I'm Your Friend

Everyone knows the best bookstore in the world is Powells. EVERYONE.

So I probably shouldn’t have to tell you that Powell’s has a contest going on right now. All you have to do is tell them your favorite read of 2004. It doesn’t have to be a book written in 2004. All you had to do was read it in 2004.

2004 was a prodigio…er, a prodigid…er, a good year for me in terms of books read. I tried to keep the heavy literature to a minimum (Invisible Man, For Whom the Bell Tolls), and I tried not to get too caught up in the flavors of the moment (Life of Pi, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime). And had I been able to finish A Dangerous Woman before December 31, it would have been no contest.

Also, had I not read Jokerman 8 (by Richard Melo, who occasionally posts comments here on One Child) in 2003, it would also be a no-brainer.

But the book I read in 2004 that just changed the way I see the world, that taught me how to fall in love with the unlovable woman, that learned me deconstructionist theory in a way my blue collar intellect could actually understand was…

(one handed Def Leppard drum-roll, please)

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire.

Yes, it got a mixed bag of reviews when it was released a decade ago, and yes, Gregory Maguire has turned the art of re-writing classic characters into a very profitable gimmick, but still, through his writing he got me to fall in love with Elphaba, the vile, unattractive and morally repugnant wicked witch of the west.

More importantly, he helped me look at all the vile characters in my own life and think, “Well, maybe they’re that way for a reason. Maybe they can no longer bear the weight of a society which devalues them solely based on their political views and outward, physical appearance."

"And maybe, just maybe, under that harsh exterior, heavy black smock and permanent scowl lies the golden heart of a wounded soul. And maybe, just maybe, lying just above that golden heart is a pair of surprisingly nice boobies."

So send in your picks, because you just might win a $250 gift card. In addition, the winner of this $250 gift card gets to share two $100 cards with two friends.

Additionally, in addition, have I told you, lately that I love you?


Keep smilin' keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me...
For sure ...