OMBC: Introductions Breed Conclusions

This is my first update to the One Man Book Club.

No, I have not yet finish The Jungle, but this will be the last update on that subject, or at least the last for a while.

Before you go all crazy on me about not sticking to my quest to read and report on a classic book, I want you to know that I will be doing so, but with a different novel by a different author. Now, before I reveal the new work of literary genius into which I will delve, I feel the need to explain my early and significant shift of novels and genres: I can’t stand Socialists.

At the time I chose to read The Jungle, I didn’t know much about the book or its author. Oh, sure, I had heard of the unspeakable things that the book reveals about food quality and safety in the early twentieth century, but I did not know about the true propagandist intent and nature of the novel. However, upon reading the timeline of Upton Sinclair’s life and the brief introduction to the novel, I have come to the decision to let The Jungle rest for a bit. That’s where the title of this post comes in. It all comes back to my lack of tolerance of Socialists.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, Upton Sinclair was a Pinko Commie. Yup, a died-in-the-wool, card carrying member of perhaps the most immature group of privileged bourgeoisie who feel guilty about their wealth and feel the best way to soothe their consciences is to collectively punish others for their successes and promote mediocrity. If you can't tell,I have utter contempt for Socialists and their ilk.

I will eventually find my way back to The Jungle, but I need a little lighter fare that lacks overt propagandistic drivel that will only serve to frustrate and annoy me.

Now to announce my new selection: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by the late, great Douglas Adams. Actually, it will be the entire Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide, which is a collection of the saga’s “Five Books and One Story”.

I first fell in love with Douglas Adams, his ability to tell a story, and his writing style more than a decade ago. I have already devoured all of the Hitchhiker books and another of Adams’ collections: the (mis)adventures of Dirk Gently. I was re-introduced to Adams thanks to my parents, who gave me a fresh copy of The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide last week, as a belated birthday present. I have not yet gotten very far in the first book, but am proud to report that I have completed the introduction and have not lost any of my zeal or anticipation for the entire series. On the contrary, it has served to wet my appetite and give me a little kick in the pants to get going on this (these) book(s).

I hope to make regular reports on at least a weekly basis, but we’ll see how things turn out (that’s a code phrase for “we’ll see how lazy I am”). Until next time…