Odd Alchemist

Forever Odd - Dean Koontz - Book two in the Odd Thomas Trilogy (Brother Odd is already out, I'm behind the times). Odd Thomas is an empath of sorts - really not an empath but he sees dead people and solves mysteries. His ONE TRUE LOVE Stormy passed in book one and frankly I really wanted them to find each other in book two but alas. Stormy was mentioned a few times and I really cried over his loss. This book was not as strong or moving as the first - sometimes the second in a series does this to you because they are just moving the characters along. Especially Koontz who should be giving us Book Three of Frankenstein. Should be but is not. Back to Odd. he solves a murder of course and is by all accounts Odd. He is a loveable character who I would love in my circle of friends - especially since some of my peeps are freaky hypochondriacs maybe he could help us all in that regard. You know - convince us we are not dead or dying. Something like that. Anyway, nice sequel but I am holding out more hope for the third book - brother odd which means not that he has a brother but rather he becomes one. He needs a break from his life and enters a monastery but not because of the whole celibacy thing but for peace. Should be interesting.

The Magician's Assistant - Ann Patchett. Great book. If you have ever been in love with someone and did not receive that love back. If you have ever loved and lost. If you have ever woken up and realized you were older and felt as though you had wasted your life pining and following rather than living and leading. If you ever fell in love with someone unavailable, or gay. You will like this book. She dropped plot somewhere around page 284, but I think she was trying to end. The plot is this: Magician's assistant falls in love with magician when 20. Magician gives her love and affection - although not physical because he is gay - until he falls in love with the love of his life. The three of them live together. The Magician's boyfriend dies of AIDs. Magician HIV+ decides to marry assistant to make her a widow because all she wanted was for him to love her. Of course nothing is consummated because hello he's gay. He dies. She mourns for his loss as well as her loss. She morns for him and for the loss of her own life. She learns secrets from his life. Meets his sister and basically there was a moment when she thought she could finally get some love but she's not gay. Anyway, she loses a friend and hopeful lover but gains a family even though she has the BOMB family of her own. Worth the read. Again, it gets a little slow about 3/4 way in but it is good.

I started Lasher the other night - too early to tell. A little creepier than the Witching Hour.

Peace out!