In general, I prefer to hold off on commenting on the content of the books we discuss before we actually discuss them. This avoids giving away important plot points in advance of the conversation. Plus, seeing **SPOILER ALERT** at the top of every post, like on many other book and film discussion sites, is annoying. So, although I don't really want to talk about What is the What before February 19th, I do want to mention that the section I read last night made me cry.

Speaking of the **SPOILER ALERT** thing, the worst place to encounter it right now is at Amazon's Penguin Classics Reading Group. Good for them for starting a book club blog since talking about reading is a great thing. I hope they make a million bucks at it, but gah! They have spoiler alerts before nearly every post AND comment. If the participants haven't finished the book, it's their problem.

Anyway, back to the crying. Being overcome by emotion surprised me because I wasn't expecting to like this book. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I wasn't too thrilled by Dave Eggers's memoir. When I began A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I assumed the title was either ironic or satirical. When I got to the end, I realized Eggers was serious. The reading experience was fine until the last chapter, which meant to convey the strength of Dave and Topher's connection and will to survive. But when the message turned toward, "Eff you, you naysayers and people who would put us down," I felt like Eggers was also saying, "Eff you, you stupid person who spent your hard-earned money on buying this book because you are one of those naysayers." It put me in a foul mood.

In a weirdly eccentrically irrational way, I blame Eggers for keeping me from becoming an infamous Reality TV star. I read the "Eff You" chapter while standing in line with Andy of Reality Blurred to try out for The Mole 2. In a Q&A on a now defunct blog, Andy said, "I applied for 'The Mole' in Chicago, but during the interview I gave really lame answers. I think I just wasn't ready to be an over-the-top personality, and you kind of need to be that way." I gave lame answers, too, but it was Eggers's fault. If his book had left me with the feeling that I also could accomplish anything and everything, I'd have been posing for publicity pictures with Anderson Cooper. Instead, I walked into the interview feeling like I suck.

Ironically, last night's crying fit while reading What is the What occurred with Reality TV playing in the background. I had the late-night rebroadcast of the Top Chef finale on because I wanted to find out who won. Although I enjoyed many moments, like the challenges and conversation among the judges, the show overall was a disappointment. The characters (or perhaps the way the characters were edited) turned it into a high school melodrama as childish whining and personal conflict trumped the food. Throughout the season, I thought to myself many times, "Oh, shut up and cook something already." Andy, by the way, didn't enjoy the show either as seen in his MSNBC article "'Top Chef' fails the taste test."

What a turn in events. Eggers, whose memoir ruined my Reality TV career, has redeemed himself with his tragic and moving latest book. And Reality TV, which was great entertainment when it was first conceived, now mostly disappoints.