KateKintail's Book Journal

I took a trip up to the Book Thing in Baltimore on Sunday. It was my first time going alone to the Book Thing and my first time going in the afternoon. There were signs all over The Book Thing explaining that the shelves looked empty because this was the season that sees the highest demand for books and the fewest number of donations. Incidentally, I did see at least 3 books that crrcookie had donated the last time we were there; I instantly recognized them by their spine stickers.

I went to the Book Thing for a few reasons. One, I gave away practically all my books during the Accio Books challenge and have nothing to release for other challenges like Never Judge a Book By its Cover. Two, I want to participate in the Hono(u)r BookCrossers challenge so I wanted to find books to match a lot of people on my friends list. And, three, I wanted a few books to bring to the Birthday Bash to release on the release walk/scavenger hunt.

The selection was poor this time around (seriously, that first time I visited the Book Thing I think was the best). And even though I hadn't wanted to get many, I found myself walking out with 105 free books just to make up for the gas spent going up to Baltimore and back. I actually managed to find quite a few I can release in hono(u)r of BookCrossers (especially local BookCrossers I've met!) so in that respect I still consider the adventure a success.

HOWEVER... I have been earreading The Poe Shadow for the past 2 weeks in my car. It came to me in a CD Bookbox and I was overjoyed because it happened to be on my wish list. I brought along Anderson Cooper's book as well because I was down to my last 2-3 discs of The Poe Shadow. The book lasted throughout the drive up. On my way out of Baltimore I realized I've never just driven to the Book Thing and then home again- Jill took me on a strange route! And then, when I was on the last chapter of the Poe Shadow, I passed a sign that read "Edgar A. Poe House ->" I thought to myself 'OMG I have to go! I'm in Baltimore, earreading a book about Poe. How could I not stop by his house if I'm practically passing it?' I knew, because I'd just looked it up on the website last week when thinking about the convention, that the house & museum were closed on Sundays. But I was right there so I figured there was no harm in just driving past. The timing just couldn't be beat. So I followed the signs a little- one right turn, going straight, and then I got worried because I didn't see another sign in the general vicinity. So I asked Jill to get me there and she told me to make another right. And then there was another sign and Jill told me to take another right onto a street called "The Poe House St." I definitely knew I was in the right place then!

The problem was, I'm a single, young, white girl driving alone. And the house is situated right off MLK Jr. Parkway (or is it Blvd? I can't remember) near the University. It's not the best place in town and there were tons of people standing outside, watching me in my car as I drove through their neighborhood. Call me paranoid (I do) but I did get a little nervous. I really stuck out and I definitely did NOT want to slow down or get out. It was a one-way street, which was very narrow, and there wasn't parking anywhere. If someone else had been with me that would have been fine, but I was alone and no one knew I was taking this 3-minute long detour.

And the detour would have been awesome and worth it... if only I'd SEEN THE HOUSE! There were signs pointing to The Poe House St. There was the street name itself. And then Jill says "approaching The Poe House on left." I looked left and scanned the houses within sight. I couldn't find it. I looked right (which was an empty, grassy, run-down lot). I couldn't see it. I shall reiterate that I was alone- trying to look and drive simultaneously- and I didn't want to slow down or make it look to the locals like I was lost. So I just kept going. And Jill assumed I'd seen it and continued to direct me home. So I went home (by way of the southbound rest stop on I-95 to release a book, naturally).

How cool would that have been, though, if I'd been able to see The Poe House just as I'd finished earreading The Poe Shadow? It was neat enough being in Baltimore while the book was set in that town, but it would have been such a perfect thing to tie the whole trip together. Alas, it was not to be.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Edgar A. Poe House is not open on Sundays because the house is invisible on Sundays. Like Poe himself, the house is a mystery that warrants proper, clever investigation. It would be FAR too easy to, you know, direct people to the location and THEN actually TELL US where the house is. You know, a sign or a marker or something. It's a museum after all! But, no, that's not Poe-esque enough, I guess. I would have even liked a whole flock of ravens to fly overhead and land on the various exterior fixtures of the house.

I shall have to wait for another opportunity to see the house- preferably when I'm not alone and vulnerable, and preferably when the thing is actually open so I can go in. Assuming we can figure out where to park.