Initiative, aggressiveness, resourcefulness, courage, spunk, guts, common sense and shrewdness. All of these words describe “gumption”. I wish I had more. I need more.
Tomorrow, I will attend yet another continuing education writing course. I have no idea what to expect. The only requirement is to bring your favorite novel with you. Unfortunately, though I would very much like to write fiction, I rarely read it. My favorite novel, which will accompany me to class tomorrow, is simply the latest novel I’ve read: The Help. It was a cute book but having taken a course at Rice University before, I know the intellectual types inevitably attending the class. While I bring a recent best seller they will bring classic novels. Books I haven’t read. Authors I’ve never heard of. Writing I may not understand or even like.
So, now what? Should I hide and run? Part of me would really like to. But, the course is paid for. Instead of true gumption I have frugality, a pragmatic nature and just a tiny bit of pride.
I’ll go to the course and hope for the best. Wish me luck.
Don’t you worry, oopsiegal! You’re showing gumption by being true to yourself and taking that book to class. Just have you some good reasons for championing the book and you’ll be fine! Besides, I think there is a lot of food for thought in The Help. For those of us who lived in the south during those times, many things were said that needed to be said. Keep us posted!
Just familiarize yourself with this list first: http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.html
Then you can still take The Help but also know the names of some of the novels the snooty intellectuals will mention to make themselves feel important. (btw, my favorites are Catch-22 and The Picture of Dorian Gray)
Alternately, when cornered just mention The Catcher in the Rye. This is what all people do when they want to seem intellectual. Since they do it too they will not press you on the issue.
Can’t help but be reminded of my second grade book report presentation on The Three Little Pigs…I LOVED that book and sadly hadn’t read many other books yet. Needless to say, my teacher was less than impressed and her harsh comments had me running out of the room in tears. Got an A on that book report though…maybe because of my gumption?
Have fun and good luck!
Totally agree with Austin. I had a college prof who advised us to learn three Shakespeare quotes and commit them to memory. Spring them on a new professor (or the snooty intellectuals in your class) and they will fear you, wondering what else you know.
How did it go??