Friedrich --

I was talking about books with an arty guy in his early 20s who's very bright and talented. He has a project in mind, and I was pointing out a few titles he might want to peep at to see how various problems of tone and voice can be handled. After a minute, I noticed that he had a strange, mirthful-foolish expression on his face.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“It’s about books, I was just thinking.”

“Thinking what?”

“Well, I haven’t read any of the ones you’re talking about.”

“You haven’t?”

“I haven’t read very many old books, actually.”

“But you went to a fancy, expensive, exclusive Northeastern private college. Didn’t they have you read at least a few of the great old books?”

“Well, one of the profs there told me that the canon was coming apart, and since this was probably a good thing, I didn’t have to worry about reading any of the great old books. He told me not to worry about it. So I didn’t.”

Best,

Michael

(Curls up in fetal position.)

Actually, boy am I glad I go to a state-run university with a tight budget.

Posted by: Andrea Harris on October 12, 2002 12:18 PM






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