Summer reading lists
When I read The New York Times Book Review's list of the most distinguished American fiction in the past 25 years, I was struck by how literate I wasn't. Of the 25 books listed -- I had read two: "Libra" and three of the four Rabbit novels. I had started six others, but couldn't complete them, and that list included the top book on the list, "Beloved."
So I welcomed a second list, published yesterday in the N&O, in which the paper asked 32 Tar Heel writers the same question. From that list of 25 novels, I've read 11. The English major in me feels better.
After the Times list came out last month, I gave "Winter's Tale" and "American Pastoral" another shot. But I still couldn't get all the way through them. My attention span, trained on thousands of 15- to 25-inch newspaper stories, must be shot. Reminds me of last summer when I read "One Hundred Years of Solitude." It was my daughter's school summer reading and I thought that I'd read it, too, so that I could help her come fall. Yikes! I finished, but help her? Not a chance.
Which novel is most distinguished? Can't say. Obviously, I'm not the literary reader they're looking for. I have to categorize my recommendations.
* The book that I stayed up all night reading: "Lonesome Dove"
* The book I always recommend to others: "The Poisonwood Bible"
* Most recent book that gave me an Oprah moment: "The Time Traveller's Wife"
* The author whose books I buy as soon as they come out: John Irving
* The literary character I still miss: Travis McGee.
Comments (6)
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Somewhat related (only somewhat). Books are now called "terrestrial publishing."
Posted on June 12, 2006 4:53 PM
I have recommended "The Poisonwood Bible" to so many people. It's one of the only books where I have paused every so often and thought, "Wow, I wish I had written that sentence."
Of course, I notice science fiction gets left off these lists all the time -- Asimov and Bradbury are two at the top of my list of great writers.
Posted on June 13, 2006 12:25 AM
You know - at least three people whose literary opinions I respect have told me I need to read "The Poisonwood Bible."
I have a long list of books I'm going to read when I'm done with this book and that one and the others in that pile over there.
But I think it's time to move this one on up.
Posted on June 13, 2006 3:48 PM
I'm a little late to comment, but I'd recommend Wally Lamb -- "I Know This Much Is True" and "She's Come Undone" are both amazing.
Posted on June 20, 2006 5:48 PM
DeLillo is darn good. I recommend also shorter, fine book of his:
"The Body Artist". He's got some of Joyce's skill with interior monologue, but not as obscure (but you can't beat "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" or the incomparable "The Dead").
Why wasn't "Confederacy of Dunces" one of the others, Mr. Robinson? Not a hard read, and a hilarious romp through things Southern-ish.
And the Cormac McCarthy books are really terrific; close to the bone. I must say, Roth has always been a hard one to warm to. Like you, I'll be trying to catch up on a list, and since he just came out with a short one, "Everyman", I may actually finish.
Posted on June 22, 2006 8:20 AM
I tried "Confederacy of Dunces" years ago. It was one of those that I didn't finish. I consider it a shortcoming of mine, not the book. Too many people whose opinions I respect loved the book.
Posted on June 22, 2006 8:36 AM