Books, Books, Books & More Books

Ever since I finished reading Karin Slaughter's Atlanta series last month, I've been in a bit of a reading rut. The characters were so well-developed and likable, throw in a setting I'm pretty familiar with, and I could read those books all day. Sadly, there won't be another one released until next year, so I figured I better start looking into something else. Even Ms. Slaughter, herself, told me to do so. (Highlight of my summer!)

So, I've been on this crime/thriller kick lately. Some of my favorites are Slaughter, JT Ellison and Patricia Cornwell. I also enjoy Laura Lippman, Harlan Coben, Tess Gerritsen and Phillip Margolin.

I had a hard time getting into anyone new, so I ended up reading an old book by Gerritsen that I forgot I had on my shelves. It was really good, but very bloody and depressing, and while I don't mind bloody at all, I decided maybe it's time to explore some other options. Given all the stress I've dealt with in the last year, maybe it's time for something a little more light-hearted.

I've never been a romance reader, but I did love me some "chick lit" back in the day. Chick Lit is often confused with romance, but it's nothing like it. Sure, there is usually a romance situation in a chick lit book, but it's not always the central theme. The all-knowing Wikipedia characterizes it like this: "genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly."

The first book I read was Mean Season by Heather Cochran. It had mixed reviews on Amazon, but I liked it. It's one of the first books classified as "chick lit" that I've read in a long time.

Then I went to a local used bookstore that I frequent and grabbed a copy of Mary Kay Andrews's Savannah Blues. I was hesitant at first with this one. Back when it came out, I was actually working at Borders, and I remember it being really popular. But at the same time, a whole Southern women fiction boom seemed to be happening, and many of the books I sampled just weren't any good. But I started reading this a couple of weeks ago, and I was hooked. Loved it! The characters were great, the plot was great, the setting was great. It was one of those books you read and get so upset about when it's over because you don't want to let the characters go.

Then I discovered Mary Kay Andrews has two more books about the same characters. This is when I spent a couple of hours in the middle of the night ordering books on Amazon. Thanks to free shipping and a little bit of a gift card I had leftover, I managed to score 11 books for $42. I was thrilled and as of yesterday, they've all arrived in the mail.


I got four more Mary Kay Andrews books that I can't wait to get started with:


So, then I stopped at a few yard sales yesterday and bought eight more books for $2.75. Now I have 19 new books to read. I bought a little bit of everything. Even a few romance novels (I'm broadening my horizons).


For what it's worth, I also bought these adorable tins for $1. I love yard sales (I've practically decorated my entire house with yard sale and secondhand stuff. And to quote my cousin, some of it "looks like a Southern Living magazine." So, kiss it, pretentious people!) Yesterday was the first time I've been in about a year.


Oh, well. This post is super-boring, but I have an obsession with buying books, so I like to share my purchases - this is one reason why I won't get an e-Reader. Hope everyone's enjoying this lovely Saturday!