New 09.01.02
On day three at the lake, I decided I'd had enough of imaginary murder and mayhem. I picked up Bookstore, The Life and Times of Jeanette Watson and Books & Co. by Lynne Tillman. The copy on the cover said it was "The extraordinary tale of a great bookstore told by readers, writers, and staff who loved it."
I hope they liked the book as well. In the very beginning I was put off by Jeanette Watson. Talking about her social work career (after majoring in early childhood education at Sarah Lawrence), she described her treatment for a woman suffering from chronic depression. "I'd bring in nail polish and lipstickãthe remedy for any problemãand paint her finger nails. I'd put lipstick on her. She liked that." And Watson thanked Tillman for writing this!?
I made it through about half an hour, reading self-congratulatory, self-parody by Manhattan literati (?) before I packed this book up for the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary book fair. Sorry, I never heard of Books & Co. Nor have I ever heard of 90% of the important Authors and Intellectuals and Experts interviewed for the book. How provincial of me! No more provincial than the Manhattan literati who seem to expect every else to adore their parochialism. Sorry. I've got too much I want to do.
Write Tell a little bit of the world what you think.
By Ken Wedding. 08.14.02 Updated 09.03.02.
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