A Classic...

I'm honored and grateful that one of my friends has invited me to join her book club. We all like to be invited, don't we? To be included, asked to join with others in something. It's part of how God made us, I believe. We're designed to be in communion with each other, connected in fellowship, companionship and friendship. There's something about connecting with others that lights a spark in our spirit, a little flame in our soul to keep us warm.

My infatuation with the written word has me excited to be included in this new group. I'm used to being part of Bible study groups and frequently participate in those, but I've not been part of a club before. The ladies in the book club, most of whom I've not yet met, are meeting this Friday morning to discuss the book, The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath. Apparently, I'm not at all up to speed on classic literature, as I've not heard of this one.

I printed my bookstore coupon last week and ran off to purchase a different book, the newest book by my favorite author, Donald Miller. His new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, is supposed to be in my local bookstore. That's what his website said.... Donald Miller's newest book is currently being stocked on bookshelves at your local bookstore. So, like all Donald Miller addicts, I grabbed my coupon and hit the road. I opened the door of my favorite bookstore and expected to see a life-size cardboard cutout of Don standing there to greet me, as stacks of his new book overflowed the table onto more books stacked below. I entered the store, paused in typical fashion to breathe in that delicate bookstore aroma, and let my eyes dart from table to table in the front of the store. The first thing that caught my eye was the larger-than-life display of Dan Brown's newest book. I like Dan Brown's  writing and I've enjoyed his books, but I needed Donald Miller. Not seeing the book up front, I walked at a brisk pace, the same frantic pace I use when I've waited too long to use the rest room, and rounded the last corner, expecting a large display near the Religion section, where his books normally live. Nothing.

I found an employee and asked him about the new release. "Who is the author?"He asked, like he's never heard of the guy. When I told him, I expected him to say, Oh of course. He's a genius and it's about time he's gotten a new book out. Instead, he asked how to spell Miller. After punching a few keys on his keyboard, he informed me that the books were, indeed, being shipped and should arrive in the next ten days. So, curious about how big the up-front display was going to be, I asked how many copies were coming. "Nine," he said, like that was eight too many. Obviously, the world has been sleeping.

Immediately, I turned and bolted for the door.  Just across the street was bookstore number two, my last hope for the new book. Although I didn't have a coupon for this store, I was in such desperate need for a Donald Miller fix that I was prepared to pay full price. No questions asked. I got there in record time and flew in to see a similar Dan Brown display up front, but no Miller. There was a friendly looking fellow working the computer, so I moseyed over to ask about my author. "Can you spell that?" He asked, while tucking one of his ten hairs behind his ear. I asked, while he was reading the screen, how many were coming. "Looks like we've got more than enough - twelve."  More than enough? I suggested that they would need to order more than that as I explained the genius of Donald Miller. He looked at me like I sprouted another head and smiled politely, as if to say, you silly, silly woman. I'm going to take bets, when you leave, from coworkers on just how long those twelve books will sit before they are sold. I ignored his smug little smile and gave him my name and number so I could get one of the first copies to hit the store. He was sure there wouldn't be a stampede, but I wanted to leave my information just in case.

Feeling defeated and still determined to come home with a book, I ask the ten-haired gentleman about my new book cub selection. "I'm looking for a book and I remember that the author's last name is Plath."

"Sylvia Plath?" He asks, like she's his mother. "The Bell Jar. Is that the book you're looking for?"

My lower lip probably suffered a rug burn as I picked it up from the floor. How the heck does he rattle that off when he knows absolutely nothing about my literary genius? "Yes," I respond. "Have you read it?"

"Yea. It's a classic. I'm not a big Sylvia Plath fan, but everybody's read the book."

So, this nobody followed Mr. Ten Hairs to the back of the store where he handed me a plain looking, paperback copy of The Bell Jar. A couple hundred pages, it looked like an easy read and I decided to get it. My friend, the one who invited me to join her club, had said she wasn't enjoying the book. I guess that peaked my interest and I've taken it on as a challenge. From all I've gathered thus far, it's a dark book about a woman who goes off to NY and wants to end her own life. In real life, Sylvia Plath did, indeed, end her own life at an early age. That's about all I really know about her and her book. It sounds sad, hopeless and nothing like I'd normally read. I just hope there are no bad words. 

So, as I sit here on my computer, I realize that I really should be reading. How will it look when I walk into my first book club meeting having not read the book? I run the risk of being excluded before I've ever been fully included. The reading, thus far, has been slow going, like a snail crossing the summer sidewalk, I've managed to crawl into page 30. I'm stumbling through this classic like an editor unhappy with a manuscript. I mean no disrespect, but she's no Donald Miller. Still, determined to read it all the way through and excited to try out the new club, I better get serious and finish the book. After all, it is a classic. Whatever that really means.

Comments

[KC]

S- spend $70.00 per year, become an Amazon.com Prime member, and order books all the time like we do! There is no shipping cost and the minute your pre-ordered book is available, it is shipped. You are too busy to play verbal gymnastics with ten-haired literary midgets. Don who?! You have got to be kidding me!

[S]

Wow, I'm uneducated on the ease of Amazon membership. Don't you miss the exhilarating trips to the bookstore? What about all my coupons the bookstores mail to me? I always feel like I've really gotten a deal when I'm able to use my coupon.

You are quite right. I definitely am too busy for the bookstore's literary midgets. (Very witty. I miss your blog KC!) I'll look into Amazon Prime....thanks for the info!