Rant

Has anyone else in the world besides me read the book "Rant"? The author is Chuck Palahniuk, who also happens to be the writer of "Fight Club." Granted, Fight Club was pretty f'ed up, but I wasn't expecting Rant to be quite so odd. Admittedly, I chose the book based on the artwork on the cover, which is how I often choose what to read.

Rant is the oral history of Buster "Rant" Casey as told by those closest to him, since Rant is no longer actually alive. Rant is an odd character, to say the least and I can't seem to shake the story from my mind. Every time someone mentions something about rabies, snakes, spiders, or erections (yes, I said "Erections") I think of Rant. He spends his days plastering boogers to the wall and sticking his arms into unknown holes in the ground waiting for rabbits, snakes, spiders, and whatever else lives in the ground to bite him. He makes the odd association of coming to age with being bitten by a spider, so every time he is with his girlfriend he has to wait to be bitten by a spider before he can perform. I personally think Bob Dole had the right idea by just taking a pill, but then again, I am not a man who gets off on spiders, snakes, and other varmints.

Anyway, Rant eventually contracts rabies and begins a super epidemic where people brag and link themselves to him as the source of their infection. They become almost vampire-like and attempt to bite each other. Rant dies by going down in a flame of glory in a car crash, seeking immortality in order to go back and influence history so that he can continue in his quest to make himself a superspecies of sorts. I know. It's bizarre. Normally, I would never haver read this kind of book since I am no fan of sci-fi, but once you get so far into a book you have to finish it. That will teach me to pick solely based on covers for a while. I am glad it's over, but I can't get it out of my head....even with the new book I am reading.

A few nights ago I started "The Art of Racing in the Rain," narrated by Enzo the dog. Don't start thinking that I am a complete weirdo. It's actually an interesting perspective since Enzo watches the wife become ill, but is unable to let them know that she is becoming more ill. I'm not ready to write about this book just quite yet, but I can say that last night Enzo discribed a scene where the wife had left him in the house for three days with no food and water. He does what any dog would do who is left alone for that long and shreds the baby's stuffed animals. When his owner, Denny realizes that he has trashed the baby's room he lands a blow to the side of Enzo's head. That really kind of shook me and I've been thinking a little differently in terms of how I am speaking to Belle. I don't care if it is a work of fiction. Dogs have feelings, too, and I love Belle so why should I yell at her at the top of my lungs for grabbing the sandwich off the counter and bolting? Isn't she working on instinct. I'll give it to you that it's not right and it drives me incredibly crazy, but she doesn't deserve to have me freak out on her.

Okay. I think that's the end of my rant (so to speak) for today. I should be heading to the Kenny Chesney concert tonight in Canandaigua, but it's been raining all day, so I need to make a decision as to whether or not I am going. I guess I might as well. What else do I have to do? Pack you say?