The Sweet Smell of Books

From time to time Carrie goes on Amazon.com and buys my entire wish list. It is always a great day when that box arrives full of shining book jackets, pressed pages waiting to be turned, stories waiting to unfold. Today is that day. I received the following:

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer – I rented the movie a couple of weeks ago but didn’t get around to watching it but can’t wait to see it after a read the book.

Phantom Prey by John Sanford - I happened upon this series when I picked up a dusty old paperback in a used book store and was instantly hooked. I love Lucas Davenport the main character and each novel reads like an episode of Criminal Minds. After reading the first book I immediately gobbled up the rest in the series and now stalk his name for new editions.

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly - Another author I stalk! Love Harry Bosch and wish they would make a movie out of every novel in the series.

Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution by T.J. English - I look forward to reading this one to get an image of Cuba pre-revolution. Ladies and Gentlemen dressed to the nines in casinos. Maybe some old fashioned Puzo style mob violence. A trip in time to be sure.

The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir by John Grogan- I had so much fun reading Marley and Me that I can't wait to see what Grogan comes up with in this memoir about growing up Catholic. Coming from an uber-Catholic family on my mother's side I am sure I will be able to relate.

The hardest thing is always what to read first. Do I read this one or save it for later since this author only publishes once every two years or so? Do I read this one first because I need to know what happened after the last novel? Truth or Fiction? Long or Short? The decision is agonizing. The great thing is if this was my only decision every day I would be in Heaven.