i work in a library, which is cool, because i like books. but i'm a cashier, which sucks, because people suck sometimes.
luckily for me, it's summer and it's been awfully quiet around the stacks lately. not many customers down here in the dungeon/basement where i work, either.
unfortunately, the crappy customers manage to find me no matter what.
i spent 15 minutes today trying to explain to a very hard-headed woman that 8 1/2" by 11" paper is called "8 1/2 by 11 paper" because those are the dimensions. i think some people refuse to understand simply because they like seeing me get frustrated explaining something ridiculous like paper. do other people have to put up with this kind of nonsense at their jobs?
new developments:
started reading The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger.
i actually caught wind of this book when i saw the preview for the movie. so of course i immediately went to the bookstore to find and buy it. at the time, i was also looking for a copy of My Sister's Keeper.
setting off into the fiction section at Barnes and Nobles, i realized that i had no idea who'd written either book, so i circled back toward information.
as i waited for a willing customer service associate to assist me, i pulled out a scrap of paper and a pen to jot the information down on. finally, a very worn out looking man made it back to the desk.
"can i help you?"
"i hope so. i'm looking for two books, but i don't know the name of either author."
"what are the two books?"
"My Sister's Keeper and The Time Traveler's Wife." my pen was poised, ready to take notes.
"let's see. Picoult wrote My Sister's Keeper, and the other was by Niffenegger. just give me a sec."
he dodged off, leaving me alone at the information desk. i watched his head bob off into the distance, circling around some displays at the front of the store, and then diving into the fiction area. two shakes of a lamb's tail later, he was back, handing me both books and saying, "that's two for two. best i've done all day, i think." and then he was on to the next customer.
i gaped after him. it may have been that both of my requests were just very popular books at the time--or maybe this guy really knew his stuff. either way, i was impressed.
and i've been pretty impressed by the book so far. it's Niffenegger's first novel, which leaves me even more impressed by her work. the book's lovely, and it kind of hits on those familiar themes we see a lot in literature--love, and unrequited love. however, it's got a bit of a spin, because in this case, Henry and Clare have each other. but Henry's a time traveler, and he has no control over when and where he goes. so while the two of them have each other, they often don't. i think what i especially enjoy about the novel is the idea that it is less focused on Henry, even though he is the obvious star of the story, and instead focuses more on Clare, who is continually being left behind.
the story is told from both of their points of view, which gives the reader a good idea of what Henry goes through each time he time travelers, and what Clare feels each time he reappears into and disappears from her life.
it's taking me a while to get through it--mostly because i keep stopping to contemplate some of the things that take place in the story. it's a lot to take in.
i've also started the fourth season of Alias, which i have to admit is not living up to my expectations. i think the only reason i keep coming back is because i just want to see the two main protagonists get it on. is that shallow?
i also purchased the newest Emery album. they're playing in Austin on the 31st--haven't decided if i'm going yet. the new stuff is a little heavy for my taste, but it's Emery, so i love it.
i'm also now officially broke. i need to stop buying books. maybe i should dust off that old library card?
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