I was a New Yorker subscriber in 1997, but somehow missed the story. But in maybe 2002 or 2003 I was in a book club and one of the members, a close friend, made it that month's assignment. I read it in a weird little pocket-sized book that contained only that one story and nothing else.
I loved it, mostly in a detached, literary way. I thought the concept was ingenious, the plot sad, the prose beautiful. I probably read it twice. I said good things about it in the book-club discussion (as did everyone). And then I pretty much forgot about it.
A year or so later, I read something online about how they were making the movie, and that Jake and Heath had been cast. I thought, well, Jake Gyllenhaal will be good, but ... Heath Ledger? They must be pretty desperate. I guess they're not too serious about making a good movie.
Then I saw Heath in the Lords of Dogtown and realized he was actually a good actor. Then the movie came out, and I read all those stunning reviews ...
I knew I would like to see it, but still, I put it off. I figured, I'd already read the story, so what could there be left to learn? I assumed the movie would be well made, but it sounded like it might be a little ... I don't know, preachy or pedantic or something. I was busy with the holidays and kids and moving and whatnot, so with one thing or another, I didn't get around to seeing it until January.
I've been here (or at imdb) ever since.
