Books I've Read This Week (July 14)

Happy Bastille Day! I wish I could say I was reading a book about France or one taking place in France or even one with some French words in it but, alas no, the book I finished today takes place in Cleveland. Joy.

So, last week I read two new authors that I really enjoyed (Naomi Novik & Beverly Connor) and this week I went 1 for 2. I really enjoyed the Miss Zukas books but I wasn't very impressed with Casey Daniels' Don of the Dead. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First on the list this week was Micah, Laurell K. Hamilton's first novella in which Anita Blake, vampire hunter, goes out of town on an adventure with only one of her (many) boyfriends. According to LKH's blog (which I read faithfully), she might write a series like this one featuring Anita's various men (I'd like to vote for the werewolf Jason, myself).

In this story, Anita's zombie-raising colleague Larry was scheduled to go to Philly to raise a recently-deceased trial witness but had to cancel at the last second so Anita went instead, along with her wereleopard boyfriend Micah. I always like it when Anita's doing more necromancy or work with the cops than vampire or were politics. I just like mysteries I guess. I also wish that LKH would've spent more time in Anita's storyline on her necromancy training with her witch friend. Oh well. Her books are always good. Why am I complaining? I should be getting the next regular book, Danse Macabre, soon. Can't wait. I hear Richard's back with a vengeance and that Anita might be preggers. Somehow I doubt it.

Next were the first two books in Jo Dereske's Miss Zukas mystery series, Miss Zukas and the Library Murders and Miss Zukas and the Island Murders. Miss Zukas is a librarian in a small city north of Seattle and happily lives alone in a two-bedroom apartment. I have to say I kinda fell in love with her almost immediately. She wouldn't swear, no, but says, "Oh, Faulkner!" instead. She wouldn't throw away a gift she didn't like, no, she keeps them all in her second bedroom, including a painting by her loud and colorful friend, Ruth. Yes, she has a crazy sidekick!

But those things aren't the only reasons why I found myself liking the Miss Zukas books more and more. It turns out that Miss Zukas (and the author) are from Michigan and not too far from where I grew up. I couldn't help exclaiming and laughing out loud when places like Cadillac, Manistee and Frankfort were mentioned in the stories. I'm definitely going to be reading more books by Jo Dereske.

And then there was Don of the Dead. I probably should've realized from the title that it was a mob boss story which is really not my cup of tea. I thought it was going to be a paranormal mystery but the rather unappealing main character Pepper just hit her head on a tombstone (she works in a cemetery) and now can see ghosts. Oh whoop-de-doo. Her first ghost was gunned down in front of his favorite pasta joint and he wants her to figure out who killed him. I'm surprised at the end that she actually got it done what with all her flirting and dating and wearing tight clothes over her humongous boobs. I'd rather read more Charlaine Harris and her great Sookie Stackhouse books.

Unread books on my shelf at home:
Sleep, Pale Sister, Joanne Harris
The Fan, Peter Abrahams
The Memory of Whiteness, Kim Stanley Robinson
Predator, Patricia Cornwell
Gone, Jonathan Kellerman
If You Could See Me Now, Cecelia Ahern

Books on hold at the library:
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory (due 7/18)
Darcy & Elizabeth, Linda Berdoll (ready for pickup)
Danse Macabre, Laurell K. Hamilton (in transit)
The Art of Detection, Laurie R. King (in transit)
Dark Tort, Diane Mott Davidson (27 of 27 holds)
Magic or Madness, Justine Larbalestier (ready for pickup)
Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (ready for pickup)
Black Powder War, Naomi Novik (ready for pickup)
Dead Secret, Beverly Connor (ready for pickup)
Luck in the Shadows, Lynn Flewelling (in transit)
Site Unseen, Dana Cameron (in transit, which is odd since I returned it unread last week and didn't re-reserve it. huh.)

Well, it looks like my hold list might be clearing itself out soon. I'll have to see what's on my unread list in my books database. (I seem to remember there being something like over 40 books...) I'll catch you next week on Books I've Read This Week. Happy reading!