Dilemma

Our recooperating pal Tamara Siler Jones comes in at #4 on the Locus Recommended 2004 First Novels Reading List.

I use all Locus Recommends This Stuff as reverse shopping lists -- I won't read anything that's on them -- and as a result have saved myself a fortune in analgesics (I do the same with the Nebula, Hugo, and Campbell winners.) At the same time, two friends whose reading opinions I trust implicitly have already recommended I read Tambo's novel Ghosts in the Snow.

Therein lies the dilemma: I want to read the book; I refuse to purchase anything* Locus endorses. I'm not going to do that thing where I say I never read it but the spouse did, either. It never sounds convincing when you guys say that to me.

Anyway, I like Tam. I've been meaning to link to her weblog all month. And it's not like she deliberately tried to write one of the best novels of 2004, right? There's a very slim chance she might not win the Campbell.

Okay, so if I swear you guys to secrecy . . .

*The Susanna Clark doesn't count; I didn't get past page 84. No one else wanted it, so her book is holding the laundry room door open now.