Posh and Illiterate

Yes, I know you have all already seen this story.  I have seen it several times myself today.  I wonder how you can make it through any educational system without ever having read a book?  And I don't believe that anyone could possibly write a 528-page autobiography when they don't read themselves.  I think this is one book I will not be adding to my reading list.  She is quoted as saying that she would like to have a daughter as then she could imagine "painting her nails, putting on make-up and choosing clothes" with her.  I guess reading a book to her doesn't fit into her parenting formula.  Hmm.

  At the library where I work we have two tables (well a table and a set of bookcases) that have books that patrons can buy or make a swap.  Usually the book sale table doesn't have much of interest to me, but the books seem to sell.  These are things that people donate to the library, but they don't get added to the collection for whatever reason.  We also have a book swap area where patrons can bring in a book and choose one in exchange.  Usually there is also not much of interest to me there as well (lots of science fiction, which isn't really my thing or the kind of fiction you might find in a supermarket checkout lane).  However today I happened by and there were actually some books that looked very interesting.  As I hadn't brought in anything, I chose just one that I thought I will probably read at some point in time.  Waiting by Ha Jin won the National Book Award, Pen/Faulkner Award, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and was a New York Times Notable Book--pretty decent credentials.  I had never really looked at it in the bookstore, but it does sound pretty good.  I guess I will have to check those shelves more often in the future.

Comments

[iliana]

Waiting is a great novel. One of my book groups read this a couple of years ago and everyone enjoyed it. I hope you do too.

[Danielle]

I am glad you liked it. It sounded good after I read the description on the back. I always wonder how many good books I am missing out on when I pass them by in the bookstore!

[guile]

i love Waiting.. i still re-read it sometimes :)..