Despite being a bit disgruntled and anxious about coming in (I was so worried about the work I'd have to miss) I realized I would encounter many readers in the assembly room. I saw a woman reading Twilight, another reading some magic books, an older man sitting across from me reading Round Ireland with a Fringe by Tony Hawks (the man was laughing to himself the whole time), my eagle eye made out the cover to Inherent Vice by Thomas Pychon, a handful of Dan Brown books and the "Highly Sensitive Person" by Elaine N. Aron Ph.D.
While on my lunch break, picking at my salad in the courtyard between the courthouse and the public library one of my fellow jurors sits next to me on the red bench. I remembered seeing her a few feet away on her phone and in the assembly room earlier. She was one of the many who got called up first. A civil case but she wasn't allowed to tell me anything else. On her lap was a copy of The Time Traveler's Wife. I remembered seeing the book in the room this morning and meant to ask her how she liked it. Suzie (or Susie/Suzy) was just getting into the book today but enjoys it so far. One of her daughters, who happens to be an avid reader, had recommended this book to her so they are reading it together.
I asked her what the book was about since I am so familiar with the book title and cover but not the storyline itself. She tells me that it's about a man who travels through time, visiting different eras back and forth. At some point he meets his wife as a young girl and tells her to remember certain dates and locations so that she can go to them on those dates. She remembers him but he does not remember her on these encounters. I'm intrigued and may have to suggest this book for our next book club :)
Suzie knows about the upcoming movie adaptation starring Rachel McAdams. While she plans to watch the movie she wants to read the book first. It will definitely be a great mother/daughter outing!
We start talking a bit about books we started reading because of the TV shows and movies that are based off of them. Twilight came up and I confessed not having read any of the books but told her that I saw the movie and found it "enjoyable". Suzie loves the Twilight books. Her daughters actually got her into them. Her eldest son is also a fan and recommended it to his new wife. Now she is addicted! We talk a bit about True Blood and how I want to start reading them. Suzie hasn't read the books or watched the show but really enjoys books that are part of a series. I tell her how I am currently obsessed with Scott Pilgrim books and can't wait to get the third book! (Thanks, Cesar, for getting me hooked!)
Most of the books Suzie reads are based off of recommendations from her daughters. Once they finish a book they insist she reads them especially if they loved them. "They can usually tell if I would be into a book and will often hand over books once they are through." One daughter just finished Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and Suzie will most likely read this next. It's about a younger brother and older sister during the Holocaust. The novel follows the story of the siblings, how the older sister hid her younger brother in a cabinet and kept the key. As the story was being described to me I made a mental note to get a hold of a copy. I had just read Maus so I am interested in reading more Holocaust related books.
Suzie's daughters were calling to check in on her and I was on my way back in. We wished each other luck and hoped we'd get out her. For her, we hoped she'd be excused off the panel. As for me, I had a long wait ahead of me but thankfully I had my copy of Stranger in a Strange Land to keep me occupied. After many hours of waiting the remainder of us were finally excused to go home. I was never called on a panel! See you in 12+ months, Courthouse.
