A Little Light Reading

A few weeks ago I put The Count of Monte Cristo on hold at the library. I've been on a kick to read the classics, and having a vague memory of the storyline from the movie, I thought it would be a fun read.

I finally got the notification that it was in, but when I went to pick it up I was in for a surprise. Nobody mentioned that The Count of Monte Cristo is 1200 pages long, and as a tome it's size rivals none other than The Holy BIBLE. The fact that the majority of my reading is done on the train while commuting to one place or another made Monte Cristo a less than practical choice, but I was determined. At the circulation desk they stamped my due date: Dec 1. 1200 pages by Dec 1. I had three weeks.

By Thanksgiving I was only at page 350. I renewed. New due date: Dec 22. I am now at page 500, and I have to admit that the story is thrilling. So many stories within stories, and I'm literally on the edge of my seat wondering how they will all weave back together. I do, however, have to carry the tome in it's own separate bag.

Last week on the train home from the office I was totally engrossed with The Count. I looked up occasionally to check the stop and noticed a man sitting across from me dozing. At one point he was startled awake by his bag falling off his lap. But no matter, I was enthralled in my book. As we approached Belmont the conductor announced that the train would be running express to Western. (While other people start grumbling and gathering up their belongings to switch to a local train, I love these surprise announcements because my stop is one after Western.) How convenient! I thought and went back to reading.

Bandits, buried treasure, clever witticisms, and danger all played themselves out deliciously in my mind, and the next time I looked up we were pulling out of the station AFTER mine! I inconspicuously gathered myself up and got off at the next stop. I couldn't believe I had zoned out so far that I hadn't even heard the conductor's announcement when we pulled into my station! Luckily there was a train already coming in the opposite direction.

Two stops later I got off, and who should alight with me? The sleeping man from the original train! Apparently we both missed our stop, and I silently gave him the "all for one, one for all" nod. If I ever see him again, I've got his back.