I’m passing along an email I received from my friend Marta a few days ago. In addition to being a mother, she is a teacher, artist, and first-rate writer. Here is what she wrote (and gave permission to reprint):

People are not reading as much as they used to — not literature anyway. And when folks are reading, they’re reading the same book — hands up for who has read The DaVinci Code! The Red Tent! Bridget Jones’ Diary! You get the idea. (I myself have read two of those, and that Code has been recommended to me by at least a dozen people. I’m sure I will read it eventually.)

Here’s my challenge. Go to the bookstore and buy something you’ve read heard of. No one has recommended it, you haven’t heard about on NPR or Fresh Air or on Oprah or some morning show. You’ve seen no review in the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, or whatever. Be crazy.

And why, you may ask, am I waxing hysterical? Because I’m sitting there thinking that I am writing a book that will be terrible and no one will read. I need some good book karma. So give some money to some poor writer who can never hope to have a vast marketing machine behind them.

*Sigh* I suppose in the interest of friendship, I shall drag myself to a bookstore (horrors!) and spend time browsing, then *gasp* purchase a book. I cannot imagine a fate more terrible. 😉