disheveled

a disheveled library-gal comes clean

Monday, December 24, 2007

Coming Home

Welcome back, O Faithful Reader! Sorry it has been so long!

I have been truly sick lately. Even a trip to the ER has not been able to remedy whatever it is that is running amuck in my belly. Its like swallowing fire, and having mini volcanoes exploding all the time in my intestines -- sometimes its by my ribs, sometimes by my back, sometimes in my mid-gut.... Its just awful. I had my gallbladder removed almost 15 years ago, and if I didn't know better, I would swear I grew another one that has gone bad!

So - Being sick, I've been trying not to be too ornery. No one likes a person who is sick and miserable. So since the traditional things of cheering up, such as comfort food, have been out of the question, I've been doing other things.

For instance - I watched Holiday Inn with my kids. Oh Bing! We feel so sorry for you! And Fred Astaire! What a jerk to be so mean to Bing! It was so sweet to curl up with my kids under the big blanket and watch all the dancing and singing.... Just great. Its been too long since I've seen just a regular good old movie. Lately everything we've seen has been trash. I'm too old for things like SuperBad. Totally Not Funny!

For instance, part two -- I went to the bookstore and bought myself one of my all time favorite books, and am reading it again, because it is just so awsomely great. Now, before I tell you what it IS, I will tell you what it ISN'T: My usual authors are Tess Gerritsen, Harlan Coben, Kathy Reichs, the guys that do the Agent Pendergast books (Preston&Child?),... You get the picture -- I like creepy, page turning, suspenseful, and gory... But with character driven plots.

But even having said this, I also love books like Cold Sassy Tree, the Stephanie Plum books, the vampire books by Mary Janice Davidson...books by Joe R.Lansdale... books that are simplistic, silly, or just plain old good reads.

And yet - the one I am reading now is like Coming Home -- It is so familiar (even though I've only read it once before), and so warm and welcoming, it truly is a comfort read, and it is so completely Not what I normally read. It is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Haven't picked it up yet? What are you waiting for? Run! This book is fantastic. No -- The Series is fantastic. I can't remember how many there are -- 5? 6? They are each over 600 or 700 pages, but I tell you, it goes by too fast! I just started Outlander yesterday, and I'm on page 242. You will love this book. Pretend that I am Oprah for a moment and I am shouting "Ouuuutttlaaaandeer!!!" to the audience (You!) It's That good. I daresay its in my top 5 - No - top 3 of all books I've ever read.

But I warn you -- Don't go looking on the Internet for other fans of the Outlander series -- I did that once, and it was scary. Fear the Outlander ladies. They're all like "Oh Jamie, Oh Jamie," and yes, the character Jamie is completely gorgeous and Hot does not even cut it, but the book really is about so much more. Claire, the main character, is a woman like no other. The adventures she has are like no other. And yes, the love they have is like no other... But its just so freakin great, you will easily put aside your dislike of romance, historical fiction, blah blah, and get over it quick --- this book is a page turner that will stay with you - truly - as one of the best books you have ever read.

Ahhhh. I feel better already!