookstore and a local author, I knew nothing about them at the time. There's a book signing at Book Lovers in October - but I doubt I'll be there.

The Stillwater series is set up like a fantasy or sci-fi series. After resolving the issues of the current book, Novak makes sure to set up the interest for the next book in the series. The entire series (Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway, and Dead Right) centers around keeping a deadly family secret. Most of the series you know what the secret is - it's just a matter of what will make it out in the open and which family member's perspective will be the focus. The interesting thing is thinking about whether it is better for it to stay a secret or not. Each book also touches on the idea of whether they are keeping the secret to help themselves or to help someone else. Are they avoiding their own suffering or shielding someone else from it?

Anyway, they are a quick read - and the author is local - probably lives within 15 mins of me. I'll be passing these on for others to read. I doubt I would re-read them.

Voices Carry - Mariah Stewart

Another day in bed, another book moves from the unread to the read pile. I'm starting to alternate brain candy with something more serious, so after A Perfect Red today is brain candy.

Voices Carry is a book that would have preceded the "Dead..." series and "... Truth" series I read in the last few weeks. It appears that any couple you meet in those series has a book that explains how they got to together. After having read more of this type in the last few weeks, I appreciate that Stewart focuses more on the crime and solving it than the relationship that will happen in the end. It was a nice quick read - but nothing fabulous. It's also not a series I can see myself re-reading. But, it is a nice way to pass the day.

It will get passed on and then probably returned to the used book store it came from.

A Perfect Red - Amy Butler Greenfield

This was one of two books a friend traveled across the country to share with me. I am so glad she did. I would never have picked up this book on my own. I have a terrible time finding non-fiction works that are interesting - unless they are recommended. I look at the table of books and decide something looks good. Then when I get it home, I have a hard time getting to my 100 page allowed stopping point.

Greenfield does a wonderful job of describing the importance of the color red throughout history and the different compounds used to create it. With a focus on the cochineal originating in Mexico, this book covers the fortunes of Spain and the industry itself. Weaving the domestication of cochineal with the efforts of other countries to destroy Spain's monopoly, the book moves quickly. there were very few sections of the book where I was willing to put it down. Yes, I could stop at the chapters, but I only once put it down while in the middle of a chapter.

I highly recommend this book - and if I didn't have to send it back to its owner, I would keep it in the library. I will be recommending it to my mother for her book club. With their focus on women authors and a mix of fiction and non-fiction, this book will give them much to discuss.

The Murder List - Julie Garwood

Another piece of the brain candy that is rotting my mind. It was fun - nothing exciting. It's has some of the tangential characters from the other books, but only phone conversations. It went quickly and thankfully focused more on the crimes and solving of them than the romance aspect. Still, it was fun.

I'll be passing this on. It won't be staying in the library.

Bed rest - slowing down (2 books / 3 magazines)

The Waterborn - J. Gregory Keyes - a fantasy book that I was given years ago - just the first book in the series. While I enjoyed the book - it has action, religion, politics, etc. - I just don't feel compelled to go and get the next book in the series. I'm not sure if it is my mood or whether it just wasn't that good. Or maybe for a change, it actually wrapped up nicely enough without the cliff hanger that a series book usually ends on?

Mercy - Julie Garwood - This one fell between Heartbreaker and Killjoy - oops, I read it out of order. Some recurring characters, but like the Mariah Stewart series the recurring characters are more tangential. If you have read the other books, they give context to the characters without needing to have read the previous books.

Cooking Light - What a depressing read. In addition to bedrest, I am following a low sodium diet. So, I was looking forward to the new issue of Cooking Light - ready to find something flavorful I could eat. There' s only so much pasta with zero sodium sauce a girl can eat. Turns out, when they take out the fat, they increase sodium or something. I had a hard time finding a main dish and a side dish that would keep the meal below 900 mg of sodium - keep in mind that the RDA for sodium is 2300 or less! Oh well, I guess I'll figure it out on my own. One article did make me smile - D.C. was named the 3rd most fit city in their 20 city list. It was fun to see pictures of places I recognized.

O, The Oprah Magazine - a fun read - some good articles and some interesting reviews. But nothing that I would want to buy for a change - ok, maybe there were some nice dishes... I do like this magazine - some books, some movies, some interesting articles, some self help and some shopping tips. A nice mix.

Parents - short articles - some fun, some informative. One of Owen's favorite toys has been recalled - but only on ones sold after he got his - woohoo! And I found out I'm supposed to keep chopping his grapes in half until he's 4 (????!!!!). He's been eating whole grapes for months. And - all kinds of other things - most of which make me think I am just not a vigilant parent -but that's ok.

