Catching Up

I've read all sorts of things since the last posting, but these are the only ones I can remember:

Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries were perfect beach reading when we ended up in Duck, N.C. after non-stop events and responsibilities in May and June. I think I went through about five of these at the rate of one a day. They were on the Books for Fun rack at EMU. They are my kind of murder mysteries--the victims are almost always characters you want to see go, and there are lots of suspects. I think Margaret Frazer gets most of the medieval details right--or enough that it's believable. The perpetrator in The Servant's Tale had the best, most disturbing motive ever.

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. Now I know what all the fuss is about. I love all the politics, secret scandals, hints of dragons and impending wintry doom, complex characters...but if you read his GRRM, just know that he'll kill any character, any time, no matter whether you like them or not. He's no Margaret Frazer.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture. I read this with the analog book club. Highly recommended to anyone who ever plans to interact with little girls. Hint: you don't have to be pretty/sexy and purchase things to be a fulfilled woman, but the marketers won't tell you that.

Bossypants by Tina Fey: A speedy read--also for book club. Entertaining and inspiring.

Book manuscripts by two different friends--I love these exclusives. Such a privilege to be friends with good writers.

When I was at the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) conference in D.C. this spring, I subscribed to great literary...journal? It's called One Story and that's what they send you every three weeks--a pleasingly simple little chapbook with one short story in it. Each time one arrives, it's like receiving a tiny gift in the mail. Most of the authors are new, and the stories are well-wrought. I'll keep trying to get some of my work in there...

Happy reading to all.