The Cereal Murders (Goldy culinary mysteries, book 3) Diane Mott Davidson

I have to admit, this series is what I consider fluff; filler, if you will. This is what I go back to between meatier novels. We're up to The Cereal Murders (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 3).

Although I do like Goldy better than other mystery chefs I've run across, she's probably not someone I would be friends with in the really real world. She's a bit stuffier than I am, and maybe unbelievably PC. As a character, she does move forward a bit in this book, but I'd really love to see her let her hair down and have some fun.

Pride and Prejudice...and Zombies?

This was a super fun read! I've never read the original classic, because I just wasn't sure I could deal with a Gothic romance. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Deluxe Edition (Quirk Classics) combines that classic with the wonderful world of flesh eating undead in a literary mash-up that puts a fresh spin on Austen's characters and language. Lizzy kicks butt and takes names, thanks to her ninja like skills keept honed with daily training.

And just that fast...

I finished "C" is for Corpse. Breezed through this one pretty quickly, a highly enjoyable read!

3 More...

Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel (Dean Koontz's Frankenstein). This is the book I kept in my purse to take to work for those really slow nights when I was geting paid to read...LOL I was also attempting to read Under the Dome by Stephen King, but lost interest in that one about 650 pages into it. It might have stood a better chance if it fit in my purse. So anyway, I THOUGHT I had reached the end of a trilogy after reading Dead and Alive, but upon just checking Amazon, it appears a fourth book will be released next month in hard cover. Oh, joy!

Next comes Dying for Chocolate (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 2). A light quick read...I actually think I like this series although I'm not really sure why cooking and murder mysteries go together. I must be missing something, since there are so many of these series available.

Last but not least, B is for Burglar (Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, No. 2). This is my favorite of the new series I've allowed myself to get into. Kinsey Millhone is a pretty smart cookie. Actually, she's HUMAN. She makes mistakes and admits it...hers is not a perfect world.

4 in 1

Odd Hours, Dean Koontz; Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - (Hannah Swensen Mysteries), Joanne Fluke; Catering to Nobody (Goldy, Book 1), Diane Mott Davidson; and finally, A Is for Alibi, Sue Grafton...in that order.

Not much I can say about Odd Hours, except, of course, I cannot wait for the next one. This series is one of the nicest things my MIL ever did for me.

I was forced to read The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by the BFF, who wanted us to join a mystery book club, and this was the first offering. If this is the best this book club can do, in the way of mysteries, then they surely do not need us to join..the BFF wouldn't even read the book. 'Nuff said.

When searching the library for The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, I ran across Catering to Nobody and thought it very funny how similar the covers were...needless to say, I had to pit them against each other...read them both and determine which series deserved to be continued. Let's just say the next book after Catering to Nobody is Dying for Chocolate. I can't even tell you what comes after The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

Which brings us to A is for Alibi. These alphabet mysteries were started in the 80's and I can't believe it's taken me this long to start reading them. Thank Bob there have been enough written over the years to keep me busy, probably until they're finished. I think the current letter available at your local bookshop is S or T.

Beatrix Potter?

One rainy afternoon the BFF and I were wandering aimlessly through our favorite used book store, looking for nothing in particular, and talking between ourselves. The shopkeeper was listening in, and trying to give suggestions on books/authors that would be new to us. She seemed very intent on Susan Wittig Albert and The Tale of Hill Top Farm (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix P). We make the purchase, and off we go. It was decided that I should be the guinnea pig and, therefore, the first to read the book.

While I found it 'cute', it was certainly not a nail-biting page-turner. I would imagine it would be difficult to evoke that type of response from a story set at the turn of the century (the LAST one, not this past one) in a small English village where the local animals help solve mysteries. The very fact that the animals spoke to each other was enough to turn the BFF off of ever reading this series. Although I did finish this first book, I cannot see myself finishing the series unless all other authors cease writing and I'm left with no choice.

I Swear I'm Reading

Even though I haven't posted, doesn't mean I'm not reading. I have finished 3 books since my last post, the first of which was THE LOVELY BONES.

I enjoyed the story very much, despite finding myself sobbing uncontrollably on more than one occasion.

