In the US, today is Thanksgiving. A national holiday known for feasting on
turkey (or not), being with family (or not), watching the Cowboys lose (or,
sigh, sadly not). The official day before the start of Christmas shopping
madness, otherwise known as Black Friday. So, of course it is also the time for
stress. From family, from indulging too much in rich foods, from anxiety about
the economy, to, well, just stress. So, what a better stress reliever besides a
good long walk...why, a book of course!
My
recent reading kick involves the discovery of Max Alan Collins. I knew
him as
the author of the graphic novel the movie ROAD TO PERDITION was based
but
recently I've discovered his many forays into other works including the movie --
"The Last Lullaby," then the books and stories TLL was based on -- the Quarry
books. So I asked Pat to find as many books as she could by Collins and I was
off. It's a joy to discover the depth of MAC. He ranges from a garage rock band
to comic strips to graphic novels to video games to a slew of novelizations to
his own series of mysteries: Heller, Quarry and the Brandy Borne series written
with his wife Barbara
Alan. Then the Wyatt Earp in the 20th century saving a foolish
young son of an old friend. Don't you just love it when you uncover a new author
with a huge backlist? It's like being young again and running across a great
book in the library. Then finding out you have a treasure trove of books to
uncover. All goes well until you find out the author died 20 years before and
there is a limit to the books she wrote. Okay, so I still haven't forgive
Elswyth Thane. So sue me!
Anyway, reading to relieve the stress is my topic for today. I know that when I
need a good outlet I like to read space operas or thrillers. It's the fast paced
story, a fast read, unrelenting action. So much I can skip over the
inconsistencies and not mind too many minor lapses of logic.
So while the turkey is roasting or digesting, what do you read?
1 comment posted.
After all cookbook perusing and the menu planning and, all the new recipes that have all tasted wonderful (darn, I did good this year) I like to kick back with a full belly and go for a comfort read--Jayne Ann Krentz. Family Man is always a good choice... all that healthy pesto she cooks up!!
(Mindy Ewing 6:40pm November 27, 2008)