Most people think that running a book store is an ideal job, you get to read all day. While there are a lot of benefits, the reality about reading time is quite different. I was happy to have some time to catch up on some summer reading.

I have been slowly making my way through the prequel Galactic Milieu series to Julian May's Golden Torc (Saga of Pliocene Exile) series. Although I enjoyed the Golden Torc series, the prequels, including The Diamond Mask continue to confuse and disappoint.

People may be surprised that I really like the writings of P.J. O'Rourke. His Republican Party Reptile was good, but not one of his best. I much preferred his Holidays in Hell, and Eat the Rich.

Clara's Grand Tour by Glyinis Ridley was my second attempt to learn more about the 18^th century grand tour of a rhino through Europe, the first being the unreadable Pope's Rhinoceros by Lawrence Norfolk. Ridley's effort, while interesting in a factual dissertation sort of way, lacked enthusiasm and able story telling. Logistics, of course a major and complicated part of such a journey, comprised the majority of the book.

Kender, Gully Dwarves, and Gnomes - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ed. Might have already read it, silly young adult fantasy, have read much better from the series.

The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower - C. Northcote Parkinson. A recap of the wonderful Hornblower books by C.S. Forester in biographical form of the fictional character. Clears up one or two mysteries from the books, for example, what actually happened during the "mutiny" against an insane captain when Hornblower was a junior officer.

Oxygen by Andrew Miller. Confusing for the first 100 pages about who is who, overall a well-written book. Recommended by my friend and former band mate Nick Palmer, perhaps because the book has a Hungarian character and touches on the 1956 Revolution, the book was short listed for both the Booker and Whitebread Prizes. Given his Hungarian connections, I found it unfathomable how so many Hungarian language mistakes made it into the book.

Eastern Approaches by Fitzroy Macean. An amazing and well-written autobiographical account of the man's incognito  travels across Russia, the Caucasus and the Middle East as well has his wartime commando exploits in North Africa with the Desert Rats and and with Tito in Yugoslavia.