Are you hanging out with me over here in the DelMarVa peninsula?  Do you have power?  No, not the “Hulk SMASH!” kinda power, because I’m sure y’all are awesome, but do you have a/c, cable, a working icemaker…y’know, all the trappings of America?

No?  Well then head over to the library.  Not only does it have a/c, you can be happy to know that you’re actually enjoying your tax dollars, and there are plenty of things to leaf through while you wait for BGE/Pepco to get it’s %^*$# together.

Yes?  Well, head over to the library anyway.  These books are the perfect conversation starters for that BBQ you’re headed to, or the perfect things to get lost in when Uncle Ernie sets half the backyard on fire.  Again.

In no particular order, as I love ’em all….

America, You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter to Freedom, by Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black: No, they’re not a couple, in fact they’re almost polar opposites (they’re both a-okay with gay marriage though, which is groovy).  But that’s what makes this diary-like look at their road-trip to find out what makes us all “American” so appealing.  Plus, it’s the kind of book I’d give to relatives just to see them freak out at the thought of putting this title on their shelves.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen: The only book on this list I actually own and proudly display.  Why yes I am a commie hippie pinko.  Thanks for noticing.  But it has tons of interesting facts, most of which you probably don’t want to bring up with your die-hard Tea Party cousin.  Yeah, it’s a slap in the face, but it’s a slap in the face that gives you a well-rounded look at our beloved home sweet home.

1776 by David G. McCullough: Perfect, right?  I’m gonna go out on a limb and say the title is self-explanatory….  Or you could read his fabulous biography of John Adams, if it doesn’t remind you of the excellent HBO miniseries made from it & how you don’t have cable and a/c right now.

Assassination Vacation, by Sarah Vowell: Okay, so I own two of these books, but this really doesn’t count as I have the audiobook.  And really, if they’ve got the audiobook in the library, snag it.  It’s read by Vowell herself, and her wry, “yep, that’s how it went” voice goes perfectly with this story of her trips to see various “political murder” hotspots.

Chesapeake, by James A. Michener: It’s a doorstop of a novel, but it takes you from the Sixteenth Century to the present day (which in this novel’s case, is 1978.  Close enough.)  Michener has a way of weaving storylines together that few have been able to match.  Oh, and grab The Source sometime; even if you’re not a MOT, this look at the history of the Jewish people is absolutely addictive.

Other books definitely worth a look include “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction” by Jon Stewart (or the equally funny “I Am America (And So Can You!)”by Stephen Colbert), Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, and “Don`t Vote It Just Encourages the Bastards” by P.J. O’Rourke.  Or hell, go crazy and re-read (it will be a re-read, right?) The Constitution of the United States.