Today I ventured out to Barnes and Noble. It is my last day in Washington and I am headed to Virginia to spend some time with classmates so I figured since I had the day off a bookstore was the perfect place to visit.
I walked into the pennsylvania avenue store and of course as soon as I walked in I was bombarded with Obama propaganda. Over 40 books stared me in the face begging me for purchase to discover the story of how Obama overcame adversity and became the 44th president of the US. Lucky for me I have a strong will power and moved on. On my way to the escalator I passed the magazine racks and I kid you not, 16 separate magazines (I pulled each off the shelves and held them altogether) all had Obama on their cover. How insane is it that 16 separate magazines each had their own nexus to our President!
Onward to the escalator it was for me and I landed in my mecca - the fiction section. I was searching for Hall, Sara, "Electric Michaelangelo" and sniped the last copy on the shelf. Because I found the book so quickly I felt cheated of my book searching rendezvous so I continued to peruse the shelves. In the "N" section (I was looking for anything new by Neresian, Arthur) I heard someone ask aloud, What's that?" I turned. I was the only other person in the aisle. I surveyed the individual. He had on a wool coat, polyester blend scarf (so unfortunate) and ordinary khaki pants with square tip loafers. The only thing remotely notable about him was his receding hairline. As such, we shall call him "receding rick."
Receding rick: What's that?
Me: What is what? (similar to what is the what!)
Receding rick: Your book. What is it about?
Me: Um. I do not know. A tattoo artist. It is for a book club.
Receding rick: Do you have any recommendations? I am just now getting into reading again.
Me: Well, not this one. It was the last one on the shelf. Good luck.
I then promptly walk out of the aisle and down to the escalators to purchase the book.
As I left the bookstore I realized I had done something awful...I had denied myself of sharing my every experience with books! I have opinions on every book I have ever read. I love books! I love reading! My one chance where a human tried to connect with me on a literary level - my one chance where I was able to influence someone and their opinions on what to read - and I dismissed it.
I am often frustrated that I hear people (more specifically men) say that when they see a woman they want to talk to, they are intimidated and just stand there and move on. I get frustrated with that sentiment because I knew that if anyone actually did get up the nerve to talk to me, and it was not 3 am last call at a bar, I would embrace that encounter and talk with them. So much for that. I am most certain that at this point, because I literally turned my back on this guy, that a karmageddon* will occur in my life. You reap what you sow, and I am fully prepared.
Now for some coffee.
* 1. (n.) It's like, when everybody is sending off those really bad vibes, right? And then, like, and then the earth explodes and its like a serious bummer.
2 comments:
The intro question definitely threw me off but it is no excuse.
I would have recommended:
1-all the kings men ( i disliked it but he might have enjoyed it and it is a classic)
2- into the wild if he had already read all the kinds men
3- Team of Rivals if he wanted something non fiction
They are not the all time best books but i think he would have enjoyed them.
hm, all the king's men. i liked it well enough. when i read it, i felt like i was reading "a maaan's book!" (spoken with the voice of a bourbon drinking, chain smoking, south carolinian grandpa)
i would also recommend Life of Pi, for i have never known anyone to not like it. i would have to put a good word in for cat's cradle and east of eden. boys in high school all liked heart of darkness by conrad - i have no clue why but if guys like it in general i dont see why receding rick wouldnt.
...or maybe i would recommend a choose-your-own-adventure novel. i mean really, you have no idea at what level he is reading, and those books were awesome fun when we were little...
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