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And Lisa's Comments on Waterstone's List
| That Waterstone is the most anglophile doc! Who did they poll exactly? This is like asking actors who should be nominated for the Oscars (which
incidentally is almost exactly how that process occurs) I have read 30 of the books and saw 12 of the movies. I couldn't count seeing French Lt.'s Woman since the Steubenville Blockbuster didn't have it in their inventory. Otherwise it would be 13 movies. Yea for the inclusion of A Suitable Boy and here's a pitch for the addition of Seth's The Golden Gate. I was surprised to see Roald Dahl so well represented (4 times, and what in the world is Matilda? who has read it?) and was gratified by the appearance of Dune and two entries for Garcia Marquez. But what about Stranger in a Strange Land or how about any CS Lewis (aside from LWAW) like Mere Christianity? It was interesting to see so many children's books. I felt Spohie's World was a little pedestrian and too artificial--really pop culture to me. I question Trainspotting and The Horse Whisperer having read neither. But I see them on the top 10 bestseller list which makes them appear to be dubious knee jerk reaction additions -- I am unlikely to read when there is so much else good stuff around. Also I felt Maupin's Tales from the City to be a nod to the gay culture, not meriting a spot amongst the top 100 and i really wonder about Susskind's Perfume and Crichton's Jurassic Park--excuse me, I read them and they were memorable for characteristics other than greatness. But then a list that contains Stephen King not once, but twice...well, the whole exercise becomes a comment more on those polled than on the books themselves. |