How a book can get me to read it in 19 seconds

I don’t spend a lot of time picking out a book to read but its got to grab me in some way because there are so many books to choose from.  Like the bumper sticker that laments "so many books, so little time..."

Some times its just the cover that makes me want to read it.  But usually I read the inside cover flap as well as the back cover to get a “read” on the book.  

There's not a lot going on on the front cover of Michael Faber's "The Courage Consort" so I took a look at the back cover which stated “Faber’s writing is chaste, dryly humourous and resolutely moral.”   Sounds like something I could use right about now.

On page one, we meet Catherine:

“....she actually opened the window and sat on the sill, wondering if four stories was enough to make death certain.  She didn’t fancy the prospect of quadriplegia, as she hated hospitals, with their peculiar synthesis of fuss and boredom.  Straight to the grave was best..”


I dove right in.  So far so good.

"Wired" has feet

This is my quest to check out the Wired Magazine from the downtown Victoria public library.  Easier said than done. 

I've been a library patron my whole life thanks to my mom who instilled in me the love of bookstores, libraries & all things books.  So when I decided I wanted to check out a copy of “Wired” from the library it should have been the usual simple transaction.

It all started when Wil Wheaton twittered about the latest  mystery issue of "Wired".    I love a good mystery so thought I'd check it out.  

I’ve been checking out the magazine ever since. 

While in a hospital waiting room recently, I picked up the April 2009 back issue of Wired and again was enjoying almost every article.  I thought of scooping it when I left since it was a 6 month old issue, who would miss it?  But, alas, my mother instilled honesty in me, too, so I just couldn’t do it.  heh

My next errand was downtown and I dropped by the public library to check out the April 09 Wired so I can continue reading the articles.

Up to the second floor to the back of the magazine racks to find the W section.  No Wired.  Must be here somewhere.  

oh, there's a sign: "For Wired magazine, see front desk".  Ok, back to the front desk.  

"Hi, I'm trying to find the April 09 issue of Wired".    

Clerk: "May I see some ID?"

HAHA?!  What!!??  "Seriously??".  "Sure, here's my library card."    

He finds the issue for me but doesn't hand it to me.  Not sure what he was waiting for I said, “I think that's it, I'll just take the one magazine."

Clerk: “Oh no, you can’t leave the library with it”.

“WHAAAaaaa?”  

We’re not talking some ancient texts from the Roman era here….  But apparently Wired magazine has a reputation for walking out the doors on its own.  They won’t even entertain the idea of taking down my Mastercard # because its too much of a hassle. Chances are too great I won’t return the magazine.

so, yes, I’m considering getting a Wired subscription for myself......reading it online just wouldn't be the same...