Bed rest continued - 5 books in one

Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs - this was a poor choice for me - too much death and the death of an infant. I made it through because there were other crimes, but I didn't think I would. I normally like her stuff, this just wasn't the right fit.

Killjoy by Julie Garwood - Fun romance / suspense type book. Nothing fancy, nothing worth keeping, but not a waste of time.

Priceless by Mariah Stewart - not part of the other series, a stand alone book. More romance than mystery - but enough mystery to get the guy and girl together. Brain candy.

The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland - a historical fiction account of Emily Carr's life painting Indian artifacts (totem poles, big houses, etc.) in Vancouver. I find myself wanting to go see her work - of course, I'll have to use the Internet for now. It's always good to read about someone who gets upset about being called a "good woman painter". Highly recommend this one.

The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr - nonfiction about the search for a lost Caravaggio masterpiece. It takes the reader through the process of researching provenance of paintings. I am still amazed that people have account ledgers from 1600s and back at their disposal. One of the things I kept thinking as I read this was about how future researchers are going to have a hard time finding data about our current "Information age" - incompatible file formats, operating systems and will they even realize the information is on a disk and that the disk might look like a pen??? Recommended.

Reading on bed rest... (10 books)

Finished prior to bed rest...

• The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd - ok / fun, probably wouldn't read again
• The End Of The Dream The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up - Ann Rule - ok, not stellar

Bed rest... (8 books in 4 days?)

• Dead Even / Dead End - Mariah Stewart - end of a series I started a while ago - fun, repeating characters - big cast
• Cold Truth / Hard Truth / Dark Truth / Final Truth - Mariah Stewart - a different series, ties in with the "Dead ..." series from same author - same recurring characters - although I needed to switch authors after this set, I knew the "shocking" turn in the Final Truth book when it started 2 books earlier
  
• Heartbreaker - Julie Garwood - good, fun - page turner
• In Silence - Erica Spindler - fun, easy - got sucked in
  

I'll probably continue with the brain candy reading. I know I have some highly recommended ones on my to read list, but I'm not sure if I want anything that makes me do more than look for the next plot turn / twist.

Reading - but not blogging - 3 books in one!

I've been so busy these days -but due to illness, I have actually been reading. At least when I was well enough to actually read.

Killer Smile - Lisa Scottoline
I had read this one before and I could remember how it ended. What I didn't remember was how it got from the beginning with Premenstrual {insert guy name here} to the final court room scene. And in my addled state, it was perfect. I was able to follow the book even when I couldn't follow a new TV drama. Not sure that is a ringing endorsement, but it was fun.

Oryx & Crake - Margaret Atwood
Another book I read before (sensing a theme?), but one that I loved and had always planned to read again. I had borrowed it the first time and re-reading it reminded me why I had put it on my list of books to buy. It has the commentary that you expect from Atwood, character development, and leaves you with something to talk about at the end - will he kill them? will he let them live? what happens if he lets them live? This was my pick for book club - and I was too sick to attend! I still need to discuss this book with people... now I need a new book club. (ha!)

One True Thing - Anna Quindlen
I picked this one up because Owen had kindly removed it from it's resting place in the "books to read" pile and put it on the night stand. I'm not sure what motivated him to do that -but I'm glad he did. Like Oryx & Crake, this is a book that I would re-read. This is a book that made me think about family, duty, and what I want to be. Not necessarily that I want to be anyone in the book, but it got me thinking about how I would handle the same situation. About how I would want to handle it, but also how I think it is more likely that I would. There is one section in the book that has really stood out. Not necessarily because I agree with the guys / girls sentiment, but because it made me think about what it means to deal with something. It is just the act of moving on and helping pick up the pieces or is it the mental process that helps you get to the next day?

"Everyone deals with bad stuff in their own way," Jon added.
"Well, that's the point isn't it, Jon?" I said. "Whenever one of you guys says people deal with bad stuff in their own way, it means you don't deal with it at all. You just wait for it to go away. You don't help, you don't listen. You don't call. You don't write. WE deal with it in our own way. WE deal with it. We girls. We make the meals and clean up the messes and take the crap and listen to you talk about how you are dealing with it in your own way. What way? No way!

The Twins of Tribeca by Rachel Pine

Looking for something light to read while getting a pedicure, I picked up this silly story about a woman working in a movie studio publicity department. She leaves her job at CNN to join this crazy world / company. The only thing that resonated with me was how quickly you can let your job become your life - that workaholic nature. I didn't feel for the characters much - it was about as deep as a TV show - and not one of the high quality ones either. But it was a fun read - and I finished it quickly.

It will go in the donate / sell pile. No one I know reads that kind of stuff, so no one I would pass it on to. Fun, but forgettable.

