Reading is a very personal thing. We all have different tastes and sometimes we can be in the mood for different things at different times.

I usually have two or more books that I’m in the middle of at the same time and I will read which ever book suits my current mood.

So today we’ll start by looking at some science books and then some mystery candy (light-hearted, silly mysteries).

A History of Earth in 100 Groundbreaking Discoveries by Douglas Palmer is a cool book that can be dipped into one chapter here and one there. It doesn’t need to be read from cover to cover but you might find yourself sucked into the book as the discoveries are fascinating and the author does a good job of explaining why the discovery is important to the history of the planet.

We like to think Minnesota is unique. For Love of Lakes by Darby Nelson, is a moving encounter with the water of Minnesota and its ecosystems. One of the classes at the college is using the book as a text, but it doesn’t read like a textbook more a love story to Minnesota water.

Webwood: Seasons of Life in the North Woods by Larry Weber is an anecdotal portrayal of life on one northwoods farm with woods, ponds, swamps, fields and lake frontage that contain a wild diversity of life.

The economy continues to be front and center in the news but what does the economy do and how does it work? The Instant Economist by Timothy Taylor seeks to tell you (and me) everything we need to know about how the economy works and why we should care.

And while we are on the economy, check out Math for Grownups by Laura Laing which attempts to help us relearn the arithmetic we forgot from school so we can calculate how much that raise will really amount to (after taxes) and more.

Okay, enough serious stuff, here are a few new light, fluffy mysteries. Sneaky Pie for President by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown or Cat’s Claw by Susan Wittig Albert and Spun by Sorcery by Barbara Bretton all feature cats in some capacity or another.

If you prefer dogs in your mysteries then try Mary Daheim’s The Wurst is Yet to Come, Antiques Disposal by Barbara Allan or Silent Kill by David Fingerman (sorry, this one isn’t very fluffy or light) but it does revolve around a Rottweiler.

And if you want food in your mystery then be sure and read Diane Mott Davidson’s newest Crunch Time.

The writers’ group meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. Any and all writers are welcome to come and learn, share or provide feedback. Attendees currently range in age from about 9 to 69 with all levels of ability and experience.

Let us encourage, support and assist you in pursuing your writing dreams. No one has to share, but we do ask that you write something every month.