Mary, Mary by James Patterson

The big advantage of a book is that it's very easy to rewind. Close it and you're right back at the beginning. - Jerry Seinfeld

I love Alex Cross. I have for years. For those unfamiliar, he is the detective created by author James Patterson in a series of books that bear names that relate to nursery rhymes. Two of these books were adapted for the big screen: Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls. Even though the movies star Morgan Freeman, he is not the Alex Cross I envision. Read one of Patterson's books with Dr. Cross and you'll see what I mean. Only if the movie companies had asked for my opinion! Grad school (I know....enough already) seriously infringed upon my leisure reading and it is only now that I have finally been able to delve into books in the manner in which I love: marathon reading. I can spend an entire day devoted to a book, barely parting with it until it is complete. The word can is key. My previous life....one without kids, unending piles of laundry, and a variety of other household tasks...lent itself to such read-a-thons. I rarely get to indulge myself like I once did. However, there is nothing like a good book and a rainy day to excuse a few hours devoted to nothing but reading. Today was such a day. I finished the newest Alex Cross series (thoughtfully obtained for me by my friend "Yo, L"), Mary, Mary. I was not disappointed. Patterson created another riveting murder mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Now, to find the box of books sent to me by my friend Carolina. She mailed me a treasure trove of books while I was in the midst of grad school (sorry) and I knew that if I opened it I would preoccupy myself with the contents. The box has remained sealed. Now, with Dr. Cross and The Mermaid Chair (which I thoroughly enjoyed as well...thanks, Hippie's Chick) out of the picture, it is time to unseal the box and begin to devour the contents within.