I'm in Minnesota on business this week, and I haven't had much time for blogging. I did manage to read a new book on the way out (The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse, which I loved, and will review when I get a chance). And somehow, I've ended up reading four other books at once this week. Here's the story:
Before I left home I was about 2/3 of the way through The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga. I'm enjoying that one (it's about to be released), but I didn't want to bring it on my trip because it's hardcover, and I'm pretty far into it, and it seemed an inefficient use of carry-on space.
So the night I got here I started reading Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, which I had ordered from Amazon because several people have included the third book in the series on their Best of 2006 lists, and I wanted to start at the beginning. I didn't get very far into it, however, because I fell asleep early. Travel always tires me out.
So the next night I went for a walk around the Mall of America before dinner, and was unable to resist a discounted copy of Ned Vizzini's Be More Chill (because I so enjoyed his newer book, It's Kind of a Funny Story). But then I had nothing else to read with me, so I started reading Be More Chill during dinner.
Then I got back to the hotel, and I noticed that the have this nice little library of books in the lobby, which guests are free to borrow. If you return the book to any hotel in the same chain, they make a donation to a literacy group. So how could I pass that up? Besides which, they had several copies of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which I've been meaning to re-read. So I thought, I'll just read this one while I'm here, and then I'll return it to this hotel, and I'm guessing I can still get the donation made to the literacy group. Only I didn't get very far before yet again falling asleep, so I may end up having to take it with me when I leave anyway.
And that's how I ended up, in the past five days, completing one book and starting four others, all of which I like and intend to finish. It's an addiction, there's no question about it. That's not counting the two non-fiction books that I'm part-way through at home, either. Does this sort of thing happen to you?
In other news, it's very fall-like here in Minneapolis this week. Living in California (but having lived in Boston for many years), I find it kind of nice. I'm just glad that I'm here now instead of in, say, February. Also, in case you haven't been here, the Mall of America is ludicrously big, but excellent for getting a bit of exercise from walking laps.
And now I find myself with two hours to kill at the client site, between classes that I'm teaching. At first it seemed like a long time (it's already late in the day, and it would be nice to go back to the hotel and read one of my several books). But then I realized that I have access to a computer with Internet access here, and I can work on my blog. So now the time seems, if anything, too short. Isn't it great to have something on which you love to spend your time?
© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.