MJ and I went to the bookstore for our "date." Observations from the trip:
1. Vanity Fair, by William Thackeray, is a book that I must add to my reading list.
2. Blessings, by Anna Quindlen, probably should be added to my reading list.
3. I have a copy of Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides that doesn't have the Oprah book club logo. I discovered it before Oprah!
4. Babies make the best car motor sound effects. The baby at the bookstore had the sound down--her dad's "car" was weak in comparison.
5. I can rarely get out of the store without buying at least one book. I think I need a 12-step program.
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9 comments:
Professor,
Your blog is a delight. We especially like your insight that Dubya is represented in Congress by Chet the Unvanquished.
We would love to link to your blog, if you'll permit us, and to formally invite you to join the BearMeat Alliance.
Should you accept, we will dispatch a van-load of our attorneys to work out the terms of the Blog Alliance Agreement.
Let us know, and keep on Bloggin'!
Red Andrews
Senior Editor, BearMeat
Editorial Supervisor - Chet Edwards beat
Hmmm-- Middlesex is an interesting book. I don't know much about all the Greek stuff, but he describes moving from Detroit to Grosse Pointe after the riots pretty accurately; my family did the same thing at about the same time.
I love alliances. Sign me up, but a van-load of attorneys seems like overkill to me.
I don't know much about the Greek stuff in Middlesex either, but I loved the story anyway. The more recent events seemed pretty authentic. Thanks for the confirmation about the Detroit/Grosse Pointe part.
Pat:
Per your request we will send an intern and a notary, sans legal eagles, to your offices with a standard form contract.
Welcome aboard and thanks for the link!
Red
I patently refuse to buy the Oprah Book Club edition of a book. When I saw that little logo show up on Anna Karenina, I felt tainted.
I love Middlesex. Been a fan of Eugenides since The Virgin Suicides.
I'm kind of indifferent to the Oprah book club (though my copy of Middlesex is pre-Oprah as well), as at least she is out there not only encouraging people to read, but to read good books. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
Professor,
Finally! I am so glad you have a space online to share your humor and insight!
Oso,
I agree with you totally. I am all for whatever gets folks reading and Oprah is reaching a huge audience. However...her logo cheapens and profanes these great works. It serves only one purpose, to get people to read books because they "should", not for the pure joy of the experience or academic interest.
Case in point? How on earth did Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury get on her list? How could that magnum opus ever be a book of the month? These books require careful attention and years of study! Next I fear it will be Nabokov's Lolita or Joyce's Ulysses... Blasphemy!
Ginger,
I have to admit that for me personally I think I just don't want people to think I'm a sheep. Even knowing that no one else sees me, I'm just insecure enough to want to maintain inferability that I was there before "the club" was.
:)
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