On every vacation I've ever taken, I always have a book or two with me to fill the quiet moments. Though it is apparently now rare, I still frequently read for pleasure, and a cozy little house in midcoast Maine is the perfect spot for it. A cup of coffee, a sofa, and a good book are all anyone needs, according to Anthony Trollope. And this vacation is no different. I've been reading two books, and picked up a third while here at a local bookshop. The first is The Three Clerks, by Anthony Trollope. This is the current book in a year-long series that is the subject of bi-weekly zoom meetings from London, UK. While I have a fine print copy, I've been reading this one on my ancient 2nd generation Kindle reader. It's no longer fully functional, as Amazon stopped supporting direct connections to it some time ago. But the device works perfectly well, and I can patch it into my laptop to download free books from Project Gutenberg which provides open access text files that work with this old reader. So I've been plodding along with this novel, which is not my absolute favorite of all Trollope's works. It is the story of three clerks in the English civil service, and the trouble they get into- in relationships and in business.
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Even 15-year old Kindles have their place for avid readers |
Much more interesting is a book that was recommended to me by a reader of this blog. Mailman, by Stephen Starring Grant is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the operations of the US Postal Service. In 2020 when Covid started to change the world, Grant was a high earning consultant living in Blacksburg, Virginia but often travelling to NYC and other cities on business. But as the pandemic raged, he suddenly lost his job and was simultaneously diagnosed with cancer. With a family to support, he decided to take a job as a postal carrier in rural Appalachia. This book recounts his gripping experiences. From an intense training period, to a long period of learning the actual skills required on the job, this is an attention grabbing book that reveals the work we, the public, take for granted in our postal system. It is a huge and complex operation, and much more goes into delivering the daily mail - letters, bills, magazines, and parcels - than most of us think about. I have a new appreciation for the USPS, and those who do their difficult job well without the recognition they deserve.
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A fascinating look behind the curtain |
And finally, I've been reading a small volume I bought while here in Rockland. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is a timely book that addresses the current state of the country. Snyder is the Levin Professory of History at Yale University, and in this book he proposes 20 "lessons" to guide us as the USA goes through these dark days. Each lesson is accompanied by historical context and examples of what happens when despots rule unchallenged. A sobering and thought-provoking book.
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A thought-provoking book for this dismal period |