Animal Farm does have animals in it and I do like Upton Sinclair. And spearmint (but not really).

I was conversing with a friend the other day about my last posting. First, let me begin by stating that we had already established earlier in the morning that I was on the struggle bus. However, as our conversation progressed, it quickly became evident that I was not, indeed, on the bus. No - a suspender for my mittens had gotten tangled in the bumper and I was being dragged behind it, unbeknownst to the struggle bus driver, who was clearly struggling, as well. (I mean really, how hard is it to look in the rearview mirror and see the poor soul stuck to the bumper amid a cloud of dust and gravel?)

One of those completely random fits of utter stupidity that I am so well known for had struck again. I mentioned that Animal Farm had also come to mind as I prepared my list of 15 books in 15 minutes, but I had left it off. I went on to state how I loved that Animal Farm didn’t have animals in it and was about American industrialism and so forth. My friend stared at me with wide eyes as if I was the dumbest person on Earth. At the moment, I probably was.

As she rightly pointed out, Animal Farm does have animals in it. She thought perhaps I had gotten Animal Farm confused with The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

“Oh, I love Upton Sinclair!” I exclaimed. Yeah...that didn’t really help my case.

Upon looking at general summaries for both books, I found that Animal Farm (with animals) was actually about the Russian Revolution and while The Jungle did fit more in line with what I was thinking about, I couldn’t recall ever having read it. And thus began the search for the Upton Sinclair book that I had read and prompted my exclamation of love.

I couldn’t find one.

Quite a bit of ribbing ensued, which I took in good nature because I had earned it. However, on a deeper level, my confusion bugged me. I can see how one could get the two books confused, but how could it happen to someone who had vehemently gone on and on about literature this and literature that only a day or so earlier, struggle bus or not? I wondered if it was my memory playing tricks on me again or if I had read the books and just forgotten. I really wanted to figure it out. And I did.

These books weren’t discussed in any of my English or Literature classes. I’ve never read either of them.

One of my high school history teachers used them in a lesson and history was my worst subject (even though I’m very interested in history now). For whatever reason, this particular lesson stuck with me despite being buried under a mental avalanche. Upon recognizing the rubble and clearing it away, I was able to recall how much admiration I felt for the authors due to how they tackled their subject matter. Animal Farm remains fuzzy in my memory, but if I put myself back into my 16-year-old shoes, I can imagine being impressed with using a tale about animals to convey a much deeper and profound meaning. After all, I feel the same way about how Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust subtly hid a story about social classes and racism, and the harsh effects of both, beneath a façade of vampires and blood. And how there is only one constant, D. Everything else is not as it seems. (This is one case where the movie far exceeds the book. I highly recommend the movie over the book...but I digress.)

As for my proclamation regarding Mr. Sinclair...well, The Jungle stuck with me because it was more relevant to the topic and therefore discussed in more depth. (And given that it dealt with the meat packing industry, I can see where I might think of Animal Farm instead.) I remember my teacher talking about the horrid conditions described in the book and how even though it was a work of fiction, those conditions were apt and accurate depictions of life at the time, which outraged the public. The fact that the book takes place in Chicago probably also piqued my interest, since I live in Illinois and have a particular fondness for the city. More importantly is the novel’s historical relevance - and that, I believe, is why I said “Oh, I love Upton Sinclair!” He aimed for the masses and ending up grabbing the president’s attention with his words - the President of the United States. My 16-year-old self says, “That’s just awesome!”

Incidentally, the same president affected by The Jungle is the one I admired for the Panama Canal and the quote “walk softly but carry a big stick.” I know it’s Theodore Roosevelt, but every single time, the first president who comes to mind is Woodrow Wilson, another man that I greatly admired because of his involvement in creating the League of Nations, which later led to the formation of the United Nations. It’s funny, the things that stick with you and get muddled together by your brain.

Spearmint, on the other hand? No. I do not like it. No matter what I say. That little inside joke came from yet another random fit of utter stupidity that I can’t explain. It wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last, but at least I can say that I resolved one misunderstanding. I can’t take back looking like an idiot, but at least I figured it out why it happened!