Dear readers,
I understand that the celebration of today’s ridiculous holiday does suggest the reading of material that is NOT Mid-Splend genius; however, should you decide to celebrate it with this flowing font of brilliance, I want to point out that I assume no responsibility for your laptop being in such close proximity to a pool of water. Should you drop it, I assume no liability, but reserve every right to laugh at you. With that said, let’s proceed.
Today is Read in the Bathtub Day, during which we celebrate both the metaphorical and literal soaking-in of material. I hope you have prepared your tub for this glorious occasion with a gentle scrub, since bath house availability may be limited in your area. Here are two relatively quick reads that I hope will have your mind rapt in the moisture of not only the tub, but of the literary content as well.
Hearts in Atlantis – Stephen King
This coming-of-age story of young Bobby Garfield is riddled with the mystery and suspense that King brings to most of his novels; but here, King replaces traditional shock and horror with conspiracy and paranormal activity, leaving readers with a more settled stomach than they might have had following Carrie or It. When Bobby meets a new house-guest, Ted Brautigan, he is intrigued by the man’s mannerisms, but mystery turns to action when the mannerisms become tied to the paranormal, and Bobby is caught in the middle of it all. He works to defend his elderly friend from demons while simultaneously attempting to quiet his own, all the while trying to grow up and live like a seemingly-normal boy. Hearts is wrapped in layers of fantastic writing, as you might expect from King – and hey, it’s one of the many of King’s works that ended up translating to film, so you can read the novel (actually, three novellas) and then watch the brilliant Anton Yelchin and Anthony Hopkins play the two lead roles in the film of the same name. It’s win-win.
The Giving Tree – Shel Silverstein
The Giving Tree is a story of a boy and a tree, as you might guess by the cover. It shows unselfishness and love toward another, and doing such, it has a message for both the child and the parent reading the story. For the parent, it helps to remind them that life passes by so quickly! Enjoy those around you every day. For the children, it shows them that those that love you will always support you in everything you do. Or maybe that trees talk. Or that their bodies can be used to create great literature. So in lieu of killing another tree, share a copy of this classic with a friend. Hey, if you’re talking about conservation of natural resources, taking the bath with a friend while reading a shared copy of this classic is a winning solution.