Some of you are SO DEMANDING....

My dear friend supalinds is the boss of me, and when she says "Jump!" I say "Okay, okay, don't run me over with your road bike or hit me with your wetsuit or run 26 miles in circles around me or in any other manner utilize your freakishly strong triathlete skills to cause me pain."

And she wants book suggestions. And that causes me to reflect back on a time in my life, a time where I could actually read for pleasure, before things like the Federal Rules of Evidence, criminal procedure, Moot Court, a 90 mile commute each day, immigration blah blah barfy blah took up all of my discretionary time.

I think I remember those days...

TOP FIVE BOOKS I READ THIS SUMMER:

1. The Glass Castle. I know many of you are aware that I haven't been able to shut up about it, but with good reason. It really rocked me and I have been thinking about it for months. So read it and then go to lunch with me so we can discuss it.

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns. A pretty decent follow up to the Kite Runner. I know, I know, some of you want to yell, "Eff the hype," but I bought the hype, and read it in one night, and those are my favorite reading-for-pleasure books, the ones you can't put down and read in a weekend whirlwind. The treatment of women is appalling, so you might have to de-rage a few times.

3. The Good Earth. An oldie but a goodie. Just finally read the 1930s Pulitzer Prize-winning tale and dug it. Haven't read the following two books in the trilogy but it stands just fine on its own. It's a bit of a downer, but I think most books are in their own way. If you like this, pick up Snowflower and the Secret Fan which has a similar style and theme.

4. A Girl Named Zippy. Hehehe. I told a friend it's "harmless" and it's really true. Nothing too deep or thought provoking, but just a clever happy childhood memoir, good light summer-to-early fall reading. If you have a porch swing, that would be a great place to read this. Wearing shorts. Having noodles and/or lemonade. And maybe a treat after.

5. A tie for Black Like Me and The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. Both interesting racial commentary and very readable, and both true stories with first-person accounts of race relations in a different era. Also both easy reads that could happen in a few days. And sometimes easy reads hit the spot.

Any suggestions from the rest of you?

Books II

So, last night I read A Thousand Splendid Suns in one sitting because I could not put it down! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a page-turner with some spicy twists. If you hate good books, definitely don't read it. I also recently finished Snowflower and the Secret Fan (thanks for the suggestion, Smithy) which is a heartbreaker, but nonetheless a fascinating and emotional read. I shall now embark upon The Time Traveler's Wife as per Rachel and Ziz's recommendations. Books! Books! Books! Books! As posted earlier, check out exactly how book clubs should be by clicking here. (beware: one surprise f-bomb included in video)

Books, Part I

I've got a good, old-fashioned 9-5 set up right now which means the S!R!E! (Summer! reading! extravaganza!) has begun. Just finished one that really rocked my socks off. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. Five Stars! A rollercoaster of a memoir, crazy adventures and free-thinking parents and resilient champion kids, lots of creeps and alcohol and exploring and heartbreak and such. It has just given me a lot to think about and I'm kind of still wrapping my mind around it but I'd like to enthusiastically recommend it not to the faint of heart but only to those who like adrenaline and tragic quirkiness.

Anyway, I am eager for recommendations so feel free to make some S!R!E! suggestions. I have this tendency to read things in one sitting, which I enjoy, but it also means I'm in constant need of new material.