Books about the middle east

Hi home skilletz!

I have cable TV now so may never read again. How can I turn away from the excellence the boob tube offers (VH1 'top 40 rock girlfriends of all time') -- and the winner is? Pamela Lee, of course!

I am actually still reading The Book Thief. It's a good one and I'll loan this copy out to any and all (it's the librarian's way). It's a book that Gretchen gave me for my birthday.

Since we kind of started all of this on a reading about the middle east theme, I thought I would share this link w/you... a list of recommended books to help us understand (or at least have more information about) things in the middle east. Mickey recommended Joe Sacco's Palestine to me a while back (it's a graphic novel). I do love the idea of reading a graphic novel together. Maybe not this one now, but another at some time....

The Witch's Boy

The Witch's Boy was listed in the link BCK recently posted. I have read one chapter. It seems good, fun, and easy. Why don't we all try to read it in August?

Japanese LIterature

I am almost finished with Plum Wine. Like Kafka on the Shore, it is set in Japan. They are both great fun; they make me want to visit Japan and/or have some Japanese friends.
I love the puzzles, the secrets, the riddles. I am normally a binge reader, but find myself taking these books just a chapter or two per sitting. Between chapters, I think about the characters and am excited to find out what happens next.