What Novel Next?

Today I was in Barnes and Noble longing for another great novel to occupy my spare moments and thoughts for the next few months. I find there are so many and I really haven't read the vast majority of them. I kinda want to stay with the Russian classics--maybe Dostoevsky--but perhaps need a break. I remember reading the beginning of Dickens' "David Copperfield" a few years ago and liking it quite a bit. Or what about "The Cather in the Rye" that I always hear so much about and always say I'm going to read. Of course, I've also thought about going back and re-reading my all-time favourite, "Les Miserables."

Which reminds me, while I was in B&N, I was there looking at all these classics books, wondering about the characters found within and the themes and motives that will speak to me years and years later, and I overheard one of the sales associates answer the phone. Apparently someone was looking for "Les Miserables." I wish I could have taped the dialogue. Not only did this woman not know the author, but she had not ever heard of the book. Now, I know it's my favourite, so I do have some personal attachment, but as I listened to her mispronounce the title at least a dozen times...over and over...I wanted to talk to her manager and have her fired. Needless to say, I calmly walked away, told myself that we are all unique, smiled at the woman as I walked by, and under my breath said, "Oh, and the author is Victor Hugo."

I think she heard me.