I got a library card! It’s been, like, a decade since I’ve been to a public library. Usually I buy books (I’m a hoarder and a collector), but that habit is an expensive one for somebody who’s only a part-time contractor. Thus when I was in the bookstore the other day, I decided to pause before laying down $60 AU for the Lemony Snicket box set. I mean, I don’t even know if I’ll like the stories or not! (I know a bunch of y’all have recommended them, but I hated Artemis Fowl and didn’t want to get burned.) So I decided to track down the Newtown public library. Twenty-four hours later I’ve got my card and my book! The only negative about the whole experience was the librarian… an ill-tempered, sullen, red-headed, uh, “little person”. (Yes, she was a dwarf.) As I am a giant, I’ll leave you to imagine that encounter. Meanwhile, I gots books to read!
Max
June 20, 2002 — 2:46 am
Can’t wait to hear your opinion of the Snicket books, Kris. I finished number 8 two days ago, meaning I’m waiting until October for number 9 to hit the stores. I think you’re going to enjoy them–they’re a lot of fun in a really wicked, lightheartedly sadistic (!) way.
I’ve been tempted to read the Artemis Fowl stuff–what didn’t you like about it? I trust your opinion in this genre.
Jenny
June 20, 2002 — 3:18 am
Definitely..I’ve had the Snicket books in my hand several times, but have yet to read any. I need something to distract me.
Tricia
June 20, 2002 — 6:34 am
Congratulations on the library card!
As the daughter of a librarian, I am very proud of you. I am disappointed by your bad experience with the librarian, however. I know that my mom has fought that negative “shh” stereotype all of her career, and sees her job as a way to instill a love of books and understanding of research techniques in the children she teaches.
I hope the Newtown librarian (if she is the real librarian and not just a clerk) hasn’t spoiled the library for others. I can’t go into a library without going back to my childhood, especially summertime, when vacation meant summer reading programs and long hours where I could do nothing but read…
rdh
June 20, 2002 — 9:06 am
Dont do like ya did when you were younger, you know check out books at the library and then forget to return them. There probably a wanted poster of you in a library somewhere at this very moment.
Kris
June 20, 2002 — 11:37 am
Max – I gotta be honest with ya. I’m not loving the first Snicket book at this point. I’ve laughed at some of the wordplay and stuff, but I’m just not finding the “lightheartedly sadistic” stuff very funny. People think Dahl’s stuff was dark, but the good little protagonist always won in the end. I think I’m too much of an optimist to find it funny when three kids just get shit upon for an entire book. (Actually, by the looks of it, 13 books. Good Lord. I’d have committed suicide by then.) I reserve the right to change my mind, though, if the ending redeems it.
Mama Snook predicted my reaction to the Snicket book quite accurately. She knows I don’t like stuff that’s overly negative. That’s why I didn’t like Artemis Fowl (and she did). I found it overly violent and not very funny, and I didn’t like a single character in it. (Well, I kinda liked the centaur technician guy, but that’s it.) And the whole gimmick of the books is that it’s, like, an evil genius who also happens to be a child. I would’ve expected them to play with that more. Instead the fact that he’s a kid has almost no bearing on the story. (Ma Snook will disagree, because of the thing about his parents. But I still don’t feel that he was in any way accurately portrayed as a kid.) I think mostly I was upset because they were kinda marketed as “books-to-fill-the-Harry-Potter-void”, and they’re NOTHING like Harry Potter. I guess I’d still say give ’em a try and see what you think. If you liked Snicket, you might like Artemis.
Tricia – Hey, Mama Snook’s a librarian too! I love librarians. I don’t think the Newtown one was mean all around necessarily. I think it had to do with me being A) American and B) a giant. But sometimes I get that.
Yeah, yeah, Dad. Snook’s already reminded me that I have to return them. 🙂