Summer reading

Tonight I ventured to the lovely public library to:
a) return my embarrassingly overdue books
b) check out more books to maintain the overdue tradition, and
c) continue my now-annual light summer re-reading of (wait for it...) the Harry Potter series.

Did you realize I was such a nerd? Don't answer that. The truth is, I allow myself to relax and read "comfort" books during the hazy days of summer. Like comfort food, comfort books are familiar, filling, and predictable. There's no risk of the unexpected, and mental exertion is kept to a minimum. I love getting cozy with a well-worn book in the afternoon, drifting into a light doze, and awaking to pick up at the exact same sentence, no re-orientation necessary.

This doesn't mean that I completely rule out new and more literary options (my current recommendation is Jeffrey Eugenides oddly touching and often unsettling anthology, My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead.) But my main goal during the summer is to relax, devour easy pages and take things a little less seriously than I usually do.

So when I go to the library to check out the next volumes of my light reading, on a night specifically set aside for me to read/sleep at my leisure, and all the copies are checked out, I have to improvise. My first thought?..."Well, this is the perfect time for me to pick up one of the titles on my 'Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet' list." And, I happened to land in the Fal-Fea aisle, bringing me to The Sound and the Fury (quite the leap from Harry and his Hogwart's pals). I haven't battled with Faulkner since American Lit. And I'm a little nervous because last time I'm pretty sure he won...wish me luck.

Lesson of the night? Gas prices and stamps aren't the only commodities creeping up in price. The unfriendly woman at the desk wouldn't let me walk out with the book until I paid my exorbitant late fees. $11 people! And I've lived here less than a year! And to think that not too long ago, a few nickels would settle the score..