In an effort to get more reading time I’ve asked my son to step it up around the house and do some yard work. I’ve blogged about what I’ve been reading here and then again two weeks ago here. Of the dozen or so books I’ve written about I’ve finished the Chang-rae Lee, The Male Brain,  the Stewart O’Nan book, Matterhorn, several Harlan Coben books, the Brad Watson book, a couple more Lee Child books, and the parenting book about raising boys. I was planning to complain about not getting to read enough but… Anyway, I’ve not been able to even crack the Ian McEwan or the gifted child book although I plan on starting that one tonight. I think I feel like I’m not getting to read enough because I’ve reached one of those ebbs where I was trying so hard to finish a couple of things that I was really committed to that now I feel like I’m not sure where to start next. Here are a few things I’m thinking about getting into:

Morkan’s Quarry by Steve Yates

This is the first novel by a really good friend of mine and of the store. Steve works for the University Press of Mississippi, but most of all he’s a really great guy and really fun to talk with about books. I respect his opinion and am really looking forward to digging into this – I’ve read the first couple of pages, but have been waiting until the signing was a little closer. Plus I’ve been reading on Matterhorn every night for a month.

Sailor & Lula: The Complete Novels by Barry Gifford

I’ve read the first Novel, Wild at Heart, and didn’t realize that I’m a fool if I don’t keep reading. I’ve met Barry a couple of times and he’s truly a treat to get to hang out with – he’s somehow like hanging out with a beat writer, a historian, and your best buddy all at the same time. He’s always read something that you want to read or hung out with someone you wish you could. But more importantly he’s a really good writer which is what we’re looking for isn’t it?

Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross

This is supposed to be the big hot book at the end of the summer. It’s published by Knopf and edited by Gary Fisketjon. The author, Adam Ross,  is coming to Lemuria the week after the book comes out. It may very well be our July First Editions Club pick, but I’ve got to read it first. It looks really good, violence, love, and death, but I guess we’ll find out – more on that later.

War by Sebastian Junger

I really enjoyed A Death in Belmont, it’s hard to believe that was four years ago. I felt like I would probably read this book about Junger being embedded as a journalist in Afghanistan, but when I read his review of Matterhorn in the Times I knew that I would read Junger’s book. After reading his review I’ll probably never talk about Matterhorn without referencing Junger.

Echo Burning by Lee Child

This is where I am on my Lee Child reading project – it’s his fifth book. I’m almost done and will start Without Fail in the next couple of days. It looks like a really good one – Jack Reacher is the man.

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