Henki's Holiday Shopping List - Would It Kill You To Read A Book?

Random person to me: "Are you a member of a  book club"

Me: Yes, University of Oregon, BA English '90

(nobody ever gets that joke).

Shamelessly borrowed from the worldwide infoweb

I read. I read A LOT. Throughout my undergrad years I consumed the standard diet of Shakespeare (loved) Chaucer (endured), Milton and Marvel (4 months of my life I will never get back).

But from time to time I liked to sneak something tastier for desert - Thomas McGuane, Amy Tan, Rick Bass come to mind. 

But perhaps my current all-time favorite book is Glen David Gold's Carter Beats the Devil. Set in the 1920s, primarily in San Francisco and Oakland, it is a wonderfully told tale about love, loss, and redemption. Oh, and there's magic too! I suppose it speaks to me because Wendy and I spent seven years living and working in many of the areas that are mentioned in the book. And don't worry watch fans, there's even a mention of a repeater watch ; )

First published in 2002, it is still available if you are willing to look a bit. I bought mine from More Than Words which is a book store in Boston that provides employment and educational opportunities for at risk youth and others.