I dutifully (a rare word for me) started to read Escape by Carolyn Jessop, which I suggested might be a fabulous read last time.

Then, when I was in the shop last week I saw this gorgeous book The Gathering by Anne Enright, looking straight at me from the shelf.

Anne won the Man Booker Prize for 2007. She’s a real clever clogs: this is not just a certificate of merit but an award that promises a cheque for over a hundred thousand dollars – that’s Australian dollars, plus she’s got herself an express elevator ride to instant popularity.

The Booker does that for you.

The cover is one of those that made me pick up the book for a peek inside.
Then I just had to read it.
Ok, lets be honest, I just had to have it.

So now that’s two books I’m reading.

Does any one else read more than one book at a time or is it only me? I have them scattered all over the house.

Much like my glasses: I’m constantly patting down all the surfaces trying to find them too!

Ask any of my friends.

I have to carry round two or three pairs and then still ask to borrow some one else’s.

Not quite kosher for any Opticians I guess.

I end up walking around the house, arms waving and looking like the demented robot out of Lost in Space.

Gosh, I suppose no one else remembers that TV show but me and Will Robinson…

You had to be there…

So back to books! Just as I was leaving the shop yesterday, I spotted the name Alice Sebold, one of my most very favourite authors.

And she has a new book! I absolutely adored Lovely Bones, her first book. So, of course, I had to have that book too.

It’s called The Almost Moon and it has one of the best opening lines I’ve read for a long time.

How’s this for setting the scene…

“When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily”

How good is that? I had to read the next 30 pages straight away.

And no, I’m not telling you what happened.

I haven’t finished, so you have to go and get it yourself and beat me to the end, but the words ‘shocking’ and ‘unthinkable’ would be an apt description so far.

So that’s three books so far and I haven’t finished ‘Packer’s Lunch’ yet!

Deb Perry