currently reading...

yes, it's time to post my reasons for not posting. besides taxes, here's what I've been spending time on:

Wicked
As reviewer: Growllingbear (Half Moon Bay, CA USA) - said in 1999:
Raises disturbing questions about nature of evil
If you can find a better bang for the buck than Wicked, please let me know. I picked up Wicked, knowing nothing except that its subject matter was the Wicked Witch of the West, to be drawn immediately into Maguire's splendidly imagined world of
sentient animals, multiple societies, and unique physical laws. Wicked is an enthralling, great read, hugely entertaining. On top of all this, Maguire has Bradbury's gift for creating atmosphere. The pages are heavy with dark, mysterious magic; its moral laws are ultimately incomprehensible.

Black Swan Green
I meant to include some good quotes from the book, but I've already returned it to the library. sorr, chum! I don't really like what the amazon reviewers say and much prefer the KCRW Bookworm interview of Micheal Silverblatt with the author (which got me interested): It's not a "coming of age" story; it a prequel to coming-of-age. It's easy and incorrect to pigeonhole it as being like "Catcher in the Rye" -- Jason Taylor is not Holden Caulfield. I was thinking of having my son read it, but he's a few years away yet from the terrors of early teenage years.

both fun reads which I recommend!

p.s. a little shout out (since we're on books) to my recently passed pal Kurt Vonnegut whom I mentioned a year ago. thanks!