We have all been through the 'worst of times' starting in March, 2020 when the plague struck us. Sad stories abound; yet every dark period has its happy, if not heroic tales.
The virulent bubonic plague which struck London in 1592, again in 1603 and yet again in 1606 did not prevent Shakespeare from completing three great tragedies: King Lear, Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra.
And so the worst of times morph through some strange alchemy into the Best of Times. We are at the mercy of the unknown, a virulent ever hybridizing virus.
What better time to heed the maxim 'to thine own self be true' (Polonius' s advice to his son Laertes in Hamlet) -- We should perforce seek out the written and recorded wisdom of great leaders and writers whose messages ring true throughout the ages.
Lending libraries have seen a dramatic fall in personal visits. So many patrons who love to browse new books, best sellers, etc. at their library now have easy access to great reading eBooks on their devices---especially during the quarantines.
So what a borrowers paradise I have had recently checking out as many as 40 books at a time. My hope is the expectation of discovering a precious gem among jewels.
Our library has an Express Book Display pictured below. I have passed this section dozens of times, always pausing briefly to scan titles of the latest book additions.
What a genuine treasure I 'unearthed' as Ian McEwans's Lessons seemed to call out to me, "Grab me!"
How exciting it is to have such an experience to discover another golden nugget in the vast treasure chest of our local library.
Long Live Our Libraries Let's celebrate our cultural heritages--now enriched with book talks led by famous authors, dialogues with newsworthy public figures, airing first run and classical movies, gourmet coffees served in conversation enhancing cafes, musical presentations, art exhibits, community meeting rooms, soundproofed privacy booths, ESL and high tech courses. etc.(for my comments on Lessons and other books on my Covid reading list click here.
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