I oftentimes start reading a book only to discover a third of the way in that I’m really not getting much out of it. But, due to some sense of obligation (”let’s give this author a chance to redeem her/himself”), I will read the book to completion.

This baffles my wife. She has endeavored to get me to read just one book that I outright enjoy. She has even challenged me to read one that makes me laugh. That’s a tough mandate.

I recently finished Dawkin’s “The God Delusion”, which was incredibly disappointing. His arguments made sense, but the entire book was a perfect example of why the masses hate academics - they take way too long to say way too little. The end of that book was atrocious. When attacking the existence of a deity, it’s a good idea to end with a bit of a punch, not with an overly drawn out abstraction regarding the dress of middle eastern women.

Just sayin’.

Anyway, the next book I’m reading is about a family dealing with gender identity issues. It’s written by a friend of a friend, so that will give it a slightly more personal touch. I do, however, doubt this is going to be the laugh riot novel that Brandy would like me to read (though I did make her pick out my next book so she could steer me away from Freud or the Malleus Maleficarum).