Jim is vacationing in northern New Hampshire. His Kindle reading, long delayed, is Suzanne Collins 2008 bestseller The Hunger Games. This is a book that has already been much read, sometimes more than once, by multiple members of his household. His interest will be in the Roman analogies in the novel, which are obvious from even the most basic plot details. They were also evident in the movie, which was a shared family experience. Should the book be compelling enough, the two sequels will follow. (This from a man who only made it through two Harry Potters, estimable as they were.)

Next up: Seth Grahame-Smith's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. (The movie, as well. Benjamin Walker was so great in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson that it's a good bet he'll enhance anything where he appears.)

The summer seems to arrive in layers: Memorial Day, last day of classes, graduation, final meetings, summer solstice. Now, finally, by just about any definition, it seems to be here. Best to all in savoring its fruits.