stuck in the middle

My book club met tonight and for the second time this year I had not finished the book. We meet monthly, four of us who have stuck together for five or six years, but despite our efforts, rarely have all four of us completed the books we choose. That means the discussions get carried over month to month and sometimes we never get around to them at all. I'd rather it didn't happen that way, but we all have busy lives and we do our best.

My problem this month has been a heavy reading load for school. I am currently in the middle of six books, suffering from an inability to finish things that I don't usually experience. I like to have 2 or sometimes 3 books going, but 6 is too many. These are the books I'm trying to get through:

~The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (page 113 of 401) This is one of the book club picks, as well as an optional read for one of my classes. I think the subject matter might hit a little too close to home and that is bogging me down.
~Angels All Over Town by Luann Rice (page 248 of 309) While romance is probably my least favorite genre, this is the second book club choice and I tried to finish it but ran out of time. I will finish anyway; it's not a bad book. Rice is a good writer, there just isn't much happening in the book to move it along.
~Saving Graces by Elizabeth Edwards (page 107 of 337) Another case of subject matter causing distress that I am not willing to deal with right now.
~Alice Munro's Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories (page 186 of 323) I was required to read 3 short stories from this collection and they were excellent, so I want to finish the book, but don't have the time!
~Laura Lippman's Baltimore Blues (page 31 of 290) I expected to whiz through this highly recommended mystery, but it hasn't pulled me in.
~A Reading Diary by Alberto Manguel (page 116 of 205) I am intentionally reading this book slowly because it is so interesting. In fact, it is my inspiration for this blog. Manguel keeps a diary, almost a commonplace book, as he rereads 12 of his favorite books, recording his feelings and thoughts on the effects of the readings at a different stage of his life. I am thoroughly enjoying this book, and don't want it to end.

On a more positive note, I bought 6 more books tonight for this summer. Is it possible I have a book fetish?