When to give up on a book????? Affinity by Sarah Waters

When do you decide to give up on a book? There are books I actively dislike, books that made me dread picking them up. I can understand putting them in the donate / trash pile unread. But what about a book that you start reading and just don't get sucked into. One where all of your day to day problems are still foremost in your mind, even when they are only as pressing as what to pick up at the grocery store next time? A book that you think, oh I feel like reading, but then never actually bother to pick up - even after a week? It's not a bad book, just a book that hasn't captured your attention or imagination? Do you put it down and pick it up again later, hoping it is just the mood you are in? Do you persevere until you reach the end? Do you put it into the donate / trash pile?

This is the struggle I am having with Affinity by Sarah Waters - it's not a bad book, it is just a blah book. I could be my mood. It could be that I just haven't made it far enough in. I just don't know.

For now it is sitting on my bedside table, under tissue box, suduko daily calendar and collecting dust after over a week of sitting there.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

It is true, I have enjoyed the Potter series in book and movie form. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was the last movie I saw before Owen was born and it may be that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be the last one I see before the next baby is born. I read the last book in one night, it was quick and easy. A relatively painless few hours - yes, there is death and destruction as you would expect. But, I was almost disappointed. I didn't feel like I couldn't put it down, I finished it more because I was still awake and not ready to fall asleep yet. And when the book was done, I didn't feel the need to talk about it with others. There weren't unfinished threads to discuss. So, while I enjoyed it and think it finished off the series nicely, I won't say I loved it. But as a series ending book, it definitely closed things up.

It'll go on the shelf and one day we'll be reading the series with our kids.

Selected Stories - Henry James

After Reading Lolita in Tehran, I did it. I actually picked up Henry James's selected stories. Ok - I only made it through Daisy Miller and then a small portion of Washington Square, but at least I picked up the book. I really don't know what all the fuss was about - maybe I need the literature class discussion about the meanings behind things? Maybe, I missed the subtle nuances? It just seemed like a straight forward story, and of course the girl who broke with convention died. It didn't stick with me the way that short stories by Shirley Jackson or Franz Kafka have stayed with me. It seemed overly simplistic - but I guess you can't have the same character development in a short story that you have in a longer one.

I'm glad I read it, and I'm sure I'll read more. But I won't be reading it cover to cover - I'll just pick and choose.

Last Lessons of Summer - Margaret Maron

I was reading a review for a Marcia Muller book "Vanishing Point" to determine if I had read it before. It was the American Librarian Association review and at the end it said to suggest Maron's books to those who enjoy Muller. So, since I am always looking for someone new to read, I had Higgy look for those on his trip to the used book store. He picked one at random for me.

I finished the book just as the plane was coming to the gate on my return home from SLC. It was a quick read; maybe 2.5 hours? Nothing fancy, but it was interesting to read about the family drama. The lives of the rich and not-famous. An idea of the people behind the multi-millionaire families - and I don't mean Paris Hilton style. Having the heroine realize that what is such a small amount of money to her is such a large amount of money to others. Not that she is a spoiled rich kid - she does stay within her budget, but with a budget like that it's hard to see how you don't.

It's a story of family intrigue. Heroine returns home to clean out her grandmother's house before it's sold and starts to dig into the death of her mother, all while dealing with a spoiled half-sister who unexpectedly shows up and the fear that her husband is cheating on her while she's away. Some parts were predictable while others weren't. It was a fun read.

I doubt I'll keep it, but I will continue to pick up more Moran books at the used book store. They would need to improve greatly before I'd pay full price.

Dead Certain - Mariah Stewart

Higgy went off to the used book store and picked me up some light reading for my one day travel extravaganza. This is the follow up to Dead Wrong which I read in Hawaii. I was flying to and from Salt Lake City on the same day - I needed something light to keep me entertained even while my mind was working off less than 6 hours sleep. Getting up at 4a is hard, especially, when it feels like 1a because you are still jet lagged from your last trip!

This book fit the bill. It's the continuation of the Strangers on a Train / Throw Momma from the Train storyline from Dead Wrong. Now the second killer is out of jail and out to get his assigned victims. This, of course, has all the fun storylines as the first book. One intended victim finds out they are the target and the rest of the book is spent having them evade the killer and then the predictable love interest aspect. But it was fun and quick - and just enough for my poor tired brain to comprehend.

I'll keep it while I get through the rest of the series - 2 more I think.

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books - Azar Nafisi

This month's book club selection was one I had heard about but never really had on my own personal reading list. It was nothing like I expected. It's part literary criticism, part Iran history book and part memoir. I never thought much about life in Iran or what daily life must be like in a country ruled by Islamic militants. I don't think about what it would be like to live through the transition from a more liberal rule to a more militant one. In some ways, I like to pretend that it doesn't happen - that people aren't so cruel.

