Story Within a Story

Even though I have a Kindle and read a lot of books electronically, I am still a huge fan of Real Books. The kind you can hold in your hand.  I also found I don't like art books on my Kindle.

I do often use Amazon for buying books, and you know how they are good about convincing you since you bought This, you would surely be interested in That, because other people who bought This were interested in it. One day, a book popped up on the recommendation list that I had never heard of.  The title is simple "S".  One of the authors caught my eye: J J Abrams.  He was involved in some of my favorite TV shows, like Lost and Fringe.

The book is described this way:
A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Inside it are his margin notes, which reveal a reader entranced by the story and by its mysterious author. She responds with notes of her own, leaving the book for the stranger, and so begins an unlikely conversation that plunges them both into the unknown.

It was also described as being similar to Nick Bantock's Griffin & Sabine series, with loose postcards and notes throughout the book.

Unfortunately, it was not in stock.  I clicked on "yes" to notify me when it was back in stock.  I was very patient.  Months went by until a copy was available.

It looks like an old library book, with an embossed design on the fabric-like cover and yellowed pages inside.  It came in a slip cover, and I hated to even break the seal on the cover because it was so cool. 

I don't know how to read this book.  Do I read the book itself, then go back and read the notes? Do I read them all together?  I haven't figured that out yet.  

In the back is a cypher wheel.  I don't know yet what I'll need that for.  It may take me  a long time to get that far!