Books, Book, and More Books (and a Little Bit of Work Mixed in)

It seems like all I've been doing since I've been home is reading. I've finished nearly 3 books since I've gotten home from Tech and that's in addition to the 3-4 books I read in the week/week and a half in between my last final and coming home. It's getting ridiculous. So Saturday morning I'm heading into Martin Memorial Library in town and borrowing about 3 books to get me through the 3-week circulation period they have. I have some planned, but I won't share yet because the fact that I already have my library trip all planned out is just a little too nerdy for me.

Atonement was absolutely amazing. The movie's been added to my list at Netflix, but I've been warned that if you read the book first, the movie is sorely disappointing. Eh, we'll see. But the book is beautifully written...just a wonderful mixture of beautiful language, intelligent and related literary elements, and just a wonderful story. I'm not a spoiler so I won't say how it ended, but when I finished it (after staying up until 3:30 am because I could NOT bear going to sleep without reading the end) I laid there for a while letting it all sink in. I think this is one of those that stays with you for a while, being re-read every so often.

I'm currently working on (and almost finished with) The Other Boleyn Girl, a totally different kind of book. Historical fiction (with lots of sex) relating to the Boleyn sisters. Word on the street is that the movie has even more sex than the book, which I can't even imagine. But it really is a good story and a wonderful book for summertime. It seems long when you first look at it but it really is a fast read...about a week for me. I'm excited to see how it ends.

All of this reading is mixed in with work stuff. We've been doing research for oral histories and I think the man that I'm researching is one of the most dreadfully dull people...he's one of those that you just roll your eyes at. He's a crazy stickler for the rules and almost every time he speaks on the House floor it has something to do with a Parliamentary Inquiry or something about "how things should be." He never really introduces any fun legislation or anything (although he did suggest that right turns on red should be legal...fun stuff, eh?).

We went to the House floor on Tuesday to sit in on session with Wally, the head page. He made it fun; he knew everything about everybody...and he's working on me, trying to get me to vote for Obama. I don't see it happening, but it's sure as hell funny watching him try. But really...being a State Legislator is about the cushiest job there is...make a whole bunch of money, have other people push your button for the roll call votes, and stand around in little circles and gossip all day. It would be insanely amusing if my tax money wasn't going to their insanely high salaries.