hi. it’s monday. we’ve passed a healthcare reform bill that, i’ll be honest, i don’t understand. i had a really bizarre dream last night that involved me renting a house that someone else was already living in with a very substandard stove while i attended wellesley to get a degree in fencing. so, to combat all this madness, let’s talk about books.

next week, on wednesday the 31st, we will begin our first book trail discussion of the new year. (so exciting.) if you haven’t started reading more than human by theodore sturgeon, you still have plenty of time. go get it. right now. i wouldn’t want you to miss out on a book with a bang-up beginning like this:

the idiot lived in a black and gray world, punctuated by the white lightning of hunger and the flickering of fear. his clothes were old and many-windowed. here peeped a shinbone, sharp as a cold chisel, and there in the torn coat were ribs like the fingers of a fist. he was tall and flat. his eyes were calm and his face was dead.

it has also been suggested that you avoid reading any sort of review or summary or thing of that nature—just dig into the novel itself and go. it’s going to be a great discussion, especially if you join in.