True Confessions, part 3
Continuing our confessional theme, here's a different take on "unread" lists. Maureen McLane, writing on the Critical Mass blog of the National Book Critics Circle, recapped books that she did not, and had no intention of, reading. Her list included: Unread: any book whose title is constructed thus: "How X Came to Rule the World!" ... and Unread: any memoir by a Bush appointee, crony, servant, etc.
What a great way to approach our book choices! Instead of drowning in guilt for not reading classics, we can feel exhilarated and liberated by acknowledging the books we avoid. My unread list features: any memoir by an entertainer under 30 and any book with a title longer than 11 words (you know how I hate colon-ized titles).
What's on your Unread list?
Note: an earlier version of this mistakenly attributed the Critical Mass post to another writer. McLane was indeed the author.
Photo of Britney Spears by Jae C. Hong, Asociated Press
Comments
I don't read anything with "epic" and "war" in its description. And if the jacket refers to reading it as a "ride" or a "roller coaster" or anything to do with motion of vehicles, I also do not read it. I wonder if these Venn diagram circles have shared ground?
Posted by: Mary | August 5, 2008 1:41 PM