Spenser & Susan

Greetings Readers!

I just finished reading the latest Robert B. Parker book entitled, "Now and Then". It's a classic Spenser novel with a classic plot, characters, and discussions centering around the private detective's long-term relationship with his lady-love, Susan. It's a short read, as are all Parker's works, because the action is driven by witty, pithy, dialog and sometimes significant silences. It's comfortable because the characters are all well known and there is nothing too surprising about how they act in dangerous situations. It reveals a little more about the love relationship between Susan and Spenser -- which at some level is probably what keeps many of us still reading. I guess there is a little surprise. After twenty years or more in a committed relationship. Susan brings up the idea of marriage. Upon reflection Spenser agrees that marriage is different. At the end of this book, they are not renting the reception hall, nor setting a date. But one can see where they might. Robert Parker has many books in this series of action / mysteries each revealing a little more about the main characters. If you're a long-time reader of the series, you won't be disappointed. If you're new to this series and like this book, you are very much in luck because there are many books in the series to keep you busy -- probably all the way through the upcoming winter.

A New Book Changes Reading Plans

I discovered that the new Terry Pratchett book had arrived yesterday. So, I snagged it off the shelf and brought it home after a very long day at work. I started reading it immediately, but paced myself. I read only the first chapter to get me into the book, but since I so look forward to the publication of Pratchett's books, I want to savor it as well. This is a Discworld novel. For those of you who don't know what that means, I pity you. Pratchett has created a fantastical world inhabited by dwarfs, vampires, witches, wizards, death (as a character), etc. all inhabiting Discworld -- a flat plant that makes its way across the universe on the back of a giant turtle who stands on 4 (or 5) elephants. His characters and situations, however, mirror the world we inhabit and our foibles. Pratchett works are overlooked sometimes because of the fantastical species that form the fabric out of which he weaves his satire. He is, in my opinion, one of the great satirist of our time and deserves to be read more widely. Not only are his insights keen, he is one of the funniest authors you will find -- in the Monty Python school of absurdity. Anyway, the new book is called, "Making Money". The protagonist is Moist Von Lipwig, who in a previous book revamped the postal system of Anhk-Morpork and has now been asked to take over the mint, hence the title, "Making Money". Having a new Terry Pratchett book to read on a weekend with beautiful Fall weather in the forecast and a Badgers game and a Packers game to look forward --- life can't get much better than this!

What I'm Reading

I thought this would be a good place to not only share information about what new titles -- in various media-- are arriving at the library, but to let you know what members of the staff are reading. Since I'm always the one with these nifty ideas that create more work for other people, I thought I would lead off and tell you what I'm currently reading, what I read recently, and what I plan on reading. I'm on page 167 of Tess Gerritsen's new book, "The Bone Garden". It shifts scenes from the present day--where Julie Hamill discovering a skeleton in her rural Massachusett's garden--to Boston in the 1830s when the West End Reaper is killing young women and Oliver Wendell Holmes (Senior) is a medical students involved with one of the protagonists. So far, it's compelling but a little on the depressing side (because it shows the underbelly of human nature). Gerritsen's writing reminds me of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs ( I just read "Bones to Ashes" (good) her character, Temperance Brennan is what the television series "Bones" is based on). My previous book was "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman. Pullman's trilogy, "The Dark Materials" is being made into movies, with the first book in the series,"The Golden Compass, coming out soon -- October or November. My next book is Elizabeth Peter's new Amelia Peabody book, The Mummy Case". If you haven't discovered this series of mystery/adventure tales set in Egypt prior to World War I, you're in for a treat. Amelia Peabody is an amatuer archeologist who meets the strikingly handsome Radcliffe Emerson; they hate each other; they love each other; they marry; have a child who is a prodigy in all things Egpytian; He grows up; marries; has children. As you can see, this is a long series. All the books have a great deal of humor provided by Amelia's diary entries -- which reveal a lusty, conniving matriarch. Every book in this series, and there are many, are fun and the Egyptian history is spot on because, the author herself is an Egyptologist when she isn't writing novels. I'll see if I can get someone else on staff to reveal what they are reading. Ciao!