dual personalities

Sometimes it seems I have nothing to read and sometimes I have piles of books demanding my attention. Feast or famine, you know? Right now I am in feast mode, having an abundance of reading material at my disposal. My DP gave me two Alan Furst novels for my birthday last month. I am currently reading The Polish Officer.

While ploughing through that pile of 1940s New Yorker magazines, I became acquainted with Hamilton Basso, who was an associate editor there for twenty years. He also wrote 11 novels, The View From Pompey’s Head being the most well-known. It spent 40 weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List when it was published in 1954. I think they made it into a movie. Anyway, I bought a used copy online and am reading it now and enjoying it.

I also have books that have been given to me by people at work…

…and books that I pick up at estate sales. I went to the used book sale last Saturday at Ladue Chapel, a prominent Presbyterian church in town, where I expected to find many treasures. However, I was disappointed with their selection. I did get a few things, including Nothing Daunted, the true story of two privileged Smith College grads who head west in 1911 and have their minds expanded by their experience teaching in a small Colorado school. I had been meaning to read it, so was happy to get a copy for 50 cents.

Well, I have stacks of books to read, but no time to read them. In the evening I am just too tired. Quelle conundrum. I mean really.

It is also alarming to note that the year is speeding by with alarming alacrity! Classes will be ending soon! Zut alors!

Speaking of calendars, I loved this:

Speaking of cartoonist, this about George Booth was interesting.

So what are you reading?