“Of course, it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” ~ J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Remember my reading challenge? My goal is to read 20 books this year. I’m a smidge behind, but with good reason. It probably won’t surprise you that the British Hubby and I often read the same books. We prefer to discuss interesting books over dinner than our day jobs. The internet is filled with book lists like 100 books to read in a lifetime or the 100 greatest novels of all time. If you’re a bibliophile, you love lists like this.

Eight years ago, the British Hubby and I started reading the Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse. We tried reading it several times, but never was able to finish it. When I started the book challenge, I thought this was going to be the year I finish The Glass Bead Game.

I’m happy to report that 17 cds later and what felt like 100s of commutes to and from the day job, I’ve finished The Glass Bead Game. It’s supposed to take place in the future, but it really feels like it takes place in the past. Maybe that’s the beauty of this story? It can apply to any era. I don’t want to give away the plot, but when I reached the end I wondered, “Was any of that real?” Which lead me to believe this is the original Matrix. Should I take the red pill or the blue one? How do we really know we’re not food for machines?

Five down and 15 more to go. A pile of books and my traveling tea pot, what could that mean?