fifteen books in fifteen minutes

But then I did quit and have now been 651 days smoke free. And I still carry the guilt that I didn't quit when you did. Ooops. No I don't. I just looked and it's gone! No more guilt! Wow.

[Lucky you. I still feel guilty about cigarettes I smoke in dreams even though I haven't had one in real life since I quit.]

I need to write another book. In my new one, I will have to say that you inspired me to quit.

[I would totally take credit for that if I thought it was really true.]

As for the book, I now have 3 books written by people I know. I used to have 4 but Trancejen's got misplaced and now it is gone. I need to get another one.

[I got Trance's book after I started reading her but I think it was already written by then. -- GW]

Hey! Now I have more books to look for, hee. I have read a few of the ones on your list: "Good Omens", HPCOS, "What People Do All Day" and "A Wrinkle In Time". All of which, like you, left a lasting impression on me. All of the books that follow in "Wrinkle" are ones I treasure, as well. "Good Omens" makes me want more, as did "American Gods" and...well, just about all Neil and or Terry write. Harry's books are just a wonderful way to lose a day or weekend (depending on how much time you have, or want, to lose).

[That Man of Mine bought me the l'Engle Time box-set as a wedding present. I read it whilst sitting in the clubhouse during our honeymoon, because I needed something to do whilst he was out golfing. We were both happy.]

Have you read 'The Phantom Toll Booth'? Based on this list alone, I think that, kid's book or not, you'll enjoy it.

[Oh, my gourd, I love The Phantom Tollbooth. (Favorite character: Tock.) Now I wish I hadn't restricted myself to the fifteen minute time-limit for coming up with my list. ]

Dave Barry is such a great read. I...dislike? writing, so I don't deconstruct authors very often...ok, I don't do it to good writers. Bad ones can earn my wrath, quite vocally. Who is listening is another story.

[Usually I don't set out to deconstruct, because, when it's good, I don't want to ruin it. However, just as in cooking, I like to try to pull apart a recipe sometimes to see if I can either duplicate it or make something equally delicious with similar ingredients.]

Now, as for Mr. King. I don't read him not because I think he's just a horror writer. I don't read him because he's a good, scary writer and he gives me nightmares. I have read the Gunfighter series, and Dolores Claiburn...and one of his more recent ones...Lisey's Story. Had to find it, heh. I do like how he ties his books together, and his details.

[I enjoy when stuff crosses over: Randall Flagg from The Stand shows up in The Eyes of the Dragon and Nozzola Cola was in the vending machine at Kingdom Hospital.]

I'll have to check out Fredric Brown, ought to be interesting to read someone who hates writing and does it for a living.

[Good luck with that. He's been dead a million years. But the stories are so good.]

And the ring on the tush?? Oh yeah, a reader's bane. I think they need to design a 'reader's toilet seat'. Wanna collaborate? :-)

[I'm frankly surprised Japan hasn't designed one yet. -- GW]

Regarding Fredric Brown: Why don't you recommend the book you bought for me: From These Ashes.
http://www.hycyber.com/SF/from_these_ashes.html

[Mostly because it was difficult enough to find that copy. But you're right. People, if you can find From These Ashes, do so, then read it all in order but skip the story "The Waveries," then go back and read "The Waveries" last, like dessert. It makes me all the more curious how someone could actually hate writing something that exquisite.]

Brown also wrote mystery novels, sometimes as the detective and sometimes as the perp.

[Some of his mysteries are in our local library. None of his science fiction is. -- GW]

GW: A friend of mine sat on a plane with Michener. Cool List!

[I stood in line behind the drummer from The Pretenders at the Empire State Building once. -- GW]

i wonder if "butt-ring" is a medical condition or a literary one?

[I call it an occupational hazard.]

the thing with reading is i get spoiled. i just finished water for elephants by sara gruen. it was too good... and now every book i see at the bookstore suffers by comparison.
i felt the same way after reading shantaram by gregory david roberts.
i finally settled on the giant's house by elizabeth mccracken. i'm starting to warm up to it, about 30 or 40 pages in.
i don't know what i'm going to do when i finish this book. i have 2 or 3 harry potter books in reserve that i haven't read yet. because none of the subsequent ones was as enjoyable for me as the first one.

[The seventh book does answer everything, but it's kind of pat. I guess it would have been more satisfying if I'd been closer to kid-age when I read it. -- GW]

by the way. the giant's house is on amazon for 88 cents new, or for one cent used. of course, you have to pay shipping. but it's still cheaper than a few bananas and it doesn't turn all spotted brown in warm weather before you can eat it.

[The point to the brown bananas is that you then make banana bread or muffins.]

btw: no i don't work for amazon nor have any affiliation with them. lol. in case you wondered.

[In this day and age, I always check the library first. I love Amazon and all, but until the economy really gets fixed, I am trying not to buy books. -- GW]

I've read just one of the above. Can you guess which one?

[Hrm.

Was it Horton Hatches the Egg? -- GW]

Some of yours were mine that I had forgotten about like Madeleine l'Engle. Also I forgot Lois Duncan.

[I forgot Lois Duncan, too. Specifically, A Gift of Magic. -- GW]

i have two brown bananas on top of the refrigerator if you feel like baking.
(**)

[Bring 'em. -- GW]

I knew you'd get it.

[If I'd listed The Poky Little Puppy, I'd have gotten a comment from Andy Martello as well. -- GW]

i'm pretty sure i've read books by dave barry, but i can't remember a single one.

[I remember that one in particular because not only is it the first one I ever bought, but it contains the first column of his I ever read. Also, I had it on audio book (read by Arte Johnson, hysterical, thank you) and I used to listen to it in the car.]

and i read christine. i used to love stephen king, but he's always needed an editor. he can make a wonderful 300 page story into 800 pages. unfortunately, i lose interest after about 500 pages.

[The big problem with King's length is that the editors forced him to cut The Stand egregiously so the market would bear it. As soon as he was able to absorb the differences, he rereleased it without the cuts and the uncut version was a blockbuster. Now that they're aware that the man will sell either way, no editor will say "boo" about the length.]

steve martin's shop girl was good. mr. king should read it, if only to see how a skinny book can be an awesome read.

[I feel very much the same way about Typhoid Mary by Anthony Bourdain (after whom I lust madly). -- GW]