Monster of Florence, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Bonk

Sometimes I'm puzzled by my affection for nonfiction, because really, I don't usually want to learn anything. (My recurring nightmare is that I've forgotten to study for a test - I'm pushing thirty and that one still wakes me up in the middle of the night.) But sometimes there is an author, or a topic, or both, that I really love. I've come across three in the past week that have educated me against my will.

Right now I'm in the middle of The Monster of Florence (2008), co-written by Douglas Preston and Italian journalist Mario Spezi. It's about a series of murders that took place in Florence during the 1970s and 80s. I'm only about 75 pages in, but it is - so far - fascinating and shiver-inducing.

Also shiver-inducing - this time in sympathy, not horror - is When You are Engulfed in Flames (2008) by one of my all-time favorite authors, David Sedaris. I read the book a week ago, but now I'm listening to the audiobook...and listening to him is so, so much better. I think it's because some of the situations are uncomfortable to read, but less painful coming straight from the author. SantaLand Diaries (1997) set the bar, but WYaEiF is pretty darn good.

Finally, a book by Mary Roach, the author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (2003). I loved Stiff when I read it three years ago, and I still recommend it to everyone who will listen. About 50% love it, 20% hate it, and the remaining 30% passively-aggressively "forget" to read it when I force it on them. (Hey, who can blame them? I do exactly the same thing when someone says "you MUST read this!") Her latest is a feminist-leaning book titled Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. While I don't generally pick up this particular type of nonfiction, it was funny and well-well written and surprisingly informative.

This week I've learned about serial killers, embarrassing situations, and sex. I feel so much smarter now.