I spent the day in bed reading and finishing the book – You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried by Susannah Gora.

I swear every 30-something should read this. At least those of us that grew up designing our own dresses because we were obsessed with “Pretty in Pink” and those who still can’t look at John Cusack without hoping the love of our life is outside with a boom box.

Needless to say, the book wasn’t just about a jog down memory lane but about how movies and ultimately the stories change us, impact us, make us who we are and of course our lives (ok, maybe not mine but clearly people like John Hughes for example) became those movies and stories.

As the book wraps up, Gora talks more and more about the impact of the 80′s, the Brat Pack, Hughes movies and such on our generation (gen x) and the world as we know it today. I was so excited to feel that connection, to enjoy something and know there are other people out there who get it too.

But just as I finished and put the book down, I thought, crap, I have to pack this and all my other books for my move across the country! Who cares, it was a great book, right?  loved it, it will be a great read again. But, humm, wouldn’t it have been easier for me to download it onto my iPhone and listen to it? So began a convergence of my worlds – remembering the past and keeping up with the future.

I mentioned, maybe complained about this, to a friend to which the idea of digital books came up – I could read it on the iPad. Ok, so I thought, good compromise. Problem solved, for future books. No, Mom, don’t worry, I’m not going to buy the new iPad (at least not yet). Then…

…tonight as I was sifting through the many news articles online – how reads a news paper – go figure;) I ran across Nightline’s Sign of the Times: What’s New is Old. There was John Cusack and his boom box! Yes it was in the story!! and the convergence.

A key clip, besides the boom box scene, then really brought it all home:

“What appealed to me about this idea from the very beginning is that I’m still relatively young,” said Grossman. “I’m 30 years old, and I feel already that time is just going so quickly and everything is very different than it was. Ten years ago, I didn’t have a cell phone, I don’t think I had a laptop, and I still listened to a Walkman. All of those things now seem like ancient history.” – Anna Jane Grossman, author of Obsolete Book: Once Common Things Passing Us By.

Man, was she right!

College wasn’t that long ago and we had just started using email as I graduated. For pete’s sake, I made it through college without owning a computer! I’d die now without one even for a day. My first job, living in Arkansas, I didn’t even own a cell phone. Can you believe that? Side note: Now I am feeling old, *sigh*.

This all got me thinking, and really only started because of my one little ”problem” (packing up all my books), is listening to a book enough, is it ok that I don’t own hard copies of books anymore but just have them on my computer?

So, how can I, after reading about the 80′s and yes, distinctly & vividly remembering how my freshman year of high school’s homecoming song was, you guessed it, “In Your Eyes”, help to NOT make common things obsolete (Obsolete Book: Once Common Things Passing Us By)? I’m not giving up my iPhone for that big old boom box – sorry John – but I will keep a few books around, even if it means hauling them all over the country each time I move. Someday, I’ll be grateful I can “hold” on to those stories. And of course, never forget the memories. Que the music…

my rating: 4/5

**rating scale – stars: out of 5
1 star: not a fan – at all. i couldn’t finish the book.
1.5 stars: not worth my time. definitely, thought about putting it down and moving on to something else.
2 stars: fine. nothing to write home about.
2.5 stars: was ok, but if i hadn’t read it i’d live.
3 stars: enjoyed the book but was bothered by a particular aspect.
3.5 stars: glad i read it. would recommend it but isn’t one that stays in my permanent collection (i won’t be moving it with me to my next apartment).
4 stars: i really enjoyed this book. had no problem getting through it and would recommend it to my friends and family.
4.5 stars: loved it. lingers on my mind – actively promoting for others to read.
5 stars: fabulous! can’t stop thinking about it. worth re-reading – highlighted passages and made a impact.