First, have you seen these pictures of writers' rooms? I'm especially partial to this one, but I could be happy in quite a few others as well. How interesting to see where authors work, but I could pass a few hours reading in those rooms as well.
I finished listening to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 last weekend. What a powerful book to hear read aloud. I was very impressed with the man reading it. He had this wonderfully strong voice that was 
just perfect for the story. I didn't realize how poetic Bradbury's writing can be. There are parts that are repetitive, obviously on purpose, but it's so much more effective to hear it than to read it to myself. The story felt more intense by the reader's pacing and his intonations--it was all quite well done. And there were so many parts I kept thinking that I need to get my book out and share this quote and that quote, but alas I didn't do it (must reread sometime and mark appropriate passages). If you've not read it--you really need to! It's also an excellent book to listen to as well.
Next up, something entirely different. I've started listening to Kate Mosse's Sepulchre. The Washington Post called it a "fun read", so I'm looking forward to the audio version. I've noticed lately that authors really like the technique of using two narrators telling a story hundreds of years apart, and that's what Mosse does here. The story concerns an antique tarot deck. It's set in 1891 Paris and the present day, and I'm sure there is going to be a bit of the occult and supernatural thrown in as well. It may not be highbrow reading, but it sounds like just the thing to keep me entertained as I'm walking and exercising.
I've started another thriller-ish book. I really love mysteries and thrillers. I just picked up The Sister by Poppy Adams from the library, and this appears to be a creepy Gothic-type story about two sisters who 
haven't seen each other for 50 years. Something happened when they were girls and when they look back on events as adults, their recollections differ. It's narrated by the older sister, and she caught my attention right away. It's told in the first person, but now I'm wondering just how reliable a narrator she's going to be, since already things seem a little fishy. An unreliable narrator could actually make for a good story, since I can already foresee some snags in the road ahead, and I do love a good twisty story.
I just discovered via Susan (who discovered it via Ashleigh) that there is a 2008 revised edition out of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, edited by Peter Boxall. This is supposed to be a more international edition from what I understand. Still, how do you choose (and how do you cut out authors from the original list)? I had thought to read some books from the list. Sadly two books I chose have been removed from the list: Elizabeth Bowen's House in Paris and Rebecca West's The Birds Fall Down. I don't care, I still want to read them. I'll have to take a closer look at the new additions now.
Computer woes: I think my computer is literally on its last very wobbly legs. If I suddenly disappear--a dead computer will most likely be the reason. I need to make a decision about a computer very, very soon. I'm just a little fearful about insurance and home and auto repairs due to the recent storm. I'm afraid to spend money on a computer without knowing what the insurance is going to cover. And Bloglines. I'm having issues with them, too. Yesterday there well were over 2,000 new posts for me to read. Now I admit I do subscribe to a lot of feeds, but on a busy day that still only amounts to maybe 100 new posts to go through. I'm surprised my computer didn't freeze when I tried to go through that list. I always set new feeds up to only accept new posts and not show changes to old posts. Does it listen? I must have gone through dozens, if not literally hundreds of old posts for some blogs. It was a worthless exercise in the end as I'm sure I missed most new posts anyway trying to quickly scroll through to the end. If it happens again, I'm dumping Bloglines.
Needless to say I am looking forward to the upcoming long weekend. I don't even want to do anything special for the Fourth. I want to laze on the sofa all day reading. And I want it to be blissfully quiet. Will I get my wish? That's always the question, of course.