Lizreads

I just finished "206 Bones" by (http://kathyreichs.com/) Kathy Reichs. I've gone hot and cold on this series (forensic examiner kind of person, set in Canada and US both), but this one really kept my interest. Just thought I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to read.

I used to write a newspaper column (community kind of stuff) and I wrote one once on how our local library is the biggest value on your tax bill. (I tied it to paying the tax bill date.) Man, when I think of how much money I'd have to spend if I didn't have the library ... I read books, I check out non-fiction titles (doing web writing is a big one for me right now -- tons of info out there in my library!) and the audiobooks that keep me sane while I exercise ... We do DVDs, too, though not as much as we should. I have never bought an audiobook, but I've listened to easily a hundre or more, in the past 10 years. Heck, I'd have to go with at least 200. Love libraries!

Julia Spencer-FLeming (or it may be Fleming-spencer; I can never remember!) will have a new addition to her series on minister Clare Fergusson and cop Russ Van Alsytine. It's called "One Was a Soldier." I've been doing this series as an audibook, and have just been hooked. Fortunately, I came in 5 or so books in, and had the pleasure of listening to them in order, without waiting -- until now.

Love, love, love audiobooks! They make the treadmill or elliptical bearable. As others have noted, a good narrator makes a huge difference. George Guidall is fabulous, as is Barbara Rosenblat, who did all the Elizabeth Peabody mysteries. Those were my first foray into audiobooks (recommended by the librarian, as a matter of fact. Took me a couple years to work my way through all of them, I think. You can get an idea of what's out there from Recordedbooks site -- then get what you want from your library. That will get you started.

I have a side recommendation to Debbie Macomber. Those who like her books might also like Maeve Binchy -- she, too, has numerous characters whose paths all cross. She's got a distinctive writing style -- and I find her books enormously enjoyable.

I would definitely agree you either love her or can't stand her. I enjoy her. I sometimes think things get wrapped up just a little too tidily. The last "Blossom Street" one that I read, I think I just skipped to the end, after I got the lineup of people down. But I know I'll pick up the next one of hers!

I kind of go in and out of stages with historical fiction. But there are a couple books (Calico Captive and Celia Garth) that I read over and over again. They're by Gwen Bristow -- the first is set during the California Gold Rush and the second, during the Revolutionary War. She also wrote Jubilee Trail, which one of the librarians at our library says is her favorite of Bristow's. (I can't remember the historical event -- going on the Jubilee Trail, obviously, but I cannot recall what that is exactly. That's not one of favorites! We both share a passion for "Celia Garth.") Bristow wrote some other historical fiction as well, but those 2 are just huge favorites.

Boy, I can't think of a particular author who sent me in that direction. I think I've always liked whodunits. I could say, Carolyn Keene, author of the Nancy Drew books, because I've liked mysteries since I was a kid. I do think Robert Parker is one of the best, though. I love his (though I think he's been kind of phoning it in in the past several books) books and was very saddened to learn of his death earlier this month.

Good grief -- my apologies. I was rattling off names and forgetting the British/American angle. Those are all American writers.

I forgot to add some other favorites: Robert Parker (RIP), Julia Spencer-Fleming, Lillian Jackson Braun (the Cat Who) books, edna Buchanan, Faye Kellerman, Jonathon Kellermen. Never liked Robert Patterson much, I have to say. But others love him.

Elizabeth George is an American writer who writes British mysteries! That's a bit simplistic of course -- but they're all set in the UK. (I think she might actually live there part-time but I can't recall for sure.) Her main series is about Inspector Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard. Wonderfully complex, layered -- and long! books. But even though they're quite long, as I mentioned, I'm still sorry when they're over. (I must confess that I think I completely skipped her most recent one, which was only peripherally connected to the series.) But give her a look.

I was just reading yet another homage in the Chicago Tribune. And all I could think of was WHY does everyone love this book? I hated it. Hated it. My 3 girls have all read it in high school and all have hated it as well. I just have never understood the fascination with this book. I guess tht makes me some kind of philistine...

I loved, loved, loved, Elizabeth Enright. Her books are absolutely wonderful, and timeless. Well, there are the Nancy Drew books, too! And another all-time favorite are the Betsy-Tacy-Tib books by Maud Hart Lovelace.

I was shocked to read about Parker's death -- and immediately sent the online story to my mom, one brother and one sister, who are also fans. Something funny, later that week: I was finishing up the second "Death on Demand" book (Annie Laurence Darling -- though she's still Annie Laurence -- who owns Death on Demand in Broward's Rock in one of the Carolinas, by Carolyn Hart). Each book has this thing about 5 pictures featuring a famous mystery. And at the very end of this book, someone points out that one of the pictures is reflective of the very first "Spenser" book. And the character -- a minor one -- says something like, "He's one of my favorites. DO you ever think we'll find out his first name?" It was Twilight Zone time!