No Concentration

I’ve been sick at home for the past two days. You’d think that I’d have gotten all sorts of reading done, having not much else to do and not really being allowed outside despite the onset of glorious spring weather. I’d have thought so too.

There were many obstacles standing in my way though, not the least of which was the sleep demon. Funny thing about sick bodies – they really want quality rest. Reading is pretty slumber-inducing anyway, especially if you are bundled up and warm. I think I took no fewer than three naps per day, discounting regular bedtime snoozing. Since my eyes killed from pulsating sinuses, I thought I’d even attempt listening to an audiobook. It would have worked if I'd lasted longer than the first two tracks. Sure made for interesting dreams, though…

I also started quite a few books, but completely lacked the concentration to get further than 100 pages into any of them. Each page took twice as long to read too, because my eyes kept skipping from word to word, none of which were in a row.

One pretty good solution I came up with was to read a graphic novel, in this case Michel Rabagliati’s Paul Has a Summer Job. The author/illustrator, part of a vibrant local comic book scene, is pretty big in Montreal. I really liked it, which happily surprised me. I’d not normally classify myself as a graphic novel person (unlike, say, my hubby, who is a comic book freak). This one got to me.

The story takes place in the summer of 1979, and is about a fellow named Paul, who drops out of high school and tries to find a job. He ends up working in a summer camp for disadvantaged children. While he’s immature and seemingly out of place at the start of the season, by the end, he’s grown up, found love and (forgive the cheesiness) ‘inner peace’. I can’t wait to get to the other ‘Paul’ books when I finally get back to work.

I do believe I’ll be heading back tomorrow, despite the fact that I can neither talk nor swallow. Good thing blogs are silent.

Comments

[Kokil Jaidka]

Hey!
I found your blog while doing a search on Bookless in Baghdad. I often wonder what to read next, and you've made that problem much easier for me by your lucid and entertaining write-ups.

I'm gonna keep coming back for more! :)

[Squeez]

-do-