Brother Odd

I loved this book! Odd Thomas is the most entertaining character I've run across since Harry Potter and Brother Odd, the third book in the series, does not disappoint. Set in a California monestery in the midst of a blizzard, the story is full of richly humorous characters (ironic, huh?).

Next up is Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell. It's been a while since I've read any Cornwell, and this is a super thick (500 pages) book compared to what I've been reading lately, so it may be a while before I post again.

Not Odd Thomas...Mma Ramotswe

I decided I shouldn't read Koontz back to back, so switched over to Alexander McCall Smith and The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. This is the 8th book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and probably the second longest series I've read (pretty sure Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum take first place).

This will probably be the last book for January, so that makes the count what? Five, or six books in a month?

Frankenstein: City of Night

I used to read a lot of Dean Koontz books, then he just got...weird. And totally unbelievable. And quite predictable. So I quit reading him. I figured there were plenty of other authors I hadn't "met" yet, and proceeded on my merry way.

Twenty years later my mother-in-law, of all people, queried me as to whether I'd read any of the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz. She described the main character in a way that made him sound like someone I could spend 300 pages with, but I couldn't let her know because we don't get along so my best bet was to just roll my eyes at her and tell her I'd moved past the Dean Koontz stage of my life. Of course she piqued my interest, so I secretly set out to spend the day in my favorite Books-A-Million with my BFF Jodi.

There may have been an Odd Thomas book, but not the first in the series so I had to put a temporary halt on that train of thought but I found Frankenstein instead. City of Night is the second in the Frankenstein series, which is set in New Orleans in present time. It's a new twist on an old tale, and yes, I have to admit I DID read the first in the series also. It's not quite Odd Thomas, but Odd will just have to have a post of his own. Probably my next post...

Cormac McCarthy

OK, I admit it...Oprah has pretty good taste in books. I had never heard of Cormac McCarthy until Oprah's book club read The Road. I must not have been paying attention, because everyone has heard of All the Pretty Horses, right? And I've seen the movie No Country for Old Men, but had no clue of the book. (LOVED the movie! Coen brothers and Tommy Lee Jones together...how could you go wrong?!)

Anyway, I'm a little over 100 pages into The Road. It's very dark, very depressing, and I'm struggling with it even though I appreciate Mr. McCarthy's writing style. If I can make it through this book, I will probably go back and read the border trilogy but at this point I have to ask does Cormac McCarthy write anything happy?

Insomnia

It's what allows me to breeze through my stack of library books at breakneck speed. Yes, I finished Blue Shoes and Happiness and moved on to Knit Two by Kate Jacobs, and stayed up most of the night catching up with characters I first met in The Friday Night Knitting Club . Normally I have to be in the mood for chic lit, but the first book is still fresh enough in my mind...it was just easier to continue with this series to the end rather than going in search of the knitting mysteries I was originally searching for. Trust me...I'll get to them this year, too.

So to recap: it's the 3rd day of the new year, and I'm on my 2nd book.

First up for 2010

Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith. This is book 7 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The first 6 books were consumed in chronological order during the previous year, which was a major feat for me since I have a bad habit of reading whatever I fancy regardless of where it might fall in a series. Alas, I'm getting older now and have a much harder time putting things in proper order in my mind if they weren't put in my mind in proper order to begin with.

Mission

Hi there! My name is Carol, and I love to read. In fact, I've been doing it since before I ever started school, a verifiable gozillion years ago. I'm not picky, I'll read most anything you stick in front of my face with the one exception of historical romance. You know...the ones with Fabio-type hunks on the cover who are all about deflowering virgins? Don't get me wrong, I have resorted to those in the past, but they no longer hold any interest for me.

Anyway...my son has a friend who is constantly amazed that every time he comes to visit I'm reading something new. What is it with kids these days? My son loves to read, but I doubt he would actually admit that to anyone besides me. His friend? I doubt he's ever read a book that wasn't forced on him by a teacher or professor. He once asked me how many books I read in a year, and I couldn't honestly answer him so that's what this blog is about. Not a review, simply a chronicle with commentary.