Hands-down the most popular airplane magazine is O. I'm not sure if this is because everyone loves Oprah or Michelle Obama (who's on the current cover) but it was everywhere when I flew out Sunday. (I was also reading it.)

The fellow across the aisle from me had a Kindle and was extolling its virtues to one and all. It did look really cool and comfortable to read. He said it was the only way to go and newspapers and books would be obsolete. Then his battery died and he was surrounded by people reading books, magazines and newspapers and he had nothing to do. I found this very funny.

I finished up the new Aimee Leduc mystery before I left: Murder in the Latin Quarter. if you are fans of Cara Black's Paris-based series then you will enjoy this one just fine. What made it quite appealing to me was that this story was largely based on Haiti's history which is very intwined with France. The whole Haiti indemnity thing blew my mind - essentially Haiti is still poverty stricken because France made it pay such a ridiculous indemnity for beating Napoleon's army (and chronically bad leadership didn't help either).

I was almost done with The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo which honestly has pretty much blown my mind. I know NOTHING about Mexican history which is a shame - it seems if American students are to learn any foreign history it should start wtih the countries we border. Last Prince is about when the French conquered Mexico and installed a Hapsburg Prince as the Emperor. The mind blowing part? That this occured during the US Civil War. So....Mexico was ruled by another country (actually ruled by one country but an Emperor from a whole other country from that) about 150 years ago. Who knew the French were beating down out borders that recently - or having a picnic with Mexico's treasury. Crazy stuff but it gets even wilder as the Emperor and his wife did not have children so they pretty much took one from an Mexican aristocratic family to raise, hence the "last prince" of the title. Fascintaing stuff, vividly written and if you like historical fiction you will really enjoy it. (Formal review to follow....in May hopefully)

You know what would be cool? If the Tournament of Books included a portion of small press titles that went up against the big names. Everyone will have opinions about what book should have won or lost this year but I'd like to see small press titles get their chance to shine.

For my thoughts on the very good YA coming-of-age drama, Funny How Things Change, please see Guys Lit Wire. Full review to follow in June and an interview with author Melissa Wyatt in the SBBT also that month.

I am reading four books right now, all very different but all quite good - more on each later. I'd also like to report that it is 75 degrees in FL which is awesome. Tomorrow we go to the zoo and Thursday is flying with my stepDad. Today my son caught a fish (very small - we threw it back) off the dock. He's giddy with little boy joy.... :)