Nightstand - An update

Remember this post, in which I was concerned that my reading list had gotten a little out of hand and the floorboards below my nightstand where about to give way do to the volumes of novels needing my attention? Well, I have received a few inquiries regarding my progress. Here is an short update:

The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Even though this one was VERY close to trash, I picked it up and completed it rather quickly. It was surprisingly enjoyable, a very quick read, and fell into the "mindless entertainment" category that I so badly crave on occasion. Unfortunately if you want to read it, I cant loan it to you. Baby Bee ripped it apart page by page just hours after I finished it. I guess it was destine for "trash" after all.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Finished it this evening and another of Patty's recommendations did not disappoint. Wonderful read, went quickly and learned a lot about Chinese culture. Highly recommended.

Lost on the Forest - You know how many novels are good for the first 200 or so pages and hideously boring for the last 40? This was the opposite. The last 20 pages pulled the story together and made it interesting and the rest was a sleeper. Don't do it!

I am now starting The Memory Keepers Daughter which was not on my nightstand but caught my eye at Books a Million. My goal is clear my nightstand of everything but the light and a coaster by Christmas. Who thinks it can be done?

I have some clarity ..................

If you follow my blog, you might remember my last entry in which I was drowning in the stack of books living on my nightstand, and needed some assistance.

Well, my friend Don brought some sunshine into my life, and sent me the following e-mail with some recommendations for moving forward. I am posting his e-mail unedited, in case any of my readers (if I actually HAVE readers, hard to tell, since I get NO comments) want to start a little "cyber-book club" with Don and myself. I am sure that Don would welcome this opportunity, as he is freshly retired and probably CAN'T WAIT to have a little structure/pressure back in his life. I will have a LOT of time to read and share over the next couple of weeks, as I have decided to temporarily give up working while in the office.

OK, as the person who turned your mom on to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I feel like I have some credibility. And I won't blow it by recommending several other books to add to your burden....... Problem is, I'm not that familiar with most of the co-pilots. But for those I know, here goes:

The Lovely Bones- I'd recommend you pass. The first three quarters of the book are significantly better than the ending, which was a major disappointment (like movies that crap out and lose steam because it seems like the writer/director doesn't know what to do with what's been set up). I recall Donna feeling the same way about it. And since you're struggling w/ the first part, why bother?? Maybe sometime you''ll feel differently, by why make 'work' out of it now?? It's not medicine..........

To Kill A Mockingbird- Actually, I just read it for the first time within the past year. It is a classic for a reason, and I'm guessing you'll really relate well to it, as it's so deep in the kids/parent vein. A very good alternative (if you're amenable to them) is that there is a wonderful recent recording of Sissy Spacek reading this. I actually listened all the way through after reading it. I usually have major problem (philosophically) w/ books on disc/tape, but read somewhere about this and ended up loving it.

Midnight in the Garden- one of those great non-fictions that reads like fiction. This is better than Berendt's more recent book about Venice, which is also interesting, but almost too similar.
But if you've already read it once..........

The Corrections- one of my 'next five', but has been for about two years now, for whatever that says about me and/or the book. All the short pieces I've read by Frazen, I've responded to very well.

Otherwise, Sue Miller is usually good (don't know this one). I'm wanting to read her book about her father's Alzheimers, since my mother is in a similar situation. Also, a friend who's taste mostly parallels mine was not impressed with the Kite Runner.

Generically, what I do, with reasonable success when I'm wondering about a book, is go into Amazon for the title, and scroll down and read the readers' comments. Usually something in one or two tip it one way or the other for me.

So, my advice; turn off the freakin' TV, let the royals muck about in each others' lives unobserved, and READ!

And so, Dear readers, I have decided to limit my television viewing to 10 hours per week (maybe less since the butt heads on Big Brother have decided to systemically eliminate all of the interesting characters in the current season, leaving only Army Wives and Big Love active on my Tivo), and plow into To Kill a Mockingbird. I will then head strait into Lost in the Forrest and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Anyone want to join me?

Stop the insanity --- serious help needed ..........

I am overwhelmed and need the assistance of my readers! Please help!

I am not sure that I would call myself "a reader", but I do read. I always have a book in progress and read anywhere between 2-3 books a month, depending on what is on television and how much is going on at the office.

Last Spring, I decided to finally bite the bullet and read Margaret Georges VERY LONG Autobiography of Henry the VIII. The book was wonderful and should be ready by everyone, but is a huge commitment and took me about 2.5 months to complete.

I then quickly got through Jonathan Sanfran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close which was wonderful (thanks for the tip, Mom) and Jodi Picoults mindless but easy Perfect Match.

And, this evening I sat down to start a new book. HERE IS WHERE I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM!


Books find there way into my house a number of ways (generally they are passed down or purchased at COSTCO) and they go to one of 3 places, the trash (because I decide that I will never read them), the book shelf (for future reading, that is where The Autobiography of Henry the VIII was for over 2 years) or, my nightstand. Books on my nightstand are "co-pilots" and can be called up at anytime! They are the next to read. right now, there are 19 books cluttering my nightstand. SEE THE PROBLEM ?!!?????!!!!!!!


I do not know when this got so out of hand, but I suspect that it happened during the last 4 wives of Henry the VIII. And now, I have to plow through this enormous stack! Where do I start? Should I send some directly to "trash"? Should I send some to "book shelf"? Should I take off three weeks from work, send the girls to my mom's and cram?

Here is what is there, you tell me .............................................

The Letter of the Law - Tim Green (don't know where I got it. Susie maybe?)
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (this might explain that one)
Velocity - Dean Koontz
Dead Sleep - Greg Iles
The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Melissa Bank (dangerously close to "Trash")
The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See (my friend Patty recommended this one, and I trust her judgement, so it is pretty high up on the list)
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (Came highly recommended. I have started this but it grosses me out and I can get past pg. 75. Will give it one more shot, but have put it down 3 times already).
Lost on the Forest - Sue Miller
The Myth of You and Me - Leah Stewart
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Girls Gone Bad - Jillian Medoff
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt (read this one years ago ........ why is it on my nightstand?)
The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen
Death by Hollywood - Steven Bochco (as in LA Law? He wrote a book?)
Patricia Cornwell - Blowfly (very close to "trash". I have not enjoyed her books for years)
Here by Dragons and The Sunne in Splendour - both by Sharon Kay Penman (I think that these were recommended by my Uncle David and came fro my mom. They might go to "bookshelf" because they look a little heavy for summer).

Suggestions? Help! I feel like I am facing down a "hell semester". Need clarity. What should I read? What should I trash? What's on television?