Oh, not-so-posh reading...

In the last 2 months or so, I've polished off 8 of 9, soon to be 10, of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Now I know that these are not epic literature, but I figure after 4 years of complete devotion to the cannon of English Literature I'm allowed to read trashy, American backwater vampire novels, right?

Well I certainly think so. I do love me a vampire or two, and I'm talking real bloodsucking vampires that can't go out in the day and don't sparkle. I also love a stronger female lead who, while loving a vampire, can still tell him to piss-off.

I'm trying to finish the books before I watch the TV series based on the books: TrueBlood. From what I've heard, they are very loosely related. Most book to video renditions are and I'm trying to get used to that.

If you haven't read them, they're almost charming; especially if you grew up in a similar country town that only has a Walmart (nothing says home like Walmart). They're full of a lot of interesting fantasy elements: vampire hierarchy, werewolves, weretigers, lots of were-animals, fairy godmothers, and all sorts of supes.

So all and all they're great to pass the time because they're entertaining, but they aren't going to expand your mind. I've been trying to find/start a book club so that I can read some good stuff! I miss class discussion in college. That was the best!

Christopher Hitchens' memoir comes out in July and we've already got tickets to hear him speak about it in DC sponsored by the Center for Inquiry. SCORE! The man is an atheist rock-star. I highly recommend his book God is Not Great or his works on George Orwell (I'm still trying to get through that one).

I just started reading Mary Poppins! I found it while wondering through Barnes and Noble the other week and I swiped it up because I didn't even know it was a book. Of course, most Disney stories are. How silly of me not to have thought of that! So far it's almost dead-on with the movie. Although, the Julie Andrews Mary is much nicer than the book version portrays her.

I've just realized that I've been reading a good bit of children and young adult works lately. I read the entire Percy Jackson series: brilliant, brilliant, brilliant books! I actually had to look up a lot of the Greek stories and I took Greek and Roman Myth in college. I think they're a great way for kids to learn about the old stories because they'll have to look stuff up, or at least read the Odyssey to really get everything. The characters are amazingly thought out! Rick Riordan definitely figured out a way to modernize the Greek gods and still keep there personalities. The movie was a complete waste of time, of course. We saw it as our Valentine's treat this year. It was great to get out to the movies since we never go, but I spent the entire time going "What? That never happened" "Why did they leave out this very major character?" "What do you mean the gods can't interact with their kids?" "Why'd they cast that person as this character?" etc. Oh it was so bad!

As you can tell I've been a busy reader! I love that I can fit time in to read. I just wish I could start fitting in time to do other things like paint, clean, or get myself new work pants! One day.