Guilty Pleasures
The most embarassing thing on my iPod? Has to be Neil Diamond--live version of "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show. "Yeah. Can't help it. I like some of his stuff. Of course, I also have Nine-Inch Nails "Closer." And Echo and the Bunnyman, and Nirvana, and Pearl Jam, and Moby and Rob Dugan (genius!), and John Legend and Cake and Corrinne Bailey Rae and Primitive Radio Gods. But Neil is my only guilty pleasure.
Actually, the title of this blog post is incorrect. Because I really DON'T have a problem with Neil. I mean, I wouldn't shout from the rooftops I have that song on my iPod, but I like it. No guilt.
But what about books? I've never hidden that I don't read fiction. I read physics and astronomy texts. I don't read fiction mostly because I don't want my own style influenced. But also because I really LOVE reading about science and if I have to pick between reading about string theory and the Big Bang . . . and a novel, string theory will win out every time.
BUT, I know people who are seriously embarassed for reading romance, like they have to apologize. Or feel embaraased that a certain book or author is on their shelves. It's their guilty pleasure.
I don't know if I have one. I would guess the closest I ever came was devouring every single Fletch book by Gregory McDonald. Actually, I just visited his website. This guy is seriously political, so maybe he's not such a guilty pleasure after all.
But how about you? Anything you would term a guilty pleasure in your life?Chocolate counts. (In that regard, the amount of sushi I eat would be a guilty pleasure . . . because I have otherwise sworn off animal flesh--no more chicken for moi--and it's so expensive for a food habit.)
Actually, the title of this blog post is incorrect. Because I really DON'T have a problem with Neil. I mean, I wouldn't shout from the rooftops I have that song on my iPod, but I like it. No guilt.
But what about books? I've never hidden that I don't read fiction. I read physics and astronomy texts. I don't read fiction mostly because I don't want my own style influenced. But also because I really LOVE reading about science and if I have to pick between reading about string theory and the Big Bang . . . and a novel, string theory will win out every time.
BUT, I know people who are seriously embarassed for reading romance, like they have to apologize. Or feel embaraased that a certain book or author is on their shelves. It's their guilty pleasure.
I don't know if I have one. I would guess the closest I ever came was devouring every single Fletch book by Gregory McDonald. Actually, I just visited his website. This guy is seriously political, so maybe he's not such a guilty pleasure after all.
But how about you? Anything you would term a guilty pleasure in your life?Chocolate counts. (In that regard, the amount of sushi I eat would be a guilty pleasure . . . because I have otherwise sworn off animal flesh--no more chicken for moi--and it's so expensive for a food habit.)
posted by Erica Orloff at 6:35 AM
8 Comments:
No guilt for Neil! Sheesh, even my kids like him. You outta' see them do the fist pump, 'bomp-bomp-bomp' for Sweet Caroline!
(L runs in a corner to hide and quietly whisper, "I have Neil, Willy Nelson,Patsy Cline, Sinatra and ABBA all on one compilation CD with AC/DC, Gn' R and the likes" :0)
I've never particularly understood the guilt associated with reading romance??? No one seems to judge detective novel junkies. Why is running off with 300 pages of imaginary good guy any less intellectually stimulating than running off with 300 pages of imaginary bad guy?
And here's a strange trend I've seen recently, years ago people hid romances because of 'bodice ripper' covers it was assumed the stories were filled with lust, when for the most part, they weren't. Now, you're considered 'hip' or 'empowered' (bleck, I hate that over used word) for reading the sexy erotica, but its implied you should be embarrassed for reading granny's old traditional 'sweet HEA' romance.
Read and let read, for cryin' out loud!
Amen, Lainey.
First of all . . . go Neil. :-)
Second, I agree. Read and let read. The thing is, I don't really watch TV. But when I do, it's purely for relaxation--I watch Amazing Race to see what countries they will travel to. But it's not friggin' rocket science as a show. Same thing with reading--you choose different books for different reasons. And sometimes it's pure escapism. No guilt there, as far as I'm concerned.
Haha! DH and I were just talking about this with another couple! And the Washington Post had an online article about people you "love to hate" (easy choice for me -- Anne Curry of the Today Show) and people you "hate to love" (people you feel guilty for liking. For me? Ashlee Simpson. I don't know why.)
Other things that I "hate to love":
1. The movie "Glitter" starring Mariah Carey. Yes, this is my biggest guilty pleasure. LOVE this movie. But I won't take it against you if you deny knowing me now.
2. Spandau Ballet: The Singles Collection
3. Pirates. EXCELLENT porn movie. Really well made. Battle scenes, tears, joy, comedy and a PLOT. The "actors" even ACTED. For real. Did I just make you choke on your cereal there?
4. Any song by Christopher Cross, but in particular, "Sailing." It was cool though when NSync remade it.
5. Reruns of Beverly Hills 90210. I can't help it. I just love this show.
THere. All my guilty pleasures revealed.
Karm:
I am laughin gout loud. HYSTERICAL!
First of all, I love Sailing. LOL! Saw him in concert at a racetrack two or three years ago.
Spandau Balley reminds me of one of my best guy friends singing one of their songs to me--another love.
Glitter . . . escapes me, but I'll go with it.
Thanks for 'fessing up!
E
Oh, Erica, Neil rocks! Can't go on a road trip without him (ABBA, Sinatra, and GnR usually make the trip too, lainey!). :-)
Okay, Karmela mentioned Pirates, which I confess I haven't seen. LOL! BUT I will confess to seeing The Pirate Movie (1982) with Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins. If you haven't had the pleasure (cough, cough) of viewing this one, it is a rock and roll version of The Pirates of Penzance (if I remember it correctly, as it's been a few years since I've seen it). Anyway, that was my guilty pleasure as a teenager and Karmela just reminded me! :-)
Uh, should I also confess that Grease 2 was also a guilty pleasure of mine as a teenager? Oh, man, I should probably be paying a therapist for this, right? LOL
Have a great weekend! What a fun topic.
Michele
Michele:
ABBA figures prominently in my next Red Dress Ink title. LOL! Turns out God (a character in the book) can't hear you talking if you're playing ABBA in the background (makes sense in terms of the plot).
I am loving hearing about all these guilty pleasures. I have seen Guys and Dolls with the SINGING Marlon Brando maybe a hundred times. As long as we're confessing and all.
E
I was going to say I have no guilty pleasures because I happily own all my likes, then I remembered my recent fascination with the trainwreck that is Britney Spears!
kathryn:
Yeah, when she shaved her head, I found myself watching that soap opera for a day or so.
And yes, I own my ridiculous likes. Neil Diamond. The big plastic elephant I have in my formal living room (don't ask). Etc.
E
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