The thing about the library computers is, they are in a library. The thing about a library is, there's books everywhere. I finish doing my thing, and then I wander around the library while I wait for him. It's really getting out of control. I usually return about two books every visit, and check out at least four more.

The problem shows no signs of stopping any time soon. I think there are still roughly 40,000 books I haven't checked out yet. I'm spending all my spare time reading, and I may never actually get around to the books I actually own that I received for Christmas.

I worked a lot today and my brain hurts, so instead of a real entry, I''m going to take a cue from Monty and just tell you about some stuff I've read lately.

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. I like Tim Powers a lot, but I'm starting to really wonder about the guy. Last Call was all about stealing peoples' bodies by playing poker with Tarot cards. The Anubis Gates was all about stealing people's bodies using wacky Egyptian magic. On Stranger Tides started out being about pirates and voodoo, but before even hitting the 200-page mark, we were back on the stealing peoples' bodies motif again. Really, Mr. Powers. There are other plot devices.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I checked this out because it had been calling my name every time I walked past it in the bookstore. Well, maybe not that exact copy, but you know what I mean. Good stuff. All about comic books in New York in the 30's. One of the main characters is funny, and the other one is insane. There's a golem in it, too. I'm fond of golems.

Many Many Jeeveseses by PG Wodehouse. I've said it before, but if you've never read Wodehouse, you don't know what you're missing. Insanely overcomplicated plots, and a fast paced and fun writing style. The more of them I read, the more I'm realizing that although the Jeeves and Wooster TV series captures Jeeves pretty perfectly, it doesn't even come close to doing Bertie justice. I'd almost forgotten how much I love that Wooster, B. I'd follow Bertie to the ends of the e., grapple him to my soul with hoops of s., and all the rest. But Jeeves would never allow it. I'm a woman, and he's a fictional character from 70-some years ago. It would be unseemly. Eyebrows would be raised.

The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll. I took it off the shelf because the title intruiged me. I read the back cover. Hmm. Katherine Dunn seems to like him. She's good people. OHMYGOD Neil Gaiman wrote a blurb for this book, too?? Well, if it's good enough for my man Neil, it's good enough for me. So, I read it. A. Mazing. I think I may have (another) new favorite author now. The ending was a little weak, though. I'll have to read a few more of his books before I decide if I like him or not. But, I find myself strangely drawn to this J. Carroll, because so many of my favorite authors rave about him. The one I checked out today? Has a blurb by Stanislaw Lem, of all people. I didn't even know he was still alive.

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