A "Downton Abbey" Snuggie Is Inevitable

Tara and I are unabashed in expressing our affection for "Downton Abbey," and apparently a large number of American viewers agree with us.

I am sure it's success has surprised many, and it would be easy to take an obvious shot at much of the television programming tossed our way these days (Hillbilly Handfishin'*--really???), but I'll just say that both the writing and acting is superb.

After recovering from the surprise, book publishers are leaping onto social networks to promote books that center around similar topics.

I think the publishers are correct that the "Downton" audience is a literary one--especially with the availability of the Kindle or Nook. Since getting our Kindles, Tara and I have definitely agreed that we read more often and more total books in the course of a year.

*Yeah, I realize that the show scored the most viewers of any debut in Animal Planet history. Sigh.