Can't Wait to Get to Heaven - Fannie Flagg

As I said, I would read more by Fannie Flagg. After this one, I'm not sure I would. It had too many qualities in common with Fried Green Tomatoes, which made it less appealing. It was an okay read to pass the time during my continuing insomnia.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg

I read this on the suggestion of a co-worker, although I normally don't like reading books when I've already seen the movie (in my world, it's book first then movie). It had been long enough since I saw the movie that I remembered very little though. I quite enjoyed the book and would definitely read other books by this author.

Falling Sideways - Tom Holt

This was the one that I actually picked up first, which resulted in grabbing 'Valhalla' (which I regretted somewhat). It's actually far more cohesive and the main character more likable, but it still felt like a cheap knockoff of Douglas Adams. Based on this one I would be willing to read more by this author, with low expectations.

Teach Yourself Visually: Scrapbooking - Ludens and Schmidt

I'm admitting a shameful secret here: I have become one of those people who reads books about their hobbies. There. The truth is out. I have to say that I didn't learn very much from this quite basic book, but I picked up a few tips and tricks here and there that I might try out at a later date.

Streeters - Rick Mercer

I actually thought that I was ordering a DVD when I put this item on hold. It was impossible to read without hearing Rick Mercer's characteristic Maritime accent, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I have my head in the political sand most of the time so I'm sure that there was more I could have gotten out of it. It was a pleasant way to fill a half hour. Comedy should be used more often in political commentary. It's the only way that it doesn't put me to sleep.

Valhalla - Tom Holt

I picked this book more or less at random since none of my holds were coming in and I was low on reading material. The quote on the cover proclaimed that it was "Brilliantly funny" but maybe I just don't get his sense of humor because I found it to be more "Oddly disjointed". I guess it was fine as mindless entertainment goes, I certainly wasn't looking for any depth, but he came off as trying to copy Douglas Adams and not quite getting it right. It didn't help that I found all of the main characters (except the reincarnation of Atilla the Hun) to be whiny and annoying. Odin included.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife - Mary Roach

For some unknown reason, I keep calling it "Spook: The Scientific Search for the Soul" which I actually think is a better, if slightly less accurate, title. I had great hopes for this book, after my great enjoyment of "Stiff" but it just didn't quite live up to those expectations. I was left wanting more, both in scope of the book and her 'logic' (some of the conclusions drawn did not logically follow). An enjoyable read but if you haven't yet read 'Stiff', read 'Spook' first so that you won't be disappointed.

The Wonder Spot - Melissa Bank

I started reading this book and it seemed strangely familiar. That would be because I read it before, who knows how long ago, and didn't bother to take it off my list. Clearly the title doesn't relate well to the book. Good book though.

JPod - Douglas Coupland

Finally, a Coupland novel where I felt at least somewhat connected to the characters (maybe you're supposed to feel disconnected because Gen X is supposed to be disconnected? I don't know).

Unfortunately this novel had three un-redeeming features (or whatever the opposite of redeeming feature is). Firstly, the author himself had a cameo in his own novel. I'm not sure what it was supposed to accomplish but the effect was egotistical and off-putting. The second, a common feature of Coupland novels, pages filled with semi-random words and phrases in all possible fonts, sizes and directions (I have yet to discern the point of these). Thirdly, and least annoying without the additive effect of point 2, the characters kept playing "ultimate nerd" contests with the other members of JPod, for example, to find the wrong digit in the first 100,000 digits of Pi, and then he includes the numbers - all SEVENTEEN PAGES. I can only assume that there was a wrong digit. Frankly, by that point, I didn't give a damn.