Dropped by the library yesterday...

and picked up this book on a whim, hadn't really heard much about it, thought the author's name was comical... figured it would occupy the time I had between meetings yesterday... it did.

The book is worth reading if solely for the purpose of envy - the description of the narrator's idyllic neighborhood in the very beginning made me want to pack and move there tomorrow (even if it would be cold!), aside from the 50 year time travel thing that is...

There's enough historical bits to keep it grounded in time and reality - and since I just came from reading Ghost Soldiers and We Refused to Die (WWII non-fiction) I enjoyed that part more than I normally would have (meaning I actually understood the references)

My favorite quote - and one I've already shared with a friend even before I finished the book - is from a scene when the church custodian isn't too sure he wants the scouts to play steal the flag on his nicely manicured lawn...  the scout leader convinces him by saying that "the grass will come back, but will the boys?"  A little reminder for the likes of me to chill out sometimes

Okay, that's all I'll say about the book... I read too much so I certainly won't post about everything I read, but this one is surprisingly touching and well thought out.  And if you ever read it you will understand why from now on I will stop trying to make the most rickety block towers out of oddly shaped blocks and use more of the regular boxy shaped blocks :)