One Day in December, 409 Pages

Recommended to me by my best friend, who always has a knack for knowing just what I need to read in that instant, One Day in December was everything she promised it would be and more.  And I'm not just saying that because it was the first thing I've read for fun since spending a semester studying European History. 

On a bus ride home, one day in December, Laurie locks eyes with a man waiting on the street.  There's an instant connection, but before either of them can take action, the bus pulls away.  Laurie and her best friend, Sarah spend the next year searching for Laurie's bus boy with no luck. Until the day she meets him, as Sarah's new boyfriend...  I'll stop there, so you can enjoy the how the rest of the story unfolds for yourself.

This book had just the right amount of romance for me without being overly sweet or raunchy.  It was also the December pick for the Reese Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine Book Club.  It's a classic romcom, best enjoyed on a winter weekend with a mug of something warm. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, 352 pages

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is book two of the wildly popular seven book series by J.K. Rowling.

I've read and listened to the books before, but just don't seem to get tired of the story.  I'm especially drawn to them in the fall.  It's been a long time since I've read, instead of listened to them but so far I'm reading this time.

Harry is back for his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  With the help of his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he is able to thwart the evil wizard Lord Voldemort (He Who Must Not Be Named, for you squeamish folks.)

On to the Prisoner of Azkaban . . .

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling, 223 pages

Harry Potter is one of those series I just don't get tired of.  I picked up this book, the first in the series, at a library book sale a few years ago.  It is the British version of the first book in the seven book series and is the only book with a different title from its American version.

It's getting close to Fall, and I always associate that with Harry Potter for some reason.  In this first book Harry discovers he is a wizard and the scar on his forehead was given to him when he survived a death curse from a powerful and dark wizard.

It is a lovely introduction back into the world of magic and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, 364 pages

Ben Macintyre is a very readable non-fiction writer.  He writes about the British Secret Service and the brilliant way they dominated Hitler's Third Reich during World War II.

Eddie Chapman was a thief who had the bad luck of being in jail on Jersey Island when it was occupied by the Germans at the beginning of World War II.  He was savvy enough to convince the Germans he would make a great spy for them.  Instead, as soon as he was returned to England, he let the British Secret Services know what he was up to so he could instead spy for them.

He may have been an unapologetic thief, but he was also a great spy for the Allies.  Known as Eddie to his friends, code named Fritz by the Germans and Zigzag by the British Secret Service, he was a man who loved adrenaline and turned that into a daringly successful run as a spy.

Time of Death by Mark Billingham 436 pages

Time of Death is the thirteenth installment in the Tom Thorne series. Detective Inspector Tom Thorn and his girlfriend Helen are on vacation when two girls go missing in Helen’s hometown. When her childhood friend’s husband is arrested for the crime they head to Helen’s hometown, she to offer support and Tom to investigate even though he has no jurisdiction, the local police want nothing to do with him and the evidence overwhelmingly points to the husband’s guilt. But then that’s Tom all over. With help from his good friend Phil, Thorn sets about getting to the truth and Helen faces a past that had kept her away for over twenty years.

I love this series. I love the time and effort that Billingham puts into his characters, the relationship between them and their very human foibles that make me wonder if Phil will find true love and if or perhaps when will Tom and Helen part.

So, Anyway by John Cleese 392 pages

First of all, I wish that this had been an audiobook read by the author.  Having said that, it doesn't really matter, because I don't think anyone would be able to read this without hearing Cleese's voice in their head.  The interesting thing is that it really didn't talk about Monty Python's Flying Circus.  Most of the book was about Cleese's youth and early career.  His stories were funny and unexpected.  I had no idea that he was friends with so many really acclaimed actors.  I especially enjoyed reading about his antics with Graham Chapman and his recounting of working with Peter Sellers and Marty Feldman.  I have always been a big fan of John Cleese's work, but now I am a fan of him as a person, too!  I don't know if people who don't know anything about Cleese or the Pythons would enjoy this as much as I did, but I would still recommend it to anyone.

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams 307 pages

It had been years since I read this book, but I remembered it so fondly, I had to have a go at it again.  It did not disappoint.  Adams has a way of writing that feels like you're just sitting listening to someone tell a funny story.  Dirk Gently and his holistic detective agency were on the case when one of his clients ends up beheaded.  The plot got thick as jam when Thor, god of thunder, etc., got involved...not with the beheading, but with a massive explosion at Heathrow, which resulted in a ticket girl (Dirk's ex-secretary) being turned into a soda machine.  Is this book silly?  Oh, my, yes.  Is it a rollicking good time?  A million time, yes!!!  If you like a funny, irreverent mystery, and especially if you enjoy British authors, you must read this book.  I give you this colorful sentence to prove a point: The daylight shouldered its way in like a squad of policemen and did a lot of what's-all-thising around the room, which, like the bedroom, would have presented anyone of an aesthetic disposition with difficulties.

