Differences of opinion

As I mentioned in my main blog, my brother (who shall be known as Tall One) is taking his first English class. This is a fact which I am rather excited about.

Mom and I were browsing through the anthology for this class in Tall One's presence, and we had a conversation that went somewhat like this.

~~~~~~~

Mom: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven??? Huh???

Me: Huh? *pause* Oh oh oh! It's one by that guy who wrote The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian. I want to read it!

Mom: Hmm.

*we peruse some more*

Mom: Hey, here's one by Ursula K. le Guin.

Me (excited because I love love love le Guin): Oh oh oh! Tall One, may I please borrow your text book?

Tall One: No.

*more perusal*

Mom: Oh. To Light a Fire. I hope you don't have to read that. It's horrible.

Me: Wait, a minute... *I remember the story, but thought the title was slightly different, so I'm hesitating* ...who is the author...?

Mom: Jack London.

Me: *gasp* Oh my gosh. That is such a great short story. I hope you read it, Tall One.

*I think mom rolled her eyes*

*yet more perusal*

Me: The Death of Ivan Ilyich!!!

Mom: Agh! Another horrible one.

Me: But it's such a moving story!

Mom: All through it I kept thinking "Come on, die! Die already! Get it over with!"

Me: But mom! It's such a touching story! It almost had me in tears!

~~~~~~~

There isn't much more to tell, other than me later trying to explain what To Build a Fire is about to Tall One. Unfortunately, I suspect that he'll share mom's opinion of it if he ever does read it.

*sigh* There are a lot of books that everyone in my family is crazy about. I guess that difference of opinion is good, but I have to admit that it drives me crazy that certain people fail to appreciate To Build a Fire and The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Oh well. At least we both like le Guin and The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian.

Are there certain books/authors that you have to go outside of your family to find fellow fans? What books/authors?