Summer Synopsis of a Reading Recluse

Looking at the date of my most recent post on this blog, I hope you’re not thinking I gave up on reading for the summer. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Perhaps I was bound so tight to the pages of my summer reading that I did not get the chance to write. Each time I could, I picked up a book instead. Not a bad thing, but neglectful nonetheless.

July 23rd was my last post. It was a review of my cousin’s play that we attended the reading of. I’ve debated the depth of reviewing an audio book…the stage reading was like a 2 ½ hour abridged, live audio book. I think I need to review my self-inflicted rules; namely eliminating all of them except to keep this blog about literature. Maybe that’s why it was called “Language Arts” in elementary school…

It’s like opening a can of worms now. As I mentioned earlier much of my summer free time was spent in a book, or listening to one. If I were to write a review of each one, it may come across as spam. (Nevermind the time it would take away from the books I’m into now.)

A fair warning to all or any, audio books are addicting. I would rather give up my Netflix, soymilk, and perhaps Jack, then my subscription to Audible.com. Unemployment paid me enough to do all, but Jack – he’s really not going anywhere! With each month subscription you get a free credit; it’s like having a free book (even though the subscription pays for it, it’s still cheaper than buying it outright). And you can accumulate them for a few months, so it’s kind of like a savings account too!

Audio books allow me to get stuff done around the house. Once upon a time I drove 45 minutes to work one-way. I would listen to a book a week. Now I drive 5 minutes, but still feel the need to listen to my books. The summer is perfect for this. I would sit at the beach with my headphones on and listen to Carolyn McCormick narrate. On my way home, especially if there was traffic, I’d continue to listen. But most of all, the idea that I could read and do dishes or vacuum indulged me into more James Patterson and introduced me to Stuart Neville who wrote, ‘The Ghosts of Belfast.’ It also gave me a chance to listen to other books such as, ‘Fatally Flaky’ and ‘Love & Lies’ (by Diane Mott Davidson and Kimberla Lawson Roby respectfully) that I had downloaded awhile ago. These were just the tip of the scale for my indulgent summer.

So my summer actual reading list….maybe I should work backwards, or in no order. Middle of the spring time I caught wind of Harlan Coben. I took advantage of my new library card and indulged in “Long Shot” and a Supper Murder Mystery series book, “Chile con Corpse” by J.B.Stanley. Each book burned in my hands like money in the pocket. The library gives 3 week loans; the books were returned within the week.

I was back for more. I could not find any more by Stanley but, there was another Coben on the shelf. Over the summer months, and mostly on the sand, I read at least 3 of Coben’s Myron Boliter books. Definitely not in order; the older ones are harder to come by. I’m still working on obtaining them though.

I felt like I needed to take a hiatus from the library. I didn’t want them to start to recognize me and I felt like I needed to ration my reading. It was taking control over my social life. “Hi, I’m 27 and single. I didn’t go out at all this weekend because I couldn’t put my book down to answer a text or 10.” Warning sign. Then I went to my parents’ to do laundry and my mother hands me the popular ‘A Girl With a Dragon Tattoo.’

I remember her passing it along to me the weekend after the fourth book by Stieg Larson was released on Audible.com. I commented to her about it, and she continued with the struggle to get into the first book. That’s all I needed. I am not one to read a book because everyone else does. I prefer to seek a book because of a review, an appreciation of the topic, or a fan of the author. However, the challenge was all I needed to peel the cover open and soak up the rays with the book in my hand. I gave it back the following Tuesday or Wednesday. I have yet to read the sequels (nor has anyone challenged me to), but I really enjoyed Larson’s poetic justice and creation of a place and lives seemingly so real. I look forward to picking up the next few.

Maybe I’ll get them from the library. Just recently I learned how to reserve / request books online at my local library. I guess other states (or because RI is so small, other counties) have something similar. The network of libraries in RI allows me to search the entire database, request the book online. It is pulled and sent to my local library and they leave me a message that the book will be waiting for me until a certain date. Certainly doesn’t seem like the library I grew up with! But then again, this September was the first I tried the feature.

The book I requested was ‘Nine Hills to Nambonkaha’ by Sarah Erdman. She chronicled her time with the Peace Corps in Africa. I have given much thought to this path myself and the end of August always makes me want to be smart and dive into school again. This book was my fix for the month, or really six weeks. I wasn’t sure how the whole ‘reserve’ thing worked so I browsed the library before approaching the desk. In my travels I found a Coben “Boliter series” that I hadn’t read yet. That book delayed me beginning ‘Nine Hills’ by a week and a half. Fortunately my library also allowed me to renew online. Fabulous!

I have to admit though; I did not finish ‘Nine Hills.’ The print was small and tight. The word “intrusive” comes to mind; not sure why and maybe a post to follow up those thoughts. Looking back I see it as my transition book. I love to spend my summers delving in fiction/beach-reads and during the fall/winter I find myself obsessed with the non-fiction type.

The transition allowed me to pick up a book I’ve owned for too long without reading. It was a book I bought through Amazon.com after reading a story about the author on cnn.com. (It’s not the first, and I’m sure not the last book I’ve purchased from amazon.com via cnn.com.) It is called ‘Escape’ and it’s about a woman who escaped a polygamist sect with her children in tow. I am sure there will be more to follow as I stayed up last night after leaving my date at the door to read more of her tale.