Wow, it seems like ages since I had a chance to sit down and spend some quality time with my blog. Just to explain: I’ve been working on a very complicated and high-profile project at my office, involving transferring both our American and (eventually) our European labs to a brand new computer system. The development has been a long and involved process and has required a lot of travel. It’s really been a great opportunity for me and a real learning experience, but it has also eaten up huge blocks of time. My house is a wreck, my cat doesn’t recognize me, the only toiletries I have are hotel shampoo bottles and I have no idea when I’ll get to put up my Christmas tree – but I’m having a good time!

The upside is that I get to do a lot of reading in airports. In airplaces (on a cramped, eight-hour flight from Amsterdam to Newark, you better have something to occupy your mind). And in hotel rooms. And waiting for shuttle buses. You get the picture, right? So I have lots and lots of reviews to post, as soon as I get a chance to write them all up.

Here are some of the reviews you can look forward to over the next week or two:

• Ambrosia: about a culture. An investigation of electronica music and party culture
• Mr. White’s Confession, by Robert Clark
• The Tenth Case, by Joseph Teller
• Kosher by Design Lightens Up
• Gargoyle, by Andrew Davidson
• The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

Not bad for a couple of weeks, I think. Now I just have to get the reviews written and everything posted! It’s good to be back!