My stacks of books went largely ignored during the 2nd half of 2009, but I'm back in action now! After finishing the last two Outlander books last week I needed something short and sweet. A book whose pages didn't reach 4 digit numbers.

Anyhow, a friend recommended Lisa Kogan's "Someone Will Be With You Shortly" and I read it over the course of two evenings. Short, funny, and contemporary... just what I needed. Don't be scared by the fact that she writes for O Magazine...I've never read the magazine or her column but Lisa Kogan is actually funny, wry, and blunt, not at all pretentious. She shares snippets of her life as a semi-single working mom living in NYC. Sex toys, her obsession with food, pointless drag-out fights with her boyfriend, her first make-out session at the age of 13, it's all discussed in an honest and self-deprecating manner. I doubt it'll be in my top 10 reads for the year but it's still a cute read. Pick it up if you're in the mood for something light and easy!

BOOK #24

I couldn't help myself.

Stephanie Plum novels

I love all of the Stephanie Plum novels. It kind of seems a waste to actually buy them, as I read them in a day. She has the most entertaining family, and ends up getting into the most interesting situations. If you are looking for something light that still has a story with a twist, pick it up and give it a try.

Love some Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews is perfect chick lit. I fell in love with her years ago with Itty Bitty Lies, and I have never looked back. Are her books predictable? Absolutely! Are they great fun? You know it. The tough, southern girl ALWAYS triumphs over the terrible things in her life, and usually comes out with a new love. Ahhhh, if only it were so.

BOOK #23

I think I'm the only one, in my small circle of friends, that reads these type of books. I believe in things I know nothing about but do exist in our daily lives. I like learning. Especially about things I have an interest in but don't know why.

I do believe magic exists, in one form or another, in each of our lives. And it is up to the individual to recognize and bring out their own magic in themselves and others.

This book brought me some great ideas - a few I have tried. It's really more about soul searching and asking yourself (and the universe)what you really want out of life. Answers are always there. Sometimes we just choose to ignore them. I know I do.

Some of her ideas were a little over the edge - even for me - but nonetheless, I found this book to be a pleasant 'vacation' into myself on Saturday mornings. I'll pass it on to others on PBS because everyone needs a little magick!

BOOK #22

Stephen King is my lucky charm. I have enjoyed so many new authors because of his monthly column for Entertainment Weekly. Robert Goddard was one of those recommends. Actually, it was one of Goddard's books that was his first read on the Kindle. He was batshit crazy over the guy. And after reading In Pale Batallions, I agreed with him. I am a huge fan. I was happy to find a couple more of Goddard's in my collection - I had forgotten they were in there!

Goddard has written 21 books. This was my sixth one of his. My aim is indeed to read all of them. I have to say this was the best one of his that I have read so far. I seem to have developed a liking for English fiction. I'm not sure why. I find it easy to read and it always includes that infamous dry english humor.

His books are filled with twist and turns, historical documents with that ONE clue, some romance and always a couple of murders. I read this one in about three days. I only ever put it down because I had to.

I highly recommend Robert Goddard to any one who likes to read.

Throwing up a smoke signal

I'm still here!

Holy CRAP this "Drood" book is long. I'm not sure I like it yet (after 900 pages) but I keep hoping something remarkable will happen and make me like it after all.

So far all I've determined is that Dickensian London was filthy; Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins were basically woman haters (only liked them young an cute); and Opium-addled hallucinations might be able to manifest themselves (what?!?).

I've gotten far enough through it, now, that I have about the number of pages of a normal book left. I have to see it through.

God help me...