Subway Reads

I have a strong, instantaneous aversion to being looked at. When I was younger, my schoolmates would organize group stare-downs in the lunch room. And I would look up, feeling their eyes burn into my pale skin. It would start slowly, flushing my cheeks, then building up speed on the creep down my neck, until the blush nuzzled deep into the flesh stretched across my collarbones. I became the Platonic "Tomato-Red;" "Lobster." It wouldn't be until hours later, in my chemistry class, that my face would finally return to its pre-stare, deathly pallor.

But now these many years later, New York has given me the anonymity my veins so desperately craved. In this city of millions, I am just another blank face, another blur of features. And so it was with some suprise that on this week's Subway Reads prowl, I eagerly slid my greedy gaze across laps and over shoulders, in search of five elusive titles for this week's post. Predatory, I stalked those unfortunate souls who bent their covers back, who left their hardcover jackets home. It is not impossible to escape detection. However, to the woman on the F train late Thursday night, to the man buried deep in his comic book on Tuesday morning, I must apologize. There is no comfort to be found on the opposite end of the scope -- I know this. I ask that your deep flush of recognition, brought on by my prying eyes, may be forgiven.

Below, this week' s top five subway reads:

Marine Sniper
by Charles W. Henderson

A Time of Angels
by Karen Hesse

Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul
by Tony Hendra

The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq
by John Crawford

Origin in Death
by J. D. Robb

[As always, these images from Amazon.com. Neither the writer nor abrooklynlife supports the sole use of online retailers. Be a good neighbor and buy your books local.]

On your lap: Join the hunt. Stuff my inbox with your best book-moments of the week here.