Nightstand Reading: Author Lisa Lutz talks about what she’s reading — and even what she’s not reading

Lucky us! The author of the hilarious mystery series starring Izzy Spellman will be in Seattle next week. Double lucky us—because Lisa Lutz sent us a note from her book tour to give us a peek at what she’s reading: 

Since I’ve been under a strict deadline lately, and am currently on a book tour, I haven’t finished as many books as usual. But here’s what’s made it off my bookshelf recently.

In light of my limited reading opportunities, I’ve read half of Pierre Bayard’s How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read, which I’ve found very enlightening. One of the key points Bayard makes is that you should get over your guilt for not having read certain books—a guilt, he believes, that traces back to childhood. In case you’re wondering, I’m over my guilt and can now speak about Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose if under duress.

I’ve also been on a Donald Westlake kick lately. I loved Somebody Owes Me Money. It’s one of the funniest books I’ve read. Then I moved on to his more serious stuff. I got halfway through The Hunter (Westlake writing as Richard Stark), then I lost the book, then I found it. Then I lost it again. When I find it the next time, I’ll finish it in one sitting to avoid further difficulties. On the plane from San Francisco to New York, I read most of Westlake’s The Ax. It’s brilliant and timely and I won’t say any more because I think it’s the kind of book that you should read without any idea what you’re getting yourself into.

Also, I’ve been working my way through the whole Sherlock Holmes canon. I know, it’s shocking, but I’ve never read Doyle before. But they’re utterly compulsive. Impossible to quit and because the book is so enormous, I don’t seem to lose it.

I’ve also read Linda L. Richards’ Death Was the Other Woman and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s an amazing period piece with a perfect noir tone. It’s also a great mystery.

 I’m now realizing the sheer dearth of my recent reading life. However, thanks to Bayard, I’m not feeling guilty about it. Here are some books I plan on reading once I turn in the final draft of the fourth Spellman installment.

The Genius by Jesse Kellerman
Blood of Paradise by David Corbett 
Lush Life by Richard Price 
Finnegans Wake by James Joyce

Actually, I’m joking about Finnegans Wake. But once I finish Bayard’s book, I should be able to speak about it with authority.

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Editor’s Note: See Lisa Lutz at the Ballard Library on Thursday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m., or at the University Book Store (Seattle location) on April 1 at 7 p.m. And, of course, you can check out The Spellman Files, Curse of the Spellmans and Revenge of the Spellmans at your library.