Welcome to the 27th 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 finished reading the rather disappointing Essays on Thailand by Thanapol Chadchaidee a few days ago.  While it contains essays on numerous interesting topics — various Thai holidays and other special days, historical tidbits, biographies of several past and present members of the royal family, etc. — the articles themselves were just too brief (and some rather poorly written) to be of much use as a reference. In fact, it was at times akin to reading summaries of Wikipedia articles.  It did give me a few ideas for topics I’d like to explore more fully on this blog.

In what is becoming a distressing trend I’m having difficulty choosing a new book to read once I’ve finished the previous one.  I blame part of that over the time I’m wasting trying to deal with a slow Internet connection and also the evening heat we’ve recently been enduring.  It’s just too hot to read!  At least if I’m reading a “tree book” I can lay on my bed, semi-cooled by two fans (I need to read eBooks sitting at the laptop which remains on my small desk due to the location of the electrical outlets, my battery only lasting perhaps 90 minutes if I’m lucky).  I plan to buy one or two books this coming weekend so I’ll have that option.  For now I’ve returned to Clive Cussler’s The Wrecker — it’s a bit slow-going as it just doesn’t have the “feel” of a true Cussler adventure.  Can this be attributed to his use of a co-writer?  Did the co-writer actually write the majority of the novel with Cussler simply adding his name (taking a cue, perhaps, from James Patterson’s recent works)?  I’m not certain but I’m suspicious.

CURRENTLY READING:
The Wrecker by Clive Cussler

WHAT’S NEXT?
I have my sight set on a few books sitting on the shelves of B2S in Central Festival and plan to buy at least one.  The two top contenders amongst a half-dozen or so are Lawrence Block’s The Bernie Rhodenbarr Novels (compiling a number of these excellent mysteries, my favorite crime series) and The Cultural Detective by Christopher G. Moore (a collection of essays about his experiences as a writer in Thailand).  Yet I might talk myself out of the expense and just search through the eBooks in my TBR folder…

Daily Writing Totals:
This Article – 427 words
Total Today — 427 words