What are you reading?

I do a lot of reading. In fact, I get paid to read. That is one of the many reasons that I love my job. In fact, it is not unusual for me to be reading several books at the same time. I might have one at my office. One I read in the evening after dinner and another next to the bed. But that can get to be a bit much.

But I can't read books on biblical studies all the time. I know some people in my field who read nothing but theology books. Scot McKnight once told me he doesn't read novels. Too bad. I like to dive into the land of make believe from time to time.

I tend to favor classics. I love Dickens and Twain. But I have read most of John Grisham's books and J.K. Rowling. I am not much into biographies. But I have read a few about famous theologians (Bruce Metzger, G.E. Ladd, Albert Schweitzer, Jurgen Moltmann). I have even read Velvet Elvis and Blue Like Jazz. The former was "ok" the latter made little sense to me.

Last week I was picking my way through some of Nathanial Hawthorne's short stories.

Recently I started reading John Steinbeck's East of Eden for at least the second time. I enjoy just about everything he wrote, with the exception of the Grapes of Wrath. I am reading East of Eden again because I recently completed a manuscript for a new book on Cain and Abel. East of Eden has a number of biblical themes woven into the story including Cain and Abel.

What do you like to read? Can you recommend something new to me? I am not much into science fiction so James McGrath will need to suggest something else. :) I like epics. Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth was good. I wish I had a TV to watch the series on Starz.

What are you reading? Let me know and maybe leave me a suggestion. It doesn't have to be a novel.