Relaxation by the Page Numbers

Being a college student is stressful.  Being a commuter-college-student-with-a-part-time-job who has to fulfill credit requirements for major number three is exhausting.  Last night, I had a nightmare that I showed up to work ten minutes late, and it was unreasonably horrifying.  Despite the fact that I work really hard to get eight hours of sleep a night, I still wake up every morning feeling like I slept for eight minutes.  Thankfully, I have a de-stressing system that helps me power down before bed.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a list of library books I had on reserve.  There's still one book that I'm waiting on (116 other people to go!), but I've gotten through a lot of books since then.  I spend 30-45 minutes reading every night.  I'm not very good at starting new habits, so this is one that I'm very proud of.  Since school started, I've read the following:

1. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

2. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

3. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (just meh)

I'm now working on Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson, the third book in the Jackson Brodie series.  I love these books.  I'm a sucker for mysteries, and these stories aren't the least bit predictable but are also believable.  No deus ex machina alien abductions or dream sequences.  I highly reccommend them!

Read any good books lately?
xo

Bibliophile

I just requested six, yes six, books from the library.  Wanna see?



Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The first of a series, Case Histories recounts the solving of three mysteries by Private Detective Jackson Brodie.  I love me some mysteries, and the fact that there will be more books to read once I finish this one will be great!




Model Home by Eric Puchner
I found out about this author through www.thestaffrecommends.com (aka my new fave website)'s list of best books of 2010.  The reviewer's summary ended in, "Absorbing, emotional, funny. Can’t recommend it enough." That makes it worth reading, right?





The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Yeah, I definitely found out about this one thanks to an interview with the author on The Daily Show.  Apparently, everyone else in Minnesota did, too, because I'm the 207th person to request it...maybe I'll get to in October.  Anyway, the premise sounds really cool: Ronson used a diagnostic test to identify psychopaths in American society, and a lot of them were Fortune 500 CEOs...eek.




Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose
The author has a fitting last name.  Also, I've been trying to write more often lately, and I thought this might provide some inspiration.




Ron Carlson Writes a Story by Ron Carlson
Ron Carlson, a well-know short story author, provides insight into his writing process.  Comes highly recommended for writers (professionals and hobbyists).




Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
This is the third novel in the Ender's Game series.  I just finished Speaker for the Dead the other night.  These books are not only compellingly suspenseful, they also use a future society to examine the United States' current political situation (particularly regarding international relations).  I'm a few people down the list for this one, too, so I'm hoping it has a quick turnaround!




What are you reading right now?  Any recommendations?
xo