objet trouvé

On The Mall

After a very slow start to my day and finishing my article from the game I went to last night, I made my way up to DC. My timing was such that I had planned to make the last hour-and-a-half of the book fair I mentioned yesterday; however, due to Metro delays, I got up there for the last 40 minutes. It took me twice as long to get into DC as it does normally from the end stop on Metro.

I know it's not a normal day when I see various protesters getting and off of trains, seeing various signs they were carrying. I gave one guy directions to Union Station.

National Book Festival

The National Book Festival on the Mall is where I'm planning to be tomorrow. I've never been, but I'm curious to see what it's all about. It's put on by the Library of Congress. Here's a list of the authors supposed to appear.

Here's the pavillions they will have and the schedule of events.

In honor of that, I hope to finish another book today.

I hope, also, to slip by the new World War II memorial too, as I haven't gotten to see it up close. I have gotten a couple of glances out of my car window driving by. I was there when they dedicated the ground where the memorial is located.

Anyway, I hope I come out of it with an interesting experience and some decent pictures as well.

Updating Books

I believe I'm somewhat behind, but I just finished book 30 earlier today--The Simple Faith Of Mister Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth. Very good, sprinkled throughout by various quotes that either she was fond of, or ones that struck a chord with Mr. Rogers. I found it to be quite heartwarming to read.

I've updated my books sidebar to delete the upcoming/not-yet-read books. The section will include only the books that I've completed in full. I'll make separate entries for upcoming books, such as what you'll find after the jump (some of those titles, by the way, may be recognizable from what I had on my sidebar--books I had good intentions to start and complete but got sidetracked on other books, other things). And, if anyone feels there's one I shouldn't miss, let me know, any of these can be preempted at any given time depending upon my mood.

Author, Author

Checking out The Simple Faith Of Mister Rogers last Monday, I learned that the woman who wrote the book--Amy Hollingsworth--is a frequent visitor to the library where I checked out her book. It's actually been an interesting read.

While out on the Eastern Shore last Thursday, I stopped at a local (non-chain) bookstore there and bought two books on the local history. One of them--True Tales Of The Eastern Shore--was written by Kirk Mariner. As I was purchasing the books, the woman ringing up my purchase (they just got one of those new-fangled barcode scanners that was giving her a hard time) told me the author was actually in the store. Not being crowded, it was easy to pick Kirk out; he was sitting in back sipping coffee and reading the New York Times. I introduced myself and got him to sign my book. The stories in this book were, for the most part, stories he wrote in a local newspaper column before putting them in book form. He's written nine books in all--eight of them having something to do with history on the Eastern Shore. He's a shore native and also a Methodist minister.

Finished

In one word: Wow

Leah's right. Half-Blood Prince is a great book. I just finished last night. I'll no doubt re-read it. More thoughts on it later.

Halfway Home

I'm halfway to my goal of reading 52 books this year. The Perfect Mile was book 26 I've read this year. I'm a little behind schedule, but I'm confident I can make my goal. I like books like the one I just read, where it reconstructs events of the past. This one, I thought, was done well because it didn't just focus on one person (it gave insight into the main contenders, and their motivations, for breaking the 4:00 mile barrier), nor did it end when one of the three main contenders actually broke 4:00.  Well done.

I came up with another reading goal last night. The next time I undertake a challenge like this, I want to get all my books from the UK. I remember seeing so many different bookshops in London and I want to explore the titles in those. I could have easily hauled back a ton of books from my last visit. If I get the chance to do this, I'll ship most of the books home to have them waiting for me.

Other things I'd like to do (not really having to do with books, but they are things I want to achieve):
* walk the beach to the North Carolina state line
* ride in a hot air balloon
* cover a World Cup
* cover a summer Olympics
* drive cross country and back
* visit Key West
* write a book with some kind of soccer theme
* watch a sunrise on the East Coast and a sunset on the West Coast in the same day
* go camping
* travel Spain (travel almost anywhere is a given!)
* play tennis on a grass court

I'll add more to this, and eventually, put together a comprehensive list of things I want to accomplish. For now they'll appear in scattered entries.

Books On Tap

These aren't books you'll find at a bar, just ones I'll be reading next (even as I've got many more I haven't touched on my sidebar. I've still got my goal, but I haven't finished a book in over a week.

I'll get around to updating that sidebar on the weblog, but in the meantime, here's the list:

Half-Blood Mania

I don't understand the stink the publishers of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have with books that are somehow leaked early to the public.

I've got my order, which is supposed to be delivered Saturday. I waited in line at one of those midnight madness sales for the last book, but, even as I understand how people might want to be in suspense about the book and its contents, you'd think, judging by the reactions of the publishers and the author, that stores "accidentally" selling the book early would get some kind of publisher's death penalty for having done so.

No more books for you!

Shoot, in Canada, a judge's order prevents people who "accidentally" received the book from talking about it. Or what? What law would these people be breaking? An instant law made up by one judge?

Put it this way, if I saw the book out before its release date, and it was a book I wanted, I'd buy it, and I'd talk about it too. I think the law would be on my side. I would have legally purchased the book, and I have a legal right to free speech. I don't think the Patriot Act would prevent me from discussing who dies, and other plot revelations, in the new Harry Potter book. It's not a national security issue. Sanction me? Fine me? Jail me? For what? And why would I voluntarily return the book, even if I'd get special perks as a result? I didn't do anything wrong, and I wouldn't feel guilty in the least about keeping a book that "accidentally" was sold to me before its release date.

As for the bookseller, the sanction for them won't be a legal one, at least I wouldn't think. It would be bad publicity for everyone, though the publisher would likely be less inclined to grant favor to that bookseller on future books coming to that store. I guess it's similar to when a public figure doesn't like coverage he/she is receiving. They cut off, or  severely limit access to the "offending" outlet.

For all parties involved, lighten up. It's a book. A popular one, yes, but just a book nonetheless.

Mini Beach Break

I secured Friday off from work, so I plan to take a break this weekend, spending three days down in Virginia Beach. I'm actually going to take in a couple of soccer matches (Friday evening and Sunday afternoon) and meet with someone while at one of the games to work on a story. But I'll get in plenty of much-needed beach time too. I know a couple of areas down there that usually aren't as congested as the main part of the city, so I'll likely hit those places.

My Thoughts On An Anonymous Collection Of Short Stories

My thoughts on a collection of short stories by someone I know. I'm not stating the book or the author for now, not because I'm slamming the book (quite the contrary), but because I try not to draw too many connections between what I do here, and what I do (or associate with elsewhere). If anyone's curious about the book, you know how to reach me.