Confederacy of Dunces

 Recently I read John Kennedy Toole's Confederacy of Dunces.  Initially, I struggled with this book, as the main character is so odd and so down and out.  Ultimately, though, the bizarre yet enjoyable writing style won me over, as did Toole's own affection for his characters.  The decision to rehabilitate Ignatius Reilly at the end of the book really makes this story a winner.  Highly recommended!

Conversations With Scorsese

 Recently I read Richard Schickel's Conversations With Scorsese, a great collection of interviews with filmmaker Martin Scorsese.  This is probably the best book on Scorsese I've come across, and it contains some great tidbits on Scorsese (for example, the fact that the director of The Red Shoes is Thelma Schoomaker's husband).  The book is very well written, and contains some classic commentary and bits involving Scorsese's works, such as material on Kundun.  Very highly recommended!