You should check out this list because it's interesting and strange to read a must-read list without a single woman on it. Also, because it lists some humdingers. Because the captions are delicious. Because every caption begins with 'because'. And because it's far too long (75 books long, indeed) for me to post the whole thing here, so start with Raymond Craver below and then click here. And last but not least, because you're worth it. Yes, even the men. Yes.
Any you think are missing?
I am confused by this list... are they suggesting men should read NOWT by women?? I have read five - two I thoguht were very good (Revolutionary Road; A Confederacy of Dunces) two I did not (Dubliners; Moby Dick) and one bored me to tears (Heart of Darkness)
ReplyDeleteHi Simon, how are you? This comment really made me laugh - first of all because I was like 'what does N O W T stand for?' until I realised, and then I continued reading as was like 'you've ONLY read 5 books by women?' I'm so stupid :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, I think the list is meant to be like 'books by men, for men'; it's weird that that didn't bother me actually, especially considering my Barry Unsworth review the other day. Maybe they feel that there are some lessons that only a man can pass to another man, I don't know.
I thought it was quite an interesting list though, especially as so many of the books were new to me. Also, we knew this already, but you have excellent taste - I also love Revolutionary Road (not read Confederacy of Dunces) and hate both Moby Dick and the Dubliners - James Joyce depresses the hell out of me and, despite having had a copy of Moby Dick since I was 15, I've never got past about the 10th page...
Some excellent suggestions of glaring omissions from this list (pasted from a fb comment):
ReplyDeleteThe Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas (just a great story from start to finish), Shogun by James Clavell (if Master and Commander is on that list then so should this) and American Psycho by Bret Easton Elis (nobody writes crazy like this, truly disturbing). I also really love Trainspotting by Irvine Walsh but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea...
I forgot Q by Luther Blisset...
And Catch 22!
ah yes, I remember when this list came out months ago. The problem with the by men for men theory (which I was almost willing to accept when I first heard about it) is that Flannery O'Connor is a woman. So either they don't realize this (in which case shame on them for not doing their research) or they think she's the only woman worthy of attention. Either way it's a bit of a concern. I understand Esquire isn't a lit mag, but if you're going to make a list about books and your intent is DUDES BY DUDES FOR DUDES! then please make sure they're all dudes! If that's not the intention, then diversify.
ReplyDeleteAlso something I do notice is that the reverse tends not to be true. Most lists of 'books every woman should read' include books by men without hesitation. The only list in recent memory that didn't was Jezebel's 75 Books Every Woman Should Read, which was compiled in direct response to the Esquire list so they purposely made the list all women (with William Styron being the Flannery O'Connor of the Jezebel list).
I am curious about your Barry Unsworth post now though, so I'm going to go check that out!
A good point; I must admit, Flannery escaped my notice. I bet they just missed that too, and someone hadn't done their research - as you say, it's not a lit magazine.
ReplyDeleteThey tends to be the way it goes doesn't it - women read both, and female reviewers tend to review both, but men stick to men, generally. Who knows what the answer is (any thoughts, Simon?)...
heya Lyndsay!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting on Facebook - your comment made me laugh; when I reread my first one, it does look like I'm proudly boasting about having read a whole FIVE books by women!
I'm a bit of an odd case, because I prefer books by women, and am predisposed to like a book more if it's by a woman. In fact when I discovered, halfway through The Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw, that Ali was a man, it made me like it a bit less. Which, of course, is no more admirable than sexism the other way, really... I think my bias is mostly because my favourite books are by women... but publishers and marketers certainly seem to think that men read men, and perhaps it's a self-fulfilling prophecy?
As for Flannery O'Connor, that's hilarious! I'd forgotten she was a woman, mostly because I get her mixed up with Flann O'Brien.
And I've read 18 of Jezebel's list :) Includes some of my favourites - Austen, Dodie Smith, Gibbons, Jackson... (lots of men there, though... Flaubert, Kundera, Garcia Marquez, Styron, McCourt)
ReplyDeleteFun! I do love a list.
Yeah, maybe it's a self-fulfilling thing. Or maybe men get caught up in ideas of 'manly books', whereas women (and some excellent men) will generally pick up whatever's nearby and looks good.
ReplyDeleteI've hand-on-heart READ fewer than 18 on Jezebel's List (although I have unread copies of others and have seen the film of more than that...:)
Maybe we should make a new list for each gender, or for everybody :D
I didn't see "The Stranger" by Albert Camus on there. I would have expected that to be essential for all young men trying to make a start in life. "The Seagull" by Chekov. "The Trial" by Kafka. Well, essential for my manly life anyway!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by what you mean as a 'manly life'... :) Care to illuminate?
DeleteGreat recommendations though, thanks!
A life in pursuit of developing my skills and the improving the world I live in ; )
Delete