Monday, May 29, 2006

Great American or Sexy Novel?

I was a bit distressed last week when I saw the list of the Best Work of American Fiction in the Last 25 Years by the New York Times Book Review and realized I haven't read a single one. Worse, I haven't even heard of most of the judges and have only read one of them. I was an English major! Gah!

I've done only slightly better on the 25 Sexiest Novels Ever Written as chosen by Playboy (I don't see where they said who decided. Their staff, I suppose). I own two of these books (#6 & #13) and have read one (#6). I've often thought I should have read Forever by Judy Blume (#23), but I usually feel like I missed the window on that one (After all, doesn't one read that one in high school?). Maybe I'll have to add it to my summer reading list. I think the only author to make both lists was Philip Roth.

I have no intention of filling in my reading with any of the New York Times' list. They really don't interest me. I'm reminded of what Alice Duncan says on her website: "...I realized that, not only do I not want to WRITE the Great American Novel, I don't even want to READ it." However, some of the "Sexiest" books have been on my TBR list for a long time. I really need to get to those. ;o)

P.S. Susie Bright interviewed the author of the piece & there he explains how he chose the books. They also mention some others that didn't make the list, but which have also been on my TBR list.