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In pretty short order, you’re going to do something that might be one of the most important things you’ll do all year.

It surely will affect your life for the next 48 months.

As long as you’re 18 or over, a U.S. citizen, a resident of your state, legally competent, and not a convicted felon serving time, you can vote for the presidential candidate of your choice. Chances are by then, you’ll have weighed the pros and cons and you’ll know how candidates feel on certain issues.

But what do you know about the 43 men who’ve already held the position? Why not have some fun finding out? Pick up “The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents” by Thomas R. Flagel.

You read the news. You know what’s going on in the Middle East and you probably have a few opinions about it. But did you know that another U.S. President (coincidentally, another Texan) had even more controversy with another overseas war?

Stepping back to the previous administration and a certain affair that included a blue dress, you’re not surprised by Presidential dalliances. But aren’t you interested to know who elicited illicit time with past Commanders-in-Chief?

Depending on the outcome of current elections, we may have a First Gentleman in the White House, which will be a … uh, first. Unanimously, most historians name Eleanor Roosevelt as the most influential First Lady. Who are the others? You might be surprised.

We Americans value our freedom of speech, but just 90 years ago, that right was in question. In fact, at least twice in history, it was illegal to say anything bad about the President, and people were jailed for merely questioning the act that made it so. Find out more by reading this book.

From religious preferences (Eisenhower was Jehovah’s Witness as a youngster) to family embarrassments (James Madison’s stepson squandered the family fortune and left his mother nearly broke), from out-of-control debt (which rose over 4,000 percent during the Lincoln administration) to controversial elections (the 2000 election was not the worst!), this book will delight historians, current events fans, and anybody who likes small bites of trivia.

Which brings me to what I like best about this book: you don’t have to read it all the way from front to back. “The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents” is one of those books you can browse without guilt. Jump in and read about the Top Ten Notable Pardons and Commutations. Skip ahead and find out what Mary Lincoln’s son said about her in her later years. See who swam nude in the White House pool. Get information and addresses of Presidential museums and libraries. It’s all in here, making this a book that’s timely and fun.

If you’re eagerly awaiting election; if you love history, trivia, or both; or if you just want something light and quick to read during campaign TV commercials, “The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents” is just the ticket.

Something On the Side

You know how much you like to read, and sharing your most-loved books with your friends is one of your favorite things to do.

“So many books, so little time,” is your motto. Everybody knows your favorite places to be are at the bookstore and the library. And now you’re thinking about starting a book club or maybe just joining one.

Welcome to BGBC, where drama isn’t in the book club’s name — but it should be. In the new novel “Something on the Side” by Carl Weber, the members of this club could have written the book on love and betrayal.

Tammy loves her life. As president of BGBC (that’s Big Girl’s Book Club, where the only requirement for membership is to be a size 14 or over), she presides over the once-a-month meetings where she and several other women discuss a new book, as well as one another’s lives.

But right now, Tammy has a dilemma. Her husband, Tim, has a birthday coming up, and she wants to fulfill his deepest fantasy. She asks her best friend, Egypt, to help out, but Egypt is having nothing to do with giving her best friend’s husband a little sumpthin’-sumpthin.

Egypt has always been a little bit more choosy about her men, but she’s nothing like her sister, Isis. Isis was engaged a few years ago, but she gave the ring back because it didn’t look like Rashad really wanted to get married. Now Isis is pushing her Tony for a ring. Tony wants to move in with Isis first, but you know what they say about the buying the cow and free milk …

Speaking of free, there’s Coco, who doesn’t know the meaning of the word. She has an entire list of men who will pay her to sleep with them. It gets her bling, it pays the rent, and it sure beats a “real” job.

And then there’s Nikki and her roommate Tiny. For years, Tiny has been there for Nikki, and with support like that, Nik really doesn’t need a man around. Or does she?

Are the six women in this book group about to permanently shelve some friendships?

Looking for a boring, predictable book with a plot you can see a mile away? Then forget this one, because “Something On the Side” will surprise you over and over again with plot twists, character curves, and stunners all over the place.

Author Carl Weber is known for creating characters who aren’t as they seem, but just about the time you think you have them figured out, you learn that you don’t. Add in the fact that each of the ones in this novel could easily claim the title of “Drama Queen,” and you have a wild page-turner that’s downright fun to read.

Know that there’s some raunchy language and a few mildly graphic bedroom scenes here, so beware with whom you share. But if your book group is looking for something great for next month, you’ll want “Something On the Side” by your side.

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The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books.