Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for March 13, 2019

Where’s the wine?

Rat does have a point, why contemplate the Search of Lost Time, when you can seize the moment and enjoy the present time – now.

Who’s Proust?

I like their little wine bellies.

As a wise man once said,“Those who won’t read have little advantage over those who can’t.”

Yes, Rat, there IS a life out there. A painful, complicated, soul-crushing life. That’s why we read books. That’s why we read comic strips.

An introvert can go jogging, but socially, that isn’t any better than the book club.

This coming from a guy who spends most of his time watching TV and drinking beer.

That’s odd… it’s usually the life outside that makes me run to books.

At they aren’t on their phones outside PRETENDING to be interested in the happenings within their immediate vicinity.

Normally, I would disagree with Rat. But when it comes to Proust, …

Ah, Rat. Someday maybe you’ll realize that everyone has a different shot at life, and we make our choices. Proust for some, Mickey Spillane (remember him?) for others, Ray Bradbury or A.E. Van Vogt or Larry Niven for others (and a million other paths—just in terms of authors). And then, you could just enjoy playing tennis, football, or whatever delights you. A world brimming with so many possibilities. Enjoy your way, Rat!

“Next, we discuss the book Pearls Takes A Wrong Turn by Stephan Pastis”.

“HAALP! GANGWAY! LET’S GET OUTTA HERE!”"

Why not Animal Farm by George Orwell. It’s perfect

Somebody who’s just using Cliffs notes shouldn’t complain.

Some book clubs read the most boring books! They say it gets you to read all sorts to broaden your realm…in today’s busy world, no thanks! If I’m going to spend time reading, I want an interesting, fast moving book, one without chapters describing the surrounding area….Boo Hiss

Imagine Rat’s reaction if book club guy came into the bar where Rat was having a pint and yelled those same words AT RAT!

Book club? Aren’t they the ones to help you get reservations at your favourite restaurants, games and theatres?

There’s nothing wrong with reading books.

Someone make Rat some madeleines, he needs a good memory to anchor his consciousness to.

There’s a very compelling stream of consciousness in Pastis’ work. Nah, just kidding.

98% of that “life out there” is no better than what you’re doing now….

Wimps! A real book club would be discussing the entirety of Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”, not just the first book of the series.

The last book Rat read was, “Fifty Feet to the Outhouse” by Willie Mae Kitt and Betty Wont!

Giorgio opens up a book club. Soon, the members begin screaming… “Oh no! It’s a Cook Book Club! It’s a Cook Book Club! Help! Help! "

Poor rat. One of my great pleasures is discussing books with friends.

When I read the first panel, I thought it was a buildup to a pun.

Proust in his book he wrote about, wrote about…

Ahewwwwwww……how’s that?

I like books with few words,lots of pictures,and yet provoke many thoughts,can make you wince,laugh or cry…oh yeah,it’s called a photo album! ; )

On the other hand, thanks to books, I’ve spent time in Antarctica, ancient Greece, Thebes, Japan, and Middle Earth.

It’s now unpopular to read, very unpopular to learn and think for yourself, and incredible to suggest stream of consciousness. We’re in a land where that stream’s a dry and dusty creek bed. Thinking (especially for yourself) can make you different from others and value yourself as a free and independent individual, and that is way too dangerous for way too many people to allow. Safer to stay with the rest of the sheep, just like everyone else. Until some fat cats decide they’re hungry for lambchops again.

Hey, Rat. No need to throw a hissy fit just because you didn’t do the reading.

I’ve read the first book. The only good thing I can say about it is that it starts with a cookie. This is from someone with 2 1/2 degrees in American literature who specialized in Nathaniel Hawthorne and James Fennimore Cooper.

Summarizing Proust works better in song.

Wow. The best series of comments ever above! I’m reading Proust now, and love it… mesmerizing for me… but agreed with every one of you, to one degree or another. Pastis draws a really interesting readership.

I’m with Rat on this.

You could use a book as a club, ON RAT!

I think Mr. Pastis is a closet intellectual.

Thanos is coming…….

Rat should have started with the wine much earlier. And he should have read the selected book. I guess he just thought he’d enjoy the stimulating atmosphere before hitting the local pub….

Sorry, Rat, it’s not an ‘either-or’ situation

pastis: likes starting controversy