I like to read.  I really do, and I’m not just saying that so people will think I’m smart instead of someone who had the premiere of “the Office” marked on their calendar right next to “Ashlee’s Birthday.”

I do like to read, honestly, it’s just these children I have, hoo boy, they’re always taking up my time with their constant needs to “eat” and “get dressed” and “wear a clean diaper” and stuff.  (so needy!)

So, I don’t get to read as much as I would like to, but I do read some.  In fact, I’m in a book group, which is really good for me because it forces me to read.  If I just sit around waiting for free time to read, I’ll never get around to it.  There’s always stuff that needs to be done, (Plus Grey’s Anatomy just started up again.  Mmmm, Dr. Torres… rowr)  But if I know that I need to read 100 pages by Thursday, then by golly I’ll get it done.  I’m dependable that way.

So here, in no particular order are 5 really great books I’ve recently read, that just might be worth your time too.

Run
by Ann Patchett

Ann is one of my favorite authors, and I think she is super cute too (she’s on my list).  She wrote Bel Canto a couple of years ago which is an absolutely brilliant book that won a slue of awards and was on everyone’s book group lists.  Well, I’ve since gone back and read most of her works and they are all wonderful.  I like her novels because they are well crafted and have a beautiful simplicity to them.  They are quiet novels, whose power comes from the quality of the writing and the complexity of the cahracters.

Her new novel, Run, is about an old political family in Boston that becomes intertwined with the life of a young black girl.  There are a lot of intricacies in the novel and some of them are far fetched, but I just love Patchett’s writing style and the vividness of her work so much that it’s easy to overlook.  Besides, books are supposed to be about extraordinary circumstances.  Otherwise, why bother writing them.

An Arsonists Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England
By Brock Clarke

This is a wonderful trifle of a book.  It doesn’t set out to make you think, or change the world, it’s just a quirky story about a poor guy who gets framed for a series of arsons of (you guessed it) writer’s homes in New England.

I know it doesn’t sound all that funny, but it is and if you have any appreciation for American literature or the pomposity surrounding your average sophomore college lit class, then you will probably find some joy in this book.  It is the Northeast’s own “Confederacy of Dunces.”  (and if you haven’t read that, drop what you’re doing, go to the store and treat yourself.  No, seriously!  Right now!)

The Post Birthday World
By Lionel Shriver

This is an intriguing little book.  The premise is that a woman in a committed, but bland relationship is tempted to have an affair with someone who seems like fun, but that she knows is essentially wrong for her.  The book then splits, alternating between chapters where the main character went ahead with the affair and chapters where she remained faithful.

In a lesser author’s hand, this book would have been terrible.  I mean Gawd awfully wretched!  But Shriver is a clever enough writer to pull it off.  There are times when the writing is a little heavy handed; when the author is trying a little too hard to draw connections, but I can practically guarantee that this book will get you to think and question, and reconsider those thoughts and questions more than anything else you’ve read recently.  Entertainment Weekly named it the best book of 2007.  It was SO not the best book of 2007, but it was compelling, intriguing, and when I finished, I couldn’t wait to discuss it.

First Among Sequels
By Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde, cracks me up.  Not least of which because his names starts with two fs and I always mentally pronounce it as “fuh-ford.”  (I am so funny).  His first book “The Eyre Affair” was one I gave to about 6 different people, telling them that it was hysterical and that they would love it.  Most of them never finished it.  This clearly says something about my friends, or, more likely, me.

The premise is that the main character, Thursday Next, is a literary detective.  She goes into novels whenever someone is trying to destroy or change them.  For instance, Thomas Hardy novels used to be the wildest comedies in all of English Literature until someone began stealing all the funny bits, and they were left as just horrid, depressing tales of endless woe, until Thursday put a stop to it, that is.  (Ok, if you thought that was mildly amusing, or even knew what I was talking about, you will love these books.  If not… well, you would probably really like my friends.)

This was the 4th or 5th book in the series and while the novels have the social value of a Tom Clancy book, they are terrifically witty, endlessly funny and an easy engaging read.  They’re sort of beach novels for English professors.  So, if you’re an English professor, or you like the beach, you should check it out.

The 13th Tale
By Diane Setterfield

This book is brilliant.  End of story.  It is a beautifully crafted, haunting, gothic tale with all of the brilliance and literary quality of Jane Austen and the engaging plot and page turning pleasure of a Grisham novel.  It’s a book that you can’t put down, but feel smart while reading. 

The plot is a mystery about a famous, reclusive author and the past that she has hidden from the world.  I know, I know, It sounds dreadfully boring, but it is anything but. 

Setterfield has created a deeply engrossing world and set of characters that are allowed to unravel slowly and carefully before us, never revealing too much, or obscuring too little.  You might figure the ending out early, but you won’t care if you do.  The journey to the end of this book is a delight and one you will wish lasted longer than it does.

So there you go - Five awesome books that any smart, physically attractive person would enjoy.  If you’re too busy to read, get them on tape from your local lie-berry.  I listened to the 13th tale and Jasper Fforde on CD and they were both wonderful. 

So, no excuses now.  Go out and start reading.  It’s good for ya.  Besides, if you don’t, Oprah will get mad.