What is it about people going on holiday that forces them to tell everybody they’re going away for a break? The news bursts out of them and fosters a surge of resentment in their audience. I’ve been shoving it down every day this week and only the thought that the Book Club gang have ferry tickets booked for later this year is keeping me from bringing our recent play “Death in the Stacks” into the real world Castle Bailey Library.

On Monday Beth and Kitty popped in.

“We’ve going to Paris for a week to drink wine, visit galleries, and people-watch,” said Beth.

“And eat cheese,” added Kitty, who loves a good brie.

“We need books. Anything to ease the torment of passing through airports.”

Kitty was easy enough - a selectio...

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