Escape to Beantown

It’s hard getting back into the saddle. What saddle? Why, the vanity blogging saddle, of course!

Dave (and others *cough* mum *cough*) like to tease me about they way I set priorities, but look who is laughing now! Ha! Actually, I’m not sure that I’m laughing all that much. I honestly love the work I do at the clinic; but boy, do I do a lot of work! They don’t call it an intensive program in poverty law for no reason.

I can definitely see how the working Joes and Janes of the world find themselves spending post-work evenings planted in front of the telly. Regardless of whether or not you love your work, it’s easy to feel beat after you punch out.

Despite following all the rules: eating well, working out, indulging in simple pleasures (beyond just watching the tube), I was burning out. I needed a break; and so I took one.

Yes, friends, I write from my vacation in…Boston! I cannot wait until my vacation destination stops being so darn predictable! Just a few more months till frequent getaways to Boston (and only Boston) will be a thing of the past. Sure, I love the Boston area, but it would be nice to have a little variety in my travels. Oh yeah, and living in the same place as my better half would be a bonus too. 😉

Technically, this little “vacation” of mine is an institutional “Reading Week”. I, of course, always manage to take the reading out of the week and infuse it with a whole lot of break instead. So much for finishing up the academic component of this term while away from my casework!

“…away from my casework!” Ha! I was unable to finish all the pressing work on my files before I left for Boston last Friday, so I had remotely login into my work account through Citrix and draft a lengthy legal aid opinion letter on Monday. Ah, the joys of technology! Oh well, at least I know my efforts are for a valuable cause. For what it’s worth, I love my job and think that it is worthwhile. I could be spending my days (and evenings) doing worse things.

I would be lying to you if I said that I haven’t been reading at all. I haven’t been working much this week, but I have been reading. I brought some Virgina Woolf down with me, but I ended up guiltily indulging in the fifth book of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, The Full Cupboard of Life.

Not everyone loves reading about the adventures of Precious Ramotswe; many (including my best friend, a voracious reader) find the series hokey, even trashy. I agree that Alexander McCall Smith’s Gaborone tales aren’t going to lead me into literary enlightenment; but they sure are going to satisfy my frequent hankerings for something light.

Before coming down to Boston, I had finished up a delightful novel, Martin Sloane , by Michael Redhill. Though there were plenty of unread books to choose from, I had a hard time picking a holiday read. On a whim I put To The Lighthouse in my backpack; but knew in my heart that I just wasn’t in the mood. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not afraid of Virgina Woolf (hehehe *gong*); I’m just a fan of going with the flow. The flow took me to Botswana.

Actually, the flow took me to some great bookstores. One of the things I love most about my frequent trips to the Boston area is the chance to visit some fantastic independent bookstores. I like Amazon as much as the next girl; and yes, I have been known to spend a lot of time and money in Chapters and Indigo. However, I also love a wee bookshop run by book lovers. C’mon peeps, I’ve slept among the books in this Bohemian book lovers’ paradise in Paris’ Quartier Latin: Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

My latest read was purchased at Rodney’s Bookstore in Central Square. Quality pre-loved reads at fair prices. Rodney’s also sells stationery, posters and other delightful things. They’ve got wooden floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that make me green with envy. They also sell loose wooden book cubes and stackable shelves so customers can try to recreate the Rodney’s feel in their own home.

I usually like to visit the Harvard Book Store (not to be confused with the Harvard Coop) and especially love their discount books section. I don’t really benefit from their decent Frequent Buyer Program because I am always buying their non-qualifying cheapie books. Who doesn’t love a remainder?

This time, I brought my business to another great bookstore, Lorem Ipsum Books. Owned and operated by an alumnus of Dave’s fine school and program, the store is a delightful marriage of geek and cool. I wish I could buy every book in the store’s lovely collection!

So if you’re ever in the Beantown area and love books, be sure to check out the above purveyors of fine reads.



5 Responses:


  1. jordan Says:

    I just came back from a short vacation to LA and did the fantastic art and design bookstore tour there, and will be in Boston in April and will be sure to refer back to this post – bet you didn’t expect all this information to be of immediate use to someone!

    Even better than Amazon is alibris.com – full of like-new used books and textbooks at jaw-dropping good prices…I really shouldn’t have let it save my Mastercard number because sometimes two weeks after a few glasses of wine, new books appear at my office. 🙂


  2. Gino Says:

    I have 85 points. Just thought I’d mention.


  3. red_wings Says:

    oh it’s so nice to hear that you’re ALIVE!!!!


  4. red_wings Says:

    by the by, i switched from xanga to wordpress.

    but i didn’t buy a doman name cause i’m not cool enough.

    it’s http://www.blackcrayon.wordpress.com


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