  Required Reading I think people should come with required reading lists like college courses and then I might have some luck at understanding folks. Like my sister Jenna, I would tell you to read a lot of Anais Nin, Colette and Tom Robbins. Anything sexy, shocking or mildly hallucinogenic. I think then you might grow to love her and understand her or at least know when to put the book down when parts get too steamy or crazy or what-have-you (or when to read under the covers with your flashlight). I’ve been thinking about this a lot since I began reading John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. I’m in love with one of his characters, Samuel Hamilton. He’s Irish, curious, inventive, dark yet happy and I love the way he thinks. I think you should read East of Eden just to meet Sam.
I think you’ll fall in love too. I think you’ll cringe at the foreshadowing when you know sweet, smart Sam is inching toward trouble by hanging out with Adam Trask and his no-good wife Cathy. That dame I just don’t dig. So far, I haven’t found any female characters Steinbeck is cuckoo for or sympathetic to here.
Hmmm. Now I’m wondering what would be my required reading? Here’s a shot at what I think you’d need to read to understand me (more): To Kill A Mockingbird , Harper Lee A Midsummer’s Night Dream , Shakespeare Bastard Out of Carolina , Dorothy Allison Grimm’s Fairy Tales Insomnia , Stephen King Selected Poems of Gwendolyn Brooks My Antonia , Willa Cather Mama Makes Up Her Mind , Bailey White Me Talk Pretty One Day , David Sedaris Horton Saves Whoville , Dr. Seuss I’ll think of many more after this is published. What’s your required reading? 
