Well, this was another friend-visit weekend, but that meant that yesterday I finally got to go on the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s river cruise tour—trying to convince the CP to do touristy things in the city he grew up in is a nonstarter. Highly recommended to anyone that visits Chicago in the warmer months.
I took about a billion pictures, but the Sears Tower is pretty iconic. Personally I prefer the Wrigley Building (McCormick Tribune building to the right; new Trump Tower to the left).
One of the problems with being out all day yesterday was that the book I’m reading (Wieland: or the Transformation) was too heavy to carry around with me, so I had to start another. For compactness and quick finishing I picked up an unread Hard Case Crime book that had been sitting on my shelf. I feel like I should always keep one around in case I lose my appetite for everything else. Mysteries are always my fall-back, and while my real favorite is Rex Stout sometimes I like to change it up a little. I took it down to the beach with me this afternoon and am nearly finished but ended up with a mild sunburn, highly unusual for me.
Hopefully I’ll go back to Wieland and finish it up this week. I’m very much enjoying it but I admit I’ve gotten a little sleepy from the flowery Gothic language…but I have had a cold as well and have been napping as a result. After that I’m not sure. I’m feeling sort of blah about all my books again. Saturday I’m flying to New York to visit the fam for a few days before a work thing so I also have the pressure of deciding what to bring with me for a six-day trip that will include several evenings alone in a hotel (i.e., there will be lots of reading time). Last time I ended up buying books there because what I’d packed wasn’t “right.”
Now, back to my trashy mystery…
I too carry thin books when I am travelling! Tomes are meant to be read at home!
Do check out my Sunday Salon posts :D
SS 1: Review of The Dark Child
SS 2: Musings about books
I LOVE the Chicago architecture river tour. That’s the best way I’ve found to appreciate all the great architecture Chicago offers. And it’s accessible to both amateurs who know nothing about architecture (like myself) and people who study it (my friends). :)
I often have problems reading when I’m traveling. I pack a lot of books, usually, but like you, I have trouble either getting into them or they’re too inconvenient to carry around. I hope you find something interesting and enjoyable for your trip to NY.
I really know that problem of the heavy book. I love going for a long walk and ending up in a cafe somewhere to enjoy a tea and a good story. But, not a good idea if you happen to be reading say, the latest Philip Hensher. (What am I supposed to do with it? Read it or use it as a doorstop?)
I went to college in Chicago and have been on that tour 3 times, it’s just great! Even my mom, who couldn’t care less about architecture, had a great time just enjoying the sights and feeling the wind in her hair as she looked across that gorgeous skyline. So glad you got to go!
Such a funny coincidence. Last Wednesday I took my sister, brother-in-law and their baby on the Chicago Historical Society river tour (not as good as the Architectural Foundation version, I’m told, but comes with free cookies). A great fan of the Merchandise Mart, myself, but only from the river.