Kindred Spirits

Last week, my friend Sarah came to visit me and we had lunch and went to the bookstore together. We had a blast walking around looking at books and talking. And I was reminded why we were such good friends. We both have never read "Catcher in the Rye" for the same reason, specifically most people who read that book do it because they think other people will think they are both cool and rebellious. (And of course I shared Rachel's excellent quote "Anyone who reads that book and uses it as a type of philosophy is an idiot). And she and I decided that we don't usually enjoy books that are considered "must-read" or some of the books in the "literature canon". I really don't like to be told to read a novel for reasons x ,y , z . I like to decided why I should read the book and what is important. But that is just me. I also have a problem with people using literature as a way to exclude people. I read "The Jane Austen Book Club" which everyone was raving about, and I hated it. Maybe I didn't get it but I just hated it for the specific reason it that the women seemed to unnecessarily bitchy. It is four women (who have read Austen) who begin a bookclub and invite a man (who has never read any Austen) and then make fun of him throughout the book and completely ignore the fact that he is voluntarily reading Austen (which is not common for men in general fictional or not). Maybe I'm idealistic, but literature to me can act as an equalizer.

"My Joseph better not be sterile -- I need my seed to live on. Certain plans of mine require additional Gribbles." -Dale Gribble

Bonus Quote:
"Have you forgotten who you are? You are Hank freakin' Hill! The man who won the Texas Propane Association's Blue Flame of Valor award! The man who drove raccoon after raccoon out of our attic, armed only with a broom-handle and a pillowcase! And the man whose sperm struggled through that tiny urethra God cursed you with to create our wonderful son!" -Peggy Hill