Better Single Than Sorry by Jen Schefft - The author was on both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and twice turned down men she'd "won" on those shows. Sounds like an authority on the subject to ME, so I thought I'd read what advice she could offer someone who's perilously close to 30 and still single (do not read desperate) herself.

Most of the author's profferings were simple common sense, or maybe they were common sense to me after spending the last decade of my life meeting Mr. Wrong after Mr. Wrong. One perspective that she addressed and that I'd recently adopted of my own volition, was that the men you meet along the path to finding Mr. Right all have something to offer, and, thus, you shouldn't see them as failed relationships. I certainly agree with her. She also asserts that you shouldn't go out with a guy if you simply don't feel into it, even if you have people telling you, "Hey, if it's only a free meal, and a night out, it's worth the trouble!" I can buy my own meal, thankyouverymuch...and I'd rather spend my evening at home alone, reading, or meeting up with my friends, than discussing politics with a liberal (EGAD!) or, even worse, a Purdue fan!

All in all, a quick, fun read to clarify why I'm happy being single and why, ten years from now, on the cliff of turning 40, I'll still be happy as long as I haven't settled :)

The Greatest Man in Cedar Hole by Stephanie Doyon - Sue and I started a new book club with our students this month, and as a group they selected this book as our first book. It's actually funny how I even noticed this book. One of my students selected it on our last book-buying trip to Barnes and Noble, and, feeling pressed to find suitable books from which to choose, pulled this one off the shelf. Not the Marian the Librarian way to do it, but hey....it worked because this book was a wonderful, wonderful read!

I won't divulge much more at the moment as our book club is yet to discuss the book and I'd HATE to give anything away. Rest assured, though, that this book is well-written and witty, with characters which will both inspire you and make you laugh all in the same page!

Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon - Back to the running books! I PROMISE the next book I read won't have a THING to do with running. You can only read so much about one of the most elementary activities known to man, right?

Actually, there's a lot more to running than one might think, and this book was quite helpful in spelling out the preparation required to truly prepare one's body and mind for the rigor of a marathon. Before I became a "runner" I didn't know how much time and training actually goes into preparing to run 26.2 miles (and 325 yards!). After my first official race this weekend, I am not certain that I could ever achieve THAT distance, but if I do decide to shun my social life and start to train for a full marathon, at least now I'll know what I'm getting myself into!

101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die by Robert W. Harris - Based on the idea that there are too many books telling everyone what to do, this witty, subversive guide tells readers that for actualized, satisfying lives, they don't need to do more, and that fulfillment can be found in "selective inaction." Witty and insightful, most of these 101 items are actually really smart ideas. Over and over the author pleads with the reader, "Don't do it!" From running with the bulls in Pamplona (#5) to never buying fake wood furniture (#35), you'll gain insight into those endeavors in life that really AREN'T worth either your time or effort. Sensiblity always prevails, including #76, Don't use a paper clip to do a binder clip's job, and #88, Don't embrace the $1 coins (because we really shouldn't reward the government for doing pointless things with our hard-earned money).

If you're looking for a humorous, light, and quick read, this one will do your soul good, if only because it validates your own common sense!