WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story by Lis Smith. The life of a modern-day political operative. I'm following her as she bounces from place to place (NC for Edwards, NJ for Corzine, VA for McAuliffe, OH for Strickland, IL for Obama, NY for DiBlasio ...) I've worked on campaigns and met people like Smith but I never much considered who they were before Chicago or after. I'm enjoying this glimpse into how they lived.

2. What did you recently finish reading? The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout. As created by Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe is many things: lazy, fastidious, gynophobic, confident (conceited?) and brilliant. It's his superior intellect, the way he can solve even the most intricate mystery without leaving the specially-made chair in his office, that keeps us amazed. The Doorbell Rang gives us another facet of Wolfe's personality: turns out he doesn't like bullies.

It's 1965 and there's no bigger bully in the nation than J. Edgar Hoover. Presidents and Attorney Generals are stymied by him. Nero Wolfe is not.

The plot is difficult to follow as it unfolds, but when it's resolved, I found it glorious in its simplicity. The last moments of the book left me smiling. I enjoyed this entry in the series thoroughly.

PS Kwiz: No, you don't have to read them in order. But I'd definitely start with early Stout (the series originator) rather than later Goldsborough (the writer who took it over).

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

Teaser Tuesday

Here's how to play.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

On Any Given Tuesday by Lis Smith. A seasoned campaign operative looks back on the first candidate she ever worked for: John Edwards.

Let's be real: his superficial appeal was an undeniable factor. He was youngish and vibrant, with the shiniest light brown hair you'd ever see. Years of work as a courtroom star translated well to the Senate floor and campaign trail: he knew how to craft an argument, reel you in and leave you with no other option but side with him.