Earlier this summer my parents, my brother, my mom‘s best friend, and I all filled out the PBS Great American Read checklist. Then we each drew one name out of a hat and challenged that person to read a book on the checklist they had not read, that we had, and thought they might like. My dad challenge me to read Dune. Yes I’m a science-fiction dork and I hadn’t actually read Dune. Shrug. I saw the movie. Even played the shitty computer game circa 1996. I really had to push myself to get through the first 50 pages, as the world being built was immense and very complex, thus a little confusing and a touch boring. After that I got pretty hooked. Anyway, I’ve now read Dune and can confidently say (a) the book is significantly better and more moving than the film, (b) I can understand why it’s a classic science fiction staple given its themes and social commentary, and (c) it was really sorta frustrating to return to an era in literature where the women, now matter how key their roles, are either the mother or the lover of the male main character. Those points aside my favorite “reading Dune” moment happened on one of my flights from DC. I’m still in work cloths, guy next to me is too - both obviously business travelers silently grateful to be seated next to someone else who didn’t want to chat. I pull out Dune, 90’s edition print cover. He sees. “WHAT? Are you reading Dune? I never saw that coming.” I’ll forever love this book for that in-air moment. #dune #pbsgreatamericanread #nowreading #spice