She looked a question at me, and I said, "I'm always curious about where they come from." She replied, "I KNOW! Isn't it cool?"

This is my mother, mainly because it's actually what she does for a living. Back in the day, when I was looking at colleges, I'd mention one and she'd say, all knowlingly, "Ahhhh, [Insert OCLC code here]."

She replied, "I KNOW! Isn't it cool?"

I used to have the best time doing that -- it made me feel all smart by proxy. Like, I didn't go to MIT and get a doctorate in Advanced Nosepicking Physics, but I did get a book (for somebody else) from their World-Class Nosepicking Library!

(In my case, it was 99% academic, and you know it took me a year of working in human services research before I understood the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. So, although all the brainiac stuff rubbed off on my ego, it did not rub off onto my brains.)

These days most of my requests come from the statewide network, which can I say is awesome and seamlessly easy as requests go? (Massachusetts recently went from easy regional/difficult statewide to easy statewide, without anybody but wonks and librarians noticing.) All I have to remember is that I live in WEST Somerville, not east.

Glad to hear some love for Robber Bride. I'm in a reading slump - I didn't get very far in the book before putting it down because I'm just not in the mood to read. Tried picking up somethingl lighter, but The Thin Pink Line isn't working for me, either.

When the reading bug starts nipping at me again, I'll definitely continue with the Atwood.

I'm so tired I can't follow plot. My usual standby, really trashy novels, isn't working; I get halfway in and skim to the end. I've gotten several books I was looking forward to (notably The Grand Tour, sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia) and lost interest half-way through.

Come back, my reading Muse!

I'm so tired I can't follow plot. My usual standby, really trashy novels, isn't working; I get halfway in and skim to the end.

Be careful! This is precisely how I developed a reality tv addiction back when my mom was in the hospital. I had neither the emotional nor the physical energy to deal with books or with scripted tv.

Seriously, though, I know exactly what that feels like, and it sucks beyond the telling. At times I feel like I'm still struggling my way back from that place.

(Thanks to all who brought us the book club, which is really helping me rediscover the joys of reading challenging and new books. We're on the first book, yeah, but just the process of getting it all set up has really reinvigorated me.)

(Oh, and thanks once again to Theodosia, who so kindly Tivoed an entire half season of Angel for me back in the day since I couldn't watch even that.)

I was dubious about the book club at first, but I am now glad for it, for the same reasons that Brenda mentioned.

(eta: Brenda! Did you hear from your brother? Is he okay?)

Speaking of book club, I completely forgot to look for Asher Lev when I went to the library this morning. I did, however, check out so many books that I had to buy a second tote to lug them home (it's a half-mile walk from my house, so I figure I got the CV workout and the weights in this morning).

Yes, Anne, thanks! He's fine, but he said it was very weird to be boarding a plane while all the families were crowded around the airport trying to find out what happened to their loved ones. I wouldn't have wanted to be there.

Have you tried anthologies, Betsy? When I get in that state, I can sometimes follow a short story or essay all the way through.

I'm a sad individual. Reading the long list for the Booker Prize, I realize I've only heard of two of them and read none.

I know none of the books, and have only heard of a couple of the authors. Bah.