Twenty-One Truths About Love

Twenty-One Truths About Love

Adult fiction
"Ways to keep Jill from getting pregnant.
1. Refuse to have sex
2. Fake orgasms
3. Wear a condom without her knowledge
4. Get a vasectomy without her knowledge"
Normally we think of lists as fairly prosaic: what we need to
buy at the grocery store, what the kids need for back to school, whom
to (and maybe whom not to) invite to an event... We write them, check
off items, and go on to write more. Most of us would not imagine
writing a novel consisting entirely of lists.
Evidently Matthew Dicks isn't most of us. His Twenty-One Truths
About Love is a six month collection of protagonist Daniel's lists.
They give a rich and full portrait of a man trapped in circumstances
largely beyond his control and the world he inhabits.
Daniel has recently quit teaching at the school at which his
wife, Jill, still works to open a bookstore. His new vocation does
not live up to his expectations. Customers ask seriously dumb
questions and buy far more toys than books. One of his workers,
Kimberly, doesn't see the inappropriateness of using the workplace as
a site to preach the gospel. One of my favorite lists is:
"Facts about Jesus that I told Kimberly to annoy her:
1. Jesus was Jewish.
2. Jesus was a socialist.
3. Jesus was a refugee.
4. Jesus was anti-death penalty.
5. Jesus was anti-school prayer (Matthew 6:5)
6. Jesus was opposed to the accumulation of wealth.
7. Jesus was silent on the issues of the homosexuality and gay
marriage.
8. Jesus was a brown-skinned Middle Easter who wore sandals to the
dinner table.
9. Jesus was a friend to prostitutes."
Worse, the store is not turning a profit. And Jill is anxious to
become pregnant.
Family is not much help. Dad is out of the picture. Mom would
like him to be more like his brother. His brother is a bit of a jerk.
As he navigates the intricacies of work and agonizes over lying
to Jill about finances Daniel scrambles to find ways of making the
bookstore profitable or finding other income sources. One becomes
gradually more enticing. There's only one hitch. It could make him a
convicted felon.
Twenty-One Truths About Love is a great escape from pandemic
stress volume.
On a purrrsonal note, I had two reasons to be very happy today.
First, on her way to church my gardening chum Diane delivered me fresh
spinach and lettuce from Community Garden. They will be so yummy!
Second, Eugene and I went for a ride. We got shakes and subs and had
a nice picnic lunch. We also stopped at a yard sale. THERE ARE YARD
SALES THIS SUMMER!!! Eugene bought me 3 cute shirts and 3 mystery
books. I am rebuilding my personal stash so that if libraries close
again I'll be able to keep reading and creating content for this blog.
(Jules)
Another of my hooman's friends came over. She seems nice. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to Diane and all the others who are
taking care of business at the community garden.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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