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What to read, what to read....

Sadly I'm not reading anything at the moment. I have nothing new and so my plan today is to scour my bookshelves and find something I have not yet read. I've been thinking of re-reading one of my all time favorites, "The Great Gatsby" because I just found out that they are re-making the movie starring Leo DiCaprio...my all time favorite. He is like the Carey Grant or Bogart of our time - so cool and aloof and mysterious. Even if the movie sucks, it will at least be visually appealing.

I just finished reading two books from two of my favorite thrill/horror writers: Stephen King and Dennis Lehane. One was good, the other sucked. Stephen King has to be one of the most depraved human beings on the planet but his writing really is good and his story telling ability one of the best of our time. Anything he writes even if I don't love the story, will always be at least intriguing and different. He is never predictable or stale. This most recent read was a collection of short stories that were all extremely dark studies of human nature. People often mistake King for writing gory or supernatural type stories but why he is most successful and so good is that he deeply explores the human response to extreme situations. He is a master at character development and exploration. Lehane on the other hand really pissed me off this time. Being the author of "Mystic River" "Gone Baby Gone" and "Shutter Island," I thought I would be in for a great ride but his latest, "Moonlight Mile" was dreadful. I think because all of the previous books had great plot twists, he was trying to go for the big punch in this one too but it just fell flat. I hated the characters, the story was completely unbelievable and the writing was sub par. I expected more from an author who hails from my home town.

I've thought about actually starting a Jane Austen book too and even went so far as to pick up my raggedy copy of "Emma" but I read two pages and threw it down in a fit of rage. Sorry my lovely sisters, I tried. I fear that the only way I will ever make it through an entire Jane Austen novel is if someone strapped me down clockwork orange style and refused to feed me until I was done.

I feel like I've not had any time for reading lately and that is the first time I have said that in a very long time. Work has been crazy busy with all of the resolution people wasting my time with their, "I'm finally going to lose this extra twenty pounds" nonsense. These are the same people that come March I will never see again. But ya know what? As annoying as it is to counsel people on weight loss and fitness that are not even a little bit serious, I am working in a place I enjoy and that is a miracle in this day and age so my gratitude is immense even if these people are trying my last nerve. I've been so tired when I get home lately that its been one episode of "Seinfeld" or "Curb your Enthusiasm" and then its lights out. I also just found out that Debbie Gibson AND Clay Aiken will be on this February's, "Celebrity Apprentice," so that's another two hours that will take away from reading time.

Alright, I'm off to find something in my bookshelf that will keep my entertained on this beautiful Sunday morning. And no I will not turn on my tv and catch up on "The Biggest Loser." I won't, I swear I won't.

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