Today, at work, I read a book during lunch.  That’s right – a book.  I can’t remember the last time I put aside some leisure time to just sit and read.

I started reading The Prestige yesterday.  I picked it randomly from our bookshelf because Katie had read it a while ago and liked it and mentioned that it was different enough from the movie to still be entertaining.  It is different, and it’s quite gripping.

It’s funny; in a small way, I almost wish that I hadn’t seen the movie yet, so that I wasn’t fully aware of all the plot elements that unfold as the story progresses.

But it was so enjoyable.  Instead of taking the lunch hour to read some blogs (which I do all day long anyway) or flounder around and try to get some work done in between bites or attempt to play a casual game or two, I just read.

Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve done anything so solitary and quiet.  Maybe it’s because the story is exciting.  Something about this book and the bouts of reading I’ve experienced over the past two days has been magical.

It reminds me of the unexpected delight of a brilliant game you’ve never heard of, of a movie on TV that makes you cry, of being at an sporting or musical event that turns out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

And yet…it’s something more.  In this age of technology and flashing lights, the fact that simple words on a page still have the astounding emotional power they do is awesome.

Now, time to slip into bed and continue turning those pages.  Alfred Borden awaits.