With no book groups for a couple of weeks, I’ve been doing some reading just for the sake of reading – here are the books that I’m working on:

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau.  While I didn’t enjoy this as much as The City of Ember, I still liked it, and have requested the other two books in the series from the library.  It’s not often that I get the urge to read an entire series of books; usually I get bored with series books, especially science fiction series, so it’s a compliment to DuPrau that I’m continuing with this one.

(At this point, Max jumped into my lap, and is now providing a dusty impediment to my typing – clearly we need to vacuum, he’s so dusty – but he’s too cute to evict, so I’ll soldier on…)

Masterpiece by Elise Broach.  I’m enjoying this one so far, and think that I’ll use it as the February choice for my 5th grade book group, provided I can locate a copy of it on CD for the book group member who prefers books on CD.  It’s a bit cute, but also a bit innovative, and I’m hoping that the plot will progress in a way that stresses innovation over cuteness.

Chasing Vermeer and The Calder Game by Blue Balliett.  I’ve been meaning to read these for a while now, and found pristine copies of each at the used book store yesterday, so now I have no excuses.  (And, truthfully, I’m a little ashamed that I’ve never read these two books…they are contemporary classics, and I should know them…)

I Put a Spell on You by Adam Selzer.   Another possible book group choice, though I don’t know enough about this book to say for sure yet.  I think I’ve mostly been drawn in by the Scrabble letters on the cover, since Jim and I do like to play Scrabble.

There are more, of course: several books in the bookcase in the foyer that I’ve bought over the last few months and keep meaning to read.  There never seems to be enough time to get to them all, though a cold rainy day like today certainly helps.

(And one endnote: yes, Max is still living with us.  My asthma calmed down significantly, Ophy and Pippa seem to have adjusted to him, and we just plain love the little bugger too much to give him up.)