Welcome to the 26th installment of “It’s Monday” — a weekly meme sponsored by One Person’s Journey Through A World Of Books where I can discuss my current reads, and what I’d like to read next.

I had a week of difficulty trying to decide on a follow-up to Khaled Hosseini’s excellent The Kite Runner.  I read a bit from several different books including The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (which is the first time I’ve picked that one up for perhaps ten years).  I did read all of a humorous self-published ebook called Dispatches From A Public Librarian by Scott Douglas but that went fairly quickly.

As I’m not planning to haul my laptop along on my upcoming trip to Penang I needed to buy at least one “tree-book”.  I came away from Southwind Used Books yesterday with two mass paperbacks and began reading one of those late last night.  It was interesting enough to take to school with me today where I read a few pages during lunch.  Thus, I’m already 85 pages into Off The Rails In Phnom Penh by Amit Gilboa.  I had a fairly low desire to visit the capital prior to beginning this book and that has actually decreased.  I’d still like to visit Ankor Wat but Phnom Penh just sounds like a complete mess.  Of course, this particular account was published thirteen years ago but I can’t fathom that much has changed since then.  The other book I’m taking with me on my trip is The Big Gamble by Michael McGarrity, a police procedural set in central New Mexico.  My memory of having owned the hardcover was confirmed by an examination of an old bookshelf photo; my sister gave it to me on either my birthday or at Christmas in 2002 but I might not have gotten around to reading it at the time.  I’m certain I’ll figure that out once I’ve read a few chapters.

CURRENTLY READING:
The Wrecker by Clive Cussler
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Off The Rails In Phnom Penh: Into The Dark Heart Of Guns, Girls, And Ganja by Amit Gilboa

WHAT’S NEXT?
The Big Gamble by Michael McGarrity

Daily Writing Totals:
This Article – 362 words
Total Today — 362 words