Toadfish Monastery

Finally after months I finished the First Circle (highly recommended although a bit grim).

On my way with Pratchett's Equal Rites.

Spook, by Mary Roach

subtitled "Science tackles the afterlife"

Max Brooks, World War Z

I finished Jesus and the Quest for Secular Justice.  It drew some rather different conclusions, and I disagreed with most of them.

One claim he made was that the increased influence of religious fringe elements (he mentioned Islam specifically, which could be considered rather inflammatory) is due to secularism: apparently, societies that aren't founded on a religious basis try to incorporate viewpoints from as many diverse groups as possible, which naturally incorporates people who mainstream society thinks are a bit nuts.  Traditionally, the "religious nuts" in this secular mix have been Catholic, but with increased acceptance of Catholicism, the "religious nut" void has been filled with right-wing Christian Evangelicals and Islam.

So... there you go.  Islamic and Christian fundamentalism is the fault of the non-believers and their tolerance for Catholicism, apparently.

As for my new readings, I've still got the shipwreck book to get through, and I got The Pagan Christ for my birthday... surprisingly, from a rather devout Catholic.

Done with Equal Rites and now on my way with Mort.

Grace and Grit Ken Wilber

Finishing Thief of Time again, and about to re-read Lords and Ladies. (Once again, I have been compared to Granny Weatherwax, no matter how Oggish I behave at times. I think it's just that I'm scary...)

Christopher Clark, The Iron Kingdom (a "biography" of the state of Prussia from the 30 Years War to 1945).

Latest reads:

Demons in Eden : the paradox of plant diversity by Jonathan Silvertown

Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre, Javier Moro

Strata - Pratchett

The next Pratchett is announced for about October. A sequel to Going Postal with Moist running the Royal Mint and away from a number of people that want to kill him.
Can't wait, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Hmph.  Might have Wintersmith by then... I think I'm still 200th or so in the request line at the library.

At least you have a library. I have 'holds' for it at three Half Price Books. If they get it, they call me. (Then I have to go get it--one HPB is in College station, the other two are in Houston.)

I am currently reading Watchers by Dean Koontz. Somebody beat me to Lords and Ladies...

Watchers was pretty good. One of Koontz's book I like better.

Silverlock by John Myers Myers
The Diamond Throne by David Eddings
I was reading Feet Of Clay, but I have ten books from the library to get through before the 23rd. It can wait.

Transpersonal Development, The Dimension beyond Psychosynthesis Roberto Assagioli

I bet you're wishing you'd gone for a nice coffee table book with pictures or a whodunit instead...