Posted by: kaite stover
Has anyone else seen this commercial? It opens with a trim, perky blonde woman talking to the audience about how much she loves books and reading and talking about reading. She’s so excited because she just found a book group where the women (apparently the group is solely composed of women. Is that redundant? A women’s book group?) always choose the best books. She can’t wait to talk about these great books with these intelligent women! By now she’s got her hands in little fists and she’s pumping them excitedly. Her hair is swinging around, all bouncy and perfectly cut. I’m scowling at the television because I am not lithe and blonde and I need a haircut and I should be reading, not zombieing out in front of the cable box. So I grab my remote and I’m about to channel surf this Oprah-tastic broad right off my screen when she gets pouty and says the women in the book group nudged her out because she actually read the books and wanted to discuss them.
My heart and grip on the remote melted. I felt for her. I do. How many book groups have I gone to where steering conversation to the book is like driving Ben-Hur’s chariot? And then, I knew I could be in a book group with this gal. What does she do to make herself feel better? She busts out the spreadable cheese and crackers and lobs a joke at the viewers at home. She gets it. Books and food are a winning combo. She’s gonna keep on reading. To heck with those gossipy hens.
And Madison Avenue? When did those marketing culture vultures learn that book groups could be used to sell product besides books? Today, smoothy cheese and crackers. Tomorrow, beer and pick-ups. Woot.
