Persuasion

Today Sydney asked, out of the blue, how many novels Jane Austen had written.

“Six.”

“Okay, that explains things, then.”

Although it was a simple enough exchange, I suddenly got really excited because, to my knowledge, it’s the first time, in seven years, I’ve answered a “literary” question for Sydney in a way that might be called satisfactory.  (In true Sydney fashion, he rolled his eyes when I observed this and then told me I was wrong.  But I stick to my story.)  I usually stumble around for a bit before running to Google for help.  I know, quite sad.

In my defense, Sydney’s queries generally run along the lines of “Can you explain literary theorist X’s major ideas?” when I don’t know X’s work well, don’t like what I’ve seen, and know that he’s been successful partly because he’s about as clear as a brick wall.  For once, Sydney asked about a major author, rather than a theorist, one whose work I’ve read and taught.

Later this summer we’ll be celebrating our seventh anniversary, but, just as combining our libraries when we got married made the fact that we were married hit home (one bookplate at a time, through hundreds and hundreds of books), this may be my landmark for the anniversary.  Let’s hope he doesn’t ask any more questions for awhile so that I can cherish the moment.

Erin