20-Year-Old Book Review

Was it Jim Gaffigan who made the joke about renting a movie that's six years old and then wanting to talk about with his friends, even though they all saw it six years ago? That's how I felt recently when I read 1986's "Goodbye, I Love You" at Traci's recommendation.

If you haven't read it, the subheading may give a bit of the plot away--"Good-Bye, I Love You: A True Story of a Wife, Her Homosexual Husband, and a Love That Transcended Tragedy."

Here's how the conversation goes with my buddies at work:

Spencer: I'm reading about this book called "Goodbye, I Love You." Have you read it?
Tim: Yes.
Brian: No, what's it about?
Tim: This Mormon lady marries a gay guy and she wants him to be un-gay, but then he dies of AIDS.
Spencer: Arrrrggggh! He dies of AIDS? I'm only on chapter six!
Tim: Oops. Spoiler Alert.
Brian: How old is this book?
Spencer: 20 years.
Brian: Not exactly a real spoiler.

In a way it was good that Tim dropped the bomb. I had been reading and thinking, "I wonder how this lady can say all these things about her husband. I wonder what he thinks about this." Obviously he thinks, "Being dead sure is sweet."

So at this point I guess I should apologize for spoiling it for you as well, as I'm sure the book was at the top of your "To Read" list.