The Art of Reading

As a girl, I was fascinated with The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. What a dream to live in a museum--sleeping in the beds, splashing in the fountain, making it my own.

Later, reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger inspired me to look for the distinctive staircase described in the book. It is ostensibly in the Newberry Library, and during an anniversary getaway to Chicago, I thought this was perfect timing. Much to my husband's chagrin.

First, we went to the wrong library (my mistake). Then we went to the correct library, only to find that it is a genealogical research library. Undeterred, I signed up for a membership card (free), and we went into the research room to do some superficial family research before I attempted to find the staircase (breaching a few restricted areas as I went). If it exists, it is nowhere that a less-than-competent sleuth like me can find it. I don't think I embarrassed the two of us too much.

In spite of this history, we love visiting Chicago. The Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry are so family-friendly. The Adler Planetarium is stellar. But it's the Shedd Aquarium that attracts our children. Until now, however, we have never gone to the Art Institute of Chicago.

There are a couple of reasons for this. One of our female offspring, who shall remain nameless, professes to "hate museums." Brian and I, for that matter, have never been the type to spend a long time in an art museum. With a sadly lacking art education in my past, I never felt like I "got" art. Having a son with natural artistic talent and interest has changed everything. Still. Taking three children when only one wants to go has definite drawbacks.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been reading a new book aloud to 11-year-old Natalie at night. It's called The Sixty-Eight Rooms, by Marianne Malone. While I can't say I personally have been riveted (too much logistical description, not enough action), she has been drawn in by the premise. Jack and Ruthie, two sixth graders, discover a way to shrink down and explore the Thorne Rooms. The Thorne Rooms are a collection of amazingly detailed miniature rooms in the lower level of the Art Institute of Chicago. The idea of being small enough to explore them, and then walking out into the worlds they represent, has Natalie's imagination reeling.

She was thrilled to find out we were going to visit the Art Institute, and she insisted that we save the Thorne Rooms for last. We spent a lot of time looking at each tiny room, representing American, British and French rooms from many different periods, as well a few others such as Japan, China and a cathedral. This was the highlight of the trip for her.

The Art Institute turned out to be a highlight for the rest of us, too, with the exception of a certain control-freak 7-year-old who preferred not to be there. Monet, Matisse, Magritte, and Picasso were all wonderful. I was ridiculously excited to see, in real life, the Georges Seurat painting that Cameron closely admires in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Andrew's enthusiasm for architecture made the Architecture and Design section a hit, and both of the older kids were beside themselves when they recognized one of the paintings that Van Gogh was painting in a recent episode of "Dr. Who."

If you consider visiting an art museum, and you are uncertain of your children's interest, try some books beforehand. Chasing Vermeer and its follow-ups The Wright 3 and The Calder Game by Blue Balliett might open the doors to their imaginations just as Konigsburg's book did for me, Malone's book did for Natalie, and "Dr. Who" did for all of us.

A series of board books by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober introduce toddlers to famous paintings in titles like A Picnic with Monet and Dancing with Degas. Vincent's Colors, a lovely picture book using Vincent Van Gogh's own words, is another great choice.

And, of course, if you must drag an uninterested adult along, I suppose you could always try The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. Perhaps the aforementioned adult could look for hidden clues to a secretive religious order, though there must be a better alternative! I tried Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan, about the mistress of Frank Lloyd Wright, but I can't recommend it. I know it's a bestseller, but it did nothing for me. Maybe it's time for me to re-read The Mixed-Up Files!

Have Books, Will Travel

As I've mentioned before in this space, when I travel, a portion of my luggage is devoted to the books I hope to read. My neighbor is a voracious reader, and she and her husband take off for weeks at a time on road trips. As they drive, she reads books that pertain to that place, getting the history and culture of the destination. Makes sense, right?

Clearly I am not a logical person. I can never seem to match up my reading with the place I'll be. In Vienna years ago, we visited places where Mozart and Freud had been. But one of my strongest memories is sitting in the laundromat, deeply absorbed in John Grisham's The Pelican Brief. In New York City, I was lost in Memoirs of a Geisha. A post-college backpacking trip of Western Europe found me with Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, two quintessential American novels. And during our year in Nigeria, I did manage to read a Nigerian novel (Things Fall Apart), but more memorable were The Thorn Birds and a string of Anne Tyler novels.

This summer, I'll be spending a week in Santa Fe, NM, and I am finally going to break this pattern. I pledge to finish Death Comes to the Archbishop by Willa Cather, and I want to try a Tony Hillerman mystery. What else should I be reading for Santa Fe? If you know, tell me.

While you consider that question, I'll be thinking about other appropriate book and travel combinations. Today, I'll start close to home with some of my favorite books set in or around Chicago:

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
So Big by Edna Ferber
The Blood of the Lamb by Peter De Vries

By the looks of most of this list, I have a thing for old-timey Chicago. Leave a comment if you know other books that should be added to this list.

On another topic, if you've been waiting with bated breath to learn what the East Grand Rapids library gives out to the grand prize winner of the book club drawing, wait no longer. Brian and I will soon be enjoying $50 with of date night at a local Gilmore restaurant. Whoo hoo!

Think it'd be okay if I took a book along?