War, Romance, and Murder

January was an exceptionally busy month for me in Bookmobileland. Two new stops provided many new patrons and many more challenges to my fraying memory with regard to preferred genres and authors. For the most part, my male patrons prefer non-fiction work: they enjoy stories of war and/or presidential courage in times of adversity, biographies, and travel. The overwhelming majority of my female patrons prefer romantic fiction penned by Debbie Macomber, Fern Michaels, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, and Wanda Brunstetter. I work with two ladies who are quite taken with the work of Susan Wiggs: I managed to procure a copy of Just Breathe for both of them, and they were beside themselves with excitement and appreciation. One of them actually caressed the book jacket and murmured fondly, "I do love to read Susan Wiggs." I do have one female patron who reads non-fiction exclusively. She's such a gem -- 90 years old (yes, ninety) and a voracious reader of true crime novels. She prefers crimes of passion, specifically those dealing with spouses. When she felt she had exhausted the supply of interesting tales in that subject, she requested that I choose similar material. I delved into serial killer profiles and forensic evidence explanations. Initially, I was fearful of offending her delicate sensibilities with such subject matter, but she has a strong constitution and was pleased with my selections. I make sure I peruse these books, too, in preparation for the discussion upon my return trip. The next time I see her, we'll talk about Patricia Cornwall's assertion that Jack the Ripper's true identity was that of renown artist Walter Sickert. If anyone would like to suggest a true crime novel this lady would enjoy, please comment.