I know I live in freedom, but I don't think about all the ways I am free. Free to think, free to act, free to talk to strangers on the street, free to work at home or in the office, free to wear the clothes I want, free to travel, free to learn, free to read, free from fear. This book makes me appreciate what I do have.

On the other hand, it also made me miss one of the things that I don't have - discussions about books that go beyond the superficial, "I liked it." Discussions that are all about one particular passage or ones that compare the heroine in one book to the heroine in another book. Discussions that talk about the parallels between the book and current events, the role of women in society vs. books, the role of men. It made me want to read Nabokov, James, Austen. But it also made me feel like I would be missing something to just read them alone and not discuss them. Maybe I need to find my own literature class - not just a book group.

Since it is borrowed, this book will go back. Otherwise, it would go on the shelf. I could see rereading sections - at least as I tackle those classics.

Dead Wrong - Mariah Stewart

On the recommendation of the guy at my current favorite used book store, I tried a new author - Mariah Stewart. He said they fit with other authors I read and I would definitely have to agree. While it was a fairly typical detective / serial killer story, it went quickly and I wanted to know what would happen next. The characters, while not extremely complex, were believable and apparently will be returning in Dead Certain. I don't know if Dead Wrong is in the middle of the series or beginning.

A fun book - but I'm not sure if it made it back from Hawaii or not. If it did, I would probably keep it to re-read once I have the other ones with the same characters.

Autobiography of a Face - Lucy Grealy

This book is a companion to Truth & Beauty - the book that Lucy Grealy wrote about her experiences with cancer and how it shaped the rest of her life. It was interesting to see Lucy through her own eyes vs. those of Ann Patchett. Reading Ann's book, I often wondered how you could have a friend that was needy all the time. Reading Lucy's book, I could see being friends with her.

The prose of this novel showed the poet in Lucy - the precision of language. But it was also interesting to see the things she left out of her life story and the things Patchett's book added. This book focused more on her childhood and the many surgeries to reconstruct her jaw. In the later years, Lucy doesn't mention how she supports herself or how she survives from one surgery to the next. I think that if you read one of these two books, you should really read the other. It will make you think of her in a different light.

It'll go on the shelf for now. It might go out in the next purge depending on how I feel about it then.

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

Mom recommended this one - she read it for her book group and they're discussing it tonight. I had to return it. Rather than return it unread, I started reading it Saturday night. I didn't realize I would be finishing it the same night.

I enjoyed this book - the flipping between Jacob in the nursing home and Jacob in the circus. It was interesting to look at life during the Depression from the eyes of the circus - the desperation to find work and the fear of losing the work they got. But in the end, it was really a love story - man/woman, friends, and man/animal.

I'd pass this on to others and I could see reading it again - so many things to think about. But since I borrowed it, it won't be going on the shelf.

Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is back - the epitome of summer beach reading. It's a fun read - quick. I doubt it took me 2 hours. I laughed out loud as she continued her antics. It was the usual stuff - Ranger vs. Morelli, cars exploding, Rex the hamster, and the gossip mill in the 'burg. If you have read and enjoyed the others in the series, you'll probably enjoy this one.

Brain candy - but going on the shelf with the rest. Some days, I just need to laugh.

Bite - C.J. Tosh

A fun, beach type read - chick lit. It started slow and I never really felt like I couldn't put it down. But it was fun while it lasted. It was like a soap opera as a book - lovers and work obsessions, rumors - true and false.

I'll be passing it on.

The 6th Target - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

A quick fun read - took less than 3 hours from start to finish. I like these books because they don't focus solely on one long chase. They actually cover several cases and a variety of characters come in and out of the book. Just one one case is wrapping up, another case might get started or they might go simultaneously for a while. The Women's Murder Club series has moved more and more toward this format over the course of the series and I have enjoyed it more as they have moved away from one large case.

I heard there is going to be a Women's Murder Club TV series in the fall, I hope it doesn't ruin this series.

It'll be on the shelf along with the rest of them - let me know if you want to borrow it.

The Good Guy - Dean Koontz

"A Girl In Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)" is the soundtrack that plays in my head when I think about the newest Koontz book. It was a return to the "someone is out to injure / kill a woman and a man gets involved trying to save her" type books that started me reading Koontz in the first place. If you know your Koontz - think Lightning. One of the aspects of these that I always enjoyed was that while some man gets involved, the woman is not the usual helpless, shrinking violet who has been waiting all their life for a man. They are normally confident, strong and intelligent. The man and woman become a pair - each one excelling at finding ways to stay a step ahead of the bad guy chasing them.

A fun book, one that will stay in the collection (as all Koontz tend to do).

