Okay, Back to THAT topic again

Reading.

This has been the year of reading for me. I think I have read more books in this last year than in the last 10 combined. I am not exaggerating. I really think that's true.

So I'm all hmm what sounds good to read next? And I get all like I'll get on the NYTimes website and check the best sellers list. So I go over there, and I see that it lists a book that caught my eye when I was last at Borders. (Now I realize the only reason it caught my eye is because it was right out front where they keep the... what?... the BEST SELLERS... but hey, what can I say. I thought it might be interesting because, after spending extended periods in two Muslim countries - though neither was nearly as strict as Iran - I thought I'd like to see how the women I met compare to the women in this true story.) The title is Reading Lolita in Tehran. So then I'm all wow, I was thinking I might like to read that. And it's on the best sellers list, so it must be pretty good.

So, I get it at the library. And I read the first 55 pages.

Too bad I didn't read this post over at Boy Makes Three before I got that far.

Now, granted, it didn't kill me or anything to read these 55 pages. I wasn't bored out of my mind. But as I read, I grew increasingly hopeful that somehow the story would pick up and get more interesting. But mostly, the whole thing seemed choppy and slow and I just wanted to know more than I was getting.

It came time to return the book to the library (after renewing it a few times) and I thought about renewing it again. But it just came down to the fact that I didn't like the book. So then I'm all what is wrong with you? Everyone else liked the book! For crying out loud, it's a New York Times Best Seller!!!

But I returned it. And with that, Reading Lolita in Tehran gets added to the long list of books that I have started but not finished - a list which I think says a lot about me, but I am not sure how much of it is good!

So I have this coupon for Borders that expires today and I am wondering if I should chance it with the other NYT Best Seller that I was eyeing. It's Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. I was looking for something to take on the plane with me, but I don't want another Reading Lolita. I am wondering if I just ain't the kind of person who likes the stuff that "everyone else" likes. Maybe I should try stilhoping's (the author of Boy Makes Three) method for book selection - picking the book with the best cover. Couldn't hurt.

Reading. Why do I try?

Now, jump ahead 8 hours. That's how much time has passed since I wrote the first part of this post and what is to follow.

Today was a major bummer in every way. Actually, this whole weekend has been very reminiscint of an Oreck XL. (I'll give you a minute to think about that. And did you click on the link? Cuz I'm thinking that dude's shoulders look too big for his head, don't you?) I might post about it if I feel like entering the pity-party genre. Regardless of whether I post, I just needed to get out of the house tonight. So I went out to do the grocery shopping (yippee!!!) and to purchase that book at Borders with my coupon.

But, alas, Dreams, is still not a reality, because I forgot to bring my coupon with me when I left. And you can be darn sure I am not paying full price for one of those awful New York Times Best sellers. So, it may be a book that I won't finish, but at least it's one I haven't started either!

Seriously, why do I try?

And here is a little aside from my evening:

While I am out, I remember that I need to buy a few more gifts to give to caretakers and such while in China. Of course, it's Sunday night, and not much is open. So I go to Meijer, the grocery/department store, so I can get the groceries and the gifts as well.

The list of gift ideas I had did me no good. I could buy the slipper socks, but I'd have to hope that the recipients don't see the huge "MADE IN CHINA" molded into the rubber bottoms. Or I could buy pretty hand towels, but who knew hand towels were $7 apiece! But really I am just looking for something simple that would be a nice compliment to the hand lotion I purchased last week. Aye, aye, aye.

So I am finishing up the grocery shopping when I see this white couple pushing two carts stuffed full of groceries... and Chinese kids. Three of them. And I think back to another recent post at Boy Makes Three, about seeing adoptive parents at the store and wanting to strike up a conversation with them. (Are we living parellel lives or something?) Only in my case, I wasn't as interested in talking about their kids, as much as I wanted to say, "Please, please, pretty please, will you help me find some appropriate caretaker gifts?"

Uugh. It has been a long day.

I go sleepy now. Tomorrow is a big day - STITCH REMOVAL!!! WOOHOOO!