Bad drivers, vol. II

Ugh. Some asshole in a truck ran me off the road today on the way home from work (I ride my bike these days). Freak. Fortunately at that particular point, there was only a slightly uneven grassy field adjacent to the road.

I'm glad the weekend has arrived. Should get some good reading in, which I've not managed in the past couple of weeks. I'm trying to finish up Anne Tyler's Back When We Were Grownups, which is light and cute, if a bit fluffy. I liked The Accidental Tourist better. Having read two of her novels hardly makes me an authority, but so far both have featured quirky main characters dealing with the loss of very close loved ones, while at the same time managing quite a light, humorous tone. Laugh 'n' cry books, one might say. This latest hasn't achieved either, although The Accidental Tourist came close.

Also getting going on The Devil in the White City, which is interesting but not terribly gripping (yet?). More on that later.

Next on the agenda is The Historian, by an Elizabeth Kostova. Heard about this one from Joan and Matt. Matt said something to the effect of that it's a more educated version of The Da Vinci Code. Heh. I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code on a fairly primal level, so it will be interesting to read something similar that's a little more well-written. The Historian is still in hardcover, but it was on sale at Target and we accidentally picked it up while we were getting work clothes for Mark. I also have some very interesting nonfiction waiting in the wings, but I'm not sure what will be next yet. Possibly some David Quammen or Joyce Carol Oates. Or maybe Ann Patchett's newest, Truth and Beauty. I've liked two out of three Patchett novels (Bel Canto and The Magician's Assistant--The Patron Saint of Liars sucked), so her "memoir of a friendship" seemed worth a shot. For school I'm reading a history of an 18th-century murder and the various versions told of the story: A Sentimental Murder, by John Brewer.

And, I'm going to go see a Hungarian film tonight at the Cinemat with Michelle and various others. Fun stuff all around!