Technical Difficulties

I spent an inordinate amount of time yesterday trying to update my online access to my old Vermont library. Probably I should first say that these days I consume books in a dizzying variety of ways: normal, page-turning books when I'm being lazy on the porch or before going to sleep (not mutually exclusive); audiobooks on CD borrowed from the local library (Lakeland has two branches, both great); downloading books from the library to my iPod; or downloading right to my computer. I like being read to while I sew. By the way, someone should invent a sewing machine that supports CDs and DVDs (and clocks). I don't really get the appeal of the Kindle-thing because I like to multi-task.

Anyway, typical for me, I like to read in series and my current favorite is the Artemis Fowl collection.



I found these in the Young Adult section (where the Harry Potters are shelved). Who knew I had a taste for fantasy/fiction? Artemis is a kid who befriends leprechauns, fairies and demons, but the books are smart, funny and kind of believeable (I know...). It doesn't hurt to have Nathaniel Parker reading in your ear, either; he reads most of the Fowl series on audio.

I started perusing the Young Adult section more after reading Carl Hiassen's Scat, Hoot and Flush:


These have a strong environmental theme, take place in Florida and are written for kids, but not dumbed-down if you know what I mean. Hiassen's novels for adults are good too - funny and violent - typical stupid Florida criminal stories.

Also different for me are James Herriot's memoirs about being a vet in England in the 1930's/40's:
I listened to all of these via iPod and loved the narrator because he had such a great Yorkshire accent. Almost made me wish I had a backyard full of sheep, horses and cows. Ha-ha. Just kidding.

And of course, I will always love murder mysteries:
Cara Black writes about Aimee Leduc who is a detective in Paris. I have ploughed through all of Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series:
Also, Elizabeth George's Detective Lynley books; even though I think Lynley himself is annoying, I love his Sergeant Barbara Havers who tends to break the rules and beats up suspects a lot. Always fun.
Also fun are Tim Dorsey's books about Serge Storm, a Florida psycho who only murders really really bad other guys. Off-the-wall type black humor, but often depicts stupid Florida criminals whom I have read about in real life.

So, what started out as a rant against my computer troubles has led to book reviews! Fun-fun-fun on a Friday. --cds