Unbelievable

An interesting item today, on a blog called Practicing Writing. Apparently, one of the books on President Bush's summer reading list is Albert Camus' The Stranger.

I didn't even know Bush had a summer reading list.

To be honest, most days I have a hard time picturing him reading a newspaper, let alone a major work by one of the most famous French existentialists, so I guess this is good news--the President of the United States, reading real literature!

Now if only I could believe it.

But I'm willing to admit I'm a snob when it comes to literary matters, and maybe my skepticism is born of the fact that I just can't stand the thought of our president, who has trouble stringing together two coherent, complete, intelligible sentences in unscripted sessions, making his way through the entirety of a well-known 20th century novel that I myself have never read. It's embarrassing! Now I'm all annoyed, because I will have to read the book. And I had enough stuff on my summer reading list already!

Besides, I don't like French existentialism! It just seems so boring. Boo.

Thanks a million, Mr. President.

P.S. If you're interested in finding out what other books are on the Presidential reading list, go here.