Fool's Errand - Robin Hobb

In my ongoing book binge, I picked up a book I thought would get me reading back in October. Guess I was wrong. But on the other hand, I did read it in 2 days - keeping me on my average of 4 books a month - not bad considering I didn't start reading until the 22nd. (The first 3 I blogged in May I actually read in April... making April look an abysmal 0 - since the one post was about not reading for a week.)

Anyway, Fool's Errand is the first in the Tawny Man series which is a continuation of the characters from The Farseer Trilogy. I loved the first series, they are one of the few fantasy series to make it through the latest purge. They are fun and still make you think - about what makes you YOU and how the reactions of people around you influence that (or don't). I didn't even realize that Fool's Errand was going to be the same characters, so I was pleasantly surprised to get caught up on what had happened with them in the period since the last series. It was almost 200 pages of set up - rehashing the last 10 years of life away from the castle. It was like seeing an old friend and hearing all the news.

Then the characters went off on adventure, sucking me in and getting me to the end of the book just before midnight. I think I'll be picking up the rest of the series soon. Although, I do still have the great book backlog to get through.

I'll be making a home for it on the shelf.

A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby

I always want to call him Hornsby - the musician instead of the writer. I have to admit, I like the writer much better. Hornby wrote High Fidelity and About a Boy - and a few others that haven't been turned into movies yet. This book won't be turned into a movie I don't think. The story of 4 people who meet on New Year's Eve at the top of a building where they planned to commit suicide. Four dysfunctional characters - OK, maybe 2 really dysfunctional ones and 2 that are just letting life happen to them. Maybe those 2 need to read A Bend in the River?

The book went by quickly, I finished the same day I started. I must be on one of those reading binges I get on after I haven't read much. But anyway, back to these poor saps who meet on the roof. Suicide is a personal thing, unless it is a suicide pact, so with an audience none of them take the leap. The four unlikely folks decide to hang out together and meet again.

One aspect of the book that made it more likable is something I normally hate. Each of the four characters narrated - moving back and forth between them in no real order through the book. You can see what each one thinks as well as how they are perceived by the others. It makes the unlikeable characters more likable - and more readable.

While it was good and I would recommend reading it once. It is not one that I would pick up and read again. So, it is in the pass it on or donate pile.

Les Misérables - Victor Hugo

This is one of my mom's favorite books. It's a book I have tried to read before - several times. This time I suggested it for book club, figuring that I would HAVE to finish it. In talking to Mom, I also got the recommendation to skip over the history parts unless I was really in the mood for them. I could always go back for them later if I wanted. With that, I started in on the 1400 page tome.

It starts with a detailed description of a bishop - the man who shapes the rest of the story. Once you get past these 100 pages, the story really picks up. At least until you hit on a lengthy history section. Once Jean was introduced, the pages flew by, although I did stop to read The Margarets near the death of Fantine. This is a book that in today's world would be a series - but for once, all the cliff hangers have endings. There is so much commentary on life hidden in the pages (or in some sections hammered home over and over), it was a surprisingly fun read that at times I couldn't keep myself from continuing.

I skipped many of the historical sections - Waterloo, convents, sewers (yes, I know they are interesting topics, just wasn't in the mood).

I highly recommend this book. Since I borrowed it from the library, it will have to return. Since we recently cut back on the number of bookshelves for my books (giving some up for toy storage), I won't be buying a replacement for the library.

The Margarets - Sheri S. Tepper

I love Sheri Tepper. I love the cadence and language of her books. I love the feminist, environmentalist, anti-religion messages contained in her books. So often I find myself reading a segment and just nodding to myself. Realizing I she had put into words what I had often thought. Or realizing that a paragraph had perfectly summarized one of the things that bothered me about some topic or behavior. Most of the time, it's something that I hadn't even thought until I was reading. So it was with pleasure that I saw a new Tepper book for the first time since The Companions in 2004. Surprisingly, I was looking for something to read while I went to dinner by myself and I realized the book had come out 2 days before.

Off I headed to the bookstore - yes, I buy her books in hard cover. I was quickly drawn into the story of Margaret. her lives and how they split. Most of Tepper's books take a feminist, anti-religion stance. Others focus more on environmental issues. This one combines all three. There are the usual array of intergalactic races - each with varying degrees of ethical behavior and restrictive religions. But this one comments the most on the human race and how we destroy the very planet we rely on. This destruction is placed at the feet of religion and a lack of memory of previous generations; an inability to remember the effects the actions had on previous generations.

I loved this book and I look forward to reading it again. I have already made room on the book shelf and passed it on to Mom.

Why am I not reading?

Did it all start with my week away from the printed word? Is it because of pregnancy brain and belly and...? Is it because Owen's been going to bed about an hour later than he used to? Is it because work keeps making my mind wander when I get to a slow part in a book? Is it the fact that I haven't been sleeping? Is it the 1400+ pages of Les Miz staring me in the face?

