What I'm Not Reading

I took this from Pea Soup -- the idea of letting you know what I'm not reading but will probably get around to soon since I went to Barnes and Noble and came home with several acquisitions.

But first, what I am reading is probably going to reveal my secret fascination with the morbid:

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay: This is a new series about a serial killer who works with the police in Miami as a blood spatter expert. The book is being made into a series for Showtime and, I have to say, this is the first time I've ever wished I subscribed to Showtime. Dexter is played by Michael C. Hall, who I loved as David in HBO's Six Feet Under. I've read a lot of serial killer novels, but Darkly Dreaming Dexter is different from the usual book in the genre. Dexter is the protagonist (I want to make clear that he can't be viewed as a hero given what he is) and he's one you can't help but perversely root for, especially since his cop foster father recognized Dexter's killer tendencies early and channeled them so that Dexter only kills killers -- really despicable people. The monster-as-hero isn't the only thing that makes this book a standout, however. Dexter narrates the novel and it's clear that he has a great deal of self-awareness -- he knows he's a monster -- his acknowledgement of this fact isn't a facile one. His attempts to mimic human feelings so that people think he's a normal person with actual feelings are both sad and amusing. I'm looking forward to reading more about Dexter.

Never Drank the Kool-Aid by Toure: I like to read essays occasionally. Toure writes for The Rolling Stone and The Village Voice -- usually about hip-hop. This collection of essays consists of his interviews with artists such as Eminem and 50 Cent and his eulogies of other artists such as Tupac and Biggie Smalls. I have very eclectic taste in music but I'm only vaguely familiar with hip-hop. These well-written essays took me into a world I'd only had tangential contact with before. But hip-hop is not the only subject addressed here; Toure writes about Jennifer Capriati, Prince and Al Sharpton with the same keen insight.

What I'm not reading but will be soon:

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris: Vampires! In Louisiana! I can't help myself, but I can't wait to read this book.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler: I think everyone who reads mysteries should eventually read Raymond Chandler. I picked this book because I liked the movie.

The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble: It's been a long time since I've read Drabble. This is her latest and it was $5.99 in hardback. I've always liked her; I'm looking forward to reading this new one.

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman: new Neil Gaiman -- yay! It's short fiction which I don't always enjoy but Gaiman is a writer who can pull off this kind of writing.

Friday Shuffle -- a day late again

1. The Gate: Rory Block from From the Dust
2. Baby Get Lost: Billie Holiday from From the Original Decca Masters
3. Believe Me Natalie: The Killers from Hot Fuss
4. Partita No. 2 in D Minor: Christiane Edinger from Bach: Violin Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 2 ( my son introduced me to her -- I cried the first time I heard this album.)
5. We're Gonna Make It: Taj Mahal from Phantom Blues
6. Spiderwebs: No Doubt from No Doubt: The Singles 1992-2003
7. Electrolite: R.E.M from In Time: The Best of R.E.M 1988-2003
8. If Hollywood Don't Need You: Don Williams from Anthology
9. The Connection: Emmylou Harris from The Very Best of Emmylou Harris: Heartaches and Highways
10. Heavy Metal Drummer: Wilco from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot