I've got birthday presents on my nightstand: A debut novel about photographer Edward Steichen (I've blanked on the title) by Emily Mitchell; THE GENERAL BOOK OF IGNORANCE, a fixing-the-record compendium of erroneous popular wisdom; and AT LARGE AND AT SMALL, new essays by Anne Fadiman, who is one of my favorite writers.

Good Omens
American Gods
The Shipping News
A Gesture Life

I usually have a novel and a non-fiction book going. Right now it's Blindness by Jose Saramago (I love it, but I'm finding the lack of quotation & question marks more annoying than effective) and an old Robert Palmer book about blues music called Deep Blues.

Just finished Robert B. Parker's "Back Story" on CD. "Robinson Crusoe" for a book group that I will not finish by the meeting tonight. A book on prayer. And on the cassette player (hopelessly out of date), "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper. What a fabulous writer-I'm loving it!

Of the Law by Susan Wingate

I just reread Siege Of Krisnapur by J.G. Farrell-it dovetails in a rather surreal way with all the Indian fiction coming out lately, and is a marvelously gallows-humored depiction of a bunch of Imperial
Victorians struggling to hold onto their smug worldviews in the midst of the Sepoy Revolt of 1857... (The C of E pastor is convinced it's God's wrath over German Rationalism, among other things) Great stuff...

I hate the genre (sports memoir/autobiography), and I'm even more bothered that I'm plugging a best seller, but I'm reading Tony Dungy's Quiet Strength. The book is really well written, which is rare for the genre, and while their is a good deal of Christian content I really sense that Dungy's faith truly defines him.

It's a book full of great life lessons. Solid read.

I am reading Falling Man: A Novel and have Peony in Love and The Road on my nightstand.

I've just discovered the #1 Ladies Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith and I'm working my way through the list. In addition, Laurie King's books featuring Mary Russell are capturing my attention these days.

Linda, between the McCall Smith and the King books, you'll be happy for months... if you haven't tried one of McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie books, you might like them, too.

-- Sarina, do you like Peony in Love? Are you finding it as easy to get lost in as I did?

If I Am Missing or Dead (whew, what a disturbing read); Man Gone Down (slow beginning); Purpose-Driven Life.

The Thirteenth Tale, and Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.

Lisa Moore's "Alligator", "Lay of the Land" Richard Ford, and the Summer issue of the literary magazine "Rosebud".

I am listening to the latest Number One Ladies' Detective Agency books ---The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. I have listened to this entire series and the narrator is wonderful.

On the nightstand: Monique and the Mango Rains, Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Ireland by Frank Delaney, and The Banyan Tree by Christopher Nolan.

Currently reading: Bingo Night at the Firehall and The Making of a Chef.

Stoshman, I hope you're enjoying Lay of the Land; I loved every second of it

There are several choices here I've got to familiarize myself with: Lisa Moore, If I Am Missing or Dead, and The Banyan Tree...

Stacy O, what do you think of The Thirteenth Tale? It will be really interesting to see Diane Setterfield's next book.

Bethanne - The Banyan Tree's author, Christopher Nolan, is severely disabled and unable to speak, writes by hitting the keys with a srick affixed to his head.

His autobiography, Under the Eye of the Clock, written in the third person, won the Whitbread Prize---and he was only 21! The Banyan Tree was published 12 years later.

I have several titles on the go...The Diana Chronicles, The End of East by Jen Sookfong Lee (bookclub read) and knitting books for winter inspiration

Beast with two backs