My nightstand runneth over

The stack of books on my nightstand is reaching epic proportions. Here's what's on it right now:

Christina Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric by Veronica Buckley. This is one of Babs' college books. Christina lived during the seventeenth century is one of the most annoying people I ever read about. Really! This woman converted to Catholicism in order to abdicate her throne and avoid getting married. Then she moves from Sweden to Italy and proceeds to drive the Vatican, the French monarchy and the Italians crazy. Thank heaven I've almost finished this one.

The Letters of Paul by Calvin J. Roetzel and Apostle of the Crucified Lord by Michael J. Gorman. Two books I began reading to prepare for leading a class on St. Paul. But plans changed, so I set them aside and intend to finish them "in the fullness of time".

P.S. I Love You by Ceclia Ahern. A novel given to me by Portia. Its about a woman who lost her husband, and I'm not in the mood for it right now since the recent death of my brother-in-law.

The rest of the books I haven't opened yet, and I'd better stay off of amazon.com for a while or I'll be entering the 12 step program for addictive book-buyers.

The Practicing Congregation by Diana Butler Bass. I liked her previous books and this one looks promising.

Marrying Mozart by Stephanie Cowell. A novel given to me by Babs.

The Road to Nab End by William Woodruff. A memoir of Depression-era Britian, recommended and read by both Babs and El Jefe.

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson. The author of The Message. Enough said. Can't wait to get to this one.

The Queen's Fool by Philipa Gregory. Historical novel set in Tudor England, loaned by Babs.

Stet, Dammit by Florence King. Given to me by El Jefe, who knows that sometimes I'm in the mood for a certain type of humor. Florence King is the author of With Charity Toward None and WASP Where Is Thy Sting?

Bread of Angels and Home By Another Way by Barbara Brown Taylor. Collections of sermons by this renowned preacher. I was inspired to buy them after hearing her sermon at Babs' baccalaureate service. I prescribed myself a chapter or two before bed.

Too much is not enough department: I want to borrow a book my sister-in-law got for her birthday--Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hayes. It answers the burning question "who brings the best covered dishes? The Episcopalians or the Methodists?"

What are you reading this summer?