There's an article floating on my Facebook newsfeed telling me about the 10 Books Everyone Should Read at Least Once in Their Lifetime and I am resisting the urge to make snarky comments. It is #microblogmonday so I will post here instead.
Books lists--especially those with the implication that you are problematically less open-minded or well-balanced in the general world if you haven't checked all the boxes--are a big ole pet peeve of this English-major-book-nerd-wordsmith. The only times I've enjoyed these book lists are when I've checked off an inordinate number of them, and then what? Then I'm just the guy at dinner who knows waaaaay too much about wine, and nobody actually likes that guy. Nobody.
So I have a challenge, for you and for myself: make your own damn list. Not to post or compare or score anyone else, but just for you--and then check every title off and go read something new that you found on a shelf, not a list.
Microblog Monday is good stuff. Check it out.
YES to this. I saw one this week where all 10 books were written by white men.
ReplyDeleteI would add to this not to be swayed by writing awards, too. It is nice when a book wins an award, but it doesn't make that book more worthy than another.