You are now free to move about the country

This past Saturday morning found me waking up at around 4:30ish in the morning to finish throwing a few more articles of clothing into my suitcase, shower, dress, and get into my car to dart to the FlyAway Bus station (a bus/shuttle that takes you to the airport...economical and convenient more or less.) I am expecting to be late for my flight to San Francisco to spend the Labour Day holiday weekend with my sister, Z, for some much needed kvetching (and more kvetching) about those who have left our hearts in slings. Lo and behold I have about an hour to spare before I board my Virgin America flight. Who woulda thunkit! I take this time to catch up on my own reading but get sidetracked when I spot Jane.

At the Virgin America terminal. Jane is reading a Chinese book whose title is loosely translated to "Strange Encounters". Alas, she does not know what the author's "English" name would be.

Jane explains that this is the 11th book in the series and she's read all of them so far. She compares the series to John Grisham novels but this series of books incorporates Chinese superstition, both from the past and peppers in some futuristic stylings.

Jane mostly reads books in Chinese, books that she acquires on trips to Hong Kong. And she mainly gets her hands on books like these - 'light' reads like the Harry Potter books but widely entertaining, she says. The last book she read? The previous book in the series. She's on a roll! What she likes about these books is that they're unpredictable and imaginative. There are also 2-3 recurring characters in the books and what's fascinating is that they go through different experiences through different cultures and adventures. You follow them through their changes.

Growing up Jane loved reading books by Charles Dickens, namely A Tale of Two Cities. She also read alot of 60s comic books. "I was a product of my era, what can I say."

Americans, what did you read this holiday weekend?

What is your favourite Charles Dickens book?