So I have a Blog . . .Now what?

Getting into the blogosphere seems like a natural next step for me, but I must admit that getting started is intimidating. I hope to start by reporting on the 10 or 15 books I read most recently, then making daily entries as I go along.

My goal is not only to share an overview of books I'm reading with anyone who might be interested, but I hope that you good folks will respond with your recommendations and tell me about your favorite books as well. When you come across an author that you consider a great storyteller, let me know. My intention is for this to be an interactive guide for you as you broaden your reading experience, and a way to find fellow "bookworms," as well as the casual reader.

I tend to look for good writers and not just a particular book they have written. If I read a novel by Grisham and like his style and the plot, I will seek out his other works and dissect as many as possible. Usually, I will mix it up with about four authors at a time to keep the stories from running together. Jimmy Buffet and Bill Bryson serve as good change-of-pace stories when I get too involved in the political intrigue/international terrorism genre, as often happens.

I will probably not dwell much on writing reports on the classics of Faulkner, Twain, Steinbeck, Poe, etc. as these have been examined for decades by literary experts from around the globe. Besides, most of these were required reading at some time in every student's literature classes.

It is possible that I will also attempt to share some of the articles I have written back in my newspaper days, especially the "Perspectives" columns that my stepdaughter and I wrote that became pretty popular in our area. It basically chronicles the trials and tribulations of a young girl's high school experiences and contrasts them with her stepfather's lessons from a prior generation. If I can figure out how to include them without being too obtrusive, we will give it a try.

Give me a few days and I will start posting some of my thoughts on some of the books that are now in my "finished" pile.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Mike