Tom Robbins has apparently written a children's book called
B Is for Beer. Hilarious, right? I have not read the book, so my immediate reaction is based solely on what I have read about it. The main character is a kindergartner,
who actually drinks a beer in the story. And that reaction is, this is pure insanity. As the child of an alcoholic, the title
B Is for Beer does not make me laugh or smile. My associations are of the more stomach-churning variety. Having read and loved Tom Robbins in my time (it would be interesting to go back and read him now, 20-odd years down the road), I am sad that he would come up with such an ill-conceived, such an ill concept. I know I might be coming off like a shrill temperance freak, but this is not an area where I can pretend to be cool. Now if it had been
W Is for Wine, my reaction would not be as visceral, but I would still wonder--why? Why did this have to be a children's book? I don't think I'll be recommending it for my kids' school book fair.
But if it was a Leffe Blonde, all is forgiven, no?
ReplyDeleteIn an interview about the book, Robbins said, "There are no bad beers, but there are bad beer drinkers." Like guns don't kill people, people kill people. You know I drink with the best of 'em (had 3 Sapporos at the Yankees game yesterday); I just can't stomach the idea of this book. Makes me see red.
ReplyDelete