THE PAGE 69 TEST
I’ve heard that back in ‘62, in “The Gutenberg Galaxy,” Marshall McLuhan gave us the acid test for long books. He said to turn to Page 69, and if you like that page, buy the book.
A lot of good prose doesn’t really get going until you’re in about 100 pages, and some great poetry books don’t even have 69 pages, but try the Page 69 Test sometime. Go to your library or bookstore or Google books and turn to Page 69 a few times. What do you think?
A few laughs for the road:
One Inch Tall
If you were only one inch tall, you’d ride a worm to school.
The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.
A crumb of cake would be a feast
And last you seven days at least,
A flea would be a frightening beast
If you were one inch tall.
If you were only one inch tall, you’d walk beneath the door,
And it would take about a month to get down to the store.
A bit of fluff would be your bed,
You’d swing upon a spider’s thread,
And wear a thimble on your head
If you were one inch tall.
You’d surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum.
You couldn’t hug your mama, you’d just have to hug her thumb.
You’d run from people’s feet in fright,
To move a pen would take all night,
(This poem took fourteen years to write–
‘Cause I’m just one inch tall).
– Shel Silverstein
