On reading

I like to think of myself as a little bit well read. However when I read the Guardian's suggestion for summer reading I realise that not only have I not read any of the books they suggest, but that I have never heard of them either.

On the other hand, a lot of the reviews start with the phrase "this sounds like a rather boring subject for a novel, but ...." Me thinks that I will not bother to try any of their suggestions. A well written book on a tedious subject is still no fun to read.

I too would like to declare that the American novel is dead But I like the idea of Bizarro fiction.