Tuesday

4 April 2017

— “Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes.” John le Carre

Good Morning All,

The Author list is now—at long last!—pretty much done. 

I screwed up with it a whole lot. For instance, I failed to make clear that the former students  on my case to send the updated version expressly stated they wanted a list of the literary works I have enjoyed.

Not philosophy, not history, not science, not politics. Literature. Doubtless, they correctly assumed that outside of literature, my reading habits would not be inspiring. 

But I did not make that clear to you all when I invited you to contribute book titles. As such, I have not included some of the excellent suggestions you have made in the worlds of science, history, psychology, sociology, and whatnot.

I’ve stuck for the most part  to literature: novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, and the kind of non-fiction that is essentially of literary quality:  essays, narratives, biographies, and works about literature.

Some of you passionately and demonstratively gave me undiluted hell for not including some title or other. I enjoyed that. I truly did. Plus I usually agreed with you. If the criteria allowed it, I would--just as a for instance--include all the novels of E.M. Forster and John Steinbeck.

But  in order to squeeze in as many author/poets as possible, my criteria allows for only one title by each author in any of the five genre. As such, no author can get more than five entries, one each for: novel, novella, short stories, poetry, non-fiction.

I invited your recommendations, by the way, as a compromise with what my former students asked for (only stuff I’d read) and a wider list that would get them beyond only my personal tastes. In the penultimate column, I have put Rec for your recommendations. I’ve also added some stars for works I particularly liked. 

Anyway, I’ve attached the list below. It is well above my goal of 555 entries, triple nickels, so it can go higher if you discover I’ve forgotten some author. Which I have no doubt I have! Probably dozens and dozens! If so, it’s not too late to let me know.

Thanks for the input and thanks for not recommending any of Ayn Rand’s novels.

Go Well and Stay Well,

Bhekaron