Do you live in 2 places? ...then you get it.

 I just had to share a quick thought about a small irritation when you live in 2 places. Well, I'm usually into several books at once, probably not a good idea, but my interests are all over the place. I do, actually, finish most books, though sometimes I conclude, before reaching the end, that either I've derived the meaningful sum of its contents, sometimes after a quick scan, and I've gotten enough from the read, OR the book sucks, ...at least in my opinion. But that leaves a lot of books that, well, are open on a shelf or bedstand, etc., and I'm reading, thank you very much. They are sitting around and I plan to, unless I'm hit by a bus in the very near future, complete. And, there are some major literary conquests I have begun.

I'm referring to Marie Arana's very popular and thick, juicy summary of source material, "Bolivar". Written for the masses, this light and entertaining, biography tells a fascinating story about the wealthy South American and self-interested revolutionary, Simon Bolivar "(24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military officer and statesman who led what are currently the countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela to independence from the Spanish Empire." He is known colloquially as El Libertador, [the Liberator," of America.]" Well, after buying two paperback copies at home, quite by accident and probably years apart, upon the second purchase, and realizing I had two, I gave one to a friend, determined to read the other. Having read about a third of the way through, it was time to pack for Casa Sur in Oaxaca.

The "Trade Paperback" copies I purchased at home are fairly large and readable but we pack pretty lightly when we travel. We stick to one medium suitcase and a backpack each. It's plenty with our heavy backpacks sporting our laptops, phones, and necessities. I usually have very little room for books, and yet brought 4 small paperbacks on this trip - leaving "Bolivar" behind.

Well, imagine my chagrin when I found, in the "Used, for Sale" bin of the Oaxaca Lending Library, a hardback copy of "Bolivar"! And at the price of 60 pesos (about $3. USD)! Now I have to finish it this winter.

[BTW, If you've read this book, I'd love to hear what you thought of it! And thanks for reading. -BD]