Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander Abstinance Teacher by Tom Perrotta Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling

Have Mercy on Us All by Fred Vargas, Whiteout Volume 2: Melt by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, Gulf Music by Robert Pinsky, and Larklight by Philip Reeve (just finished--wonderful!)

Just finished Philip Roth's Portnoy's Complaint (I know I'm late on that one but I wanted to prepare for Exit Wounds), and LOVED it. Currently reading Alice Sebold's The Almost Moon and sorry to say I'm not enjoying it that much. Also reading Colbert's I am America (and so can you), which is absolutely hilarious!!

I've recently had to spend a LOT of time with my mother in a life care facility and while roaming the halls in the middle of the night I often raid the library, picking up older, even previously read books for an easy night. Once such was Jan Karon - whether or not her story lines appeal to you she is a talented writer. Gentle on the mind can be a good thing . . .

Basic Black by Hearst CEO Cathie Black--she's fantastic, American Woman by Susan Choi--a reread, she's got a new one coming out, O Henry Stories from 1974, and Washington Square by Henry James

Turning White by Thomas, Great Lakes: The Natural History of a Changing Region by Grady, Shipwrecks and Lost Treasures Great Lakes by Varhola, Poems: New, Used, and Rebuilds by Jeff Vande Zande.

Just finished Water for Elephants for my book club - interesting discussion. The Big Book of Chills and Thrills - beautiful book and fun readings for Halloween. Discovering a subculture in Punk House: Interiors in Anarchy and learning more in Freeman's The Photographer's Eye. Isaacson's Einstein is on the launch pad.

I'm re-reading the Dune series; I'm up to Children of Dune. Reading it again after (all these many) years since high school, I find there's so much more to it that I missed or was not wise enough to "get." And it makes me wonder how many more of the classics I squandered in my youth that I should re-approach in my (gulp) age.

I just finished reading Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Olivern Relin. This book combines the memories of Greg MOrtenson's adventures in a dangerous and difficult quest with David Olivern's excellent writing skills. Greg is a true hero in every sense of the word. Together they paint a clear picture of Pakistan and Afghanistan both before and after 9/11. Greg sacrifices everything to ultimately build numerous schools for girls in those countries, dispite resistance from the Taliban. It is one man's mission to fight terrorism and build nations one school at a time. They should award Greg the Nobel Peace Prize. I hope people will find my book, "Vinyl Highway, Singing as Dick and Dee Dee" on their nightstands as well and hope that, like Greg's book, it keeps people reading into the night. Best Wishes, Dee Dee Phelps www.dickanddeedee.com

Death of a Dissident: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB. An amazing story. Truth is stranger than fiction. On the softer side: "Hell Hath No Curry" by Tamar Myers wonderful characters. The Woods by Harlan Coban. And I have recently picked up "Turn of the Screw" by James. I love the story but sometimes don't feel smart enough to read his style. I'll get there though!

Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls. I have the Narnia Chronicles on my nightstand and I've been alternating between that and other stuff.

Just finished 'Blue Shoes & Happiness' by Alex. McCall Smith. Nearly finished with Stephen Birmingham's 'America's Secret Aristocracy' and just started his 'The Rothman Scandal'. I am desperate for a grand love story in the style of Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander'. No, I don't necessarily mean time travel, but the level of writing and the depth of feeling - that's what I'm looking for. Help?

I was lucky to get an ARC of Lisa Kleypas' new contemporary called Blue-Eyed Devil. It was so much more than I could have even hoped it would be. I love a good drama and coming of age type story with some romance. Great heroine!

Just devoured The Law Of Dreams by Peter Behrens. Wonderful story of Irish immigrants ,beautifully written.It made me most thankful to not have lived in that time,when my ancestors emigrated.

When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg. Talk about life lessons for a country where people seem to have gone mad with greed and power!

Cathy, thanks for the info on the Irish novel, "The Law of Dreams". I am just back from a trip to Ireland and got the name of another novel of Ireland that I want to read, "The Great Famine". Lisa, have you seen the dreadful reviews "The Almost Moon" has gotten? I read it last summer and it was one of the worst books I have ever finished. On my end table I have two YA books that I am loving...Jerry Spinelli's "Love Stargirl" and the much-lauded "Before I Die" by Jenny Downham which is brilliant. I have no idea why it is considered a YA book,

Christine, you might like Sara Donati's Into the Wilderness and the books following that.

Well, I'm way out of date. Wonder if anyone will read this blog entry comment. I noticed I never read the Halloween PW and here is an entry about Pullman's Golden Compass! I just read the trilogy and love it. I second the friend who said you have to read it straightaway. This is a book (trilogy) that I am an evangelist for! I think it's way better than Harry Potter. And I'm a big JK fan and I read a lot of kid's fantasy and I even wrote one, The Call to Shakabaz, which is, by the way, the perfect Christmas present for any youngster who has finished all the Harry Potter books and wonders what to read next. (Find me on the web at Wozabooks)