The geeky joy of the library

When I was in high school, I used to work as a page at the Melrose Public Library. A page puts the books back on the shelves when they are returned. Being the raging nerd that I am, I often would wind up reading the books I was supposed to be putting away. I found all kinds of places to hide in that library, curled up with a good book and getting paid for it. Now it can be told.

I recently discovered the Leominster library when I took Boo for an event in the children's room. For you out-of-towners, it's remodeled and amazing. Just walking in, I got the familiar sniff of books and the lure of fast Internet. It filled a dork's heart with joy.

In these troubled times, got to find free stuff to do. I think the library fits the bill. Now I need to settle my bazillions of dollars in late fees, and maybe I can actually borrow some books.

Go buy Waiter Rant's book

I finished it last night. One of the finest books I've ever had the pleasure to read. It was happy, sad, funny, inspirational and educational, all at the same time. Check it out.

Best novels of all time

Just found this list.

I'm ashamed to say I've only read six of these great books: Huckleberry Finn, Jude the Obscure, Catcher in the Rye, Charlotte's Web, Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird. The good news is that only one of these (Lord of the Flies) was for school. I'm a huge Thomas Hardy fan -- Tess of the D'Ubervilles made me cry. When I used to commute into Boston, the T was my reading refuge -- I'd devour a book a week. I've had Les Miserables and the Complete Works of Shakespere on my bookshelf for years, and mostly they've been there to impress company. I've never read either. I like trashy books a lot, so I always think of those profiles where they ask the subject the last book they read. If they ever did one of those profiles on me, I would hope it would be something brainy I'd just read instead of Shopaholic Ties the Knot. (BTW, bad book, even for chick lit. I didn't even finish it.)