Strange things found in my reading list
September 11th, 2005 by Bill
So I decided to go into my Blogger profile and fill in a few of the interest fields - just to see what all that stuff was about. (I’ve had a blog on Blogger since 2001 but it’s only now that I’ve actually gone and done this.)
Anyway, it was interesting (to me) when I filled in some of my Favourite Books. I hate lists like this because I always forget some of the best, but I tapped in a few that came immediately to mind. There were two … um, curiousities?
The first was Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany. It’s been quite a while since I read this novel, but it use to be my all-time favourite. I’ve read it at least three times. It’s a bit odd, a bit long and it certainly isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste.
Here’s what I found odd: when I click the link Blogger puts in, which takes you a list of other people who have also listed the book as a favourite, it’s all guys! No women? Just men? Why is that? It doesn’t strike me as being a particularly “guy” book.
The other thing I found odd - and disturbing! - was the link for John Barth’s The Sotweed Factor. I’m the only one who lists it! What is wrong with the world? This is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, and it’s brilliantly written. No one wonder the world is in the sad, humourless state it’s in.
It makes The DaVinci Code read like a Dick and Jane book. Do yourself a favour - read it.
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