I am sure that each of these things have contributed, but I need to get out of the lull. There's only so much TV a girl can watch. - and TiVO is out of suggestions. At least it is season/series finale season.

Arc of Justice - Kevin Boyle

Having grown up in the latter part of the 20th century, I have always found it hard to believe what was acceptable behaviour in the early part of the 1900s. This book reminded me how much I don't know about the time leading up to the civil rights movement in the 1960s. It is always amazing to me what man can do to fellow man, especially when they are hidden in a mob of people. The book covers the case of a black/colored/African-American doctor who moves to a neighborhood of white/Caucasian near Detroit. When someone in his house shoots out into the mob about to storm his house, all 11 of the people in the house are arrested on conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

Boyle does a good job of introducing each character (although sometimes it is bit too lengthy), giving their background and presumed motivation. This does break up the flow of the main story and I found myself putting the book down in the midst of some character background and not feeling the urge to pick it up again. However, once the NAACP gets involved, the pace really picks up; the back stories are more succinct and don't interfere with the flow as much.

A very interesting book and one I think I'll be passing on and then possibly giving to the library. This is a book that deserves to be read.

Early-start Potty Training - Linda Sonna, Ph.D.

Can you imagine potty training a 3 month old, a 6 month old? This books gives you an idea how it's done. But heck, I am not sure I can do that. However, I wanted to start my own son on his way to diaper independence. This book gives you the encouragement you need to start, no matter the age of your child. Of course, my only goal on finishing is to be done by the time he's 2.

I am sure it will stick around until after #2 makes it out of diapers. Of course, since we are just starting this week, I have no idea how effective the advice is yet.

A Bend in the River - V.S. Naipaul

Have you ever felt like you were sleep-walking through your life? Just letting events happen to you, rather than proactively working toward a goal of some kind? This is one of those books that makes you think about your life - are you missing the big trouble on the horizon, is your mind so down in the day to day details that life is happening around you?

This is the story of a shopkeeper in an African nation as it transitions from colonial to native rule. It highlights the changes in the culture, how the government programs affect day to day living, and shows how people cope in those situations. When I read/hear news stories about war torn someplace or riots in someplace, I always wondered how do people do it. This gave me a little glimpse of how it is done.

I am not sure if I will keep the book, but it did make me think - even weeks after I finished it. I will definitely be passing it on.

Update 5/30: Passed it on, not planning to keep it.

A week without reading....

I think I just took my first vacation that didn't include a book. A 6-7 hour car trip each way. A week hanging out with a friend - helping take care of a new baby, helping fix up a house so it can be sold. Somehow in the flurry of packing, I didn't pack a book, not one. Not only did I not pack a book, I didn't read the daily paper or keep up with blogs. At one point during the week, my friend did offer up her library, but by then I thought I would see if I could make it to the end of the week.

I have always read. I have been known to take 7 books on a 4 day business trip and finish the 7th on the plane ride home. One of my earliest memories is of making my parents get a new copy of Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman because I left my copy at their friends house a few hours away. I while away road trips lost not in the scenery, but in some fictional life. How in the world did I forget to pack a book?

Lost Light / The Narrows / The Closers - Michael Connelly

Since I enjoyed City of Bones for the fast paced story and easy reading, I decided to make a Bosch marathon of it. After a quick trip to the used book store, I replaced City of Bones and purchased the other holes in my collection - Lost Light and The Narrows. Then, to finish the marathon, I re-read The Closers. A mere three days later, I finished them all.

Nothing spectacular, but good to see the character develop. And it was good to know most of what I was missing. I don't know if I'll re-read them again. But I know my sister wants to borrow them, so they will stay for a while.

Salt: A World History - Mark Kurlansky

This sounded so good - a book about how Salt was used around the world and how it impacted history. This is one of the few books I am giving up on 100 pages or so in. I found the information interesting, but the narrative was very choppy. I have enjoyed non-fiction more lately, so I was surprised by my negative reaction to the book. It felt more like a text book - in 1500 the Venetian government did XXX or in 600 BC the Chinese did XXX. I didn't see the story line - the thread that tied it all together.

I was supposed to read it for book group tonight, but I just don't think it is worth the effort. If the other folks loved it, maybe I'll give it another go. Otherwise, into the donate pile (I might even send it off to the desert).

City of Bones - Michael Connelly

Having finished Zorro before my flight home from NYC, I was not in the mood to start the only other book I brought (a Nick Hornsby). Browsing in the airport bookstore I found a few Connelly books I had missed. Hoping to fill in whatever happened before "The Closers" I picked up City of Bones. It was a tough call, I almost picked up a slew of magazines instead. But I am glad I did. The book filled in a large part of what I wondered about when I read "The Closers". It was a classic Harry Bosch - convoluted crime, personal drama, and of course a clean ending. I read it quickly - finishing it well before the flight was over. I guess I should have picked up "The Narrows" as well.

