meeting chuck klosterman

actually, i didn't really meet chuck klosterman. sure, we said a few polite things to each other and he signed the book i just purchased. but i had just waited in a line behind a crowd of klosterman maniacs who were all there for the same reason. it's a book signing, something i've never participated in before because i'm weird about autographs.

i don't put a whole lot of value into autographs. i'm not the type of person that goes to conventions or other events so i can wait in line and get things signed by celebrities who i happen to be a fan of. i am a big klosterman fan, and it was cool to be in his presence and it was cool to get his autograph and he was a waaaay nice dude about it, thanking me for being there and hoping i like the new book.

but the reason i was there was cuz he did a reading and a q&a after. i was there really just to hear him speak to a crowd. to me it's the author equivalent of going to see a band or a comedian live. and in those instances, i'm there cuz i enjoy whoever it is that's on the bill. but i never wait around after the show. i never try to get anything signed. i'm not there for that. i'm there to watch/hear/most importantly enjoy whatever it is they do. and i enjoyed the hell out of listening to the words of chuck klosterman that night.

but did i meet him? scientifically i suppose i did. but a real meeting happens whenever two or more people encounter each other for whatever reason and walk away feeling like they got to know all other involved parties better. that didn't happen. i know of chuck. but i don't really know chuck the person. and chuck seriously don't know josh. at the end of the day, i figure all the autograph signing blends all the faces together into some sorta gelatinous blur... this goes for all those in the business of giving autographs. i imagine that's just the way it is.

but by all means, if that's your thing, and you get something out of it, go for it. i can't deny that it holds some value for me. but usually not enough value for me to exclusively seek out autographs. but in this instance, it seemed to be included with the package that was going to see chuck klosterman at barcade in jersey city, nj.

what kinda value? this book is now on a short list of things i will try to quickly grab, if i can, if i ever find myself in a situation where my apartment is on fire and i need to leave asap. cuz if i have to start a new library, might as well be with a book that's signed.

while i'm on the topic of chuck klosterman... i'm a huge fan. he's in this odd sorta classification of author for me. i have a few authors, klosterman and vonnegut most notably, who i enjoy immensely. or at least, have enjoyed immensely so far. i've enjoyed the books that i have read so far by them so much, that i make it a point not to burn through all their books too quickly. i don't ever wanna read two klosterman/vonnegut books in a row, ever. i wanna always have one waiting for me in the future somewhere. with klosterman, it's a little easier to maintain cuz he's still alive and writing. but vonnegut... ugh, i'm gonna be really bummed when i finish reading everything he's ever written.