Word Runner

I enjoyed Mary Simses' novel, 'The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe,' I read it twice.  I enjoyed it even more the second time around.  When parting with it at the local library I asked the librarian if Mary had written any other novels.  The librarian studied her computer, pondering over the titles on the screen.  Finally she announced Mary had just released another novel.  Without even asking she zapped my library card and I was on the wait list.  I was excited but to fill in time I selected a couple of novels from the trolley labelled, 'Returned recently by other readers.'  It is a bit of a lucky dip.  Sometimes you pick something fabulous but mostly you don't.
I took home, 'Lands Beyond the Sea', by Tamara McKinley.  It was based in the 18th century and basically its about the first fleet from England to Australia.  It's easy reading.  Interesting to know a little more about how it was for the first settlers and convicts.  Every Aussie kid learns at school, how everyone had scurvy due to lack of oranges and fruit.  We know how shamefully our convicts were transported shackled in the hull of the ship with rats, little food, rotting clothes.  Many died  before reaching Australia.  The novel goes into depth of the conflict between the indigenous (Aborigines) and the settlers. 
I check my emails and there it is.  My book, 'The Rules of Love and Grammar' by Mary Simses is sitting at my local library waiting for me but I am 250kms away from home.  Ok, make a mental note to pick up book when I return. I put the book out of my mind there is fun to be had on my respite fortnight and fun is what I will have.  I do.
After picking up Merv I stop off at the library leaving him in the car with the window down.  I know where to find my book awaiting important library card holder.  It is tucked into a special shelf with my name printed haphazardly on a bookmark.  I am pleased but then I look at the cover and sigh.  A long deep exasperating sigh.  There is a dirty big note on the cover.  It states, 'TWO WEEKS Loan only'.  I groan - 2 weeks?  I could do with four!  A book with a challenge.  I am good with a challenge.  I remember for a split second I walked across England last year.  That was a challenge.  Yes I'm good with a challenge.
I am gone less than three minutes.  Merv is still sitting in the car.  I breathe a sign of relief.  No one has man-napped him!
There are a whole lot of decisions to be made including do I finish Tamara's novel or do I hide it and delve into Mary's?  It's the whole challenge thing.  I will do the challenge.
Merv falls twice during the week resulting in a black eye, sore hip and left leg.  I have to walk him to the toilet and back and forth to the lounge.  No time to read at present.
I spend my time in bed before sleep reading as much as possible as my eyes grown heavy and I succumb to sleep. 
I finally finish the novel, all 397 pages.  There is an prologue of Tamara's next book, 'A Kingdom for the Brave.'  I wince but plod on.  Sleep has yet to call me this night.  I eventually throw the book down on the floor.  It is awful.  A whole tribe of Aborigines massacred by an evil band of army personnel and settlers bent on revenge and greed.  I felt sick. Definitely not reading that book!
I have spent a whole week finishing the Australian book.  I have only one week to read my new book. It has 367 pages, I read seven pages on day one, I have six days to go and I now have 324 pages to go.  I can't pretend I don't know when it's due back.  That 2 week loan only note on the front cover 
reminds me there is no way out,  just keep reading and reading and reading Pamela.  It's a challenge, you can do it!  Watch this space!