The Idea Blog

I love to read.

I’ve never been one who could read an hour a night, just before bed, continuing a story for weeks a chapter or more at a time.

I do better when I can read for hours at a time, in one sitting, preferably outdoors, maybe even on a beach.

During much of December Betty and I visit Sanibel Island in SW Florida. It’s quiet, and we know no one (both of those are good things).

And we come to read. No golf, no guests or visitors, just books and (some) DVD’s (this week we’re watching the first season of Friday Night Lights - what a good show), a few good wines and lots of time. Perfect.

First up for me was Bel Canto, a novel by Ann Patchett, which I learned about from a recent John Updike article in The New Yorker.

It’s the story of a kidnapping, terrorist-style. But that description doesn’t do it justice. It’s sort of about the Stockholm Syndrome, but not really. It’s kind of about the healing power of music, but, well…

Bel Canto is really about great writing, imagination and character and plot. And here’s one of my highlighted passages:

“How much luck is one person entitled to in one night? Does it come in a limited allotment, like milk in a bottle, and when so much as been poured out then only so much is left? Or was luck a matter of the day, and on the day you’re lucky your are limitlessly lucky?” (p. 260, Perennial trade paperback edition)

I’ve moved on to reading the first three books of Philip Roth’s Nathan Zuckerman group - enjoying those too - now collected in the Library of America series. I doubt I’ll do a number of book reports this season, but for me it’s clear: a great vacation is one with books.