I would have put it on the shelf, but it got left in the seat back pocket. I really need to do a better job of taking my personal items with me.

Zorro - Isabel Allende

I finally started cracking my Christmas books. I started this one in the airport on the way to NYC for a girl's weekend. It was slow going at first, but the writing was beautiful (as it always is with Allende). I was sucked back into the missionary / settlement life in California. Then it took a turn - taking the story to Spain. This book was so much fun - watching the upbringing that results in the Zorro we all have heard of. I even finished it before heading home. Good thing I travel with girl's who read, they understood.

My only complaint was the lack of chapters. Yes, there were breaks but I really am a chapter kind of girl.

It's on the shelf and available for lending out. I highly recommend it.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig

I had heard about this book for a while. Something people thought I should read. Higgy's old boss recommended it as well and that was enough for him to buy it years ago. Not enough for him to read it, but it was piled in with the rest of his books. When we went through to clear some shelf space, he decided he was never going to read it. So, it fell into my pile.

I took this book with me on a business trip, figuring I would have quiet time on the plane and in the hotel to read it. Little did I know that I was going to be reading pages over and over again. Either because I was too tired to pay attention (it was some long days) or because the logic was getting a bit confused. I made it to around page 280, but I can't make myself pick it up again. I don't care. I get that he is crazy, but I don't care.

It is going in the box of items to get donated - library or used book store. Just make more room on the shelf.

Ragtime - E.L. Doctorow

As I was reading this book, I was amused because of the overlap in characters between this book and Assassination Vacation. Or course, Emma Goldman has a much bigger role in this book than in the previous one.

I enjoyed the fact that many of the main characters didn't have names; now I won't be faulted for not remembering them. The way the story moves from character to character was very well done, following one character until the next character could take the lead. It was almost like a square dance where you keep switching partners- and oh the blasphemy for saying that about a book that is also highlighting ragtime and the start of jazz.

I started the book because I needed to finish it before Thursday and the first night I was through to page 181, and I finished it the second night. It went quickly and gave me ideas to think about, and made me really think about how far we have come. We still have a ways to go in race relations, but at least we have made some significant progress.

Not sure if I would read it again, I'll probably pass it on.

Assassination Vacation - Sarah Vowell

There is just something about history that pulls me in these days. Maybe it is that I am reading authors who make the journey to the past more personal (Assassination Vacation) or read more like a bad melodrama (Peace to End All Peace), but I have enjoyed the history books this year.

In Assassination Vacation, Vowell travels from Illinois to DC, with tromps around New York to look at the places and pieces of the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. It is funny to think that there is a museum with a piece of Lincoln's skull or that there isn't even a plaque where Garfield was shot. Or to think that part of the defense for Garfield's murderer was something to the effect of "I just shot him, the doctors killed him."

It's also interesting to see that someone does stop and look at all of those plaque's around DC and that someone knows who the different statues are around NY. Since I am planning a trip to NY, there was a part of me that wanted to take notes so I could see what she was writing about. Then, I came to my senses.

And, I loved reading the stories of taking her 3 year old nephew to the sites; reading about his talking about skeletons and crypts. Amazing what these kids pick up these days.

A fun book. I would probably keep it in the library, but I should probably return it to the person who let me borrow it.

Five Quarters of the Orange - Joanne Harris

A story of how the past can haunt. It is a story told the way people remember, in fits and starts. It is a story mixing the past and the present. It was a pleasant read - easy to fall into the life of Framboise. It was not a memorable book, but it was enjoyable.

Update 5/30: Apparently more memorable than I thought, it made the cut and stayed in the library.

Blood Memory - Greg Iles

I appreciate that Iles has provided something to think about during his suspense filled novels, but this one went on a bit too long. While I was interested to see how all the character issues would come together, I was ready to give up. There was only so much I could take - how many revelations of abuse, how many stereotypical abuse related relationships, how many awful therapists, and of course, is revenge justified?

Due to its length, it did have some time for character development, but by the end I just wanted it to end.

The Call of the Wild - Jack London

After my last attempt to find something to read for a few minutes before going to bed, I turned to the classics pile. An hour later, I put the book down; finished. I don't remember reading The Call of the Wild in school , but I remember my brother carrying it around at one point.

I haven't read a book from the point of view of an animal in years and years - unless it was one of those sci-fi ones where the "animals" are more intelligent than the humans. It was interesting to see things through the eyes of a dog. It was a change of pace to have the writing try to reflect what we think dogs actually think about; not adding all kinds of human emotion to the life of the dog. We were having a discussion about how people are like the pack animals with a layer of intelligence over the top of it. Controlled and behaving like pack animals - jockeying for position, revelling in a job well done, desiring a sense of purpose, and taking advantage of poor leaders.

