Christmas Holiday by Somerset Maugham.

One of the lesser known works by the author of Of Human Bondage, this novel tells the story of a young English man's visit to a ne'er do well friend in Paris.

On his brief holiday he manages to meet and fall in love with the prostitute wife of a convicted, jailed murderer.

A grim take on the "innocents abroad" theme, and while the writing isn't up to the level of Of Human Bondage or The Moon and Sixpence, it's an excellent nove, later made into a movie starring, of all people, Gene Kelly and Deanna Durbin. The plot was drastically changed, so the movie doesn't resemble the book too much, but that's Hollywood.

Dax,the book you asked about earlier isn't a part of our collection. Should it be?

For the 100 and 82 millionth time, my reread is Agatha Christie--this is during my 10 minute break. I've never read anything by 'popular' authors such as Grisham, Patterson et al. My second most reread is anything and everything by Jane Austin. Her ability to choose exactly the right words still gives me goose bumps. Then there are the Brontes, and so on.

My reading is from more character motivitaved than plot motivatd books, which leads me away from a lot of popular fiction. I don't read popular fiction.

As for non-fiction--that runs the gamut but is usually centered around the events of the day or the events of the past that might give an explaination of the events of today.

My reading is really Catholic, is it?

I was wrong, Dax, we have 10 copies of The Great Derangement in the system. I have a hold on the next one that comes in.

Currently reading Belgarath the Sourcerer by David Eddings

Just finished reading Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. It's the third book in The Inheritance Cycle. Pretty good book. I was very impressed with the detail on the characters and the battles. It was everything I was hoping it would be. I had been waiting on that book for several months. Since the beginning of the year in fact.

im reading now "shourt stories from the 19th century" selected by David S. Davies (Wordsworth edition)

havent had much time to read any adult books lately...working with lacey on her reading....lots of little kids books...

Welcome to Fool Moon, Tess.

What are some of the stories in the book?

" Distant Mirror" by Barbara Tuchman. Cheerful bedtime stories about the 14th century, with lots of heart-warming tales about the Plague and peasant revolts where the Lord of the Manor is roasted alive and force-fed to his family. Fun for the whole family.