As noted below, my reaction to one of the books I’m reading was no such that I wanted to read it before bed, so I turned to a few old friends for “before bed.”  A week or so ago, a commenter expressed a feeling that he should post only “new reads.”  Re-reads are fine.  Audiobooks are fine.  Even kids’ books are fine.  You might be surprised how I came to read Bunnicula and sequels.

Roger Zelazny and Gerry Hausman were doing a signing in Albuquerque for their book Wilderness.  After, Roger browsed the books, and what caught his attention was Bunnicula.  Roger never let his reputation as an intellectual (which was merited) get in the way of reading whatever he wanted to read.

He promptly bought Bunnicula and the available sequels.  When we were home, he read them aloud to me, usually stretched out on the sofa with his feet in my lap, while I did some counted cross stitch beadwork.  Good memories…  and good books.

And now for the usual reminder…  The Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the Comments section, because I enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles.  I also don’t usually list my scattered research reading.

Completed:

Lord Emsworth and Others.  Audiobook.  Read by Stephen Fry.  I have now met several other Wodehouse characters and quite enjoyed. Wodehouse turns out to be good at the frame story, where someone (Mr. Mulliner in the pub; the Oldest Member of the golf club) tell a tale.

Bunnicula by James Howe.

Howliday Inn by James Howe.

In Progress:

The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe.

Uncle Fred in the Springtime by P.G. Wodehouse.  Audiobook.  Read by Stephen Fry.  Uncle Fred is a trickster who uses his tricks for good… but he’s not always in control, so this one is a real rollercoaster.

The Folded Sky by Elizabeth Bear.  I need to be honest here.  The opening third was so full of whining and angst from the POV character, who is supposed to be an adult with a twenty-year good marriage and living in a future where it is possible to moderate one’s emotions (called “right-minding”) that had I not been interested in some of the world-building, I would have quit.  I’ve found the latter portions a lot more interesting, and wonder if the final quarter will provide a reason why Sunya was so impossible at the start.

Also:

Reading a variety of things to get ready for Bubonicon, which starts this afternoon!