So, at that point in an empty house on a grey day, I decided I needed company.
grouchychris took pity on my plight, and we wandered down to Pioneer Square and Elliot Bay Books. Surely the best antidote to a depressing book is... more books!It worked for me, anyway - I picked up Light by M. John Harrison, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and the Future Dictionary of America, which is one of the McSweeney's ensemble pieces. Then we prudently departed before I was ambushed by any more tomes, and wandered around a bit after putting the books in the car. We checked out the hours that the Russian submarine is open (9:30 to 5 daily, I think) and resolved to come back in the future, then went over to Magic Mouse toys for a bit, and then home. Because -- books! and other mundane considerations like lunch, and it being rather past bedtime for night-shift folks, and so forth.
I must protest that I did not buy Light just because there is a cat on the cover. Well, not entirely at least... really I bought it because in addition to it being a book club selection at the store and so forth, it came recommended by Iain Banks. Ok, and China Meiville (I'm giving the diacriticals a miss, sorry) and Neil Gaiman as well, and I figured that was pretty good triangulation. I read it yesterday afternoon and I wasn't disappointed - in fact I'm tempted to go back and read it again. Maybe if I'm feeling brave and social tomorrow (and I haven't forgotten some prior commitment) I'll try to show up at their SF book discussion group there at the store.
