Trunk Music by Michael Connelly

An excellent Harry Bosch thriller with lots of twists and turns. Kept me up late!

Last Coyote by Michael Connelly

Another good Detective Harry Bosch thriller! Hard to put down.

The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde

Wow - I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty un-put-downable.

Recent downloads to my Kindle

One thing I love about my Kindle is that I can download sample chapters of books I'm thinking about reading. Often I can tell during the first chapter whether or not I want to continue reading something. (No, I am not one of those people who feel compelled to finish reading whatever they started, no matter how much they hate it. Life is too short.)

Anyway, here are a few books whose first chapters I just downloaded to my Kindle to try:

Home by Julie Andrews
Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (have been meaing to read this one FOREVER)
Escape by Laura Palmer.

Bill Bryson's African Diary by Bill Bryson

The only complaint I had about this book is that it is too short. It's actually only 64 pages -- but I didn't know that when I downloaded it to my Kindle! Bryson is always entertaining and this is an enjoyable read. All royalties and profits from this book will be donated to CARE International.

Be Happy Without Being Perfect by Alice Domar & Alice Lesch Kelly

This book was recommended to me by Trisha and I am really learning a lot from it. If you harbor perfectionist tendencies in any area of your life, you might learn some ways of talking yourself down from the ledge with this book. I consider myself a "recovering perfectionist" and I was able to learn quite a few good tips and tricks for how to ensure I don't fall into that trap again. I definitely recommend this book!

It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness by Sylvia Boorstein

A very insightful little book. Boorstein is accepting of her own flaws and the flaws of those around her. She gives some good advice for how to be content with the life you've been given. She writes "I once heard someone say that a sign of enlightenment was the ability to say (and mean it in any moment, 'Well, this isn't what I want, but it's what I got, so okay.'"

Highly recommended.

Pay Attention, For Goodness' Sake by Sylvia Boorstein

Valuable insights and knowledge about how to be a decent human being. I can always tell how much a book has moved me by how many Post-its I use to mark passages that speak to me. This book is pretty much flagged to death with Post-its. Here's one such wise passage:

"My mind, like everyone else's mind, falls into habitual, predictable traps. I get confused. Practice is not about never getting trapped. It's about recognizing traps and choosing freedom. If I pay attention, I won't get stuck forever. I'm determined to do it."

Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas

Amusing and in some places downright insightful commentary on what it's like to serve the public and work in a library.