What not to read on Valentine's Day

[Rellim]

I skimmed and saw nothing about this here, so I want to savor this moment as the first time in years that I've able to participate in this section with anything meaningful. Even if it's pretty trivial and silly. I'm still enjoying it.



DH shares his thoughts on what not to read on Valentine's Day, along with an important celebration tip.

www.avclub.com/article/daniel-handler-tells-us-what-not-to-read-on-valent-201136

"I think Lolita is a litmus test for what kind of Valentine’s Day person you are."

[Dante]

Enjoy the breathtaking irony of Mr. Handler's views on Stuart Little:

I have something of an appreciation for Stuart Little now, but when I first read it, I thought that book was a total gyp. I remember that I literally turned the page, the last page of the book, thinking there was more, and was like, “You’re kidding me, there’s nothing? He doesn’t find anything?”

[...]

Yes, it does capture the essence of life. But if, for instance, you’re just a fifth grader who doesn’t want to read something that captures the essence of life, but is just a good story, then you’re going to be disappointed in Stuart Little. When you get older, you realize there are mysteries you’re never going to solve, and life, in and of itself, is incomplete, but if you’re reading little else besides Tintin, then Stuart Little is going to be disappointing.

[Hermes]

Yes, that struck me too. Though the 'when you get older' but presumably accounts for it.

(Thanks, Betsy!)

[Christmas Chief]

I found the assessment of Stuart Little a bit more than perplexing. But I do appreciate Handler's quirky reviews, as always.

[Skelly Craig]

I liked the bit about allowing yourself to cry because of a book in public but not cry too hard.

Thanks for the link, Betsy

[Hermes]

The Mrs Caliban reference is interesting, given the character of that name in The End. It's clearly in the first place an allusion to The Tempest, in light of the island setting and her first name of Miranda, but is it an allusion to this book as well?

[Dante]

Given that there are other characters named for those from The Tempest in The End, I think that Shakespeare's play is the primary referent - but it'd be impossible to prove that Handler wasn't also thinking of Mrs. Caliban, especially given the inclusion of a character actually named Mrs. Caliban.