Takedown Twenty, by Janet Evanovich

Twenty times I have read about Stephanie and Lula and Morelli and Ranger and Grandma Mazur. Twenty times. The first book in this series, "One for the Money," was published in 1994. I don't know how much time is supposed to have passed in Stephanie's fictional world, but that's twenty real years for me. This installment was light and enjoyable (if you look past the violence and murder), but, like Stephanie Plum herself, I'm feeling like it's time to move on.

I know there are lots of series of books out there—especially in the mystery/thriller genre—where the protagonist can exist indefinitely, but I want more for Stephanie. I want her to either make a choice between Morelli and Ranger or choose them both and stop feeling guilty about it. Then I won't feel guilty about choosing to read "Top Secret Twenty-One" when it is released in June.

Catch #235!

Yesterday was International BookCrossing Day, as declared by BCer MissTree and sanctioned by the BC powers-that-be in this BC forum post: "April 21, 2014 will mark the first ever International BookCrossing Day. How can you participate? It's easy! On that date, April 21, 2014, according to your own time zone or side of the date line, just release a book, or as many books as you'd like! The point is to get as many BookCrossers from around the world to participate in a mass release on the same date as possible."

Being a good(ish) BCer, I couldn't NOT participate, so I took the opportunity to continue my recently resumed releasing ways. I left five books in and around Greensburg and Colin Dexter's "The Secret of Annexe 3," which I thought would be languishing out in the rain, was found and journalled!

New member aleksandrvulkov says: "I love books. And finding this completely made my day. As soon as I get home I'm going to start reading. And I will have to join in on this collaborative effort to bring small joys through random books."

That journal completely makes my day. Darn it, I think I have been pulled back in.

Catch #234!

Inspired by Catch #233 a couple of weeks ago, I went on a mini release spree through the Oakland area of Pittsburgh today. I left five books in various spots. There were a lot of people out walking and jogging and dancing at the Color Festival and enjoying Phipps Conservatory and Schenley Park and just going about their business, so I was hopeful for a catch. The book I thought most likely to be confiscated or thrown in the trash, especially after seeing a couple of security guards heading its way, was Steve Berry's "The Charlemagne Pursuit," which I left on a bench by the Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain. Thankfully, new member bryandmoods found it first. "I didn't read it yet but it's heavy." he reports. "The guy on the back looks kinda racist but thats okay. I carried this book with me through the color festival it also went to buffalo wild wings with us after. I got the snack size boneless wings in medium and some fries. It was delicious!"

Catch #233!

"The Grouchy Ladybug" is on the move. An AnonymousFinder says, "Read to preschool class and finally released it. Released it at Station Square in Pittsburgh by Hard Rock / Just Ducky Tours. Hopefully a visitor to the city will take it to destinations unknown :) "

Although this is my first catch in almost three months, it happens to be one of the last books I released back in November 2013. We, like many other parts of the country, had a very long winter with consistently bad weather that made even going outside a chore to be avoided. That left me a lot of time to read, but now that the weather is improving, I should get back in the releasing mode, too.

Insurgent, by Veronica Roth

"Insurgent" starts right where "Divergent" ended. That's why I didn't understand the source of the conflict that rages between Four and Tris for most of this book. As far as I can recall (and it's been only a few weeks since I left them on the train headed for the Amity farm), they were on good terms at the end of "Divergent," facing their future together, stripped bare (not literally), no secrets between them. Maybe as time passed, survivors' guilt consumed them both, driving them apart rather than bringing them together. To me, the conflict seemed contrived—the book has enough conflict already without manufacturing any between our main characters.

Who or what is outside the fence? When will I be higher than user 9 of 13 on the library's waiting list for "Allegiant"?