Sunday Salon: Bookish Ramblings

Books. My desk is overrun with books. I need to take some time out today and rearrange a bit, make things a little more tidy. The majority of my unread books are shut away in the guest bedroom (or TBR room as many of you know I like to call it), but there are a number of unread books that are shelved on my desk, which I think of as my immediate TBR pile. Only, not all the books fit on the desk shelves anymore (they might come close if I used the whole top shelf, but I have to leave room for my cat, Parker, who likes to survey the world from that particular spot on a regular basis). I have books piled on top of the shelved books and a stack right next to me (my immediate, immediate TBR pile). Oh, and there's the box of unread books sitting on the floor between my desk and the file cabinet. I am drowning in books. Thank goodness I remembered to bring the oxygen tank.

My husband made a comment yesterday that he needs to stay ahead of his book club reading so that he doesn't get behind. The last thing he wants is to have the books pile up unread. He would hate that. Having a stack of unread books (which he already does, but if I pointed it out to him, he would probably just give me a look and point out that he doesn't want an even bigger stack--and certainly nothing like mine) makes him nervous. I wonder what that is like. I am sure I once felt that way myself. Now I'm sort of numb to the whole idea.

This isn't really how I wanted to spend my Sunday Salon time, talking about my unread book stacks--or my husband's lack thereof. I often do not know what to say when I sit down to write these posts and so I begin by just typing anything. Eventually I get to where I want to go and erase the starting point. I'm not going to do that today because I still haven't decided what to write about.

I could tell you about the book I am reading: a fast paced suspense novel about the kidnapping of a young woman whose father is about to take over the Oval Office as President of the United States. I am also reading another book, a novel that crosses over from past to present, stretching across 1875 to today, and tells a most intriguing tale of murder, polygamy, love and faith. What more could this reader want? I do need to get started on that memoir, which is sitting on the top of the stack over there about a father and a son--it's been calling my name for about a week now.

If only I had three heads, a few more arms/hands and could read all three books at once. But then, really, what joy would I get out of that? Can you imagine having three brains? Some of you might be able to manage that quite well, but I am not sure I could. I have trouble with the one I have sometimes.

That reminds me, I have a few interviews of authors coming up. Or at least I will if I ever get around to writing the questions. I never know what to ask. So, I may borrow a few of your questions if I come across past interviews on some of your blogs. Think of it as a form of flattery.

Oh! I remember what was bugging me this morning as I read. There's this man in my book, a lead in the investigation of a kidnapping, who clearly has a stick up his behind. He is infuriating me no end with the way he treats Jack McClure, the ATF agent assigned to the task force to find the missing girl. Jack happens to be dyslexic. This jerk of a boss likes to make fun of and embarrass Jack constantly because of it. I want to reach into the pages and slap this man silly. There, I said it. Maybe now I can get past it.

Yes, I'm all over the place today. Don't mind me. Think of it as blog brainstorming and pretend it makes sense. If you managed to stay with me through it all, you're a brave soul.

I am off to do a little reading, although I should probably see what the animals are up to first. I heard a clatter coming from the other room. Not a good sign. Happy reading!