Mrs. Siler is not so hapless … Photo from Curly Wurly

In the spirit of “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday,” the French cinematic parfait from 1954, I’ve decided to take a vacation.
Because this school year is in full swing, my holiday won’t involve jumping on a plane and heading to a seaside resort in the south of France, where director Jacques Tati’s character M. Hulot underwent a delightful series of mishaps.
Instead, I’m taking a reading holiday – a break from writing for a week or two to whittle down the mounting pile of books that is stacking up on my bedside table. Over the next few days, I hope to finish reading Sandy Tolan’s The Lemon Tree, Lou Ureneck’s Backcast, and Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children.