Bod Owens lives in a graveyard.  He has lived there since he was just a wee babe and clambered through the fence railings to explore.  What he didn’t realize at the time is that he had narrowly escaped a killer.  The killer who moments before murdered his father, mother, sister and now was looking to finish the deed.

 Bod was lucky, the ghosts intervened and hide him.  In the graveyard, Bod is raised by a different kind of family.   Teachers from Roman days, drowned witches and a host of ghouls to help Bod become a man.  As with any childhood, the adventures abound when you least expect it, especially when you are looking behind headstones!

 Surprisingly this is a kids’ book from one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman.  This book is a delight – one I hope Gaiman will continue through writing more on adventures and lessons of Bod’s journey…

Just got back from the gorgeous and magical Costa Rica and here’s what I read in order…

 Knit Two by Kate Jacobs.  The story continues the story of her original The Friday Night Knitting Club, both are delightful.  Tears and laughs along with the sticky hierarchy of female relationships…

 American Gods by Neil Gaiman.  Excellent.  Fascinating characters amid a stark view of what we today anoint as Gods…Love everything he writes. 

 Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie.  Alright I know why this book received critical acclaim (slice of different world, some haunting scenes…) but skip it.  The plot is disappointing and the characters really don’t attached themselves to your heart.  It’s a bit cold, everything is from a distance…

                                                                                                              Shadow of Power by Steve Martini.  Liked the courtroom dialog, kind of hated the race plot.  The whole slave/constitution thing just doesn’t have the same impact on a woman as a man…Where were women’s rights in the constitution?  Missing as well.  There is a lot of offense to go around…Read Skin Tight instead…

 Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen.  Murder and laughs – perfecto!  Any Hiaasen book on vacation is fun and will keep you up much later then you intend, just another chapter…It is a riot – the one-armed-weed-wacking thug with a white-out chin…I’m still giggling.

 Promise Me by Harlan Coben.  Fun.  Quick-paced, same amusing characters.  I want a friend like Win…

 And yes, I enjoyed many other fun adventures on the vacation besides reading, that I will share with you in the coming weeks…Just wanted to help out with any last-minute holiday gift ideas…Happy reading!