Editor’s note: Susan Hildreth, our City Librarian, will be checking in with us from time to time to let us know what she’s been reading.
I had never read this 1961 novel that won the National Book Award in 1962. It was being read by my book group so I was enthusiastic about 
reading an award winner written in a time period I could recall! The story centers around “Binx” Bolling, a 30-something New Orleans stock broker who struggles to deal with his family, his beliefs, his experiences in the Korean War and life in general. The story focuses on a week in his life which includes Binx dealing with his prescriptive aunt who wants him to go to medical school, developing a relationship with his secretary and taking her on a wild weekend trip to see his mother in the bayou and taking a business trip to Chicago with his depressed cousin. I was challenged to make it through this book and concluded that Binx was actually living his life as if he were watching a movie — hence the title. I don’t think this book is particularly accessible for the general reader but was noted in the May 11 issue of Newsweek as one of prize-winning author Richard Ford’s all-time favorites.
I know there is an ongoing debate regarding great literature in contrast to accessible literature; and I personally have to support reading experiences that don’t feel like work.
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