Saturday, August 10, 2013

Why Can't I Be You? #31WriteNow A Book That Needs Finishing

What would you do if a stranger ran up to you mistaking you for someone else?

"I can't believe it's really you. You're not on the reunion list!" she said, pulling away but keeping a firm hold on my arms. She slipped her hands down so we were holding hands, she hers so mine shook too, and looked me over. "You look... You look amazing--OHMYGOD! You really did it, didn't you?"

I was about to tell her that I didn't know what was going on. That she probably had me for mistaken for someone else, but then she gently ran three fingers down the slope of my nose, and I didn't know what to do. What are you supposed to say to a stranger touching your nose in an elevator? I stared at her with my mouth gaping, like an idiot.-- except from Why Can't I Be You By Allie Larkin

A little over a month ago I started a book called Why Can't I Be You by Allie Larkin. The summary and beginning caught my attention immediately. It's about a woman, Jenny, who has experienced chaos in her life. The breaking point is when Jenny is sent to a business conference and her boyfriend breaks up with her at the airport. She's so torn apart she forgets her suitcase in his car and cries on the plan ride. This woman is a Plane Jane who has lived a simple, yet boring life and her boyfriend was the piece of the puzzle that made everything better. At least her family history and lack of friends makes it sound that way. While still stuck in her feelings a random woman mistakes her for an old high school friend. The woman is hosting the high school reunion and immediately goes down memory lane. Jenny is initially stunned, but because her life is in shambles she pretends to be someone else.

I read a little over a 100 pages of this book before real life distracted me. A lot of people know how I like to get lost in fantasy worlds, whether it's the lives of famous people or a good fiction novel. I was lost and intrigued.

How could she just become another woman? How could she pretend to be two people at once? She was attempting to go to a business conference and the reunion of a high school she never attended. How long was she going to keep up the charade? If someone ever approached me calling me another name, how would I react? I've never been mistaken for anyone else.

Some Asian girl approached me a couple months ago saying I looked familiar. She asked if I went to Houston Community College. I didn't, but turns out we did go to the same high school. She wasn't interested in trying to re-connect after I said nope to HCC though. Weird Ass People.

I have to finish the rest of the book. In fact, it's a goal to finish it by the end of the weekend. Oh, and what about you? Have you ever wished you were someone else, or even been mistaken for someone else?

Imagine if your man had just broken up with you and your only friends were your co-workers. Plus, your co-workers were jealous of you because they wanted to be in your position. However, you didn't see the greatness in your life. Would you take the opportunity to become someone else? I'm starting the goal of finishing the book in 5...4...3...2...

1 comment :

  1. Ok so yeah, I want to read that book!!
    I have wanted to be someone else a few times actually. When I dated a guy(s), I wanted to be the girl he chose over me.
    When I was 60lbs heavier, I wanted to be the 'thick' girl not "chubby/chunk with cute face." or "super thick"
    I wanted to be the girl with the big beautiful curly fro.
    I guess I wanted to be someone else plenty times in my life but I had to learned how to be me.

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