Off the Bookshelf: August 2004 Archives

I've told you that I've been doing some summer reading. Most of the books are rather lightweight, and all are works of fiction. What totally amazes me is that two consecutive books mention the General Unified Theory (GUT), or the Theory of Everything.

When I was in high school, I missed out on physics and chemistry, so I have relatively little knowledge of those subjects. What little I've picked up comes from DH giving me information from "Scientific American" or "Discover" magazine, or watching science programs on TV.

So, I chose a book from the stack, and read Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "Nobody's Baby But Mine," and one of the main characters is a doctor of physics who is working on top quarks, in the hope that she can add to the General Unified Theory.

What astounded me was to find the GUT mentioned at the start of the very next book I chose to read! What are the chances that two "lightweight" books I chose for summer reading would cover such weighty issues? Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" opens with Robert Langdon being flown to Geneva to visit the CERN facility. As the director of the facility leads him through the residential area, a jogger wearing a t-shirt that proclaims "NO GUT, NO GLORY!" runs by, and they are off on a conversation about the General Unified Theory.

So....will I find it mentioned in the NEXT book, too?

I have a STACK of books waiting on me. More than I can read in August. I might have to save a few for this Fall, and I'm not complaining.

In the next entry, you'll see a comment about the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. One of my on-line friends introducted me to these books, and I have gobbled them up! There are ten books at the moment. Each title has a number. The last was "Ten Big Ones."

Steph is a crazy character. If I had stumbled onto the first book when it first came out, and had to wait for each succesive book to be written, it would have been a terrible trial. My mother has been reading the books, too. As I finish one, I hand it over, and the discussion in the house has been along the lines of...."I wish she'd make up her mind whether it's going to be Ranger or Morelli!" (having to do with her obsession for two men) or "Don't tell me....I'd rather read the book!"

Evanovich has created two of the funniest characters I've ever read, Grandma Mazur and Sally Sweet. Grandma is a very modern lady who believes that NO one should ever have a closed casket wake (and is willing to go to great lengths to see the dearly departed). She is also likely to be in the midst of a discussion at the beauty parlor about personal firepower. I learned a lot about guns in these books! *G* Sally Sweet is a male musician who also happens to wear dresses, and drive a school bus.

You've got to read these. Go to the library, or visit Amazon. Share the books with everyone you know who reads. That's my summer tip for you.

Other books waiting for me:

"Kiss Me WHile I Sleep," by Linda Howard

"Angels and Demons," by Dan Brown

"Digital Fortress," by Dan Brown

"Crime Schoo,l" by Carol O'Connell

"Heaven, Texas," by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

"Nobody's Baby but Mine", by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

and "Sick Puppy," by Carl Hiaasen.

There are actually a couple of others, but I can't remember the titles, and I'll probably read these first. It's really too bad that I have to WEED! I could spend my days eating bon bons and reading. Now, go read the next post.