This all starts with my library. I love our library system, the Timberland Regional Library. Twenty seven libraries throughout the state which share a book collection of over 1.6 million books. I don't know how many people get access to books who wouldn't otherwise have them.
Our library has the play Venus. However the book is actually in Centralia. That detail slipped my mind when I was first looking for plays and I realized yesterday there was no way a book was going to get to me from Centralia today. No problem, I thought, I'm sure I can find Venus around somewhere. Suzan-Lori Parks is badass and awesome, her work should be all over the place.
Yesterday I checked two of the independent bookstores in town. Not only no Venus, but no Suzan-Lori Parks at all. I found that slightly fishy.
Today, realizing time was of the essence, I went to Borders. I love independent bookstores, but when I need something now, corporate efficiency is the way to go. Once again, no Suzan-Lori Parks. I did get the new Margaret Mallory book, which looks just as... romantic as the last one.
I left feeling a bit bewildered by the lack of Suzan-Lori Parks love in my hometown. This afternoon a friend and I were driving to Seattle to pick up another friend of ours from college. Seattle, I thought, big city, lots of people and bookstores and they're sure to have it. We got Parker and went to the bookstore for the University of Washington which was basically a mini Borders. They didn't have it. We packed up and went to the giant used book store two doors down. They didn't have it either.
I wasn't ready to give up, so we drove back to Olympia. On the freeway there was the worst rain storm ever. The rain drowned out the CD player. My windshield wipers, churning away at their highest setting, shoveled what looked like slabs of rain off of the window. All I could really see were the two red taillights of the car in front of me. I followed them and I hope that person could tell what lane we were in. It was all rather harrowing.
After surviving that, I went to Barnes and Noble, confident I had found a bookstore big enough to have what I was looking for. But no, not a single play by Suzan-Lori Parks.
This is my theory. I think there is an inherent problem with Washington as a state. Something has happened that has made us unworthy of Suzan-Lori Parks, and whatever it, I intend to right that wrong.
Also, Venus is coming from Centralia soon.
That is an epic adventure of epicness.
ReplyDeleteDo not despair! At least your library has plays in it (usually).
Onward!