The Thursday Next series by Jasper FForde, Defeat into Victory by Sir William Slim. The first one is kind of a literary detective/sci-fi idea. Thursday Next finds herself in usually famous literary works that have been changed, or perhaps have characters misbehaving in them. The other is a historical account of World War II in Burma and India, by a British army commander who is remarkably open about the mistakes that he made. It gives a good insight into the area, the politics, and the war itself.

Recommendation: Contact by Carl Sagan

Watching: Contact (the Movie), anything written by Joss Whedon, V for Vendetta
Recommendation: Wonderboys -- a dark comedy

Queensryche, they just came out with Operation Mind Crime II, a follow-up to their break-out rock opera from 25 years ago; November Project and October Project, who are folk melody singers; and Loreena McKennitt, a World Music singer, primarily Celtic and Middle Eastern.

Recommendation: Operation Mind Crime, and if you can ever see Queensryche live, I highly recommend it. I saw them in Philadephia in 2005. They should be on tour again this year.

Harvard Yard -- by William Martin, an historical Boston-based mystery story. I've actually put it down for a while because the Red Sox baseball season has started. I also like Michael Crichton sci-fi type stuff, and Yankee Magazine.

Recommendation: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, a humorous account of him hiking the Appalachian Trail with one of his hideously out-of-shape buddies.

The Boston Red Sox, and that's where my attention will be turned until the season ends. I don't watch much other television. I watch the birds at our bird feeders -- I don't really care what kind come into the yard, I just enjoy them all.

Recommendation: It's gardening season, and I like to watch the garden grow; we have flowers and vegetables, so I'm out there every night seeing what's new.

I buy a lot of "best of" records. Right now I am listening to Jimmy Buffett and Stevie Wonder. I also like to listen to those two guys on Car Talk.

Recommendation: What ever makes you feel good is what you should listen to.