I just finished reading Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Joe Hill is the pen name of the son of Steven King, although you would never know it from reading the book. I only found this out and discovered the book because I heard an interview on NPR. I enjoyed the book, it was more than slightly scary. While he is not his father he has great potential as a horror writer. He has published short stories previously, but this is his first novel. I got the book at Boarders, it is probably widely available.

The premise of the book is that Jude Coyne, aging rock star, buys a ghost off the internet, and what comes in the mail in a heart shaped box is a suit. Along with the suit comes the ghost of the old man, who is determined to kill Jude and his present girlfriend. We soon discover that he has been duped into buying this ghost; it was sold to him by the sister of a previous and now deceased girlfriend. For the next 376 pages we are off on a trail of near insanity, mayhem, close calls and a final ending surprise. If you like this kind of escapist reading (the cover describes it as “Dark Fantasy”) it is worth buying.

I have begun on Anne Lamott’s newest book Grace (Eventually). I have only read the first chapter so far, but it promises to be as funny, tragic, redeeming and inspirational as her previous writings. What ever she writes I read; her thoughts on faith or her fiction (often close to autobiographical) are a seamless piece of insight into the wonderful adventure we call life. The bonus for me is that she is Presbyterian, a member of a Multicultural Church and I have been privileged to meet her pastor and some of the “Church Ladies” she so often mentions.

I also bought Robin Roberts’ new book, From the Heart – Seven Rules to Live By. There was an excellent and favorable review and interview published by Essence.com. Robin is officially a member of First Presbyterian Church, Hartford, CT. She joined when she was living in Farmington and working for ESPN. Although she has moved to New York and is now Co-Anchor on Good Morning America she maintains her membership here and attends occasionally. In person she is a wonderfully gracious person, just as she is on camera. One reason we went to Camp Coast Care for our Summer Youth Mission Trip and in February for our Adult Mission was that most of their work is in Pas Christian, Mississippi, which is where Robin grew up. Her mother still owns a home there, which like the rest of Pas Christian was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The next book I will be buying within the week (while it is 40% off for Borders Books members) is J.R.R.Tolkein's The Children of Hurin. I know he has been dead for 30 or so years, but his 83 year old son has edited this from other of his works, published and unpublished. It should be an interesting read.