Books and stuff ...

So, I thought maybe it was time for another installment of what I've been reading of late.  There are so very many good books out there, and so very little time to read!  Oh, that makes me think of the old Twilight Zone episode called "Time Enough at Last."  Remember that one?  It starred Burgess Meredith as the reader who worked in the bank when the bomb to end all bombs hit.  You remember, right??  One of my favorite episodes, to be sure.  But, I digress. 

I go through "phases" in my reading, I guess you could say.  When I find a topic or author that I like, I want to read everything I can about it or by him/her.  I've had a couple of those phases here lately.  One is the Spenser series by Robert B. Parker.  I read my first Spenser novel last summer and have proceeded to read all others that I can get my hands on.  LOVE them.  Spenser is a smart alec private eye, but he's got heart and soul, and I'm more than a little smitten with him, I must confess.  Out of the 40+ Spenser novels Parker has written, I've probably read about 30.  Just this week, I started on the first Jesse Stone book by Parker, and there is a whole series of those as well.  I really like his writing.  (Can you tell?)

Another obsession I've had of late is all things "sister wife."  I do watch the show, because I find the subject completely fascinating, and I'm surprised at how much I actually like the Brown family - at least from what the TLC program shows.  So, I've read their book.  But, I've also read other "polyg" books that show the dark side of the culture -- like Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer and His Favorite Wife: Trapped in Polygamy by Susan Schmidt (who was Irene's sister wife, by the way).  I've also read Escape by Carolyn Jessop.  I am, again, fascinated by the whole subject of polygamy.  I think some of that may stem from the fact that I have polygamists in my family tree.  My great grandfather was imprisoned for it, in fact.  So it's a very interesting subject to me. 

Okay, off the obsessions and on to other good books I've enjoyed recently.  I finally read The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (it's been on my shelf patiently waiting for a long time) and I loved it.  What a masterful piece of writing.  It's not just anyone who can write a story that spans two lifetimes and keep the reader intrigued and invested.  And I was.  Both.  I read Cat Daddy by Jackson Galaxy over the holidays (thanks for the Christmas gift of this book, honey).  Loved it.  Love Jackson and how wise he is about our feline friends. 

I recently read 61 Hours by Lee Child.  It was the first Jack Reacher novel I've read, but if definitely won't be the last.  And by the way, Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher?  Really? 

Finally, I read the latest Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich.  I have always been a big fan of the Plum books, and they've always made me laugh out loud, but I have to say, my attention wandered a bit during this last novel.  Seems like nothing ever changes in Stephanie's world...and I guess I'm getting a little bored with it.  Don't know that I'll rush to read the next one. 

So, that's it for this edition of what I've been reading lately.  What good books have you been reading?