So what's on your nightstand?

Another version of "what are you reading?" I know it's the holidays and everyone is getting things wrapped up (literally) for Christmas, but surely there's something you've been itchin' to read.
Since we moved into the house, I've become very close with James Michener's "TEXAS", and Wow!, what a book! It is incredibly interesting, but with its 1300+ pages you could use it for so many more purposes. . .if you needed a fire to stay warm, this would surely burn for an hour or so to prevent hypothermia. Or if there is an intruder in the house and you don't have a gun--as a projectile this book might be lethal. A flower or leaf press (small items--it is a paperback). Paperweight. Door stop. I think this book might be in the family for generations for all of its clever uses. Don't even get me started on how useful this would be out in the woods away from modern plumbing. . .
But, really, it is a great book and you can pick it up at Half Price for probably about two bucks. And the story has very clear stop-and-start points so you can put it down and pick it up a few weeks later with minimal confusion.
I also just sped through "The Better Birth Book", which is written by a woman in Dublin about the maternity care system and options in Ireland. Very informative and I wish I had heard about it before I went for my first visit with my General Practitioner. There are many options here in Ireland, so I really enjoyed it. And since I got all of the pop culture references (The X-Factor, Jamie Oliver, etc.) I felt pretty smug with myself. But the author is a Doula in Dublin, and I e-mailed her about some classes she teaches and doulas in the area and she put me on to her book, and it was really positive and great!
John is reading a James Lee Burke novel and every time he picks it up he complains about how he sucks you into the story! Needless to say, we've had too many nights where we went to sleep too late because we got caught up in our books.
By the way, today's picture is of me when I'm about 15 months old. I am covered in my first Twinkie. Cute, huh?
By the way. . .after all of my complaining about the weather last week, we have had three sunny days in a row. If it works, I will definitely keep complaining!!!