We were supposed to be discussing last month's selection, The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison. But it was hard to stay on topic and discuss such a sad story in such a beautiful setting. I thought the book was beautifully written. I loved the language. But the story - blecch. It was so sad. It was almost a little ridiculously sad. Racism, poverty, injustice, rape, incest, more rape, beatings, humiliation, oh, and let's toss in a creepy pedophile, too, just for good measure. All this in a relatively short book.
Most of us gave it a thumbs down. But I did like the writing. Some of the others have read more of her later books, although I think Cindy was the only one who had read The Bluest Eye before. Anyway, they recommended I try Song of Solomon. So perhaps I will. If I feel up for more crying in the bathtub.
I chose this next month's selection and I vowed No More Crying in the Bathtub. Not right now. So I picked David Sedaris. And I am loving him. I am seriously laughing out loud as I read. And I am surprised by that because I think I am a tough audience. Everyone has always raved about how hilarious David Sedaris is and I always kind of shrugged him off. I am the kind of humor snob who doesn't usually laugh when people are trying too hard to be funny. Do you know what I mean? Like most stand-up comics just annoy me. It's too rehearsed. So I figured if that is David Sedaris' reputation, if that's his thing - that he's funny, then I will probably not find him funny.
But he is. He is really funny. Leila, if you are reading this, pick yourself up a freakin' David Sedaris book, woman, because the man is seriously funny. And while you're at it, join the Old Vagina Book Club, too!
