book...

Even though my library gives me 3 weeks to read a book, I (apparently) am not capable of living within that timeline.  Some books, I just renew over and over and (finally) get through them.  But when the book is on hold by eleventy-hundred other people, they won't let you renew it to your heart's content.  NO renewals at all...  Those party poopers over at the library think that EVERYONE should have a shot at reading that same (MY!) book.

So it was that I found myself with my book already due, and me only 100 pages into it.  Now, I loved this book (The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng).  It was a debut novel, but nominated for the Booker Prize.  It was the story of a young Eurasian man, set in WW2 Penang, Malaysia.  He is trying to both save his family (and family business) and serve his sensei (a Japanese spy, it turns out) by working for the Japanese during the occupation AND betraying them by using the information he has to save many people. It is beautifully written and the characters are very well-drawn.  

Getting back to my point...I spent a couple of days devoting myself to getting the book read, so that I could turn it in with only 2 days worth of fines (= 50 cents).  Cheaper than going out and buying the book and less frustrating than waiting several more months to get the book back from the library.

Well worth it...

Comments

[violetismycolor]

Absolutely WORTH reading. I wanted to finish it so that I could recommend it to my book group. One must have read the book, the whole book, to recommend it to my group to read. SO, now I know that I can heartily recommend the book AND get the joy of rereading it. Double win for me.

[Tan Twan Eng]

Hello,

Came across your blog. Hope my book was worth the rush reading it!
:-)

With warmest wishes,
Tan Twan Eng