Honesty, by Caille Millner

A couple of weeks ago I went on a date with a guy who (unbeknownst to me) had taken it upon himself to start reading my book before we went out. The waitress had just left with the menus when he blurted out, "Aren't you mortified?"

Umm, no, actually.

More than a few people who know me have ventured some more-polite version of what this gentleman said.

"Well, you were certainly very honest."

"You were much braver than I could have been!"

I'm never sure what's going on with these comments, though part of it, I'm sure, is that most people really believe that their personal responses and choices are far more interesting than they really are. When I was writing my book, I did so with the assumption that my behavior, my thoughts, and my choices - while distinct - weren't really all that different from what anyone else has experienced. I'm not proud of everything - but who is proud of everything they've done? Why should I be mortified for sharing what seems to be a pretty universal experience?

And no, I didn't go out with that guy again.

View more information on Caille Millner's The Golden Road.

Caille Millner

The Golden Road

memoir

race

Latino

African American

Penguin Books

books