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Non-Recommended Reading: 'How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read'

October 29, 2007

How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read by Pierre Bayard is incorrigibly French. In a time when most of us who care about books are arguing about whether or not anyone reads at all anymore, only a citoyen of France would have the temerity to suggest that we should all read fewer -- yet pretend we've read more.

While reading about Bayard's book (part of his premise, in case you haven't gotten around to reading about it, in which case he salutes you, is that readers should familiarize themselves with lots of book jackets, tables of contents, and bits of content, the better to impress each other: "What big eyes you have, my dear!"), I was reminded of a college professor who recommended that I take a celebrated art history survey course. 

"After all, you'll need something to talk about at cocktail parties," he said, smiling as if he were providing me with the key to my future.

I remember thinking: Won't I have actual opinions and thoughts of my own to share?

Ah, naive youth. I was still too green to realize that not everyone wants to know one's thoughts and opinions at any given moment -- especially at cocktail parties! 

With that in mind, Bayard's point that an educated person should know details about and the context of many different books doesn't seem quite so Gaul-ing (please forgive me... ). Besides, how can I entirely disagree with a man who compares reading to wandering in a garden

Still, while wandering through a bookstore yesterday evening, I decided to pass over How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read and pick up my colleague Maureen Corrigan's Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading instead. I may have plenty of time to talk about books I haven't read, but I don't have plenty of money to waste on them. Perhaps Pierre Bayard forgot about that crucual player in publishing: the consumer.

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Posted by Bethanne Patrick on October 29, 2007 | Comments (5)


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October 30, 2007
In response to: Non-Recommended Reading: 'How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read'
Amy Wachspress commented:

Thanks Bethanne. I think only a guy could have written this book. Women are not so keen on appearing more knowledgeable than they are nor expounding on topics they know nothing about. Not afraid to ask for directions. I'm in it for learning more about the world and other folks in it, not figuring out the fastest road to superficial gleanings. I would prefer Pierre not even bother with my book, and no doubt he won't bother with it, so no worries.




October 30, 2007
In response to: Non-Recommended Reading: 'How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read'
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

I've got 2 all-purpose responses for books one hasn't read: (both require some accessorizing) 1. The Literary Lion, (requires either a monocle or martini glass) "I found it rather derivative and somewhat jejeune-one only has so much time you know..." And, of course #2: The Editorial/Agents Assistant-(to be delivered while chewing gum, filing one's nails, or text-messaging one's friends at Starbucks) "Um, yah, it doesn't meet my needs at the present time... Oooh, Sudoku!" Probably should write my own book about this...




October 30, 2007
In response to: Non-Recommended Reading: 'How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read'
PATRICK EWING commented:

As a former rep and a current bookseller, I have always had to "pretend" I know more about or have actually read many books that I haven't. In fact, this subterfuge goes back to my college days when I skimmed books for what I needed to pass my classes. Then you can add into the whole mix the idea of whether "listening" to an audio book counts as "reading" a book. I wouldn't say it is an indication of the decline and fall of our modern civilization (there are so many other indicators out there for that). However, I would say that 1) sometimes skimming a book or table of contents so that I can hold my own in conversation has actually made me read the whole book, and 2) I am more than willing to admit to the books I have never read but should have to be considered well-read (I barely made it through Moby Dick by skipping the boring parts and have never been able to finish a James Joyce book). Maybe, I am doomed! Patrick Ewing BooneBridgeBooks.com




October 30, 2007
In response to: Non-Recommended Reading: 'How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read'
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

Well said on all the above, and the fact you've never been able to finish a James Joyce book is something to be proud of... The fact that he's still famous after all the years is proof that God is fond of practical jokes...




November 2, 2007
In response to: Non-Recommended Reading: 'How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read'
Emily commented:

I admit, when I first heard the title of this book, I was not interested in it. I love to read, why would I want to read this book? But I read an brief Q&A with Pierre in the New York Times Magazine. It was a great interview, and it made me really want to read his book. He doesn't seem to be anti-reading at all. Instead, he seems to admit and accept the challenges of the "so many books, so little time" lifestyle of book lovers. He also address an issue that hit close to home for me: how quickly we forget the details of what we HAVE read. From what I gathered, his book suggests ways in which to acquaint yourself with classics and modern classics that you haven't had a chance to read yet (or read and forgotten). And in that sense, I agree. I may not want to choose to start Moby Dick above all the new contemporary fiction that I've been itching to read, but I should know general information and knowledge of the book. I love catching up on the classics I've missed - but there are some classics that are very low on my list.

But here I am talking about a book I haven't read. :) I do actually want to give this book a chance and see what he has to say.





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