I am a little groggy. I spent half of last night reading a book just for fun. No, it wasn’t the new Harry Potter. It was something a little more adult. I read Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich and loved it!
I don’t feel at all guilty, either. Why should I? I know, I didn’t learn anything and lost valuable beauty sleep, but boy did I have fun. At times, I was having so much fun, my laughter echoed down the hall. Come to think of it, my husband is probably groggy, too.
What is wrong with having fun? Isn’t reading supposed to fun? Why do we feel we must learn 
something in the process? I admit, I read Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find earlier in the week. Okay, in essence, I lied. I did the self-assigned hard stuff first, because I felt guilty, before playing. Even I couldn’t let myself have fun.
I should be able to pick up a book for the pure escapism it provides. Not only that, I should consider O’Connor’s writings as much fun as the Stephanie Plum series. Yes, her writings are full of racism, classism, and ageism, but they are meant to be escapism, too. I think Flannery would have used a road-killed, stuffed, exploding armadillo created by the local taxidermist as performance art, had she thought of it like Evanovich.
Come to think of it, I had as much fun reading O’Connor. I do remember laughing out loud while reading her last story titled, The Displaced Person. It was a different type of fun though, a cerebral type filled with subtle ironic twists. For example, in the last few sentences of the short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find, our main character is described by her killer with, “She would of been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.”
We see ourselves in her characters, hear ourselves in their voices, and move within their world which makes the book fun. Also, I found with O'Connor's characters, it is just as much fun knowing we aren’t like some of them.
Who is to say I didn’t learn something through Evanovich’s character Stephanie Plum. Before reading the book, I would have been skeptical if someone said they totaled a car, burnt down two buildings, stapled a man’s jewels, and receive 16 stitches in their leg in less than 24 hours. Humph?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
I Ramble When Sleepy...(copy)
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16 comments:
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Series books are one of my guilty pleasures, but I also find them to contain truly valuable life lessons . . .
Diane, I have learned how to jump from a third story building while it is on fire! First, you need a friend with a tractor trailor. Secondly, said semi will need to be idling, oh, across the street. Bah! ;D
I think sometimes we need to read just for fun. Our minds need a break from "learning" all the time. And isn't laughter the best medicine?
maggie - I have only read one of the Plum books, but did enjoy it alot!
You know what I learned from Stephanie Plum? I love scenes in which things are blown up and people are being chased. They're such fun. We all need a mental break, now and then, and Evanovich knows how to entertain. I think I stopped at 9, though. I'm way behind.
I'm putting off Flannery O'Connor till winter, but after reading Jenclair's post, it's going to be hard. She sounds so fascinating.
Lynne, as a librarian I feel fun reading is important to boost confidence. Students report back to me with bragging rights, "I finished this book in two days." Oh, and I'm for uppin' the dosage. :D
Diane, one can really read Evanovich in any order. She's always hashes out characters and settings early to help readers jump right in.
Bookfool, one can really read her in any order.
Interesting Mississippi story - Hubby and I were vacationing in Natchez when a lovely bookstore owner handed me her first three copies. Matter of fact, her only three. She had yet to write Four to Score.
Read'um! Loved'um! Then I placed them in the library system, and well, she became mega-bestseller. I don't want to take too much credit. I'll share with the adorable bookseller in Natchez. Bah! :D
Great post! I love it the idea of Flannery O'Connor's work being associated with performance art--a perfect description. And seeing the connections with Stephanie Plum, too funny!
I love Stephanie too!
We've always called those kind of books "brain candy", cause even our minds need something nutritionless now & again!
I'm really starting to warm up to O'Connor, JenClair. I have another post I want to do about her use of hats in AGMIH2F. She has definitely got me thinking.
Thanks, Mo. She is like an adult comic book. It's been a while since I checked, but she used to have a superhero strip about Rex the hamster. :)
You gotta love a character that eats as much junk food as Stefanie does :)
I admit I stopped reading around book 10 because I got a bit tired of the blown up cars and the whole Joe/Ranger thing but those books are so funny. Hmm, maybe I should go back to the series.
Iliana, this one has exploding road-kill, not to be missed! ;D
I've never read any of the Plum books even though I've heard so much about them. It's good to hear that I don't have to read them in order. I always feel I'm missing something if I don't start at the beginning of a series.
But, Carol, at some point read the very first one, One for the Money. This way you will know how Ms Plum stumbles into her bounty hunter job. The first ones are funny in the respect of fashion, too. Lots of spandex shorts/skirts/pants things Stephanie wouldn't be caught dead wearing now. :)
What a neat story! I read the first four all in a row, after hearing her praised on writers' listservs (many moons ago, when I still had ambition). I used to collect the series, but I haven't bothered, lately. To be honest, I'd like it if she'd wrap it up. I grow weary of series' that go on forever.
Thank you, Maggie! I'll look for One for the Money. It does make sense to always read the first book in a series to get the background you need.
You know Bookfool, I don't think Ms Plum is getting any older either. I wonder what the percentage is for authors who allow their money makers to age? ;)
No problem, just happy to suggest, Carol
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