Recent Books

[For the Zombie blurb scroll down to the next post]

My luck continues with reading a series of great books.

I read, "The Help" and it was a delightful read. There were parts of the book that I wish it just wasn't a part of the American culture. But that's what makes this country so wonderful it's good and bad all mixed together.

The story is about three women in the early 1960's set in Jackson, Mississipi. Two of the women are Black women that work in white households as maids. The 3rd character, Skeeter, wants to write their story annonymously. At first there is resistance but finally the two women along with a a few other maids agree to help Skeeter write her book. And the stories are lovely and wonderful. It was one of those books that I wished would never end. And when I finished it, it was as if I knew these characters and they did not feel fictional at all.

Next, I'm reading Cutting for Stone written by Abraham Verghese (an MD). A wonderful book about twins born to an angelic nun who was a superb nurse. She dies in childbirth and their father, the surgeon whom she worked with, disappears shortly only to reappear later in their lives in the United States. I had a hard time getting past the birthing scene. It is graphic and bloody. But I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this wonderfully written book.

Earlier this week, I finished reading Lisa Kleypas' "Smooth Talking Stranger." Lisa can do no wrong. I happen to like her historical romances better though. Smooth is a wonderful modern day romance. Rich Guy - Poor Girl. etc. etc. The interaction between the two characters and the dialog are just so fun you want to believe people like this exist. And that its possible for the Prince to pick the poor beautiful girl to be his partner. Hey I need a little feel good fantasy in my life... to keep me sane and this was the right dose this month. Can't wait for her upcoming historical later this month... May 25th to be exact.

Finally, I'm also reading "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite" written by David Kessler. He is the same person that demonized the tobacco industry and is now working on demonizing the food industry. In the book there is candid accounts of his own struggle with eating and weight gain. The book is an eye opener and it discribes in somewhat scientific terms (it is accessible as far as the reading goes) how these foods are built to make them tasty to the point of food becoming an obssession.

Good reads! I feel lucky and blessed by the Reading Gods...