Who Are You People?: A Personal Journey into the Heart of Fanatical…

Back when I first discovered the world of the online book community on myspace (pre-LibraryThing) I read an interesting post by an author advertising her new book. Of course, this was before everyone got up in arms and started criticizing authors for promoting themselves and it became a Bad Thing. The book, all about how people immersed themselves in their various fanaticisms, sounded very interesting. This was unusual for me, since I really don't read very much non-fiction. The author was responsive to my inquiring post and I happily ordered the book off of Amazon. I have to admit when it arrived my first impression was of a bit of disappointment. I fully expected that a book about diverse and colorful sounding passions would contain pictures. Now, almost two years later and having finally read the book I still think pictures would have been nice, but certainly were not a necessity for enjoying this travelog/social observation diary/personal journal.

Shari Caudron, the travel guide and author of this interesting composition, approached this project in a way that many people might considering the subject was one of fanatical passion; with a bit of a superiority complex and the innate feeling that these people may just be plain weird. However, throughout her journey meeting the Barbie collectors, Grobanites, Pigeon Flyers, Lego collectors and more, it is clear that things didn't exactly play out they way her pre-conceived notions made her think they might. This fact is really part of the charm of the book. The author has provided an open minded and predominantly humorous look in to all the different passions presented. As she traveled she also peppered her accounts with her own personal revelations and how this journalistic quest changed her own perceptions about people. Although I can clearly see that maybe some of her interviewees might not be entirely thrilled with her observations, she was still honest to a fault and clearly thankful for everyone she had the opportunity to interact with. Generally, this book was very interesting and insightful, I loved reading about how people were so devoted to such odd things and comparing them to my own odd collections and passions. I would certainly, highly recommend this book.

There was one line (one of quite a few actually) that made me laugh out loud and earned me a dirty look from my husband for doing so:

In fact, if I had a riding crop, I fear I'd be crawling onto Roger's back and slapping his fanny in an effort to get him to giddyup even faster. And I don't mean this in any sort of weird sexual way. - Observation during twister chasing. ( )

I'm reading this book because I only read non-fiction and have lately grown a little tired of how depressing and "heavy" non-fiction books always seem to be. This is a book that is entertaining, and that's all. Which is great. It is nice to have some summer reading that doesn't have to be packed with a lot of meaning. ( )

http://dhamel.typepad.com/book_blog/2006/09/caudron_shari_w.html
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I wanted to like this book. I love the concept (I've always wanted to embark on a similar project), but the framing device undermined the book's potential. As a reader, I don't really care about the author's supposed lack of passion or unusual hobbies. If you purchase a book entitled "Who Are You People?" chances are, you want to read about the quirky characters on the cover, not the vanilla narrator. It would have been stronger as a collection of essays. No need to string it together with some bogus journey for self-actualization.

(I said 'bogus journey' without a Bill and Ted reference. Amazing.) ( )

A writer who’s never really been passionate about anything decides to investigate a number of groups of fans, whose passions range from Barbies to pigeon racing to record collecting to Andy Griffith to Josh Groban to strategy boardgames to Star Wars costunes to furry culture. Each time, Caudron discovers that the fans are real people, who can speak engagingly and often insightfully about their fan objects – just like you and me, except for that one mad passion. Given that I am one of “you people,” this was not a surprise. ( )