What's on my nightstand now?

I had to wait to write this post until I got to the library yesterday. I have broken down and started reserving the books I really want to read while I still have access to a library. That might sound strange if you live in the States, but here in the land of "We'll Take Your Money However We Can" we have to reserve library books at $1.55 a pop. I often can find books I want if I just go to the library, but these titles weren't available at my branch. So here they are:

1. The Fifth Mountain, Paulo Coelho
I finally got around to reading The Alchemist and enjoyed it, so when I saw this title on the shelf last week I snatched it up. It's a fictional account based on the life of Elijah the prophet, from the Old Testament. I love seeing what it might have been like for Elijah as he struggled to do what God asked in the face of great danger. It's easy to see from the Bible how he could have been emotionally wild in light of the circumstances of his life, but this paints an even more vivid picture.

2. Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale
I'll be honest - this is one of those books I feel like it would be good to read just because of all the hype around it. I've heard great things about it and I've heard it's a waste of time. I haven't opened it yet since I just got it last night, but I'll see how it goes.

3. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe
Another book with wildly mixed reviews, this I've most often heard described as "great, but difficult to read." I suspect from the description that it may be difficult to read in the way that the Poisonwood Bible was difficult, being in a similar setting. It's funny that I chose two books based in Africa this time around, but it just happened that way.

So in a few days I may be deep into one of these books, or I may be heading back to the internet to reserve more. We'll see.