Saturday, June 28, 2008

Papa Hemingway

This morning on NPR I heard an interesting interview with Patrick Hemingway, the son of Ernest. He talked about his dad and what it feels like to be turning eighty. Today is Patrick's birthday. The whole interview can be heard here, but I wanted to share a quote from Patrick that made me laugh. I'm doing this by memory so it's more of a paraphrase than an actual quote but he said something close to this ...

"Literature is what intelligent people use for dope."

Come on admit it. How many of you are addicted to books? I know I am and I like to think that does make me somewhat more intelligent than the average guy, especially if his dope of choice is crack.

Anyway check out the interview if you get the chance.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I still miss my afternoons with a good book, a cigarette and a beer.
Ahhhh. . .

Anyway, there's a surprise for you on my blog.

Monnik said...

My name is monnik and I'm a bookaholic.

:) Yep - totally hooked.

Anonymous said...

My name is catutes and I am a book junkie.
Yes it's true. There are books everywhere in my house. And I don't mean one or two here and there. There's a pile in the kitchen, bookcases full in the living room, and a stack in the bathroom. My car has books, because Hey, what if I end up somewhere and have to sit in the car?
Thank you for allowing me to share my addiction.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Was Patrick the one referred to as Bumby or something like that. I remember him from EH's writing.

Charles Gramlich said...

I went through a big Hemingway phase and read most everything by and about him. I haven't heard this interview, though, so will check it out. I'm absolutely addicted to reading. I can't keep away. In fact, I feel the need for a little bump right now, just to keep me on an even keel you understand.

Design Goddess said...

I had to do a paper on Hemmingway once. Can't really remember what I wrote, but did find his works interesting and enjoyable.

However, when it comes to reading books, I've always done as Nancy Regan said: "Just say 'No!'" (ok, so now I read more than I used to, but when I was growing up, I'd much rather wait for the movie to come out!)

yellowdoggranny said...

if you had read any of my posts you would see that im addicted to books...I have them, buy more of them, and on occasion share them..but woe unto the dumb ass who forgets to bring my books back...i'll beat him with my copy of war and peace...
do they have a betty ford for book junkies?

debra said...

We have ceiling to floor bookcases in
a couple of rooms, and piles on the floor. Don't ask me about the nightstand. I loan them out/give them away sometimes---a good read should be shared---but my problem is that I usually forget who has them.
I could, however, (and probably do) have worse vices.

Bernita said...

And the thing is, one can hit them again and again.

Anonymous said...

Now THAT is a great quote!

Thanks for the laugh.

Melissa Amateis said...

I proudly admit my addiction to books. :-)

preTzel said...

I have completed a My Town Monday. It was fun going back in time remembering my high school from Small Town, Iowa. :)

Bubblewench said...

If that's true, I'm a junkie. And I'm here to admit it.

Madeleine said...

I found you by way of Redneck Mommy, and I have to wholeheartedly agree with that quote!

I'm off to find that interview now...

Janna Leadbetter said...

Great quote! And I'm addicted to the idea of books as much as I am the books themselves. I love holding them in my hands, and just spying the stack that sits on my nightstand.

Good post. :)

Mary Witzl said...

Yep, count me in too. If I had all the money I'd spent on books, library fines and shipping costs for books -- especially when we're talking about 80 boxes of them being shipped across the Pacific --hell, I'd spend it on books all over again.

Just the feel and smell of them makes me swoon. And going into a bookstore -- ooh, what a rush!

Mary Witzl said...

Good for Hemingway's son making it all the way to 80. I've got a lot of respect for him, not deciding to cash in his chips when he was younger, like his dad. More power to him.

Sherry said...

Moi? Addicted? To books, to reading to literature?!? Say it ain't so...cos, I can stop any time I want you know...I can...I can...I can.......................