It's true love.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, 652 pages

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is book 6 in the seven book series by J. K. Rowling.

Harry is sixteen and Professor Dumbledore is working with him this year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to help prepare Harry for the showdown he is destined to have with the greatest dark wizard of all times, Lord Voldemort.

The only problem with finishing this great book is in knowing that there is only one book left and when I'm done with that one, I officially have to put the magic of Harry Potter away for awhile.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling, 752 pages

Things are heating up for Harry Potter.  He's in his 4th year at Hogwarts School and though only 14, is mysteriously entered and chosen to be a participant in the Triwizard Tournament.  Who could have entered his name?  Who indeed?

Another rousing adventure brought to us by J.K. Rowling.  These books never get old and tired for me.  Hence, the repeated listenings.

I hope to get to #5 soon, but other reading calls first.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams 247 pages

Oh, how I love Douglas Adams!  He can say the most mundane thing in such a way as to make me spit my stew all over my lovely paperback.  In this book, we don't even meet the namesake, Dirk Gently, till nearly halfway through the book.  Not a lot happens, really, but boy is it a fun time finding that out!  Dirk has an annoying habit of being right about things he oughtn't even have a clue. This is especially troublesome as it has landed him in prison...well, how could he have known that the test he "foretold" all the questions and answers would be almost identical to the one actually administered to the people he sold it to?  Now Dirk has a detective agency where he doesn't investigate so much as intuit the solutions to problems.  This is good and bad for his old college roommate, Richard, whose boss is mysteriously murdered.  There is far too much going on in this book where nothing much happens for me to describe more, but trust me when I say this is well worth your time!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, 448 pages

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is book 3 in the 7-book series by J.K. Rowling.

Harry, Hermione and Ron are now 13 and in their 3rd year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  In this volume, crazed murderer Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban - a feat that no one has ever pulled off before.  He seems to be after Harry . . . and maybe Hogwarts isn't even safe.

Another great installment in the series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, 341 pages

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is book two of the wildly popular seven book series by J.K. Rowling.

I've read and listened to the books before, but just don't seem to get tired of the story.  I'm especially drawn to them in the fall.

Harry is back for his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  With the help of his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he is able to thwart the evil wizard Lord Voldemort (He Who Must Not Be Named, for you squeamish folks.)

On to the Prisoner of Azkaban . . .

Matilda by Roald Dahl 232 pages

How had I made it to adulthood without having read this book?  Dahl never disappoints, I should have read this years ago.  I found myself laughing out loud at this book.  Matilda is a brilliant little girl who is thoroughly neglected by her parents.  Her teacher, Miss Honey, recognizes her genius, but is powerless to move her ahead in the school to the class where she belongs.  The school Matilda attends is ruled by a cruel tyrant, Miss Trunchbull, who frequently assaults children she feels step out of line.  In the end, Matilda (with her sense of justice quite well rounded) makes sure that the Trunchbull gets hers.  It is a very silly and perfect example of a Dahl book.  I highly recommend this one to children of all ages and to anyone who loves that British sense of humor!  As a side note, I really love the movie that was made from this book, too.  I don't often say that!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, 320 pages

It's that time of year again, it is beginning to be fall so that means I need to drag out the Harry Potter books and enjoy them one more time.

Jim Dale narrates the audiobooks and he truly brings the characters to life.  It is such a treat to listen to them again.

I have reluctantly put aside the next Harry Potter book so I can keep up with my "other" reading, but am looking forward to pulling out Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in a few weeks.

Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie 230 pages

Ariadne Oliver, the well-known mystery authoress, calls her friend Poirot to come assist with a murder hunt she's planning.  The planning is all done, but she has a foreboding that something is just not right.  She says it's as though she's being pointed to add things to her hunt that wouldn't have been there otherwise.  Poirot comes to the village, meets the cast of characters (the residents of the house) and prepares to enjoy himself at the fete.  Everything seems to be going as planned until the play murder hunt turns into the real thing.  Now Poirot has to sort out what matters and what doesn't to solve a very sinister and devious string of murders.  I listened to this classic by Agatha Christie.  It was read by David Suchet, who plays Poirot in the A&E adaptations of these novels.  It was very enjoyable.