A while back I tried to read a list of books Time magazine said was really important. I made it to page 8 of the first book on that list and stopped. That was nearly three years ago. Then I didn’t read again for a long time because the English Lit major inside of me feels guilty only reading popular novels but no classic lit. But the last “important” book I read was Wuthering Heights and can I just say THAT BOOK IS CREEPY. Why is it so popular? As I read it I kept thinking that I’d like to be in Professor Brooks’ class so he could explain it to me, but man, Catherine and Heathcliff are weirdoes. WEIRDOES I tell you. So my interest in classic novels has seriously waned since college when I would read one or two a week in addition to my classwork.
Hubby, who is very well read, thinks I’m silly for limiting myself to English Lit novels and told me I should just read whatever I like. So I took his advice and read The Time Traveler’s Wife. That book made me so sad that I couldn’t bear to touch it after I finished reading it, so instead of putting it back on the shelf I kicked it under the red chair in our living room and refused to deal with it for a few days. I understand I am too empathetic and that I take in too many things, but that book was sad. So when I looked for other good popular books to read, such as Water for Elephants or The Kite Runner, I couldn’t risk feeling sad for people WHO DON’T EVEN EXIST. If I’m going to grieve over someone’s life then they had better be real.
At a garage sale last summer I picked up Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage. That book is easily one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Then I found The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr and subsequently bored anyone who listened with stories from this girl’s childhood. Unbelieveable what people live through and then are able to write about.
So I guess now I only want to read non-fiction. I only want to be engrossed in the lives of real people. No more pain and worry over people who do not exist.
One of the best blogs I’ve ever found is written by a middle school teacher in Wichita. Every once in a while I’ll be moved enough to leave an overly excited comment (“You’re an awesome teacher” may sound weird coming from someone she does not even know) but she is an incredible writer. She pulls you in just like Mary Karr does in her books, and that is probably the highest compliment I can pay to someone writing about her life. Anyway, here is the best blog you’re not reading: Life Gets in the Way of Living.