Book Snob Rides the El

My mother has made the claim - all right my whole family has, that I am a snob. Perhaps, but is that such a bad thing? If I am a snob it is more along the lines of a very particular, slightly screwy take on culture and what's right and what's just plain wrong. For example - back when I frequented bars a fair amount I held strong opinions on what made for a great bar and what didn't. Weeds, O'Rourkes, The Old Towne Ale House (the early years), Cassidy's all made the cut. Butch McGuire's definitely did not. I could tell you about movies and places to live and music but I won't bore you.

I'll just mention this: Books and the writers who write them. Surprisingly enough people still read books. Every day on the El I see people reading books. I'll admit that I almost never approve of what they are reading, but at least they are reading, they are holding a book in their hands (ah, and I mean a book made of paper). And every once in awhile, like today, I will see someone reading a book that gives me hope and makes me smile. Just across from me I eyed Birds of America by Lorrie Moore and it was being read.