Unfortunately, my office didn't close for Columbus Day, so I'm stuck at my desk. But I started Penny Vincenzi's Sheer Abandon on Friday night and have ben enjoying my jaunt through England. While at work I sneak pages of Ted Kerasote's Merle's Door, which has been transporting me to the American West.

Still in Botswana with Mma Ramotswe, which is just fine. On a much more uncomfortable note, the caves close to Peshawar in The Looming Tower: The Road to 9/11.

Camus. Picked a novel at random, "The First Man", his last novel or what was intended as a trilogy, apparently. It has the most amazing opening paragraph I may have ever read. I can't read more than a few pages without getting full of writing ideas myself; the man is (or was) extremely inspiring and talented. It's more like poetry than prose. His use of footnotes to intentionally break his own rhythm is just a beauty to behold.

"Witch's Trinity" by Erika Mailman is a darkly seasonal piece of historical fiction set in the back hills of Germany in 1503... A nice contrast to all the glamour pieces about princesses and such; also a cool lead-in to All Hallows...

I enjoyed reading The Time Traveler's Wife for the second time. I usually don't like love stories, but this one is so all-consuming. I think about the characters everytime I put the book down. Also one of the few books that brings tears to my eyes (and at multiple times). I wish more books were so realistic and romantic at the same time.

Certainly no place as fun as any of you! Not only am I at work-the university does not close for Columbus Day either-but I am neck-deep and close to drowning in Heidegger's, "Being & Time", and "Philosophical Writings of Peirce" for classes. I'm counting down to Thanksgiving & Winter break not for the holidays themselves but because I get to read for the sheer pleasure of it; something I miss terribly during the semesters. (Why, oh why, did I wait until my 40s to go to college??) But, all of you give me great material to chose from....

I live in California, where many of us consider it racist to celebrate Columbus Day. Here in Mendocino County, our high Native American population sure doesn't want to celebrate the "discovery" of a continent they have been living on for over 12,000 years. I was annoyed that the post office was closed.

I didn't have a long weekend either (and also feel wary about celebrating the "discovery" of land that was already occupied. But, I did do alot of reading this weekend - reading "The New Influencers" by Paul Gillin about the new social networking media on the internet. Feeling quite "old" pushing 40 now, I decided that I need to learn about how younger (and increasingly older) people are using the internet in entirely new ways. I've been feeling so behind the times! Wish I was reading something more enjoyable, but there's something, I suppose, that is enjoyable about learning something new!

I went to a wedding (also didn't have Monday off) and I read The Year of Living Biblically, and Thursday Next: First Among Sequels.

Those of you who have commented on the political incorrectness of Columbus Day are quite right... but somehow, I could not find the strength to hie myself downtown to my office...

Columbus Day should be remembered as one of those major chapter changes that underscore the messiness of history; "Dogs Of God" by James Reston and "Conquest" by Hugh Thomas are 2 books which show why neither cele bration or 500-years-late lamentation is the proper headspace in which to think about this..

In retrospect, I feel like my posting about Columbus Day was a bit harsh. I certainly don't want to condemn anyone for spending a harmless day at home reading. That's a good use of one's time. But I do wish to note that in California this is not a day off and I wish the feds would get with the program and dispense with this "holiday" too. I went to a beautiful wedding (too!) on Saturday and have been ensconced in Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union in my meager spare time. Have to finish it ASAP tho, coz it's due back at the library! (visit me on the web at wozabooks)

How about swapping Columbus day for Halloween? It's the only other holiday Americans take seriously aside from Christmas and the 4th...

Coming from the retail end of the book industry, I worked the whole weekend, suggesting my favs. But I was able to get away to Sweden at night with Ake Edwardson's great police procedural,Never End.