Thank you, thank you, Philadelphia Free Library, for affording me the opportunity to read (and listen to) so many great books lately. Here’s a few that I recommend:

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith … Wonderful read, great setting. I know this is a popular series, so I won’t go into too many details. All I can say is, I read the first book and I want MORE!

The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon … Oh, Michael Chabon, your prose is addictive, never boring, always entracing, funny and wry and twisted. I’m not finished reading this book yet, but so far, I am really getting into it. The language used in it is really enjoyable; if you don’t know any yiddish words yet, you might find it a little difficult at first to get used to reading this book.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows … If you’ve read the first six books, I guarantee you’ll want to read the finale. While I like the series, I find the books not quite worthy of all the hype. The world of Harry Potter is entrancing and fun, but the bigger picture and the ideas of the books are fairly mundane. Nevertheless, it’s like any addictive substance; though the series is over, I keep thinking of more books that could be written just to satisfy our urge to believe in a magical world hidden just beyond our noses.

The Trumpet of the Swan (on CD, read by the author, E.B. White) … A classic story, read by its author. Incredible.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (on CD, read by Eric Idle)… I just love Eric Idle’s reading of this classic Roald Dahl book. When he reads the women’s parts, I especially find myself grinning ear to ear.

James and the Giant Peach (on CD, read by Jeremy Irons) … I love Roald Dahl’s works and his wordplay is stunning. I love it that he’s not afraid to allow hideous things to happen. My children did not seem at all disturbed by the horrid child abuse of this book, nor by the random violence of having the parents struck down by a raging rhinoceros. They followed the plot as matter of factly as one can, and delighted in the everything-turns-out-right in the end.

Bunnicula Strikes Again (on tape, read by Victor Garber). Dryly humorous, this book was a little too advanced for my four year old, at least the first time that we listened to it. My seven year old had actually heard the book before, last year at school (as read by her teacher.) Yet after having listened to this story once at home, little A wanted a second playing of it… and a third. It’s incredible to me that while it seemed to be so far above the younger one’s comprehension / enjoyment at first, both children delighted in hearing this story… THREE times. It’s so funny that I even didn’t mind, although I admit, I tuned it out from time to time, betting absorbed in my own thoughts instead.

No More Kissing by Emma Chichester Clark… Last but not least, a new-to-us picture book.  It’s a funny, beautifully illustrated book about a little monkey who’s had it up to here with all this mushy kissing stuff… until he finds himself with his snuggly little monkey brother.  Good thing nobody was watching! One of my kids finds kisses to be such a nuisance. She’d rather we let her be! So this was a fun book to read with her.

Happy Reading to all and to all a good night!