I very much enjoyed this book, and I think I'll keep it around until Owen's old enough for me to read it to him. Although, maybe I would be better off getting another copy when he's older rather than using shelf space all those years...

Reign of the Rat - Gil Smolin

This was one give to my by my sister -even signed by the author. He happens to be a patient of hers. I started it when I wanted a little something (10 minutess) before going to sleep. The next thing I knew I was finished and it was 3 hours later.

This is another one of those medical thriller books. People are dying and no one can find the cure. It spreads and still no one can find the cure. It bounces back and forth between the different main characters within chapters. This makes it very difficult to put down - there just never seems to be a break in the action. One of the things I really appreciated about this book was that the medical background and research points didn't slow the pace of the book. They were covered as succinctly as possible, so I didn't find myself skimming over that kind of information as I looked for the book to get going again.

I recommend it, but I am going to have to return it to my sister.

The Footprints of God - Greg Iles

During my trip last week, I brought 3 books with me, figuring that I would want something other than A Peace to End All Peace with me. Footprints of God was on the top of the thriller/mystery pile, so I grabbed it (yes, the reading pile is organized by type of book...) I hadn't heard anything about the book or the author, I just knew I had 2 by him.

While stuck at the airport for hours (my flight was cancelled), I started the book. It started a little slow - even given that the beginning is about the death of one man and the surveillance they lived under. But once it got underway, I was hooked. It is about the creation of artificial intelligence and it gave me something to think about other than just what was going to happen next. What would be artificial intelligence and what would be a new species? Does God get involved in our lives? Would I be willing to kill someone to save those I love?

I finished the book not long after I landed - a quick read with things to think about. I'll be passing it on to friends and hoping it comes back.

A Peace to End All Peace - David Fromkin

I first heard of this book in an article about understanding the anger and resentment in the Middle East - it listed the book as recommended by Madeleine Albright and Pres. Clinton. I kept it in the back of my mind and then it arrived as a gift from a friend who recently visit Turkey. Figuring that it would take a little time to read, I started it and planned to read other things along with it to lighten the mood. Little did I know I would be sucked in so quickly; thinking about what was going to happen next and how it would result in the Middle East we know and fear today.

It is truly amazing to me the number of intelligence mistakes made, and really at what point do you stop calling it "intelligence". The number of people with different objectives, each one playing the other for their own gain, and that is just the people in the British foreign office! Once you add in the intrigues of the people of the Ottoman Empire, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Greece, it is a wonder that any policy was accomplished.

I was frequently talking about this book with others around me - family, friends, co-workers, people on the plane. The writing is engaging and covered a period of history I was unfamiliar with, since we always seemed to end the school year just as WWI was beginning. This book covers the Middle East only and now I am interested to learn the Western Front side of WWI. I know the horror and despair caused by trench warfare directly related to the decisions made in the Middle East and I want to know more.

An excellent book that I will keep in the library. I can imagine reading it again - there is just so much I missed the first time through.

East is East - T.C. Boyle

This was a hand me down from a friend and I knew nothing about it other than its "literary fiction" size trade paperback. I am reading Peace to End all Peace and needed something lighthearted to break up the intelligence failures detailed in that book. With Melodie's comment that she was unable to finish, I was actually hoping to reach page 100 and put it in the outgoing pile.

With low expectations, I started the book just before bed a few days ago. I flew through the pages, while never feeling any connection to the characters. When I picked it up, I appreciated the different view points, the descriptions of what each character was doing from that character's point of view. But, when I saw it lying around the house I had to remind myself what it was about - it wasn't a story that stayed with me. When I picked it up again, I would have to remember who the characters were - the names just didn't stick. While I would say I enjoyed the book, I also realize how easy it would have been not to finish it.

It will get passed on, but I am not sure whether it will be to a used book store or to friends.

Update 5/30: Used book store.

Darkfall - Dean R Koontz

One of the early Koontz books finally made it into my house. I have no idea how I missed picking it up years ago. Thanks to Mum, I have the complete collection.

This was a return to the days when Koontz wrote horror. The kind of horror where you start looking at your house and wondering how secure it is. It was a pleasant read but it was more cliche than original. Ice maiden cop falls for respectable, righteous partner. Psycho villain starts mob war and threatens respectable guy's kids. The twist was the use of voodoo by the psycho villain. I really enjoyed the book, even when I could see the twists coming. It was nicely paced with enough of the horror to keep the light close, but not enough to make sure someone was in the room with you.

As with any Koontz book, it will go on the shelf.

Happy new year!