I have 10 books I "need" to read right now, and that doesn't count my book club book (Electric Michelangelo) or my fun reading (Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes - since I am writing a middle-grade mystery novel I am reading middle-grade mystery novels!) as well as the giant pile of books under my desk that I bought at the library book sale about 5 months ago so that I'd have plenty to read for fun!

I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

But I have to be the little engine that could about this pile o'books. I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...

So - here's what's coming down the pike as far as future book reviews for this blog and others:

1. The ADD Answer, by Dr. Frank Lawlis, friend of the infamous Dr. Phil. So far I'm unimpressed by this book as a) he devotes a lot of space to explaining why you shouldn't drug your ADD child but then later says it's ok, as long as you combine it with appropriate behavioral techniques and psychotherapy. He agrees that ADHD is a disorder of brain chemistry but then also suggests that you pair medication with a strong-tasting herb so that eventually you can just give your kid the herb and discard the meds to take advantage of the placebo effect. I need to finish this to see if there's actually anything I do agree with before slamming it...

2. Taking Charge of ADHD, by Russell A. Barkley. So far, so good. Not very far into it but it seems reasonable and basic.

3. Sleepless in America, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, the author of Raising Your Spirited Child. I'm too tired to comment (ha ha). Actually, I think we've solved Little J's sleep issues, but not due to what she suggests...but it's still worth telling you all about as I think there's lots of good info in the book.

4. Maybe Baby, edited by Lori Leibovich. This is by the writers of Salon.com (my fave on-line news/features mag)and is about having children...or not. Am enjoying it but am still in the middle of it.

5. The ADD Nutrition Solution, by Marcia Zimmerman. Haven't read it yet but looks interesting...and impossible to stick to unless you keep your kid at home all the time.

Go to part 2.