My reading choices these days reflect two priorities: the need for something not related to library science whatsoever while I am on break; and the need to better familiarize myself with the kinds of books patrons most demand, especially among the yoots. Detect a contradiction? Here's what I have plowed through so far:

• Looking for Alaska, by John Green - I finished this last night. Like any good YA writer, Green channels the immediacy of adolescent emotions in all their confusion, their awkwardness and self-involvement. But without being a judgmental, condescending adult. This is a very moving story about love and loss, as well as the dangers of putting the objects of our affection up on a pedestal. That said, Green does not quite succeed at avoiding the objectification of women that is a primary thematic concern of the novel.
  
• The Parable of Talents, Octavia Butler - Had a false start with this a few months ago, studies intervened. Now I have resumed. Will discuss later when I finish it. Already compelling stuff. That woman could write.
  
• Full Metal Alchemist, vol. 1-3, Hiromu Arakawa - My first manga since Ranma 1/2, which jemale lent me years ago. Ranma was cute -- at times, too cute, a problem I have with most manga. FMA is more my speed: sacrilege, blasphemy, corrupt governments, genocidal wars, mad scientists, serial killers, rival gods, and a compelling plot told through gorgeously rendered scenes and a surprising amount of slapstick. I'm hooked.
  
• The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown - I wrote before about the series. IMHO, A&D is superior to DVC. And if critics of the movie would actually read the books (or see the movie) they might realize just how mistaken they are. Its real criticism of the Catholic Church is nothing the Church itself, especially since Vatican II, has not already acknowledged. In the end, this series is far more sympathetic to Catholicism, giving empathetic voice to both liberal and conservative critiques of modernism, than either recent news accounts would lead you to believe. Even Opus Dei comes off pretty well.

That's all, but not really all, as the side of my bed will attest. That's all I have time for, at any rate.

In dismissing the lawsuit against George Tenet and other CIA officials for the abduction and torture of an innocent German civilian, US District Court Judge TS Ellis had this winning platitude to explain his reasoning:

"In times of war, our country, chiefly through the executive branch, must often take exceptional steps to thwart the enemy."

Yes, the enemy must be quivering in his boots. In fact, we should round up more innocent civilians, send them to random countries, torture them and really show those terrorists we mean business. "See," we could say, "we don't need you to terrorize us! We can do it ourselves!"