I just finished reading Zadie Smith's White Teeth. Even more astounding than the brilliance of the novel, is the fact that she wrote this when she was 26-years-old.
I find that only a few contemporary writers can tackle a story that is epic in depth, as well as tell its story in multiple narrative voices and perspectives without drowning in its own greatness or narcissism, and Zadie Smith is one of those select few authors. And I'm even more impressed with her freshman effort since it tackles issues of race, diaspora, and family without making it a Big Important Novel About Race. This book is even more impressive, again, because she published "White Teeth" when only 26.
I'm currently 26. What have I done so far?
Let's see. Hmmm.
1. Attended two decent universities (one of them, which a drunk gal once told me and Cyrus was "one of the bestttt colleges in the....worrrld). Did not flunk out. Even got A's in some courses.
2. Cook pretty great scrambled eggs (in my humble opinion).
3. 50 to 0 win--Correction: 50 to 0 ASS WHUPPIN provided by yours truly against Cyrus and Mike in Halo 2 multiplayer. Submit, bitches!
4. Watched 12 hours of TV in one sitting.
5. Won a camera for having the best attendance (definitely not while in college).
6. Gained two feet of air while snowboarding (unintentionally...and off trail).
7. Led a group of 15 elementary school kids up the most difficult trail on Flattop Mountain (accidentally--"we" got on the wrong trail). Only three, that I can recollect, cried during the climb.
8. Vomited three times in one flight.
Wow. I really haven't done much with my life. Maybe one of my friends reading this will write me and tell me that a few years ago, after a great conversation with them, I somehow unknowingly stopped them from committing suicide later that same night, because they realized after talking to me that there's still more life to experience. Actually, I think that was a story from one of those Chicken Soup (Chicken Shit?) for the Souls. Don't lie and act like you don't even know, ya'll have read at least one of them.