I wrote this a while back and just got around to editing it.  It is NOT a negative commentary on Henry James who I love.  It stems more from a conversation between Lynn and DaRa that we had after the Nutcracker at El Charro.

Book Club

By: ffluffy

Dedicated to: all readers and writers

"And should you like him to write our story?" - Henry James
 
When So and So read The Turn of The Screw it was so boring and complicated that he eventually looked it up on line just so that he would understand the basic plot. 
 
“If I could re-write that story I would make the ghosts actually say something.  Who believes in ghosts who can’t talk?”  LaLa wondered.
 
“If I could be in the story I would be the nanny because everyone else is either retarded or dies at the end,” D said.
 
“I didn’t like the story,” So and So exclaimed.
 
“Henry James is supposed to be this amazing author and instead I read The Turn of The Screw as a rambling ghost story with too much non-information,” J flipped through the pages of the book.
 
“Somebody recommended it to me, one of these books you have to read before you die kind of things,” D reasoned.
 
“I think we should make a list of 100 things to do before we die,” LaLa suggested.
 
“I don’t regret reading it though; at least I can say I’ve read it.  What else are you going to do with a story like that?  Let it sit on the library shelf?”  J explained.

 “Well, I thought it was scary,” said D.
 
“It was scary, but it was also pointless, who cares if the kids could see the ghosts or not?  And who cares if the house keepers had an affair or not.  I think that book is supposed to be about random sex acts but it just doesn’t come through in the story since you couldn’t really write about stuff like that back then,” LaLa gestured with her hands as she spoke.
 
“I have too much A.D.D. to read a story like that,” Vee said.
 
“What are you talking about?  It is super short; took me a few hours to read.  You could read it, you just don’t want to,” J looked at Vee across the room.
 
“Maybe I don’t want to read it, you can’t force me.”
 
“Why are you in a book club then?  You should join a sofa sifting club.”
 
“Fuck off.”
 
“Next I think we should read some Shakespeare, or some Milton,” D interjected.
 
“Or maybe we should try writing a ghost story of our own,” So and So recommended.

“I don’t have anything inside me to write,” LaLa glanced around the room.
 
“Neither do I,” Vee stated.
 
“Well this is some book club!”  D stood up ready to go.
 
“Let’s combine all the choices for next time, either write a story, make a list of 100 things to do before you die, read something from Shakespeare or Milton or just sit on your sofa,” J proposed.

“Makes me want to join a real book club,” Vee whispered inwardly.
“Well, I’m outta here, thanx guys!” D opened the door.

“Me too.”

“Bye.”

And in the end, as Henry James would say, So and So and LaLa “were alone with the quiet day.”