This Week's Travel Reading, Dresden Files Edition

It had been a spell (pun intended) since I dipped into the literary world of The Dresden Files, Jim Butcher's series of novels about Harry Dresden, private eye and wizard.

Yes. Wizard.

See, Harry investigates supernatural occurences in and around Chicago--that's why my friend Margo recommended the series to me in the first place, knowing that that's my hometown--and winds up throwing down with vampires, werewolves, evil wizards and even, occasionally, dragons. Butcher doesn't always get the geography quite right--putting locations too close to one another, for example--but he captures the vibe of my city nicely while still telling compelling--sometimes frightening--tales.

Side Jobs is a collection of short stories that take place between the novels and feature Harry facing off against any number of things that go "bump" in the night. They're lots of fun and brisk reading while riding the El or bus, though not quite as involving as Butcher's novels are. There is at least one, maybe two of those I haven't gotten around to yet.

They're next.

This Week's Travel Reading (Shocktober Edition)

Ever since my friend Margo introduced me to The Dresden Files, Jim Butcher's supernatural mystery series set in my hometown, I've slowly but steadily chewed my way through the books and have now reached the seventh in the series, pictured above--which, appropriately enough, takes place right around Halloween.

And yes, that's an Elvira bookmark--don't judge me.

This Week's Travel Reading

My friend Margo recently recommended this book series to me, because a) she knows I don't have a lot of reading time outside of work, and these books are brisk but exciting reads; b) she really, really likes the series; and c) she says I reminder her of Harry Dresden (given that I'm tall and pale, live in Chicago and am lousy with women, I can understand this.)