CarrollBlog 11/3
While on this recent book tour, I was often asked what kind of books I read when I was young. I admitted I didn't read at all as a kid. In fact books were anathema to me. The first real one I ever read (besides school assignments) was OF MICE AND MEN by Steinbeck. Why? Because my older brother said he would give me a dollar if I did. It just so happened I had the hots for the magnificent 12 year old Wendy Nelson at the time. I wanted to take her on a date miniature golfing and needed all the money I could get. So I agreed to read his book. When I was finished, I went to my brother and asked for the dollar. Naturally he didn't trust me. I had to pass a verbal pop quiz just to make sure I wasn't gypping him out of his buck. When he was convinced I had read it, he handed over the money and asked if I liked the book.
I nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, it was really good."
"Would you like to read another?"
"No."