Who Are You Reading?

I've always been a reader.

Maybe it's because I'm a librarian. Maybe it's why I became a librarian.

Regardless, I read every night before going to sleep. It's the best way I know to separate the work and worries of the day from the relaxing and refreshing aspects of sleeping.

I'm a pretty eclectic reader, though I do love mysteries (in all their forms: hard boiled detective, police procedurals, cozies, legal thrillers, etc.) and I lean toward female authors. I also like biographies. I've read all four volumes of Robert Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson. I recently finished Lyle Leverich's biography of Tennessee Williams which ends with The Glass Menagerie becoming a hit on Broadway. I plan to read John Lahr's biography of Tennessee Williams, but I wanted to read them in order (being the OCD-ish person I am).

I've read a lot of Rita Mae Brown's book. I'm not that fond of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries (written with the assistance of her cat Squeaky Pie; they're pretty light), but I do like the foxhunting mysteries. Even better, are her non-mystery fiction works such as Alma Mater and Bingo. The latter book is a sequel to Six of One. Not knowing that, I read them out of order. I've know of her first book Rubyfruit Jungle for about as long as I can remember, though I never knew exactly what is was about. I was reminded of that book when I saw the play (and also the movie) Educating Rita. Rita (whose real name is Susan) is a hair dresser from a working class family who wants to become educated by taking classes at the local college after reading Rubyfruit Jungle. The book has made such an impact on her, she even changes her name.

Well, it's a little dated (a lot has changed in 40 years) and I'm not going to change my name, but I loved the book.

Now on to the stack of tomes sitting on the night table next to my bed. What will be next?