Friday, January 19, 2007

winter pastime



It is the middle of January, cold, wet, the view out the window is of brown trees, dead grass, gray skies. This weather is good for at least one thing - curling up on the couch in front of the fire with a good book.

Ever since I first read Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde when I was maybe about 12, mysteries have been my favorite read. I don't remember reading Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys, but who can forget Mr. Hyde!

As an adult, I ventured into horror, reading Stephen King. I liked it for a while, but the gore factor started to overcome the story and seemed overwhelmingly unnecessary. I also read Patricia Cornwell for a while about medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, until I had enough of postmortum.

I have read most of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries so far, featuring PI Kinsey Millhone, and Janet Evanovich's series about PI Stephanie Plum are very entertaining.

Lee Child's series about Jack Reacher, ex-military cop is always good and keeps my attention. I read quite a few of John Grisham's lawyer books, my favorite is The Partner. Laurie King is the author of an entertaining series of books featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, set in the early 1900s.

When I am not in the mood for mystery or horror or investigation:

Nicholas Sparks puts out a great love story, Gene Brewer's K-Pax series was fun, and Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilt series are a good light read.

Other favorites - Nicholas Evans, Mitch Albom, Stuart Woods, John Dunning, Nancy Pickard, Jan Karon, Michael Crichton, Bill Bryson, Scott Turow, Robert James Waller.

Here is a great website for looking up your favorite authors - Fantastic Fiction.

Right now on my nightstand is Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, what are you reading?

spring