Chick-Literate

Do you want to talk about your anger? The counselor says to me later.

No, I say.

Having access to your anger can be a wonderful thing, says the counselor, anger can be a very useful accessory.

I was thinking of it more as a foundation garment, I say.

— Shannon Olson, Welcome to My Planet, p. 81

I resisted reading this book for a long time, mostly because I distrust the “chick lit” genre. Also—full confession—its intimidatingly good-looking author and I once worked in the same department (this was years before her first book was published), and she always seemed standoffish when encountered in the women’s rest room. My then-boyfriend had once gone out with her, and he had less-than-complimentary things to say. (That is, apart from his observation that "she was the hottest woman [he’d] ever dated.” Oh, honey, you say the sweetest things.)

Last week, Q sent me her copy of Olson's book, which I enjoyed despite myself. Now I think I missed out on knowing someone interesting and cool. Perhaps I should phone the old boyfriend to tell him so.