My parents invested a tidy sum in my liberal arts education.  My teachers, from grade school to graduate school, worked diligently to imbue in me an appreciation for literature.

Oh, well.

I hope they’ll all forgive me because lately it’s been nothing but pot boilers, sci-fi and first person shooters. Woot!

During my injury rehab, all I’ve been limited to the stupid elliptical trainer, a drudgery made livable only by my new subscription to Audible and my iPod. So the oldie has been sweating to Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly. This abridged version is tailor made for the gym, just enough transporting action to make the pain go away, but not demanding enough for the listener to break stride.

It’s a classic police procedural, executed with craftsmanlike skill by Connelly, who has been at these Harry Bosch novels for a while.  I’ve heard critics call his stuff noir, but it’s more like noir light. The exotic Hong Kong scenes provide the differentiating features, while the daughter in danger scenario amps up the melodrama.  I’m going to blame the abridging for the underdeveloped family/father/daughter dynamics because I enjoyed this one.

Also via gadget, this time my Kindle, I had a blast reading The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (what is this “paper” of which you speak), the second book in his Girl trilogy.  Okay, so I have a thing for Sweden. And this book is no secret to anyone.  Still, I find the character of Lisbeth Salander to be one of the better objects of Willing Suspension to come along in a while.  Read it near a computer with a Google map of Stockholm on the display for enhanced geeky fun.

On the video side, I finally slogged my way through the final episode of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, I watched all 4.5 (or whatever) seasons. The first two (and a half?) were a hoot, a smart and dark twist on the beloved sci-fi tv of old. The last two seasons felt a little like punishment, but I felt like I just had to get to the end.  I didn’t.

I’ve also started forking an even bigger chunk of the paycheck over to Time Warner, so that I could subscribe to HBO and watch “The Pacific.” To me, it’s not as compelling as “Band of Brothers,” maybe because the battle scenes are so immediately overwhelming and nightmarish, but still powerful and historically convincing. Definitely worth the price of admission.

And on the small screen, I have to admit that I’ve fallen into the creepy and genetically altered hands of BioShock.  I’m playing the quasi-first person shooter on the Mac, and I’ve never had two hours disappear like that.  I still stink at battle sequences, but the puzzles and creepy environs make the frustration worth it.  I DEFINITELY have to keep this one away from the kids. This one is M for Middle Aged. My quest to understand and master video games continues.

Currently Showing/Coming Soon:

One the iPod: Impact by Douglas Preston

On the Kindle: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

On the HBO: Treme

One the Mac: Call of Duty 4