friday five: book report.

At RevGals Jan writes: I hope some of you received books for Christmas presents; I did and have been reading ever since. Then I discovered a new author from those recommendations that pop up on Amazon.com. Instead of buying those books, I've been checking them out at the library, which will not help Amazon's future recommendations for me at all.

So tell us what you're reading, what you would and would not recommend--five books or authors! And if you don't want to do that freestyle, here are some questions:
1. What books have you recently read? Tell us your opinion of them.
I'm afraid this will be a disappointing post, since reading is just something I don't get to do much of these days. Read recently? Define recently? I haven't read much since last fall, but at that time I was reading The Aladdin Factor, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. It's about asking for what you want. Sounds self-focused, and I guess it is, but it is helping me get past some self-imposed obstacles. It's a very easy read, and I do recommend it for anyone dealing with similar issues.

2. What books are awaiting your available time to be read?
Too many! Starting with Elizabeth Edwards' Saving Graces, and Robin Griffith-Jones' The Four Witnesses. I want to finish Peter Gomes' The Good Book, as well as Adam McHugh's Introvert's in the Church. And then there a whole batch of mysteries that await.

3. Have any books been recently recommended?
Several, but as you can see by the list above, I don't need any additions right now.

4. What genre of books are your favorite, along with some titles and/or authors you like best?
I'm a mystery fan. Can't get enough of them when I actually have time to read. I used to love Elizabeth George, but she's gotten rather dense in her plots in the last few years, and I miss the first round of characters that populated her earlier books. I like Patricia Cornwell, Lisa Scottoline, and several others whose names escape me at the moment. I also enjoy books that help me gain insight into myself or others, as well as those that inspire my faith.

5. What have you read lately that you have a strong urge to recommend? (or to condemn?)
For introverts like me, I strongly, STRONGLY recommend McHugh's Introverts in the Church. It was on sale at Cokesbury one day when I was there, and it called my name. Thank you, Holy Spirit! I also recommend this book to extroverts so that they might understand introverts better.


I'm off to diocesan convention today and tomorrow, so won't have a chance to respond to most posts, but will try to get to them!