Embarrassment of riches -- six holds came in today. Soul Kitchen by Poppy Z Brite, Mission Song by John le Carre', Paint It Black by Janet Fitch (author of White Oleander), and Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood (author of much excellent fiction including Lady Oracle, one of the first books to make me laugh out loud while reading). Also Party of the Century by Deborah Davis, about Truman Capote's famous Black and White ball, and Lipstick Jihad by Azadeh Moaveni autobiography of young American/Iranian/American woman.

Another first-person booklover book: Literacy and Longing in L.A., by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack. This narrator and the one in the Jincy Willet book (Dorcas Mather), both mirror exactly my relationship with reading.

Daniel Woodrell's new book Winter's Bone is out -- Ozark Gothic. His previous book, Tomato Red, would be a good recommend for a high school reader (junior or senior), along with Mercury by Cary Holladay.

Also - Jincy Willet's Winner of the National Book Award - tongue in cheek title, well worth reading and rereading. (First person narrator is a librarian). Skewers many aspects of modern American culture, and FUNNY.