Slice of Life Day 5: Every Day is Book Day

A friend of mine posted to her social media story today: Happy World Book Day!

And I thought, what? How on earth did I, a certified Word Nerd, an avowed bibliophile, a lover of literature, a collector of both dust and paperbacks, miss something as significant as World Book Day!?

So being the card-carrying geek that I am, I looked it up, only to discover that World Book Day is actually on April 23, but it’s Book Day in the UK because the April date coincides with the Easter school holiday.

But then…why wait ’til April? Why not celebrate books any old day of the year? So, just as Winnie-the-Pooh takes the privilege of celebrating Unbirthdays, I shall take the privilege of celebrating Unbook Day. And to celebrate, I shall share the books in the queue on my nightstand.

First in Line. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (yes, the same author who wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper”). Imagine men discovering a civilization inhabited entirely by women. It’s…pretty much everything you’d expect it to be. Which is AWESOME. For what it’s worth, this book is a loaner from the very same friend who posted about World Book Day. She’s my reading co-conspirator #1.

Next Up. Minority Report by H.L. Mencken. I’ve always wanted to read this book, and my father-in-law happened to have this first publication copy. Still, that’s not the most amazing thing about it. You see, my father-in-law is in the beginning stages of dementia. But before that, he spent a life as an relentless learner. When he read, he would take copious notes. So I don’t just have the book itself, I have all of his notes, numbered and cataloged, as a window into his way of thinking. I can’t wait to spend time there.

Also Waiting its Turn. The Fish Can Sing by Halldor Laxness. I’m actually not sure about this one. A colleague of mine placed it in my hands and told me it wasn’t her cup of tea, but she thinks it might be mine. I promised her I’d give it a go. We’ll just have to see what happens.

But Wait! There’s More! I happen to be blessed with a window seat by my bed, which is the perfect spot for a makeshift bookshelf (you can see it up top). While such a “To Be Read” list looks daunting, it’s a comfort knowing I’m not in danger of being without something good to read. All those dear titles, so eagerly waiting their turn. Be patient, my pretties. I’ll get to you soon enough!