And Sometimes Why

I haven't seen the parade marching in front of my house yet, but I'm sure it will be there soon. I finally finished Mencken. I bought this book a couple of years ago because it was a 2006 Times Book Award finalist. I decided to read it on my trip to visit some of the other Tribune Business Units, including the Baltimore Sun. (Mencken is closely associated with the Sun newspapers.) That was the week before Thanksgiving, only about 5 months ago. I figured the reason it was taking so long was because it was a, pardon me, bathroom book. So where is your library?

I think the real reason it took so long was because it dwelt too much on Mecken's personal life. I would have liked more in depth on his writing and editing. I looked to see what else the author has written. She is Marion Elizabeth Rodgers. Her only other books have been about Mencken's letters to his wife Sara, written 20 years earlier and a book called The Impossible H. L. Mencken written in 1991. I think this woman is obsessed, and not in a good way. The best things about all this is that I am now hooked on this man. I'm sure that I will be getting a book written by him. He had a wonderful way with words. Would I recommend this book? No. But I would recommend Mencken.

Nor would I recommend And Sometimes Why. It has that irritating Crash mentality. You read about a lot of different people whose lives intersect. She is a good writer in that it is easy to get involved with the people, so I wouldn't consider this a waste of time. But it is way too contrived. Even the title. You must know that the vowels are A,E, I, O, U and sometimes Y. The thought that the letter Y is also a word of such significance does not escape this writer. Reporters are always looking for the basics of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Some of those are really easy. But if you are a parent, you know that Why is the hardest thing to answer.

Something tragic happens in this book and the author never says, "But Why?" The search, however, is understood. It's understood from the title and then the vowels are repeated several times - and sometimes Y. And a woman is lying in a hospital bed unable to do anything except recite vowels. OMG, give me a break. And how the people all inter-relate! Argh. Too bad I liked some of the people. They should have found a better book to live in.