August, September and October Reads

Forgive me, journal, for I have sinned. It has been three months (and eleven books) since my last confession. Since January 1st, I've read forty books, which means I'm only twelve books away from my goal of 52 books in 52 weeks. I realize I have to step up the pace if I hope to finish a dozen books in the remaining two months of the year, but I haven't reached the point of desperation yet. You'll know I've reached it if Lynne Cheney, Jamie Lee Curtis, Terrell Owens or any other recognizable celebrity-turned-children's-book-author appears on my list.

Anyway, as usual, each book is rated on a scale from 0 to 10. Anything receiving a 6.5 or greater, I would recommend. I apologize in advance for my narrow selection of books. I must admit that I've gotten rather hooked on a few writers and topics, which is good for me, but bad for anybody hoping for a more varied assortment of books. In no particular order, except in which they were read:

1. Upon the Altar of the Nation by Harry S. Stout (5.9)
2. The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde (8.1)
3. Flash for Freedom by George MacDonald Fraser (7.5)
4. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (7.4)
5. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde (7.2)
6. Call Each River Jordan by Owen Parry (7.6)
7. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde (8.2)
8. State of Denial by Bob Woodward (6.9)
9. Homegrown Democrat by Garrison Keillor (8.0)
10. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (7.5)
11. American Gospel by Jon Meacham (6.4)

As you can see, I've been unhealthily obsessed with Jasper Fforde. I know I'm three years late to the bandwagon, but now that I've jumped aboard, I can't get enough of his Thursday Next series. His books are inventive, silly and a trip to read. If you aren't familiar with his work and want a good laugh, I would definitely recommend checking out The Eyre Affair to get a taste of his writing and a tour of the alternate universe he created.