Summer Holiday Reading

As many of you may have heard, Brisbane City has had some pretty horrible floods; the worse since 1974 actually.  And so, it's gotten me into reading more since it was raining over the Christmas/New Year break; more than usual.  I got two books completed that I began last year, and have delved into another two after them.

The first two were 'Shades of Midnight' by Lara Adrain.  This is the seventh book of the Midnight Breed series; and it took me a little while to get through it as Christmas was mega-busy and so I found I was very tired from all the family functions and dinners.  But then, once they were over and done with, I got back into its pages with vigor.  Then there was 'He Died With A Felafel In His Hand' by John Birmingham that had me giggling into the late hours of the night about shared accommodation.

Then, I got my hands on 'The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in new England' by Brock Clarke.  It's a good book about a man who accidentally burnt down Emily Dickenson's house when he was young; along with two people inside (who he didn't know was there) and he was sent to prison for it.  When he gets out, he goes to uni, meets his wife, marries and they find jobs and move to a lovely home.  He thinks his life is pretty good until other writers' homes being to be burnt down; but he's not doing it.

The other one I'm reading is 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson.  It's a strange one, and hard to get into, but once you do, it's hard to put down.  I love the language, the time it's set in and how everything works in it.  Brilliantly written; but totally confusing; yet makes sense in a weird kind of way. 

So, what are you reading over this time of year?  How many books have you already read?  Are you getting through them fast or are you a slow reader; digesting all you read at your own pace?