Book Bingo: my problem areas

When
my friend and I decided to do Book Bingo earlier this year, I was all happy and
excited and confident. When July rolled around, I had all but about 4 squares
done and thought, “I could wipe this thing out by September!” 

 

Yeah.

That
was before I tacked The Problem Areas.

I’m
talking about “A Forgotten Classic” and “A Book of Short Stories.” They may
just do me in.

The
moaning began back in August, when I realized my September finish was out of
the question because of The Big Two. My friend helped me brainstorm, and I
re-entered the fray all refreshed and ready to face my foes.

And
then I faltered. The classics are an embarrassing stumbling block for me. I
know they’re important, but I don’t crave them the way I think I should. And
then to have to come up with a doggone forgotten one. For pete’s sake!

And
short stories are not my thing. It’s really too bad. They always have the most
enticing titles:

The Lone Ranger and Tonto
Fistfight in Heaven

See You in Paradise

What I Want to Tell Goes Like
This

The Year of Perfect Happiness

So it’s
like the final hours of the Read-a-Thon, when I’m tired and irritable and
difficult to please. And then there’s assigned reading.

I will
do it, though. I will complete this doggone bingo card.

And
the triumph will be all the more glorious for the struggle.

This
is what I tell myself.